Spitfire Audio capture Strawberry Studios’ iconic Steinway B – played by Elton John and David Bowie – with Château Piano plugin

Back in the ‘70s, the sound of Strawberry Studios’ 1901 Steinway B piano dominated the charts. From Elton John to David Bowie, plenty of superstars utilised Strawberry’s Steinway B – and, thanks to Spitfire Audio, you can now capture the sound of the legendary piano from the comfort of your own DAW.

Spitfire Audio’s new Château Piano plugin meticulously samples the iconic 1901 Steinway B, allowing users to replicate the magic of the piano with ease. The sampling was also recorded on site at in the 18th-century French castle, Le Château d’Hérouville, that houses Strawberry Studios, meaning it sounds truly authentic.

Recorded in the studio’s George Sand live room, the sampling was captured via a collection of valve and condenser microphones. Most significantly, the recording set up even employed some Neumann U67 condenser mics in exactly the same positioning as Elton John used during his original recordings of cuts like Rocket Man, Goodbye, and Yellow Brick Road.

The Château Piano plugin allows you to blend eight individual signals, as well as allowing you to toy with a plethora of effects like analogue tape effects, compression, chorus, high and low-pass filters, reverb, and more.

There’s also 37 presets to experiment with, ranging from distorted, overdriven textures to capture a grittier sound, or more rich, lush tones if you’re after something warmer.

With its beautiful location and curious tales of ghost hauntings, Strawberry Studio quickly became the hot-spot for ‘70s superstars. It’s since become known as ‘France’s Abbey Road’, beloved by many artists that once graced its grounds.

Bowie’s 1977 record Low was partially recorded at the castle, while Elton John in particular couldn’t get enough of the place. The acclaimed pianist recorded three records at Strawberry, even naming 1972’s Honky Château after the studio.

“They all told us, if they had made this record elsewhere, it wouldn’t have been the same,” studio owner Thierry Garacino explains. “They wouldn’t have written these arrangements – it was the Château that inspired them.”

Speaking on the new plugin, Garacino insists its the real deal. “You play three chords and straight away… that’s the sound of Elton John,” he says.

Spitfire Audio’s Château Piano is available now and is is compatible with macOS and Windows. It’s currently available at a discounted price of £103, which will soon hop up to £129.