Nathaniel School of Music

How I Achieve My Ideal Piano Sound With Virtual Pianos (Keyscape vs Pianoteq)

Jason Zac gets his piano sound by using any 88-key keyboard only as a MIDI input device, sending MIDI data by 5-pin DIN or USB to a computer or iPad that runs a virtual piano, either sample-based (like Keyscape or Kontakt libraries) or modelled (like Pianoteq).

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Beginner · 24 min

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Key points

What this lesson covers

Many students ask which keyboard Jason Zac uses to get his piano sound. The answer is that the sound does not come from the keyboard at all. It comes from virtual piano software on a computer. This lesson explains how that setup works, why it suits touring and home recording, and what to watch out for. It is for pianists, keyboard players and home producers who want a better piano sound without buying a very expensive instrument.

Why use a virtual piano?

Carrying a heavy keyboard on flights is costly and exhausting, as airline weight limits are usually around 13 to 15 kilos. Instead, Jason asks the venue for any 88-key keyboard and uses it purely as an input device. He travels with just a backpack, a laptop and a backup iPad.

When buying a keyboard, the most important thing is the key bed, the feel of the white and black keys. Beyond that, you mainly need a power switch, volume, a pitch wheel and quick access to sounds. Fewer buttons means fewer things that can break. A full keyboard with its own sounds is better than a soundless MIDI controller, because if the laptop fails you can fall back on the keyboard's built-in sounds.

What MIDI data is

MIDI does not carry sound. It tells the computer which note you pressed, how hard, how long you held it, and any controller moves such as the pitch wheel or modulation wheel. The computer then turns that data into sound.

Ways to connect your keyboard

  1. 5-pin DIN MIDI cable: connect the keyboard's MIDI Out to the MIDI input of an audio interface. Computers have no MIDI port, so the interface must have MIDI in. Jason prefers this for live shows.
  2. USB: connect the keyboard's USB (computer) port to your laptop, usually USB-B to USB-C, or USB-B to USB-A on older laptops. Install the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website for your operating system, restart if asked, and check for firmware updates. Use a thick, well-shielded cable, especially for long runs, to avoid data loss.
  3. Bluetooth MIDI: possible, but not recommended for keyboards at present. Jason uses it only for foot controllers to reduce stage cable clutter.

On stage he runs MIDI as the main connection with a USB cable plugged in as a backup.

Setting up in a DAW

Remember that you are recording MIDI, not audio. In a DAW such as Reaper (Logic, Ableton or Pro Tools also work):

  1. Create a new track.
  2. Set the track input to your keyboard, or to all MIDI inputs if you use several devices.
  3. Arm the track so it receives MIDI.
  4. Load a virtual instrument on the track.
  5. Turn Local Off on your keyboard if you only want the computer's sound.

Some apps, including Pianoteq, also run standalone, so you do not even need a DAW.

Sample-based vs modelled pianos

Sample-based

Instruments like Keyscape or Kontakt libraries play back recorded samples stored on your computer, often around 10 GB. Jason demonstrates Kontakt pianos with lid position, tone and reverb controls, and the Waves Grand Rhapsody, a vintage grand that even reproduces sustain pedal noise.

Modelled (algorithm-based)

Pianoteq stores no samples. It builds the sound mathematically, so you can shape it much like tweaking a synthesiser. It offers uprights, grands, electric pianos like a Rhodes, clavinets, historical harpsichords tuned to A = 415 Hz rather than 440 Hz, plus bells and mallets such as vibraphone and xylophone. Modelled pianos are lighter on your computer.

Polishing the sound and avoiding latency

In the studio, the recorded piano can go through EQ, compression, saturation and mastering. The main challenge is latency, a delay between pressing a key and hearing it, which makes playing and recording very difficult. Use a good audio interface with up-to-date drivers and a computer with enough RAM and processing power for music work.

How to practise this setup

Connect your keyboard, confirm MIDI is arriving in your DAW, then compare a sample-based piano and a modelled piano. Play the same passage on each and listen to how they respond to your touch.

Questions about this lesson

What is the difference between Keyscape and Pianoteq?

Keyscape is a sample-based virtual piano that plays back large recordings stored on your computer. Pianoteq is a modelled, algorithm-based piano that generates its sound, can be tweaked like a synth and uses far less computer power.

Should I connect my keyboard with a MIDI cable or USB?

Both work. A 5-pin DIN MIDI cable needs an audio interface with MIDI input and is Jason Zac's preferred choice for live shows, while USB needs the manufacturer's drivers and a well-shielded cable; he keeps USB connected as a backup.

Is Bluetooth MIDI good enough for playing piano?

It can work, but it is not recommended for keyboards at the moment. It is more useful for things like foot controllers where reducing cables matters.

Why is there a delay when I play a virtual piano?

That delay is called latency, and it usually comes from the computer and the audio interface drivers. A good interface with current drivers and a computer with enough RAM and processing power should make notes sound almost instantly.

Practise it

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