C. Bechstein VARIO User manual

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 2
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
User Manual for the
VARIO Digital System

3C. 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:

5C. 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
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.
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.
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
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 upright pianos
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.
Switching on by pressing the button
2. GETTING STARTED
2.1 Power on: The first contact with your new VARIO

7C. 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.
Front panel connectors and volume knob
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.

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.
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.
Optimum view and operation:
A Tablet (with tablet stands, see page 35) on the piano‘s music desk.

9C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
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.
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.
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“).
3. THE VARIO APP FOR IOS AND IPADOS
3.1 Introduction

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 10
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
3.2 Installation

11 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
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. ;-)
3.3 Basic features
MIDI CONNECTION
FAVORITES
MIXER
METRONOME
INFO
SETTINGS
C. BECHSTEIN
START / TAP
100 allegro
+–
STRONG
WEAK
CLICK
MUTE
1 2 3 4 …
Closed blocks at the right column
Opened METRONOM block

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 12
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.
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.
A Bluetooth-MIDI connection can be established in the
lower part:
3.4 Connection to the app and initial setup of the VARIO digital system
C. BECHSTEIN
Connect MIDI device
CONNECT
CONNECT MIDI DEVICE
#

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.

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 14
Precise detection of key acceleration enables expressive
play and control of dynamics for each note. The VARIO
system works with optical sensors, that means contact-
free and therefore without any influence on the playing
experience. The highly sensitive electronics detect even
the smallest movements and changes in the distance
between the sensor surface and the key above it.
Just like your acoustic instrument during tuning,
intonation and maintenance, this part of the digital
system therefore occasionally requires a little attention.
We recommend that you calibrate the keys as part of the
initial setup, for example after transporting and setting
up the instrument. But don’t worry: in combination with a
small number of parameters (see the sections “Adjusting
the keystroke” and “Sensitivity curve”), even novice users
can optimally adjust their VARIO system.
It’s that simple:
Go to the “Calibration Keys” section.
• Press Start - the keyboard in the graphic will be
colored.
• Now play one key at a time and “uncolor” the
keyboard-graphic in this way.
• Ready? Then please press Save to finish.
Hints:
• Play as normal but without special “expression”
(Staccato ... Legato ... Forte-Fortissimo ... Repetition,
etc.). So the best thing to do is just as if you were
practicing a simple scale.
• It is only important that you move the keys from
the rest position to their lowest point - but without
“squeezing them into the felt”.
• The order does not matter. It is also possible to press
a key several times, perhaps if you have slipped from
a key or if you have only partially hit a key.
The next step is to adjust the keystroke, which is used to
calculate the velocity (see next section).
3.5 Calibration of the keys

15 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
In order to convert the key movement into a digitally
usable signal, your VARIO digital system takes (among
other things) into account the distance that a key must
move on a certain partial section. This range can be
adjusted for both downward and upward movement.
When moving down, you first define the key depth used
to complete the calculation and trigger a note via MIDI
protocol.
Note that dynamic fine-tuning is performed in a later
step using the Sensitivity block (see 20). The settings
for hammer and damper trigger should therefore be
interpreted as a kind of frame in whose boundaries you
can then adjust the settings to your desired dynamic
behavior of the keyboard.
The following tips and hints will help you:
If the value of the hammer release is too high (with many
keyboards this means about 40% or less) you need more
power to play the keyboard to achieve a sound result in
the forte / fortissimo range.
Vice versa, if the value Hammer release is very low (about
70% and more) you may get too fast “into the forte” -
please adjust it back.
The damper release has an effect on the possibility of
repeating. If both values - hammer and damper - are too
far apart, the key may have to fall back too far in order to
trigger again. With many instruments a distance of about
15-20% has proven to be optimal.
3.6 Keys Adjustment

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 16
ISensors near the three pedals detect the movement of
the (left) Una Corda-, (middle) Sostenuto/ Moderator and
(right) Sustain- or Forte-Pedal.
The pedal sensors - like the keyboard sensors - are factory
calibrated. However, a recalibration from time to time can
be useful. Proceed as follows:
Navigate to the “Pedal Calibration” area.
• Press Start - the pedals in the graphic turn grey.
• Now step down the three pedals of your piano one
after the other - and release them as you would with
normal playing.
• Ready? Then press the Save button.
The next step is to adjust the pedal position, which is used
to calculate the switching point (see next section).
3.7 Calibration of the pedals

