ROAD TEST
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 .
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