🎹Addictive Keys Piano VST Plugin Review - Addictive Keys Studio Grand, Modern Upright🎹

#AddictiveKeys #VST #Plugin

Hello and welcome to the Merriam Pianos YouTube channel. We’ve got another video here in our series on VST’s, and we’ll be looking at the XLN Addictive Keys VST.

VST’s are becoming increasingly popular due to how good they’ve gotten, and are an absolute staple at both home and professional studios alike. We’ll be discussing the Addictive Keys user interface, it’s versatility and our overall impressions of the sound.

Please like the video below, and if it’s your first time to the channel, subscribe and hit that notification bell!

First Impressions:

Addictive Keys is a sample based plugin as opposed to a modeling based, meaning it’s built off a set of pre-recorded core samples. They won’t reveal which piano they’ve sampled, but our guess is a 9 foot Yamaha CFX.

Right off the hop, and this goes for the other ‘Addictive’ products as well, you’ll notice that the interface isn’t particularly intuitive - there’s a definitely a bit of a learning curve when you first dive in. That said, keep watching the video and Stu will go through a quick demo.

There’s the ‘Explore Mode’ which is designed for folks who are new to VST as it essentially streamlines everything.

For those who want to dig further, there’s ‘Edit Mode’, where you can edit a whole bunch of settings, including mic placement, mic type, amp selection, compression, tremolo and the option to add additional layers of effects.

Piano Sound:

They don’t list the maximum polyphony, but we’re definitely hearing some note cancellation implying that the polyphony isn’t all that high.

The presets in general are highly usable, with a nice variety of options, and it’s quite nice to be able to jump right in and have something ready to go. Presets can also have a positive effect on your creativity.

All that being said, the inherent character of the sampled piano really bleeds through regardless of preset, which can be both of a positive and a negative depending on your needs. The core sample is rendered very well and the touch curve is great, so it’s definitely still a viable option.

Summary:

Compared to ‘Addictive Drummer’, XLN’s virtual drum machine, we didn’t find Addictive Keys to be quite as useful, but your mileage may vary. We could definitely see it used effectively for pop tracking, and maybe even some film score related stuff.

Thanks very much for watching!

Connect with Merriam Music:

[dmirakzbeats]

the way you played the notes on this vst it made my soul flying on clouds so beautiful i have also adictive keys its monstrious big props to those sound engineers and creators who made this vst

[soniibeatz]

I just found out that if you have a Focusrite interface you can get one of the 4 pianos for free. I'm tryna decide between Studio Grand or Modern Upright

[mariusz]

I feel like it would be nice if you review keyscape and compare it to previous vsts tested as well as to the digital pianos you've tested, which is something I was always curious about. Anyway great review!

[chrisanderson]

FYI, XLN Studio Grand is sampled from a Steinway D. It's in their description, so it isn't the CFX. Awesome playing and tour of the plug in! :)

[vacation_generation]

What a great piano vst. Extremely useable, beautiful tone. Very convenient and portable when using just a computer laptop and dummy keyboard.

[mfurman]

I am very excited that you started to review VSTs. Perhaps, you could also create some episodes about MIDI controllers (I hoped for it for some time).

[Kyuuketsuki]

I know people rave about Pianoteq, but coming from that video straight to this one, I immediately liked the base sound of Addictive Keys quite a bit more versus anything I heard from Pianoteq.

[nolongerinuse]

This is an awesome review. You should consider doing Keyscape next!

[DopamineOverload]

Always love all your videos man. Stay safe! Nice-looking home studio, btw!!

[arr]

Great idea to review this kind of things from home during lockdown! Just another idea, what if you make a deeper review of all the apps from digital piano makers? I'm using Chordana right now in my brand new Casio PX770 and I'm surprised of how much things include this app to learn, nobody talks so much about it, a deeper review from your point of view could be very usefull for us, for sure the apps from Yamaha, Kawai, Roland, etc. are quite good or even better than Chordana. What do you think about making videos with that?

[dwfantom]

Hello Stu, I’m glad I discovered you! The information you are providing here is of a very high value. You are making it so easy for seekers and listeners like me to make a well informed decision. So very Well, that being said - hats off and a bow to your skills I really do enjoy listening to your improves, progressions, runs… ear candy!!! 😊😊😊
I think you should make a video of how to play the piano from advanced and up. But make sure you have a donation option (at the least) so that you get paid. I’m sure you worked hard and lesions like that should not come free of cost. It’s not fair to you!
Thank you so much and keep it coming!

[PianoUniverse]

So what keyboard is Stu using with his VST plugins?

[jacksonbooth]

Curious if Bill Evans was a major influence on his playing. I can almost hear him in the performances.

[alpay]

by the way you can get this piano vst for free if you buy a focusrite audiointerface.

[AngeloMagnaye__]

Addictive Keys and Noire are great VSTs

[aquaticborealis]

I would be interested in your thoughts on the C7 Grand included in IK Multimedia’s Sample Tank software (also included in their Total Studio 3 Max)

[michaelyolch]

HE FINALLY GETS TO THE POINT AT 3:16. You're welcome.

[benyaeast]

Thank you for your videos, liked and subed 🙏🏽

[tranngocquy]

Hello, should I use an interface (sound card) to make piano sound from vst higher quality, more realistic? Thank u

[blueeyedsoulman]

What are you using as a controller? That's REALLY important info.