NAMM 2023Spectrasonics updates Keyscape to v1.5 - Adds New Double Felt Grand - Free Update

To celebrate International Piano Day (the 88th day of the year), Spectrasonics has released a special new Double Felt Grand piano for Keyscape — available now to users as a free update. This v1.5 release represents the first time that Spectrasonics has added a brand new instrument to Keyscape — and the "felt piano" has been the #1 most requested sound from Keyscape users.

Here's what they say:

Creating the Double Felt

Normally, the highly coveted "felt piano" sound is achieved by draping a layer of felt vertically between the strings and the hammers of an upright piano. This softens the strikes and gives the upright piano an intimate, muted tone. Because of gravity, this technique is not feasible on a grand piano, since the hammers and strings are situated horizontally. The felt would simply lay on top of the hammers, preventing them from rising up to strike the strings. Attempts to attach the felt above the hammers, against the strings, yields less-than-satisfactory results and laying the felt on top of the strings mutes their sustain drastically.

Through careful experimentation, renowned piano technician Jim Wilson (creator of the unique Yamaha grand used in Keyscape for the LA Custom C7), discovered how to achieve this gorgeous muted sound on a world-class 7-foot grand piano. After a great deal of thought, Jim ended up carefully cutting, fitting, and gluing two individually layered strips of a thick, natural felt to each hammer.

Sound/Software Development

Once the acoustic piano was prepared in this special way, the Spectrasonics sound development team (led by producer Eric Persing) then painstakingly sampled the instrument at their newly developed private recording studio — which features some of the largest naturally ambient recording spaces in Los Angeles. To complete the experience, the software team developed new DSP reverb algorithms that are exclusive to this new Keyscape sound. The final result is the unique Double Felt Grand: a warm, soft piano with the best aspects of a felt upright, but with the body and the decay of a grand.

New Keyscape Video

To celebrate Piano Day and the release of the new Double Felt Grand, they've also produced a new Keyscape video featuring a beautiful performance on the new sound by Sony Classical artist Olivia Belli: YouTube.com/watch?v=u-AMjFS0kVY

Pricing and Availability

The Double Felt Grand is now available and included with Keyscape. All existing users can get the new piano as a Free Update by simply using the "Get Updates" button on the splash screen of the Keyscape user interface to download it.