Spectrasonics Keyscape Announced

[Dwetmaster]

My point is:
Omnisphere already covers most of the Synths need I have, if it's remotely as good as Omnisphere at what it does, then there's no point in using anything else...

[mhschmieder]

Interesting; I don't think I've even auditioned Omnisphere's synth sounds. It never occurs me to go to a mega-library that could take eons to find something useful in, even with category and timbre searches.

I use Omnisphere almost exclusively for it synth-sounding human voice choirs. I mean, they're sample based and humans, but sound like synths due to all the extrapolation into false ranges.

It often fits in the mix better than a more traditional synthy-like choir such as a Mellotron or a String Synthesizer (most of which also had vocal patches). Warmer too. And yet the ones I like most are probably from the older 1990's Akai libraries. I think I may have paid extra as an add-on?

[terrybritton]

Interesting; I don't think I've even auditioned Omnisphere's synth sounds. It never occurs me to go to a mega-library that could take eons to find something useful in, even with category and timbre searches.

I use Omnisphere almost exclusively for it synth-sounding human voice choirs. I mean, they're sample based and humans, but sound like synths due to all the extrapolation into false ranges.

Wait a minute - you paid $480 or thereabouts for Omnisphere just to use ONE of its sounds?

Must be a pretty darn good sound!

[Edit: Like I should talk - hope I didn't sound too harsh there!]

Terry

[HCMarkus]

Looks great, but I am already quite happy with Ivory and Komplete Ultimate for acoustic piano, Wurli and Rhodes. The other stuff doesn't really interest me that much.

Omnisphere synths are awesome and fun mh. Give 'em a spin!

[MIDI Life Crisis]

After listened to the video I'm left thinking my True Keys pianos are just fine. I don't have a lot of nostalgic feelings for an old Wurly and $4 bills seems a fair price for what they're offering. Most sounds II'll probably never use and it duplicates much of what is s already in my system. Good starter set.

[tbon]

This will be hard resist……..gotta love Greg Phillinganes playing’ that buttery LA Rhodes patch, quoting, interestingly enough, two Jay Graydon / David Foster hits. Cool…..

[dix]

Yes, I'm a little surprised with this release. It's not like a lot of these keyboards aren't covered extremely well in other products. A B3 is the only keyboard that I no longer have a definitive go-to for (RIP B4), but it's not part of Keyscape. ...and what of RMX?! It really could use a redo to bring it into the modern era.

[mhschmieder]

Yeah, I doubt it could beat True Keys due to limited (if any) mic choices. In the sampling world, True Keys is the one to beat at this point. A few others come close, but that one comes the closest of any to having the level of flexibility of a modeled product like Pianoteq.

Not sure if the acoustic pianos are meant to be the selling point, the e-keys, or whatever? I mean, it's a catch-all of acoustic and electric pianos, so I supposed that makes it the software equivalent to a typical Digital Piano from Roland or Yamaha. I don't think there are any other VI's like that yet?

[Houndman]

Spectrasonics products, IMHO are must haves.
This is another one.

[SixStringGeek]

After listened to the video I'm left thinking my True Keys pianos are just fine. I don't have a lot of nostalgic feelings for an old Wurly and $4 bills seems a fair price for what they're offering. Most sounds II'll probably never use and it duplicates much of what is s already in my system. Good starter set.

That's my take. There's nothing in there I don't have a "good enough" version of lying around.

I've declared a moratorium on instrument purchases - and FWIW, I find myself relying on my Korg Kronos more and more for a lot of sounds. I think its pianos are among the best around (sympathetic resonance and half damping sustain pedal and all that stuff is incredible - and largely lost on this ham fisted guitarist anyway).

If I want a Wurly - MrTramp is free and plenty good. LoungeLizard and the Kronos have the Rhodes more than covered. PianoTeq - at $99 covers a lot of odd vintage instruments and a variety of bells as well.

[waxman]

Looks great, but I am already quite happy with Ivory and Komplete Ultimate for acoustic piano, Wurli and Rhodes. The other stuff doesn't really interest me that much.

Omnisphere synths are awesome and fun mh. Give 'em a spin!

Hi Marcus, Which NI ultimate Rhodes patches do you like?

