PRODUCT
PRODUCT
TESTS
Spectrasonics Keyscape Collector Keyboards Virtual Instrument
By Adam Gallant
Keyscape is a powerfully expressive software instrument from Spectrasonics . Perhaps best known for their groundbreaking flagship synth software Omnisphere , the company is focused on making Keyscape an integral part of their product line . In January 2017 , Spectrasonics released Keyscape Creative , a collection of over 1,200 Omnisphere patches for users who also have Keyscape . It was the marketing behind this launch that sparked my interest in the company and spurred this review .
Keyscape Collector Keyboards ’ sampled sounds are meticulously curated with an inspiring selection of unique and colourful instruments such as vintage electric pianos , toy pianos , plucked keyboards , vintage digital keyboards , wind keyboards , and much more . Alongside the rare and eclectic options are three of the best sounding and feeling acoustic piano reproductions I ’ ve encountered .
The centrepiece of the acoustic pianos is a custom Yamaha C7 grand that has been captured with unmatched detail , precision , and realism . In total , there are 36 unique instruments with multiple preset patches for each . Each patch then has a tremendous amount of flexibility in terms of realism , dynamics , noise , effects , and touch-velocity . The full Keyscape library of 36 instruments is 77 GB but is also available in a Lite version with a select subset of instruments for those of us in need of a smaller palette or with hard disc limitations . I opted to install the full sample library and also had the chance to operate the Keyscape library within Omnisphere 2 , a mind-bendingly powerful combination .
First Impressions What initially struck me about the Keyscape package was its realism . All of the instruments have beautiful sounding and completely controllable “ performance ” variables that come into play here . These attributes control things like the release noise ( the mechanical sound of the keys themselves lifting back into position ) and pedal noise ( the sound of the foot pedal moving when depressed and thud of its release ). These “ noises ” do not come across as sampled , either ; they are clearly cycling through a bank of many round robins , are velocity informed , and display an impressive attention to detail . Each of the 36 instruments has its own personality and character in terms of these mechanical sounds , all of which are controllable , customizable , and savable .
On top of the performance parameters , there are instrument and patch-dependant reverbs , EQs , “ Color Shift ,” amplifier settings , modulation FX , tremolo , reverb , and more . For me , this kind of one-stop shop for instruments and FX provides a fast and inspiring way to work . The reverbs can be very long and lush sounding , ideal for sound design and dramatic film scores .
Playability Worth mentioning is the way this software responds to touch . Playing with a controller that has weighted keys is an ideal way to enjoy the level of work that went into the dynamics control . There are dozens of velocity curves designed for popular controller keyboard models , which greatly enhances Keyscape ’ s response to the player ’ s touch on their chosen controller . It ’ s evident that this software was designed and tested by musicians . Each instrument in the collection seems to have a very specific feeling and dynamic response . This level of detail heightens the player ’ s sense of reality and ability to perform .
Interface The plug-in displays a beautifully illustrated image of the loaded instrument , some with playful backgrounds that are themed with the patch settings . All of the patch-specific settings are simple to understand , activate , and manipulate . There is also a small amount of history about each instrument located in the info section , which sometimes contains tips for creative use . The plug-in window is big , easily readable , and well organized for fast operation . All of the user-saved presets have their own quickly accessible banks to draw from , and creating custom presets and using this bank has sped up my workflow significantly .
Keyscape with Omnisphere When I opened the Keyscape library in Omnisphere 2 , there was very much this “ ah-ha ” moment where I came to realize that this was the software being used to develop the most groundbreaking sounds I have been hearing on TV and film . Opening the Keyscape library within Omnisphere provides an infinite amount of options by stacking the hundreds of Keyscape patches on top of the hundreds of Omnisphere patches . Furthering this , the Keyscape Creative Collection is another tier of expression that is unprecedented with over 1,200 patches created by the Spectrasonics team .
