Q Up Arts California Keys — Free Download

Grand Piano Collection

The centerpiece is a Fazioli grand piano, recorded in a designed studio with an array of microphones. The multi-channel setup captures the instrument from multiple perspectives, allowing you to shape the sound to fit your mix or musical style. The piano is available in both stereo and surround formats, giving you flexibility for various production environments.

A unique dashboard provides direct control over microphone levels, letting you blend between close, room, and ambient captures. This feature is designed to offer maximum expressivity, from delicate pianissimos to robust fortissimos, making it suitable for solo performances, film scoring, and pop productions.

Vintage Keyboards

This collection also includes a set of vintage keyboards—electric pianos, organs, and a Clavinet—recorded at a private studio in Topanga Canyon. The instruments were meticulously restored and played by a professional keyboardist, capturing their unique character. The set features iconic models like the Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Vox Continental, Farfisa, and Hammond A100.

Each instrument was sampled at high resolution to preserve its tonal nuances, and the collection is delivered at 24-bit resolution. The vintage keyboards are ideal for adding authentic retro tones to rock, soul, funk, or jazz compositions, providing a faithful alternative to hardware originals.

Workflow and Control

The instruments are designed for deep integration with Kontakt, including support for the Kontakt Player and NKS Komplete Kontrol. You can browse presets and control real-time parameters directly from compatible hardware, such as mic levels, tone, reverb, and ADSR envelopes. The scripting provides visual access to these controls for quick adjustments.

Additional features include velocity curve calibration, filtering options, and a variety of reverb choices. The interface allows you to pan and adjust mic levels individually, enabling custom sound shaping. These tools are intended to streamline your workflow, letting you focus on performance and arrangement rather than technical tweaking.

Practical Applications

This collection suits a wide range of musical genres, from classical and cinematic to pop, rock, and electronic music. The grand piano’s dynamic range makes it ideal for solo piano pieces, while the vintage keyboards bring authentic textures to funk, soul, and indie productions. Use the mic blending to achieve a close, intimate sound or a spacious, ambient atmosphere.

The instruments can be configured to match your playing style, whether you prefer a bright, cutting tone or a warm, mellow character. For composers, the surround piano option offers a unique spatial quality for film and game scoring. Overall, California Keys provides a versatile palette of keyboard sounds for professional projects.

Key features

• Multi-microphone grand piano with stereo and surround options
• Collection of restored vintage keyboards including electric pianos and organs
• Dashboard with velocity curve, filter, ADSR, reverb, and mic controls
• NKS Komplete Kontrol integration for parameter control
• Recorded at high resolution and delivered at 24-bit quality
• Approximately 8000 samples for realistic detail

Best for

Best for composers and keyboardists seeking a versatile keyboard suite that combines a deeply sampled grand piano with authentic vintage electric pianos and organs, ideal for genres ranging from classical and jazz to rock, pop, and film scoring.