C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 2
User Manual for the
VARIO Digital System
Version number of this document: 006
Last updated 17th October 2019
Further information, as well as audio and video examples
are available on our website:
https://www.bechstein-digital.com/
This document is always the latest version,
as well as in other languages also available as PDF file.
© 2019, C. Bechstein Digital GmbH
3 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
INDEX
1. Welcome 4
2. Getting Started 6
2.1 Power on: The first contact with your new VARIO 6
3. The VARIO app for iOS and iPadOS 9
3.1 Introduction 9
3.2 Installation 10
3.3 Basic features 11
3.4 Connection to the app and initial setup of the VARIO digital system 12
3.5 Calibration of the keys 14
3.6 Keys Adjustment 15
3.7 Calibration of the pedals 16
3.8 Pedal Adjust 17
3.9 Select sounds 18
3.10 Make your playing visible - the monitor 19
3.11 Adjusting dynamics and playing feel - Sensitivity 20
3.12 The Metronome 22
3.13 Time signature and metronome sounds 23
3.14 Recording music - the recorder 24
3.15 Volume and Effects 27
3.16 Equalizer 28
3.17 Transpose & Tuning 29
3.18 Favourites / Sound colours 30
3.19 Updates 31
4. VARIO Headphones 32
5. Display stand for the piano music stand 35
6. Connectivity options 36
7. Important notes 37
8. Technical data 38
C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 4
1. WELCOME
Hello and a big thank you right at the beginning for the
purchase of the C. Bechstein VARIO digital system.
The system is based on a comprehensive concept of
creative and musical possibilities. And a product that we
have designed and built with the intention to meet the
special experience of playing your C. Bechstein instrument
also on the digital level.
You may already be familiar with the basic technologies: a
sensor system translates the movements of the keys and
pedals during the playing into an electrical signal, which
can then be played by a digital sound device (the sound
module of the VARIO system or an app) via headphones.
A mute bar, customized for each instrument, also silences
the acoustic sound of your piano so you can play for
yourself when you need to.
With an extensive connectivity and a consistent
integration to the possibilities of mobile devices, as well
as a modular architecture throughout, the new VARIO
digital system starts where many other “silent solutions”
stop ...
THE BASIC IDEAS BEHIND THE VARIO DIGITAL
SYSTEM.
For a good understanding of the various other possibilities
of your VARIO instrument, it is helpful to take a look at the
basic ideas and concepts behind the system:
5 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
EXPERIENCE MORE WITH THE INSTRUMENT
We believe in the additional creative value of modern
and high-quality music software. Well-made “apps” can
add many more facets to the experience of playing our
acoustic instruments. With our VARIO App we want to
make digital functions which are relevant for your piano
playing as easy to access as possible. In addition, the
VARIO digital system is open to third-party applications
and supports the exchange and interaction with them in
many different ways.
Learn more about apps and their use from page 9.
FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY
The “experience more” described above is also made
possible by connecting mobile devices that you are very
likely to have already in your household: Smartphones,
tablets or laptops. In order to be able to use as many
different devices as possible today and in the future,
the VARIO digital system supports the USB-C standard.
In addition, so-called MIDI connections can also be
established wirelessly via Bluetooth.
More about the connection options from page 36.
EASY TO USE
A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT
The VARIO digital system should remain with you for
many years. In the world of acoustic instruments, a
wish that usually refers to periods of several decades
often depends on many other aspects in the context
of modern technology. Nevertheless, with a modular
system structure, easy maintenance and the possibility
of software updates, we have already created many
prerequisites today for a coming generation of digital
environments to interact with your instrument.
More on software updates from page 31.
Speaking of next generation: with as many system
components as possible, we use recyclable materials.
And we rely on a regional supply chain as far as possible,
including circuit board manufacturing and all housing
parts.
We would like to invite you to get to know your VARIO
digital system in detail for the first time with the help of
this manual. Do you have any questions or suggestions
about your C. Bechstein VARIO? We are looking forward to
any feedback and promise to be at your disposal as soon
as possible and individually for any concerns you may
have.
Despite all enthusiasm for technical-creative solutions,
the use of day-to-day basic functions must be as simple
and convenient as possible. Therefore, you can use the
VARIO digital system very quickly right after power-up and
control the most important things with just two controls even without apps or connected devices.
