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piano from “viva la vida” by coldplay | ToneDB

viva la vida

coldplay

piano

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

The piano sound is bright and slightly compressed, with a subtle reverb that adds to the song's overall grand and anthemic feel. It has a crisp attack and a sustained body that cuts through the mix, lending a sense of urgency and grandeur.

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The Story

The piano sound on Coldplay's 'Viva la Vida' was created using a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, recorded direct input rather than miked. The CP-70's inherently bright, compressed character was enhanced during mixing with EQ to boost presence and compression to increase sustain, while subtle reverb added the anthemic spatial quality that helps define the track's grand sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Markus Dravs, Brian Eno, Rik Simpson

Engineer: Michael Brauer

Recorded at: The Bakery and The Beehive, London, UK

Signal Chain

Instrument: Yamaha CP-70Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Yamaha CP-70 or a high-quality virtual instrument that emulates its sound.
  • Use a direct input (DI) to capture the piano's raw signal cleanly.
  • Apply EQ to brighten the piano's tone, focusing on the high frequencies for clarity and presence.
  • Add compression to even out the dynamics and increase sustain.
  • Use a subtle reverb to create a sense of space and depth without washing out the sound.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia CP-70 VPlugin Boutique$99-$199

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano

Faithful software emulation of the CP-70 with the same bright, compressed character and ability to process the DI signal like the original

Yamaha CP88Shop on Reverb$1,500-$2,000

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano

Modern Yamaha stage piano with authentic CP-70 samples and the same direct output capability for that crisp, uncolored signal

Nord Piano 5Shop on Reverb$2,500-$3,000

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano

High-end stage piano with excellent CP-70 modeling and pristine direct outputs for capturing that signature bright, sustained tone

FabFilter Pro-C 2 + Pro-Q 3Plugin Boutique$200-$300

Alternative to: Mix compression and EQ processing

Professional compression and EQ tools to recreate the brightness enhancement and sustain control used in the original mix

Sources

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