XLN Audio’s Addictive Keys is a piano instrument plug-in in which you choose from four keyboards: Studio Grand, Modern Upright, Electric Grand (CP-80) and Mark One. You can mix combinations of microphones to make the sound, and there are also MIDI phrase collections (MIDIpaks).
A piano instrument plug-in lets you play the sound of a piano on a computer.
In this article we compare Addictive Keys with 10 piano instrument plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.
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Score 3.0 / 5 (average of the 10 products compared: 3.4)
- Specs last checked
- 2026/09/25
- Realism and depth
- Mic combinations
- Help with composing
- MIDI phrase library
- Variety of pianos
- 4 instruments
- Price (store, date)
- $99 [Official, checked Oct 26]
Image: from the XLN Audio official website (product image)
Summary
Among the 10 piano instrument plug-ins, Addictive Keys is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.0.
Every criterion scores around the average of the products we compared.
Who it suits: people who want to choose just the keyboards they need and start at a reasonable cost.
Main features of Addictive Keys
Choose from four keyboards
Addictive Keys is a plug-in in which you choose from four keyboards: Studio Grand, Modern Upright, Electric Grand (CP-80) and Mark One. Besides one at a time, there are combinations of two, three and four. Studio Grand is a big grand piano, Modern Upright is a modern upright, Electric Grand is Yamaha’s electric grand CP-80, and Mark One is an electric piano with a warm, friendly sound.
Mixing combinations of microphones
You can mix the sound of the several microphones used in the recording to make the sound. You can adjust a bright sound recorded up close or a roomy sound recorded from a distance to suit a song. The manufacturer explains that the sound engine lets you adjust each instrument’s sound in detail, and you can also blend microphone sets.
Presets and MIDIpaks
The sound presets are organized in ExploreMaps, and you can audition each one. There are also MIDI phrase collections of performances (MIDIpaks), which can be used as a starting point for composing. When you want to use it right away, use the presets as they are; when you want to craft the sound, you can adjust the microphones and tone in detail.
Video: “Addictive Keys – Tutorial – Overview” (official XLN Audio YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube
Where it is useful
- Using the Studio Grand piano for a pop accompaniment
- Adding a warm electric-piano sound with Mark One
- Making an accompaniment starting from a MIDIpaks phrase
Rating by criterion
Realism and depth: 3 / 5
We look at how extensively it was recorded and whether you can fine-tune things such as resonance and pedal sounds.
You can mix combinations of microphones to make the sound.
Help with composing: 3 / 5
We look at whether there are features that help you make accompaniments and chord progressions.
It has MIDI phrase collections (MIDIpaks).
Variety of pianos: 3 / 5
We look at the number of pianos you can switch between.
You can choose from four keyboards (two pianos and two electric pianos) when you have all of them.
How we score (Piano instrument plug-ins)
| Criterion | Basis | 5 pt | 4 pt | 3 pt | 2 pt | 1 pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realism and depth | Scale of the recordings, and fine adjustment of resonance, noise and so on | Recordings of 10 GB or more, plus fine adjustment of resonance, pedal, hammers and so on | Modeling that lets you adjust resonance and ambience, or recordings of 10 GB or more | A few GB of recordings, plus microphone and ambience adjustment | A small library | — |
| Help with composing | Features that help you make accompaniments and chords | Accompaniment suggestions, chord suggestions and a MIDI phrase library, all together | Two of those | One, such as creating new sounds from what you play | — | No feature that helps with composing |
| Variety of pianos | Number of pianos you can switch between | 10 or more | 5 or more | 2 to 3 (including different tones of the same piano) | One | — |
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: making piano accompaniments for cover-song arrangements and your own songs. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Realism and depth" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent.
Addictive Keys screens and images
Image: from the XLN Audio official website (product image)
Image: from the XLN Audio official website (product image)
Addictive Keys system requirements and getting started
| Operating system | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) / Mac |
|---|---|
| Plug-in formats | VST, AU, AAX (64-bit) |
| Standalone | Yes |
| Other | An internet connection is needed during installation. There is a Complete Collection with all four, and Duo and Trio Bundles in which you choose two or three |
| Trial | Free trial available |
Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.
Compared with other piano instrument plug-ins
Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.
| Product | RankAvg. score | Realism and depth | Help with composing | Variety of pianos | Price (store, date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ToontrackEZkeys 2 | B 3.3 | About 4 GB | Accompaniment + chord suggestions | 1 grand | $179 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| Native InstrumentsNoire | A 4.0 | 16 GB + fine adjustment | Particles | Pure / Felt | $139 [PB, checked Oct 26] |
| Native InstrumentsThe Grandeur | B 3.3 | 13.7 GB + fine adjustment | None | 1 grand | $99 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| ArturiaPiano V | A 3.5 | Modeling | None | 12 types | ≈$223.06 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| SpectrasonicsKeyscape | A 4.0 | 80 GB + noise behavior | None | 36 instruments | $399 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| XLN AudioAddictive Keys | B 3.0 | Mic combinations | MIDI phrase library | 4 instruments | $99 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| ModarttPianoteq 9 | A 3.5 | Modeling | None | 20+ packs | $269 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| SynthogyIvory 3 American Concert D | B 2.8 | RGB engine + 4 microphones | None | 1 grand | $199 (sale; regular $249) [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| Native InstrumentsUna Corda | A 3.5 | 10 GB + noise adjustment | None | Pure / Felt / Cotton | $149 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| Native InstrumentsAlicia's Keys | B 2.8 | 17 GB + resonance and release | None | 1 grand | $99 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
Features checked on each manufacturer's official website on September 25, 2026. Check the store page behind the buy button for the price.
Read next
- EZkeys 2: features and rating (rank B)
- The Grandeur: features and rating (rank B)
- Noire: features and rating (rank A)
- Piano V: features and rating (rank A)
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