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Sampler
Addictive Keys
XLN Audio · $99
Addictive Keys is XLN Audio's sample-based virtual instrument plugin featuring four recorded acoustic and electric keyboard instruments.
8.4
Great8.4
GreatThe Dubspot verdict
A deeply sampled, mic-flexible keyboard collection with an unusually musical browser, held back mostly by an aging engine and a per-instrument pricing model.
Best for: Songwriters and producers who want inspiring, ready-to-mix acoustic and electric pianos without deep sampler tinkering.
Pros
- Excellent multi-mic recordings with genuinely usable presets
- ExploreMaps browser makes finding a sound fast and creative
- Free full instrument via XLN's Addictive Keys promo offer
- Light on RAM and CPU relative to giant sample libraries
Cons
- Sold per instrument, so a full set gets expensive
- Engine and UI feel dated next to newer virtual pianos
- Only four instruments, with no expansion ecosystem
Addictive Keys is XLN Audio's take on the sampled keyboard instrument, and its guiding idea is that most producers do not want to build a piano from raw multisamples. They want to open a plugin and immediately land on something that sits in a mix. That is exactly what it delivers. Each of the four instruments, the Studio Grand, Modern Upright, Electric Grand, and Mark One, is captured with several microphone positions, and the real magic is in how those mics are exposed. You can dial between an intimate close sound and a roomy ambient one, or stack contrasting mics into a single processed tone, without ever touching a mixer.
Where it genuinely excels is workflow. The ExploreMaps browser lays presets out as a visual field you can preview instantly, so finding a mood takes seconds rather than menu-diving. The presets themselves are the plugin's strongest asset. Many are effected and mix-ready, leaning into lo-fi, saturated, or wide stereo character that pure "clean piano" libraries avoid. For songwriters chasing a vibe, that is inspiring.
The trade-offs are real. The underlying engine and interface now feel dated against newer virtual pianos, and Addictive Keys was never built for deep sound-design surgery. The bigger friction is pricing: instruments are sold individually at $99 each, so assembling all four through the Complete Collection climbs toward $249, and there is no expansion ecosystem beyond these four. On value, it still lands well, especially since XLN frequently gives away a full instrument free with an account, which is one of the best entry points in sampled instruments.
Compared to a bundled workstation like Virtual Bassist, which solves a different instrument problem, Addictive Keys stays narrowly focused on keyboards and does that job with more sonic polish than range. Choose it if you want fast, characterful, ready-to-mix pianos and electric keys and value inspiration over exhaustive tweakability. Look elsewhere if you need a sprawling multi-instrument piano library or granular control over every sample layer.
Specifications
- Instruments included
- Studio Grand, Modern Upright, Electric Grand, Mark One
- Mac requirements
- macOS 10.13 or later (64-bit)
- Windows requirements
- Windows 10, 11 (64-bit)
- Presets
- Presets arranged in ExploreMaps with preview
- Microphone options
- Mix and match microphone setups per instrument
- Supported hosts
- Ableton Live 10+, Logic Pro 10+, Pro Tools 11+, FL Studio 20+, Reason 10.3+, Reaper 5+, Cubase 10+, Cakewalk by Bandlab
Last verified 2026-06-18
FAQ
What plugin formats does Addictive Keys support?
Addictive Keys is available as VST, AU, and AAX (64-bit), plus a standalone application for Windows and macOS.
How many instruments are included in Addictive Keys?
There are four keyboard instruments: Studio Grand, Modern Upright, Electric Grand, and Mark One.
How much does Addictive Keys cost?
A single instrument is $99 USD, and the Complete Collection with all four instruments is $249 USD on the official XLN Audio site.