Vapor Keys for Kontakt: FM Electric Piano and Keys Library

The library is divided into two parts. The 9 Electric Piano patches are dry, multi-velocity sampled instruments with two effects per patch: a detuned chorus and a phaser. Each patch uses three to four dynamic layers and includes keybed noises for added realism and playability. Karanyi recorded them key-to-key at 24-bit / 48 kHz with analog gear.

The 14 Vapor Keys patches are different. They combine electric piano and wavetable sounds with additional space effects, and they are aimed at chords, arpeggios and shorter soundscapes. Their layers range from two to five per patch.

Karanyi used a custom Yamaha DX7 and a Yamaha TX81z for the FM sources, and an Arturia MicroFreak for the wavetable sources. The Vapor Keys patches also draw on Eventide Blackhole and Lexicon 224 effect processors and tape machines.

The recording path used a Neve 1073 preamp, a Roland Dimension D and a Studer A800, captured through Universal Audio Apollo converters. The instrument controls include attack and release envelope sliders, two SSL-style EQ stages, and a pole wheel for blending sample groups.