17 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
With this option you can determine the switching point
of the pedal, i.e. you determine the position of the
mechanical pedal at which the digitally generated output
reacts.
The two graphics are interdependent: the value Pedal Up
Trigger (bottom) cannot be higher than the trigger point
above, just like in the acoustic model.
The lower the value (in %), the “higher” (in the sense of a
higher position) is the corresponding switching point.
3.8 Pedal Adjust

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 18
In the SOUNDS block, top left, select the sounds of the
VARIO digital system by swiping them.
The sound choices differ depending on the connected
device. In the case of the VARIO classic (models from
2012 to fall 2019), all sounds are available within the
app that are also in the hardware of the VARIO classic.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to switch sounds (in the
sense of a remote control) - please change the sound as
you normally would on the touch display of the VARIO
classic.
You do not yet own a VARIO digital system and have only
downloaded the free VARIO App so far?
In this case, a single sound (Grand Piano) is available to
you here.
3.9 Select sounds
C. BECHSTEIN
Piano 1
The sounds of the VARIO digital system (2019)
1 Grand Piano 1 (Concert)
2 Grand Piano 2 (Warm)
3 Grand Piano 3 (Practice)
4 E-Piano 1 (Main)
5 E-Piano 2 (Bell)
6 E-Piano 3 (FM)
7 Cembalo
8 Church Organ 1 (Flute)
9 Church Organ 2 (Tutti)
10 Jazz Organ
11 Choir
12 Strings 1
13 Strings 2 (Slow)
14 Warm Pad 1
15 Warm Pad 2 (Slow)
16 Grand Piano 1 + Strings (Layer)
17 Grand Piano 1 + E-Piano Main (Layer)
18 Grand Piano 1 + E-Piano FM (Layer)
19 Grand Piano 1 + Choir (Layer)

19 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
The MONITOR block of the VARIO App can be useful for
the further adjustment of the dynamic translation of your
piano playing into digital sound generation.
The so-called MIDI velocity values of all incoming and
outgoing key signals (like notes recorded with the
recorder) are displayed as vertical bars. They are moved
to the left by newer bars and disappear over time.
This type of display helps, for example, to find the optimal
values for key adjustment (see page 15): if you can play
both very low and very high bars effortlessly, the system
is perfectly tuned.
PS: The BUBBLES display is certainly less useful for
inspecting MIDI information - but it’s even more fun). ;-)
3.10 Make your playing visible - the monitor
BARS BUBBLES
BARS BUBBLES

C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL 20
You can adjust the dynamic characteristics of your VARIO
digital system in the SENSITIVITY block. Its possibilities
are perhaps most reminiscent of the intonation of an
acoustic instrument - so you may be surprised by the
tonal potential that lies behind the inconspicuous line of
this control element. But step by step:
On the line you see 4 points: two at the outer edges, two
inside.
By moving these points you change the “translation” of
the keystroke into the tonal development.
Changing the height of the two outer points limits
(compresses) the dynamic range.
This means in terms of sound: a gentle play (pianissimo /
ppp) sounds more in the direction of the mezzo forte (mf)
when the left point is moved upwards. And vice versa: if
you pull down the right point, you will not achieve a forte-
fortissimo (ff-fff) even with a very hard keystroke.
3.11 Adjusting dynamics and playing feel - Sensitivity
MIDI
C3
+–
MIDI
C3
+–

21 C. BECHSTEIN VARIO · MANUAL
Tip for users of DAWs, MIDI sequencers & Co: in extreme
settings you can fix the dynamics to a certain value - or
you can reverse the translation in such a way that gentle
playing executes a forte sound (high velocity) and a
powerful forte performs a pianissimo (low velocity).
The two inner points now affect the slope of the curve.
How quickly do you want to get from Pianissimo to Forte?
We would like to invite you to experiment with the values
and to find your preferred setting yourself.
SET UP DYNAMIC ZONES.
As you play, you will have noticed that the note display in
the SENSITIVITY block follows. In this way, you can select
any point on your keyboard where you can then use the +
key to set another so-called breakpoint.
For each added breakpoint, you can define different
values and slopes as you like - the app interpolates
between the individual curves so that soft transitions are
created automatically.
Press the -(Minus) key when a breakpoint is selected to
delete it again.
Press - without a previously selected breakpoint - to reset
all settings.
MIDI
C3
+–
MIDI
C3
+–