Read more about the basic operation on page 6.
The entire C. Bechstein team wishes you lots of fun and
creative hours with your instrument and the VARIO digital
system.
Berlin, September 2019
C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 6
2. GETTING STARTED
2.1 Power on: The first contact with your new VARIO
This section assumes that you have an instrument upright or grand - including VARIO Digital System that
is ready to play. In most cases, your dealer has already
ensured that the entire instrument is in perfect condition
and you have already been able to enjoy its acoustic
facets. So let‘s explore the digital possibilities of your
piano together - let‘s get started.
POWER SUPPLY & START UP
The VARIO requires a power connection for operation.
The power supply which is included in the package is
connected to the rear of the piano. Please do not use any
power supply other than this one. For grand pianos, you
will find the appropriate socket on the bottom, about an
arm‘s length behind the two VARIO control modules.
Position of the power supply connection on grand pianos
Switch on the VARIO digital system by pressing the
button. If the LED on the control unit lights gold after a
few seconds, the system is ready.
Position of the power supply connection on upright pianos
Switching on by pressing the button
7 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
Below the keyboard you will find a lever that you can
use to activate the hammer stop bar and thus mute the
acoustic instrument.
Activating the Silent Mode
The piano is silenced? Put the headphone on - it will be
connected to one of the two jacks. Adjust the volume
with the knob next to it. Attention: as with the acoustic
instrument, the overall volume can become very loud
during forte play.
Once you’ve enjoyed the first notes, you’ll certainly be
looking forward to more sounds from the VARIO System:
press the button once ... and play sound No. 2. press it
again ... No. 3 and again ... No. 4.
With a short press on the button (4 times) you can switch between four
different sounds - even without an app.
The fifth press on the button will bring back the first
sound. With the VARIO App you can store any sound in the
four memory slots which we call „favorites“.
Read more about the favourites and how to create them on
page 30.
Front panel connectors and volume knob
C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 8
Speaking of apps, let‘s connect your smartphone, better
yet a tablet to the VARIO now:
We recommend that you place the device directly on the
music desk of your instrument. For upright pianos, you
will find two tablet stands included with the system, which
hold devices of different sizes on the music stand.
Hint: Whether you place the display vertically (portrait)
or horizontally (landscape) does not matter for the VARIO
App. We recommend horizontal placement for ergonomic
reasons - if, on the other hand, sheet music is frequently
used on your tablet, the vertical position naturally offers
you more space.
Download the VARIO App (see the following sections for
details) and launch it on your device.
Optimum view and operation:
A Tablet (with tablet stands, see page 35) on the piano‘s music desk.
Details on the connection options (different cable types,
Bluetooth) can be found in the section Connectivity
starting on page 36.
STANDBY MODE
A longer press on the button switches the VARIO digital
system off or puts it into a special type of standby mode:
the system is almost completely shut down and only the
built-in Bluetooth LE module remains accessible (for MIDI
apps).
However, Bluetooth LE is designed to consume minimal
power. In this mode, the VARIO digital system requires
less than 0.3 watts. Thus it needs less energy per year
than your smartphone if you charge it every 1 to 2 days on
average.
9 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
3. THE VARIO APP FOR IOS AND IPADOS
3.1 Introduction
Apps are an essential part of the VARIO digital system
and its entire concept.
Apps are part of the user interface, i.e. (virtual) buttons or
control elements.
However, apps do not only provide purely technical
communication with the hardware: they also allow
musicians to discover their instrument far beyond
the musical experience - with tens of thousands of
applications for practicing, learning, sharing and much
more.
The VARIO App - Bechstein‘s own core application - was
designed and developed to be an organic part of our
acoustic instruments. With Apple‘s mobile operating
systems, the 3D user interface unfolds different function
blocks as needed, and the app blends seamlessly into the
overall impression of your piano, for example with a tablet
placed on the piano‘s music desk.
An outstanding musical ecosystem has grown up among
Apple‘s mobile operating systems iOS (for iPhone or iPod
touch) and iPadOS in recent years: professional users
appreciate the numerous software tools for notation,
training, recording or sound design. And beginners
can expect a creative world of apps for learning and
playfully exploring the broad subject of music (and
piano in particular). In addition, there are the many
„everyday applications“ such as e-mail and messenger, or
streaming platforms such as YouTube, with their almost
inexhaustible potential of explanatory films (tutorials) and
other musical inspiration.