Final Thoughts This software instrument has quickly become the most important tool in our studio ’ s arsenal for sound design and scoring for video . Also , I can see Keyscape as the solution for a performer looking for the most authentic and responsive piano , Rhodes , and Wurlitzer sounds and more to boot . The product of incredible work by the team at Spectrasonics , as far as I ’ m concerned , Keyscape is the new benchmark in sample modelling .
Adam Gallant has worked in all facets of digital audio production , from music composition to location and post audio for television and film . He currently owns and operates The Hill Sound Studio in Charlottetown , PE .
24 PROFESSIONAL SOUND
PRODUCT
TESTS
Spectrasonics Keyscape Collector Keyboards
Virtual Instrument
By Adam Gallant
K
eyscape is a powerfully expressive
software instrument from Spectra-
sonics. Perhaps best known for their
groundbreaking flagship synth soft-
ware Omnisphere, the company is focused
on making Keyscape an integral part of their
product line. In January 2017, Spectrasonics
released Keyscape Creative, a collection of
over 1,200 Omnisphere patches for users who
also have Keyscape. It was the marketing
behind this launch that sparked my interest
in the company and spurred this review.
Keyscape Collector Keyboards’ sampled
sounds are meticulously curated with an
inspiring selection of unique and colourful
instruments such as vintage electric pianos,
toy pianos, plucked keyboards, vintage
digital keyboards, wind keyboards, and
much more. Alongside the rare and eclectic
options are three of the best sounding and
feeling acoustic piano reproductions I’ve
encountered.
The centrepiece of the acoustic pianos
is a custom Yamaha C7 grand that has been
captured with unmatched detail, precision,
and realism. In total, there are 36 unique
instruments with multiple preset patches
for each. Each patch then has a tremendous
amount of flexibility in terms of realism,
dynamics, noise, effects, and touch-velocity.
The full Keyscape library of 36 instru-
ments is 77 GB but is also available in a Lite
version with a select subset of instruments
for those of us in need of a smaller palette
or with hard disc limitations. I opted to
install the full sample library and also had
the chance to operate the Keyscape library
within Omnisphere 2, a mind-bendingly
24 PROFESSIONAL SOUND
powerful combination.
First Impressions
What initially struck me about the Keyscape
package was its realism. All of the instru-
ments have beautiful sounding and com-
pletely controllable “performance” variables
that come into play here. These attributes
control things like the release noise (the
mechanical sound of the keys themselves
lifting back into position) and pedal noise
(the sound of the foot pedal moving when
depressed
and thud of
its release).
These
“noises” do
not come
across as
sampled,
either; they
are clearly
cycling
through
a bank of
many round
robins, are
velocity in-
formed, and
display an
impressive
attention to detail. Each of the 36 instru-
ments has its own personality and character
in terms of these mechanical sounds, all of
which are controllable, customizable, and
savable.
On top of the performance parameters,
there are instrument and patch-dependant
reverbs, EQs, “Color Shift,” amplifier settings,
modulation FX, tremolo, reverb, and more.
For me, this kind of one-stop shop for instru-
ments and FX provides a fast and inspiring
way to work. The reverbs can be very long
and lush sounding, ideal for sound design
and dramatic film scores.
Playability
Worth mentioning is the way this software
responds to touch. Playing with a controller
that has weighted keys is an ideal way to
enjoy the level of work that went into the
dynamics control. There are dozens of veloc-
ity curves designed for popular controller
keyboard models, which greatly enhances
Keyscape’s response to the player’s touch
on their chosen controller. It’s evident that
this software was designed and tested by
musicians. Each instrument in the collec-
tion seems to have a very specific feeling
and dynamic response. This level of detail
heightens the player’s sense of reality and
ability to perform.
Interface
The plug-in displays a beautifully illustrated
image of the loaded instrument, some with
playful backgrounds that are themed with
the patch settings. All of the patch-specific
settings are simple to understand, acti-
vate, and manipulate. There is also a small
amount of history about each instrument
located in the info section, which some-
times contains tips for creative use. The
plug-in window is big, easily readable, and
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