Hi.
I come to comment and discuss about the current showcase in electric pianos. Specifically the Rhodes type and also the Yamaha CP70-80 type.
For reasons that are not relevant, I have been using and looking for this kind of libraries for about two years.
I've tried all the Rhodes type I've found, including XLN Audio, Scarbee, Arturia, Native Instruments and many others.
The best ones in my opinion were Suitcase 73 from Hammer+Waves and
Phoenix from NI. Although the dynamics of Phoenix is a bit inferior to Suitcase 7.

A few months ago I came across the Rhodes V8. And I thought it was one of the best I've heard.
I used it for 4 months intensively, 7-8 hours a day. But I kept looking.
It was time for Ujam's Vogue, which left me stunned, because of the similarity with RhodesV8, and at the same time I discovered that the download of RhodesV8 when you install it comes from a Ujam server...mmmm
After comparing for weeks, I decided to leave the V8, as it is much more expensive, (and it is the kind of product that you are not allowed to resell).
I stayed with the Vogue and here we are.

As far as the Yamaha CP70 and 80 type is concerned, the offer is somewhat less extensive.
I've tried UVI, Arturia, XLN, 8dio, Waves, Prominy, Chocolate Audio, and a few others.
Many of these are huge sampling libraries with dozens of gigs in some cases, but almost all of them need a sound treatment to fit in my work...
the ones that have convinced me the most are the XLN and above all others, the Waves Electric Grand 80
The timbre and speed are very easy to adjust, and the dynamics are very good.
For the Rhodes I discarded the Waves Electric 88 because the dynamics are worse than on the Ujam, but I've been using it for a few days because it's also nice to play.

I had to say it and I said it. That's all folks
Best regards

 

I've only tried 4-6 Rhodes libraries, and out of those, the Blueprint Electric (free) for Kontakt (Player) has been my favourite so far. It's not perfect, but the quality is pretty high.

 

True, Blueprint is not bad, the timbre and response are very good, but it lacks a bit of dynamics.

 

When it comes to electric pianos, with Native Instruments Scarbee Mark I and the AAS Lounge Lizard EP-4 you can recreate almost any tone (if you know how to get there!). Anyway, I'm not a performer and only use them for MIDI programming, but these two libraries completely satisfy me (mainly 'cos I'm not a fan of gigantic EP/piano sample libraries - I prefer to leave my precious HD space for orchestral samplers).

 

Last edited: Jun 9, 2024

The Detmold ETI is very good and free.

The XLN is one underrated gem. Check out this video comparison. To each their own, but if I had to choose between these, I'd go with the plugin.

 

My go to Rhodes is "Rhodes Affair" by Audiolounge fantastic sounding VSTs, I have them all. They have demos on their website.

 

vayabahia, did you check this one out?

http://www.audiolounge-pro.com/plug-ins-2/keyaffair-2/

It has a very bright tone that you might like (since you mentioned that you look for less muddy tones). Again, for 3GB, I prefer the AAS Lounge Lizard EP-4 (whereby you emulate whatever you want: bright or muddy tones).

 

What about pianoteq? Only if you are not into having-a-problem-that-I-do-not-wanna-have-solved-because-I-love-the-drama-discussions but into simple, quick and clean solutions.

 

I haven't actually tried the pianoteqs. Thanks for reminding me about them

 

Thank you all for your answers and suggestions for sound libraries.

I'm about to try pianoteq, and audiolounge.
I think I'll stick with my beloved Vogue by Ujam though.

 

Omnisphere/Keyscape. You'll love it! It's a way of life! On the BUS!!

 

Thanks for the tip
I've tried the Keyscape and I didn't find them interesting at all, they remind me a bit of the UVI. But it's just a matter of taste

 

I come to update this personal opinion post, talking about the Alicia Electric Keys.
I've been using it for a few weeks and the truth is that I don't think I'll use the Waves Electric Grand 80 again, which was for me the best for that kind of EP.
NI's is much more faithful to that emulation. I'm talking about the raw sound without any of AK's signature FX that I haven't been able to explore yet.
I don't know if I've already mentioned that I'm a big fan of the Yamaha CP 70 type.
And I was lucky enough to play one every day for a few months. Before I started studying music.
It's the widest range electric piano ever built.
The UI is the same as in the new NI Electric series, and they are in my opinion at the top right now. For sound and colour setting possibilities.

Nothing else.
Best regards, and happy day to all!

 

I liked the UJAM a lot , too .Actually only the Rhodes , nothing else they did. But It behaved strangely here . Maybe it was the "treatment " . But I did not buy it because of that .

 

seconding this. Pianoteq Electric Pianos is a great library. It sounds great as a rhodes, but is very capable of being more than just a rhodes.

 

There's a very cool, small, secret weapon out there for Yamaha electric grands: Hollow Sun. It's pre-thinned and for me it works great in a mix.

 

Definitive CP70 II ??

 

same as you, find keyscape stop looking for more.

 

Edit- that's it! It's only 40Mb

 

Ye olde Hollow Sun Definitive CP70 has been my goto since 12 years or longer now. I have many other CP70/80 sample libraries, as well as PianoTeq, Arturia V Collection, and others, but the little Hollow Sun jobbie sounds and works the best for my needs. It’s small, light on resources, and it’s easy-breezy to make sit well in a mix. It only has two or three velocity layers per note, but the late great Steven Howell implemented some very nice Kontakt scripting to make it highly useable. As an accompaniment instrument, nothin’ touches it. In a solo instrument capacity, the large stereo, multi-gig sample libraries probably sound a bit nicer, but for my Blues and Classic Rock trax, the Hollow Sun Definitive CP70 absolutely rockz!