Should You Buy Keyscape In 2023? (Keyscape and Roland A-88 MKII Giveaway!)

[@ilio_official]

❤🎹 We love Keyscape, and we love your playing! Thanks for sharing our giveaway, Sam!

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Thanks!!

[@predragkalajdzijevic7146]

As always great playing, very inspirative. It's a shame that more people don't watch this. I tried many sampled pianos. Keyscape is the best!!! Your playing is more than outstanding. I wish you good luck, and many more viewers in 2023. Just keep it up.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

thank you for watching!

[@ph9674]

I just came here to say yes, it’s absolutely worth it. I think there is nothing comparable on the market

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

It's great!

[@hammondboybennett1580]

Yes Keyscape is definitely worth buying in 2023 the reason I brought it cause it’s natural, realistic, more modern, and relevant as you mentioned.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

yep!

[@FromTheHipp]

i got so caught up into listening that i forgot this was a review. if nothing else, you make it sound great my man

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

haha, thanks!

[@marcsmith3739]

Keyscape is my only go to….Keyscape sounds are so real that it will never get old…..How can the real thing get old…..

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Haha, it is hard to imagine Keyscape getting old. Thanks for watching.

[@doraysmith]

Theres just something about Keysapes sound quality that sets it apart. It will be my core piano and rhodes vst...It used to be Ivory II ( still great) but since keyscape hit the scene thats the one for me. Anything from spectrasonics has been been spectacular...as far back as Omnisphere 1 and Trillian Bass

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I agree, Keyscape hits different

[@bluegroove777]

I wanted to love Keyscapes, but it was just too noisey for me in the end (there's a hiss at high volume if you listen closely and I'm really sensitive to that sort of thing) so I switched to Pianoteq. Yes you can use Keyscapes built in De-noise feature, but then you lose the fidelity of the samples which they tell you in the FAQ. I can get the same fidelity from Pianoteq without the hiss (and also a fraction of the hard drive space). I don't mean to be negaitve, but that's just my own experience as someone who is sensitive to background noise (I realize most aren't as picky as me and that's probably for the best lol). Anyways, I really love your channel and always look forward to hearing you play!

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

This is true actually, Keyscape is a little noisy. I don't get a lot of people that complain about that so you're definitely in the minority. I have found using some high-end de-noise plugins can achieve a better result then the built in de-noise feature, but the noise is a non-factor for me when it's tucked in with a band. If you want a super super tiny librayr on the hard-drive, you right about pianoteq haha

[@bluegroove777]

@@SamTheBeardGuy good call, it's really only noticeable when playing solo and with the volume cranked up, which is a situation I find myself in everyday because I like to play alone and I like to play loud lol

[@dgzin3876]

​@@bluegroove777 Have you tried lowering the "Rel Noise"? 🤣 I believe that most of the noise is there, everything is adjustable, it sounds perfect to me.

[@bluegroove777]

@@dgzin3876 yes, it definitely helps, but also degrades the tone, which is why that setting isn't on by default (according to their own faq). But yeah, I am admittedly really picky about noise :)

[@APaclin]

Pianoteq doesn’t sound real at all.

[@stenaldomehilli8809]

Lovely playing as always. Keyscape will always be one of the best keyboard libraries one can build. It's outstanding by all means. I have a good keyboard but owning the keyscape through a giveaway would have made me go wow. 😊

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Hahaha for sure. I don’t think I’ve ever won anything in a giveaway ever soooooo…..

[@VillekzMusic]

Kinda random but id swear I took a music in videogame course with you at UTA lol, was looking into keyscape - skrillex used a bit of it in his albums earlier this year so looking into it, great vid!

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

yep! what year were you in my class?

[@boredPianoAdv]

No such thing as too many Keyscape videos from you! So far at least; when you mention the "aging-out" of keyboard libraries, do any come to mind that haven't stood the test of time? And thanks for sharing the giveaway, time to get my hopes up over impossible odds hehe

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Alicia Keys is the first piano that comes to mind.

