Native Instruments channels the resonance of one of the grandest concert pianos ever built with its new instrument, Vertikal

You’ve heard of a grand piano – but what about a monumental piano? That’s what sits inside of Saal 3, a recording studio in Berlin Funkhaus production complex. Standing at 4.5 meters tall, this vertical concert grand is one of the grandest ever built, complete with strings up to 3.9 meters long. The end result is a massive resonant body and equally as huge dynamic range – and now you can harness its sustained sound from the comfort of your own studio.

Created by Galaxy Instruments for Native Instruments, the fittingly named Vertikal transforms this impressive grand into a new virtual instrument. Recorded by the piano’s owner, Nils Frahm, the instrument captures the true acoustic feeling of the instrument. It means that Kontakt 8 users can enjoy the piano’s naturally lingering notes, extended resonance and gorgeous bass response with an authentic response.

The texture of the detailed recordings is also amplified by the specially designed studio space, Saal 3. It’s a setting that allows each note to resonate gorgeously from the piano’s lengthy strings and vast body.

The instrument comes with three unique ways of performing: pure, felt, and felt-plus-cotton. The selection allows users to switch between clear, more direct sounds and softer, ‘whispered’ textures. Varied versions allow users to experiment with sounds based on different fabric, touch and mechanical details that might alter the piano’s resonance and sonic feel.

Vertikal is also powered by a reimagined Particles 2.0 engine. This allows users to experiment with refined Rhythm Mode patterns, utilise expanded tonal, percussive, and textural sources, as well as the benefit of precise independent pan and timbre control, a redesigned effects engine and more. Particle 2.0’s new motion system also adds LFOs and performance modulation, which can be tweaked with a mod wheel and polyphonic aftertouch.

“The piano is not just something singular… it is turning into a shared experience with the making of this virtual instrument,” Frahm reflects. “It will be democratized in a way, and I really like that. There was a community behind this and my goal was to give back. I know we’ve done the best we can to give this piano a proper chance to be useful and needful. For me it’s the best possible outcome to just release this into the world, I’m honestly very proud of it.”

Vertikal is available now for £129, and is compatible with Kontakt 8.