XLN Audio Addictive Keys: Modern Upright is a virtual instrument that meticulously samples a Yamaha U3 upright piano, renowned for its tight, defined tone and airy ambience. Recorded in a large auditorium with high acoustical standards, this plugin captures the essence of a modern classic piano, offering users a versatile sound that fits seamlessly into various musical productions. The instrument features seven distinct microphone perspectives, ranging from close to far, floor to soundboard, and mono to stereo, providing an extensive palette for sound design within the Addictive Keys engine. This level of detail allows users to tailor the piano’s sound to their specific needs, whether it’s for a smooth jazz piece requiring a mellow, warm tone or a bright pop production demanding an upfront sound. The Modern Upright is part of the larger Addictive Keys suite, which aims to redefine the standard for virtual keyboard instruments. With its fast load times, intuitive interface, and high-quality samples, this plugin is designed to keep musicians in their creative flow, offering immediate playability and a wide range of sonic possibilities.
Pros:
• Exceptional recording quality with seven unique microphone perspectives
• Incredibly fast load times, enhancing workflow efficiency
• Versatile sound-sculpting tools for extensive customization
• Intuitive user interface with ExploreMaps for easy preset navigation
• Standalone version available for hassle-free playing without a DAW
Cons:
• Limited to one specific upright piano model
• Requires internet connection for installation and activation
The Addictive Keys: Modern Upright boasts an impressive array of features that set it apart in the crowded field of virtual piano instruments. At its core are the meticulously sampled sounds of a Yamaha U3 upright piano, captured using high-end microphones in a professional auditorium. The seven microphone perspectives offer unprecedented flexibility in shaping the piano’s tone, allowing users to blend different mic positions to achieve their desired sound. The plugin’s sound engine is a powerhouse of customization. It includes a comprehensive mixing section where users can balance, pan, solo, and mute different microphone channels. Each channel has its own processor chain, featuring modules such as a noise generator, a three-band parametric EQ, and multi-effects units. These effects include tremolo, compression, distortion, chorus, and phaser, providing ample opportunity for creative sound design.
Sample Shift function, which allows users to alter the instrument’s character by shifting the sample mapping up or down by up to 12 semitones while simultaneously transposing in the opposite direction. This results in a timbral shift that can dramatically change the piano’s sound, effectively giving users access to 25 different variations of the instrument. The plugin also offers extensive control over the piano’s response and behavior. Users can adjust the una corda pedal effect, sustain pedal noise, sympathetic resonance, and string resonance. The velocity scaling feature allows for fine-tuning of the instrument’s dynamic response, while the pitch, filter, and volume envelopes provide synthesizer-like control over the sound.
Addictive Keys: Modern Upright VST includes a Memo feature, allowing users to quickly capture musical ideas within the plugin. These memos can be revisited later or even dragged into a DAW as MIDI data. The preset system is equally innovative, with an online preset management system called My Cloud that automatically backs up user presets and allows for easy sharing between different computers. The plugin’s user interface is designed for efficiency and ease of use. The Gallery and Explore pages provide intuitive ways to navigate through instruments and presets, while the Edit page offers deep control over all aspects of the sound. The X-Mod feature allows for real-time MIDI control of various parameters, adding an extra layer of expressiveness to performances.
When compared to other virtual piano plugins, Addictive Keys: Modern Upright stands out for its focus on a single, high-quality upright piano and its extensive microphone options. While plugins like Pianoteq offer physically modeled pianos with similar levels of customization, Addictive Keys relies on sampled sounds, which some users may prefer for their authenticity. Compared to sample libraries like Synthogy Ivory II or Native Instruments’ The Giant, Addictive Keys offers a more streamlined, focused approach, sacrificing the variety of multiple piano models for depth and flexibility with a single instrument. The plugin’s fast load times and efficient CPU usage give it an edge over some more resource-intensive libraries. Its sound-sculpting capabilities are more extensive than many competitors, though it may not match the raw sample size of some of the largest piano libraries on the market. The Modern Upright’s unique Sample Shift feature and detailed microphone mixing options set it apart from many other upright piano plugins, offering a level of tonal variety that’s hard to match without multiple sampled instruments.
This plugin is best for:
• Producers and composers seeking a versatile, high-quality upright piano sound
• Musicians who value fast load times and efficient workflow
• Sound designers looking for extensive customization options in a piano plugin
• Live performers needing a reliable, low-latency virtual piano
• Home studio owners with limited system resources who still want professional-quality sounds
Addictive Keys: Modern Upright is a powerful and flexible virtual instrument that brings the sound of a classic upright piano into the digital realm with unprecedented detail and control. Its combination of high-quality sampling, extensive microphone options, and powerful sound-shaping tools make it a versatile choice for a wide range of musical applications. The plugin’s fast load times and efficient performance ensure that it can be used effectively in both studio and live settings, while its intuitive interface and preset system make it accessible to users of all skill levels. While it may not offer the variety of multiple piano models found in some larger libraries, the depth of customization available for this single instrument is impressive. The Modern Upright’s ability to produce sounds ranging from warm and mellow to bright and upfront, coupled with its unique features like Sample Shift and the Memo system, make it a compelling option for anyone seeking a high-quality, flexible upright piano plugin. Despite its focus on a single piano model, the sheer range of tones achievable through its various microphone perspectives and sound-shaping tools ensure that it can meet the needs of diverse musical styles and production requirements.