[@agentooe33AD]

Great video brother. Not to down other plugins and libraries, but Keyscape is literally the only piano I use once I got a couple of years ago. I simply can't settle on any other piano library. It is literally my one and only goto.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Thanks for watching! Keyscape is definitely the 1st or 2nd library I'll pull up to feel out a vibe, sometimes I'll pivot, sometimes I'll stick with it.

[@elisabeth.reid_]

Hey Sam! Love the keyscape sounds and your playing as always, considering upgrading from Native Instruments myself! Wondering if you’ve thought about doing a video about your studio setup? I struggle with low-quality sound at home which makes it difficult to tune-in my virtual instrument sounds for live performance. Would be super interested in a video breaking down your whole setup + product recommendations!

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Hey! I've thought about it. I'm definitely doing a mainstage video soon, but a studio video could be helpful.

[@ShikharKumar-fz6ti]

Hi Sam, your content is amazing and so is your playing !!! I would like if you can create a video and rating all the piano plugins you have ever used so that its easier for new players too !!!

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I actually did one of those recently!

[@gatosoul]

Keyscape is still the best, I would love to see a new version, with different Acoustic pianos brands & sizes, or alternative years and models of Rhodes.Thank you For sharing!!

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

I love Keyscape! I think it is definitely a more performance based instrument. It’s harder to mix but not impossible.

[@iceplayer3244]

As for me it's the reverse situation😂😂😂 I prefer Native kontakt for stage and Keyscape when I record.

[@agentooe33AD]

It depends on the style of piano. I find on the C7, the rock variant is the best for cutting through a full mix. Whereas, if the track is softer and less populated, then a softer tone will suffice with minimal editing. In a lot of my pop mixes, I use the rock variant with reverb on, fairly wet, and shimmer cranked all the way up, and it sounds glorious.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Keyscape is awesome. I've honestly found it depends on what kind of live setting. In a full band setting, engineers will end up carving a bit out, but solo recording in the studio feels great, but that's just my personal experience. That will be the case with most libraries.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I go back and forth between gentleman, grandeur, and keyscape live. Just depends on the setting.

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

@@SamTheBeardGuy I love all those. I use the SpitFire Audio pianos too.

[@deyvidpetromusic]

Keyscape is undeniable really. I know I chop and change a lot but inevitably I always fall back on Keyscape. A few minor adjustments especially on the acoustic pianos i.e mic perspectives and the same tweaking option on the Wing Upright as on the C7. Aside from that Keyscape is near perfect.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Agreed, Keyscape usually just works. Great product, thanks for watching.

[@deyvidpetromusic]

@@SamTheBeardGuy will you ever get around to the VSL Synchron pianos? Would love to hear your take on them...

[@88omarz]

What adjustments do you typically make to the C7?

[@jasonshrestha]

your videos are great! beautiful playing! how much latency do you have in your DAW when you are recording this? doesn't it bother you when its around 5ms etc?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I have almost no latency! Mac's are much better at latency than PC, not sure what you're on

[@yungifez]

Damn keyscape sounds so good

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

It does!

[@callumpickard20]

Hey Sam! I adore both Keyscape and your playing so much! I'd really love for you to do a review on the Fazioli F308 by Synchron. That thing looks incred! Any chance you'd be able to do a review on it in the future?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I can add it to the list! Ideally they'd send it to me so I can try it out

[@johnchabo9839]

I have 2019 Mac book pro - 2.4GHz 8‑core 9th‑generation Intel Core i9 processor, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory 32GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory 1TB SSD storage Do you think my computer will handle keyscape for live performance without fletching ? Thank you

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

You have a great voice. Would love more lyrics. Don't be shy.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

haha, I sing every once in awhile

[@headsman2023]

I would be amazed if they Decide to sample new grand pianos for keyscape... I man it's time for this amazing product to be even greater... Imagine they sample an Steinway d274 homburg... And a yamaha cfx with new features like una corda pedal, sympathetic resonances... More control over the sound and that amazing wood wamrth that they captured with c7... I wish they see my comment and do such thing, having a collection of a few flagship grand pianos would be awesome... Just imagine it Steinway d274 Yamaha. Cfx9 Yamaha c7 Bechstein d282 Fazioli f280 Bosendorfer 290imperial And even more...

