One of the things that makes it special right off the bat is that VSL sampled the Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755. The Vienna Imperial from Vienna Symphonic Library would be top of many people’s lists, and it’s hard to disagree. Image credit: Vienna Symphonic Library Check & Download vsl.co.at

But, the quality, attention to detail, and versatility make Keyscape our overall top pick. If your only interest is the concert grand sound, there might be one or two better options, especially for classical players. Keyscape is slightly CPU-heavy and has an 80 GB library size. You can adjust the reverb, EQ, Compression, and perfectly modeled mechanical noise.

The GUI is straightforward, and while Keyscape doesn’t offer editing as deep as some others, it has some handy controls. There’s plenty of depth in the bass, and everything above is crystal clear and rings out with a nice, natural decay. There are many C7 presets available, and they sound fantastic, even without any editing. Keyscape is a sampled instrument with up to 32 velocity layers, which is incredibly impressive. Jim Wilson personally set up the C7 specifically for Keyscape to ensure the widest tonal spectrum and greatest dynamic range. This particular Yamaha C7 belongs to the renowned LA-based piano technician Jim Wilson. Keyscape refers to it as the LA Custom C7 because they sampled a model fitted with Renner “Blue Point” hammers with Weickert felt. The grand piano sampled by Spectrasonics is the Yamaha C7 concert grand. For us, the Acoustic Pianos, Clavinets, Key Bass, and Electric Pianos are the standouts. There are over 500 preset sounds suitable for just about every genre of music you can think of between all categories. The 36 featured keyboard instruments are split into the following categories: This process took many years to complete, and the results are stunning.

Spectrasonics curated 36 of the world’s most sought-after keyboard instruments and expertly restored them to pristine condition before sampling them with incredible detail. It’s arguably the best-sounding piano VST on the market, but it’s by far the most versatile. Keyscape by Spectrasonics is our top pick for many reasons. Image credit: Spectrasonics Check & Download

Keyscape plugin free