At last! The one and only official Rhodes plugin!

After countless hours of searching for the best Rhodes plugin and after lots of GBs of downloads the search is finally over. Rhodes has released an official plugin version of the mythical Rhodes electric piano after the release of the brand new Rhodes MK8 instrument. Here on Sinesquares, we’ve reviewed a few plugins that are based on the Rhodes pianos and I’m so glad that now there is an official (and the best one) plugin available so everyone can have those iconic sounds in his/her studio.

I don’t think there is much to say about the Rhodes pianos and their iconic sound. It is probably the most sought-after instrument for every studio regardless of the genre of the artist and as was expected the prices of the vintage models are still very high. The new release of the Rhodes MK8 offered a solution for high-end studios but with a 9.000€ price tag, it’s still a faraway dream for most of us.

So Rhodes, thinking of all of us, created a faithful recreation of the MK8 piano into a very powerful and beautiful-sounding plugin! The Rhodes V8 is a multi-sampled, extremely realistic-sounding plugin that was created using the flagship MK8 Rhodes. It uses 30,000 samples directly sampled from the MK8 piano, including up to 127 velocity layers, 14 articulations, and mechanical noise all compiled into 60GB of recordings to offer the most true-to-life Rhodes experience.

I’ve played more than 10 Rhodes emulation plugins and, to be fair, there are a few that did an excellent job but the Rhodes V8 is giving you by far the best experience and sound. It’s almost impossible to distinguish its sound compared to the original MK8 and it’s not just a cheap plugin knock-off.

The Rhodes V8 comes in two versions. The Basic and the Pro ones. The main difference is that in the basic version, you won’t get the pre-amp and the effects but also the very unique per-note setup where you can determine the Timbre, Damper, Level, and Tuning for every single note.

Main Controls

Parametric EQ featuring Low Gain, Mid Gain, Mid Freq & High Gain

Diode-based Drive control for crunch and heavily distorted sounds
Envelope control for auto-wah effects
Vari-Pan Control: By using this feature you can spread your notes in the stereo field using 4 waveforms creating a ping-pong feeling.
VCA Modelled Compressor and 4-Stage Stereo Phaser (Pro Version)
Bucket Brigade Modelled Delay and Stereo Chorus (Pro Version)
Mic/Amp/Cab Simulation (Pro Version)

The effects of this instrument are a core element of its sound. We’ve all heard classic Rhodes lines with a Phaser so the V8 Pro of course has a Phaser but also a Bucket Brigade Delay and a Stereo Chorus. Another cool feature of the Pro version is that you can choose the Amp, Microphones, and Cabinet through a few simulation options that will drastically change the instrument's tone. Combined with the setup view that we mentioned above, the Rhodes V8 is an incredibly deep plugin where you can customize every little aspect of its sound.

Hands-on Experience

Having so many options and detailed controls might feel daunting but the best thing is that you don’t really have to spend a ton of time carefully calibrating the plugin’s sound to make it sound good. You can just load it up and start playing and it sounds fantastic. Just like you would do on an actual Rhodes electric piano. It also comes with more than 100 presets so if you want something a bit weirder you can just scroll through the presets and find the ideal sound for every project.

The Rhodes V8 feels alive and natural to play thanks to the extensive sampling process, making it the closest you can ever get to the original. To spend around 9.000€ for the MK8, you must really really need it in your studio and if you are this person, you’ll probably not be reading this article. For all of us mortals, a brand new Rhodes is something that may never happen and that’s ok. Personally, I don’t really need one and I cannot justify the huge price tag. But for the times I want that specific sound, the Rhodes V8 is a perfect choice and I don’t even feel I’m compromising.

Conclusion

This is going to be the last time I review a Rhodes emulation plugin. The case is closed with the V8 and I’m happy and relieved to know that I have the best possible Rhodes plugin in my arsenal. If you’re also looking for the “Rhodes sound“, look no further and just get this one.

The sound is excellent and beautiful, it has numerous customization options, and while being a relatively expensive plugin, you won’t have to buy another similar plugin ever again. The basic version cost 170€ and the Pro version 275€. If I had to choose again, I would just go for the Pro version to have all the extra features and effects, but the basic version is probably more than enough for most people. Especially if you’re not interested to go deep and do detailed sound design.

I didn’t expect a brand new hardware Rhodes piano to be produced ever again and I certainly did not expect a plugin from the Rhodes company. Both were such pleasant surprises and I’m glad that everyone can have this beautiful instrument (physically or digitally) and make beautiful music with it.

Visit Rhodes Website