[@jentevandewater8577]

Aren't you bothered by the weird resconance or overtones on the lower register. I cannot play it without hearing it, which bothers me a lot.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

It doesn’t bother me. But I’m not usually using it an environment where I’m going to notice it

[@llelismusic9828]

Hi, Great Video! Could you share which velocity curve you're using with that keyboard (A88Mkii) ? Thanks !

[@-musiclee-]

Hey hey. Can you please review. The new Keyscape. Double Felt?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I reviewed it this weekend! Video coming soon

[@bigfuzzztv787]

Love this episode.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

thanks!

[@zakfoster1]

Nice video, it's been helpful for me in my decision making process !! I wanted to ask, when you switch patches, does it immediately cut the audio on the current patch as it loads in the new one, or does it sustain if the the pedal is down or the if the patch has a long sustain envelope? hope this makes sense 😃

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

It does, but that's going to be most libraries. Most libraries aren't going to hold samples loaded when you switch over. There's a lot of clever ways to get around this in mainstage if you're playing live, and I can't think of a reason why this would matter when you're recording.

[@johnwinchester8537]

Is a really good computer enough to play with Keyscapes? Or the keyboard also matters? Like I have a Yamaha p45 which just uses a a printer cable if I want to connect from keyboard to PC. Would I need anything else like an audio inteface to reduce latency? I heard people saying you need those.. But I thought ASIO4ALL is enough nowadays if I'm not wrong.. Any advise I'd appreciate

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

a good computer can handle Keyscape. I'm not as familiar with the PC stuff, I know I sometimes i have latency issues with ASIO.

[@johnwinchester8537]

@@SamTheBeardGuy So what do you use to get that zero latency if I may ask?

[@headsman2023]

Hey sam, great playing as always♥️ you're one heck of a talent tight there... I have a question for you... Did you felt that the higher velocities on keyscape are lacking? I mean i feel like no matter how hard i push the keys, it'll not reach the point that sounds like forte range... You think I'm right or I'll have to mess around with velocity curve? To do it right?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I would mess with the velocity curves. If you're using a piano thats a little heavier on the action, you might be triggering the higher values. Back when I used the SL88 I had to do this

[@dgzin3876]

Hello master, what Plugin do you use to reduce the noise? KeyScape noises bother me a lot, and I end up degrading the timbre when I use an EQ, do you use a specific plugin for that? Your timbres sound so good. Thanks in advance! Hugs from Brazil!

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

there's actually a denoise setting in Keyscape that you can toggle. I always turn the tape off and denoise on

[@88omarz]

Great take man you mentioned reverb. I’ve heard about Valhalla which one do you recommend for reverb or others?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Valhalla is great, love their reverbs. Use it on everything. Get vintage

[@88omarz]

@@SamTheBeardGuy thanks bro.

[@jeffsims5683]

Whats your updated opinion on Ravenscroft vs Keyscape from a live performance and a Studio perspective?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

still love both. I use Keyscape more but that's just cause I'm used to it, Ravenscroft is a great piano

[@jeffsims5683]

@@SamTheBeardGuy I ended up buying Ravenscroft, and very happy with it the studio for solo piano stuff so far.

[@noreaction1]

Keyscape is timeless, until midi 2.0 is widely integrated and used in daws and midi instruments and virtual instruments im sticking with keyscape as my main piano sounds

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

agreed. thanks for watching!

[@Dieter-4]

Great playing! Keyscape is really amazing, too bad it's too fucking expensive for me.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I do wish they had a lite version

[@Zach_Routhier]

As a newb can someone explain the signal path? So I get the Roland A88 and plug that into my laptop (which is running keyscape) and my laptop is connected to a usb audio interface that is connected to studio monitors?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

yep, that's basically it!