[HCMarkus]

Looks great, but I am already quite happy with Ivory and Komplete Ultimate for acoustic piano, Wurli and Rhodes. The other stuff doesn't really interest me that much.

Omnisphere synths are awesome and fun mh. Give 'em a spin!

Hi Marcus, Which NI ultimate Rhodes patches do you like?

Aloha fellow San Diegan!

I think the samples and playability are good, but am not enamored with some of the built in FX. I usually start with a basic patch, then process to taste, often using external plugins to achieve the sound I seek for the project at hand. Compression brings out the cream...

[waxman]

Yes that was a nice answer... and what are some of the patches you like to start building with? Are those trade secrets? If you tell me will you have to kill me?

Because I can't find anything as good as what I am hearing on Keyscapes even when I process the heck out of it. I spoke to my keyboard guy Dave Polich. He said nothing on my Kronos X or the NI and Arturia stuff I have is as good as Keyscapes so I think I will get it when I can download it. $399 is not bad for all that stuff. I have always liked Spectrasonics VI's.

In the early 80s I used to do sessions in a little studio in Costa Mesa called Front Page. Eric Persing did sessions there as a sound designer. He was doing insane things with stacking sounds, D-50s, samplers, Yamaha TG stuff and classic analog synths. He would have these patches in his Roland Sampler. It was the infancy of Atmosphere and Omnisphere. He would have the stacks all on a card and take the card and proprietary cables with him when he went to lunch. The guy was seriously ahead of his time. Now he will sell the secrets for $399. I think I'll pay for it... PS for years I have owned Atmosphere and Omnisphere and Stylus RMX... they are great... but the NI stuff is for a different thing...

[David Polich]

Even from the Keyscape demos, I can tell the instruments in this package are the best I've heard
from any vendor, in any format.

To aprecaite the difference in the sound of the Keyscape instruments, you have to be a keyboard player with an extensive knowledge of what these vintage keys really sound like. For most folks, what they currently own is likely good enough. The Spectrasonics Keyscape package is for purists who are still searching for the ultimate "nailed" vintage keys sounds. It's a lot like guitarists and amps - for non guitarists, a current model Fender, Vox, or Marshall amp is good enough. For really experienced (and picky) guitar players, nothing but their favorite boutique amp will do. Think of Keyscape as a "boutique" collection...if you just occassionally call up a keyboard sound, you don't need this.

I own a Kronos X 61. I use it for primarily for live gigging, and some studio stuff. While the Rhodes and Wurlies in the Kronos are pretty good and very usable, they do not come close to what Keyscape offers.

[Babz]

Even from the Keyscape demos, I can tell the instruments in this package are the best I've heard
from any vendor, in any format.

That was my impression exactly. You could really heard the difference.

To aprecaite the difference in the sound of the Keyscape instruments, you have to be a keyboard player with an extensive knowledge of what these vintage keys really sound like. For most folks, what they currently own is likely good enough. The Spectrasonics Keyscape package is for purists who are still searching for the ultimate "nailed" vintage keys sounds. It's a lot like guitarists and amps - for non guitarists, a current model Fender, Vox, or Marshall amp is good enough. For really experienced (and picky) guitar players, nothing but their favorite boutique amp will do. Think of Keyscape as a "boutique" collection...if you just occassionally call up a keyboard sound, you don't need this.

Yes, indeed. as someone who owned a lot of these keyboards back in the 70s (Rhodes suitcase, Wurly 140B ... even a Hohner Pianet at one point), I have tried just about everything that has come along over the years, and these sound like the most carefully-crafted versions I've heard yet. And the acoustic pianos sound like they could offer just that something like that classic 70s sound that I am forever searching for in a piano (Carole King, Laura Nyro, Todd Rundgren, etc.; most digital pianos I try seem they are aimed at a more classical piano type of playing).

I have to believe that a lot of what makes this package so superior comes from the brilliance and perfectionism of Eric P himself, who clearly knows how to do sampling right -- including the most important ingredient: knowing what the originals are supposed to sound like and getting the best-sound instrument before you even record a single note. I only wish he had taken on the mighty Hammond challenge, but alas, no organs in this package.

So without having actually tried Keyscape myself, just based on the video, my impression is that these will set the new standard for definitive versions of these instruments. However, I also imagine price for all this perfection will be a pretty hefty hit in the resource dept.

Best,
Babz