This part of the manual explains the basic steps and setup
options. We assume that you are already familiar with the
fundamentals of using your mobile device.
Good to know: the VARIO App communicates via MIDI
with the hardware of the VARIO digital system. MIDI
(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard used
for decades for communication between electronic music
instruments, components and software applications.
(aka: „Apps“).
We have developed the VARIO Digital System and the
VARIO App to interact with as many of these applications
as possible: to exchange data (music), to further process,
or to share between apps.
C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 10
3.2 Installation
The VARIO App for iOS and iPadOS is available free
of charge in the Apple App Store and thus requires a
customer account - the so-called Apple ID, also available
for free.
To download the VARIO App for iOS and iPadOS:
• Open Apple‘s App Store app on your iPad, iPhone or
iPod touch.
• ap on „Search“ to find our app using the keywords
BECHSTEIN VARIO.
This QR code will also take you to the VARIO app: scan it
directly with the camera function.
• Open the VARIO App product page and tap „Load“.
• You may be prompted to log in with your Apple ID
and password or - if you have set up the appropriate
functions - with your Touch ID or Face ID.
Apple‘s App Store info page:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204266
11 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
MIDI CONNECTION
FAVORITES
MIXER
METRONOME
INFO
SETTINGS
C. BECHSTEIN
3.3 Basic features
Blocks and gestures
The VARIO App for iOS / iPadOS presents its numerous
functions in individual blocks. These are arranged in
columns on the screen according to their zoom and
available space and can be opened or closed individually.
Tap on a block title to expand the element.
Tap on the arrow icon (in the upper right corner of a
block) to close the element in a space-saving way.
Interconnected sub-blocks are automatically closed (and
reopened).
Swipe (or „scroll“) up and down, left and right to navigate
freely. Some elements, such as the pendulum of the
metronome or the equalizer curve, prevent scrolling due
to their function. In such areas, it is best to use the outer
edges of the blocks.
On smartphones, only one column of the VARIO app is
displayed. By turning the smartphone to the side position
(landscape mode), the display zooms out to display two
columns again.
Hint: if you want to switch between the columns, you can
also use the permanently visible C. Bechstein logo bar at
the top of the screen.
The user interface elements in the blocks are intuitive to
use: simply press, drag, push or nudge them - we are sure
that you will enjoy easy handling, so we don‘t have to tell
you more about it here. ;-)
Closed blocks at the right column
100
1 2 3 4 …
STRONG
WEAK
CLICK
MUTE
Opened METRONOM block
allegro
+–
STA RT / TAP
C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 12
3.4 Connection to the app and initial setup of the VARIO digital system
The VARIO App can generally be used with and without
a connected VARIO digital system and also works on
instruments that establish a standard MIDI connection to
your mobile device (such as most digital pianos do).
However, some features are only available to VARIO users,
including (VARIO) system settings.
C. BECHSTEIN
Connect MIDI device
So first establish a connection between the app and the
VARIO, if this has not already been done:
With a USB cable connection, the connection will
usually be established automatically, immediately after
plugging in. Further information on the possible USB
cable connections can be found in section “Connectivity”
on page 36.
CONNECTING TO MIDI
In the MIDI CONNECTION block, tap CONNECT MIDI
DEVICE.
In the upper part of the dialog all available devices (but
not necessarily already connected devices) are displayed.
Tap on an entry BECHSTEIN-USB or the model number of
your piano if it appears in the upper part. The connection
is active if it is marked with a checkmark.
CONNECT
CONNECT MIDI DEVICE
#
A Bluetooth-MIDI connection can be established in the
lower part:
13 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
Tap on “Connect / Disconnect” and select your
instrument from the list of Bluetooth devices.
Black entries are “visible” devices via Bluetooth-MIDI,
grey entries refer to earlier, unavailable connections.
The dialog closes automatically as soon as the connection
has been established.
VARIO SETTINGS
Now open the SETTINGS of the VARIO digital system in
the lower right block of the app.
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