[@Zach_Routhier]

Oh, that's pretty straightforward. Lol. Thanks! @@SamTheBeardGuy

[@MichaelSanchez-nv6dc]

What controller are you using for this video?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

korg d1

[@michealjester2548]

Sam what is your top 3 piano Plug in

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

hmmmm, right now, Keyscape, CFX, Noire

[@marijncabanier2197]

Keyscape is almost perfect. if it had a good felt piano, it would be

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

agreed, it's missing a good felt

[@jacobsmith1877]

As of a few days ago it now has a felt!

[@dgzin3876]

Okay, no more to go 😀

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

What are y’all’s 2023 thoughts on Keyscape?

[@banterbanter]

Have you tried hammers and waves?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Yep, I have a review of it on my channel. Great library

[@banterbanter]

@@SamTheBeardGuy cool will check, thanks Sam

[@MarcReynares]

I just want to ask if you have low end laptop or pc, do keyscape still no latency in the midi keyboard? or if there's a latency how to fix it? I've been thinking to buy keyscape but I dont have high end laptop or pc , I only have low end laptop that still meet the system requirement of the plugin but still I can't stop to worry that it might have latency while playing it with a low end laptop. Hope you guys can help me thanks.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

My laptop is 4 years old and I don't have an issue. Thanks for watching!

[@MarcReynares]

@@SamTheBeardGuy Can you tell me what is the brand/exact name of your laptop? Thanks.

[@jhilboldt]

Love Keyscape but using it live is sometimes a challenge. What controller are you using ?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Korg D1. Yeah I don’t use a ton live anymore. My MainStage concert doesn’t like having keyscape and 12 pads and synths going on at the same time

[@Davidrodriguez-sd6st]

I have the Roland mk 1 I’m curious what the mk2 feels like

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I've actually never played an MKI, so I can't speak to that, but the MKII actions feels nice

[@johnnylong2023]

@@SamTheBeardGuy Roland A88 Mk2 vs korg d1 in terms of keybed, wich you choose???

[@tuneunleashed]

@@johnnylong2023f you want controls and a decent action and with fake ivory texture then go with the Roland but what’s the better overall action? I will say it’s the Korg D1 or Studiologic SL88 Grand. The D1 is easier to play grace notes compared to the Roland with its Ivory feel Keybed it dries up your hands the texture feels like your playing on a MacBook mouse pad now think of it as an 88 key midi controller. The Keybed of the Korg D1 is in their flagship boards such as the Korg Kronos 1/X and 2. It just faster the PHA-4 action. Roland’s PHA-4 standard action is slow.

[@APaclin]

The tone is nice, but pianos sound fake since there’s no sympathetic resonance.

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Yeah, not something you notice in a mix but it’s true. CFX grand does this super well

[@DavidFackeure]

Hello, is The A88 a better Keyboard than SL88 or D1 for Keyscape controler and for studio master Keyboard? With my D1, I can't find a satisfactory velocity curve to control Keyscape or the NordStage compact 3. So I sent it back... Do you have the same problem with your D1? Thank's David kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKq3gnt-arF0b7M

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

I do not like the SL88. I'd say the A88 has an edge. I've gotten used to the D1 though, doesn't bother me.

[@DavidFackeure]

@@SamTheBeardGuy Hello, I canceled the return of the Korg D1. I kept it for the quality of the keybed. I found a perfect setting between the velocity curve offered by the Korg and the settings options of the NordStage 3 Compact. Perfect for the live and for recording !!! I'd love you to share your Korg D1 settings and the velocity curve you use with Keyscape. The one proposed by Keyscape for the SV-1 (RH3) keyboards does not suit me at all. THANKS

[@sayonvertigo]

You're Handyman 👍

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

😀

[@OptimaMrL]

The title needs to be renamed - it's 2023, have you got Keyscape? No? What's your excuse?

[@SamTheBeardGuy]

Hahaha, preach

[@4ytherium]

It’s.. $399 😅