Is Keyscape Worth The Money?

Keyscape by Spectrasonics features a vast library of 36 rare and meticulously refurbished acoustic and electro-mechanical keyboards. Keyscape is a favorite among producers and composers, thanks to the high quality of its sounds, which were painstakingly captured over a period of ten years.

With so many virtual instruments on the market, it’s important to ask if Keyscape is still worth it. Keyscape’s vast capabilities also raise some questions about who can make the most of what it has to offer. Find out from our overview how Keyscape can provide value and whether it’s right for you.

Is Keyscape Worth It?

The Spectrasonics Sound Development Team spent ten years tracking down the 36 keyboards that would form the backbone of Keyscape. Some of the instruments were 100 years old, and many required extensive restoration to become playable. The team spent a decade testing and restoring each instrument to make it the best possible version of itself before being recorded in exhaustive sampling sessions. These recordings were then sculpted by the Spectrasonics Sound Development Team into supremely authentic virtual instruments, utilizing the knowledge and skill acquired from decades of sound design experience, and the immense capabilities of Spectrasonics’ exclusive STEAM synth engine, the foundation of Keyscape.

Greats like Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, and Greg Phillinganes use Keyscape just like they would any other keyboard. Producers and composers choose Keyscape due to the fidelity of its sounds and the incredible range of keyboard instruments it places at their fingertips. Many performers have said that playing Keyscape is an experience that transcends simply playing. The richness and variety of sound resonates with the soul of the musician, creating a two-way interaction that is special among virtual instruments. Beyond that, Keyscape can give you access to keyboards few people could ever find (or afford) all on a computer.

Experienced users can find endless value from Keyscape, whether they’re performing live, at a first-call recording session, or composing the perfect beat. While its capabilities might seem extravagant for a novice user, Keyscape provides a rich and varied sonic environment that everyone will benefit from. Keyscape was a decade-long labor of love for the Spectrasonics development team and the result is beyond any other keyboard collection on the market. So whether you value Keyscape against competitive products, by the sheer number and variety of sounds provided, or by adding up the hard costs of the sampled instruments themselves, by any measure Keyscape is an incredible value!

What Does Keyscape Include?

Keyscape includes over 500 sounds from 36 of the rarest and most highly sought-after keyboards, some of which are a century old. Keyscape includes an 80 GB full-installation and a 30 GB lite installation version with fewer instruments. The beautifully presented boxed version offers both installation types on two USB fast-installation drives. Another little-known but important detail about Keyscape is that its extensively sampled instruments include mechanical, pedal, and release noise modeling, extending its realism even further for ultra-expressive sound and a superior playing experience.

Does Keyscape Work With All DAWs?

Keyscape works with all major DAWs as a plug-in, letting you plug and play without interrupting your workflow. Keyscape works on Mac and PC and can be played in AAX, VST, AU, and Standalone formats. Keyscape also integrates with Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2 as a satellite instrument.

Can I Use Keyscape Without a DAW?

Sometimes you just want to play some keys and don't want to fire up a session on your DAW just to access an instrument. Keyscape comes with a standalone mode that lets you play it just like any keyboard.

You can also edit and save patches just like you would in the DAW. This is perfect for live settings or when you just want to jam out on your own or with some friends.

Do I Need Omnisphere to Use Keyscape?

No, you don’t need Omnisphere to use Keyscape. While Keyscape is compatible with Omnisphere 2, which can greatly expand what’s possible with the instrument, you can use Keyscape all on its own.

Keyscape also allows you to modify each patch with its Custom Controls, letting you stretch and mold each sound until it's just right for you.

If you do own the latest versions of Omnisphere and Keyscape, you have access to Spectrasonics’ exclusive Keyscape Creative library, which brings the best of both instruments together in a collection of wonderful hybrid patches that can be accessed through Omnisphere’s patch browser.

Is Keyscape Apple Silicon Compatible?

Yes, the latest version of Keyscape is compatible with Apple Silicon and the M1 processor. It’s important to keep your Spectrasonics instruments up-to-date to take advantage of new features, bug-fixes and compatibility requirements. Fortunately Spectrasonics makes this easy to do by clicking on the “Get Updates” button when you launch Keyscape. If you’re installing Keyscape on an M1 Mac for the first time follow the instructions provided here. Compatibility with Apple Silicon.