There is nothing quite like the warm tone of a Rhodes piano. The unique sounds of this instrument can be found in countless songs in modern music through a variety of genres, including R&B, hip-hop, electronic music, and chillwave.
Want to infuse the sounds of the Fender Rhodes in your mix? Well, you basically have two options. Spend thousands buying the real thing or spend considerably less on an authentic digital version.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great options to choose from if you want to go down the more convenient, less expensive path.
We’ve put together a list of some of the best Rhodes VSTs you can currently buy.
Top 6 Rhodes Plugins
Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard EP-4. If you’re looking for a quality plugin that faithfully. The 4Front R-Piano VST gives off a clean sampled Rhodes sound. They are sampled to emulate the sound of the real thing, including subtleties and nuances. For a free Rhodes VST, this plugin sounds.
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1. Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard EP-4
If you’re looking for a quality plugin that faithfully replicates not only the Fender Rhodes but also Wurlitzer sounds, check out the Lounge Lizard EP-4. This plugin, created by Applied Acoustics Systems, is fairly simple with fewer than 20 parameters. This means it’s easy to use and won’t be overwhelming if you’re not super experienced with mixing.
Even though it is simple, it does go far beyond the typical Rhodes sounds that you might expect. You can achieve unique Rhodes tones, including organ-like, chime-like, and bell-like tones. You can explore these and others in the Experimental preset section. Beyond that, you can also play with the compressor, equalizer, and multi-effect processor to dial in some crazy, unexpected tones.
Pros
- Doesn’t take up much CPU
- Get a good amount for what you pay
- Sounds are super authentic and transparent
Cons
- Interface is a little outdated
- Not able to import sounds from older versions
2. XLN Audio Addictive Keys: Mark One
XLN Audio has a very popular professional drum VST called Addictive Drums, but their Addictive Keys VST definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. The Mark One plugin authentically emulates the distinctive warm tones of the Fender Rhodes. The Fender Rhodes on this plugin was played through a vintage tube combo amp and was recorded with the help of several rare microphones to give the best sound quality.
ScreenshotType of plugin: VSTiWhat it does: This virtual analog synth was inspired by the Clavia Nord Lead 2 synthesizer. Working with virtual studio technology (VST) plugins is tremendously convenient, but a lot of the best out there are very expensive.If you're looking to expand your library of VST instrument (VSTi) plugins, or tweak your mixes with some great effects or effects VST plugins, you can do it for free. Since they're free, you can grab them all, and see how they sound, without opening your wallet. You just need to know where to look.We've assembled the top 15 free VST plugins that can help elevate your music to the next level. It's one of the most versatile free soft synths you'll find, and it's a great choice if you're looking to get started making retro music like synthwave without spending a bunch of money. Best free vst plugins sounds.
The Mark One can give you any Rhodes sound you are looking for from classic to funky. If you’re wanting a super transparent tone, you can also use the line output on the Rhodes rather than the amp.
This software from XLN Audio gives you the ability to adjust the recording and mixing. You can also choose from a selection of vintage microphones and adjust their distance to achieve a shift in ambiance. If you want to play with the distortion or warmth, take a look at the amp settings.
With the Mark One you get a dynamic mic, room condenser, and ribbon mic in addition to a floor mic and room mic. You also have the option of adding in a Roland Dimension D for analog stereo chorus.
Pros
- Impressive sound quality and great microphone choices
- Takes up much less CPU than you would think
- Flexible in the processing stage
Cons
- Doesn’t have pre/post switching for effects sends
3. AIR Music Technology Velvet 2
The Velvet 2 VST from Air Music Technology is an electric piano plugin with a good amount of versatility. It actually combines the sounds of five of the best electric pianos out there today. These are the Fender Rhodes MK I, Fender Rhodes MK II, Wurlitzer 200A, Fender Rhodes Suitcase, and Hohner Pianet-T. This VST gives you intimate tones that authentically emulate sounds from a Rhodes piano.
You’ll also find a number of onboard effects that will help you venture outside of the natural capabilities of the instrument. The tube drive panels can help if you want to warm up your tone. You can further shape the sound by adjusting the timbre, curve, and reaction to playing dynamics.
If you want to boost the authenticity of the sound, you have the option to blend in the noise of the pedal and other mechanical sounds from inside the keyboard. With these details, it’ll truly sound like you’re working with an actual Rhodes. You’ll also have access to a 3-band EQ and 350 amazing presets created by the AIR Technology sound designers. This can help you work more efficiently as you search for the best tones for your mix.
Pros
- An incredible library of 350 presets
- Numerous effects to choose from
- Very authentic sounding Fender Rhodes plugin
Cons
- There is no standalone version
- Can take too long to load
4. Arturia Stage-73 V
Arturia stands out among the competition when it comes to vintage synthesizer and keyboard VSTs. They offer just about anything you could think of in this arena, but we’re going to take a look at their Rhodes Stage-73 VST. This is an impressively versatile and authentic emulation of the instrument with beautiful, transparent tones. You can also switch over from the 1973 to the 1974 version just by turning the tone knob.
The layout of the Stage-73 is not only aesthetically pleasing but also user friendly. There’s a wide range of pedals for you to play with to take your Rhodes sounds to a different level. There’s no shortage of effects options too, such as changing the curves and the wet/dry mix.
If you want a grittier final tone, you can take advantage of the small Fender Twin amplifier. The awesome selection of presets is conveniently organized by category, including Clean presets, Short presets, Dark presets, Distorted presets, and many others. If customization is a priority for you, Arturia’s Stage-73 should be at the top of your list.
Pros
- Incredible preset menu
- Makes use of top-notch physical modeling
- Stomp effects section is very unique
Cons
- Certain presets take some time to render
5. Waves Electric 88
Waves has built a strong reputation based on their incredible product line of plugins. They are the go-to for many mixing engineers worldwide. Among their amazing collection you’ll find the Electric 88, an authentic Rhodes plugin. Its interface lets you dive into the details to craft the ideal tone for your track. You can use this plugin to enhance nearly any type of production. One of the best features is its price tag. It is one of the most affordable Rhodes plugins in the market.
The Electric 88 utilizes a sampling method that borrowed tones from the Mark I 88. You’ll get super realistic and smooth sounds with its fine-tuned velocity curves. You’ll definitely notice a drop-off in effect options compared to the Stage-73, but all the effects you want can be added in later. If you’re wanting a good-quality, low-priced VST, you need to pick up the Waves Electric 88.
Pros
- Easy to dial in various sounds
- Affordable
- Great quality sampling with lots of layers
Cons
- Not a very wide range
6. Toontrack EZkeys Classic Electrics
Yes, Toontrack has awesome VST keyboard plugins with grand piano sounds, but they also have a solid option for those who want classic electric keyboard sounds. The Toontrack EZkeys Classic Electrics bundle features the sounds of the Rhodes MK I and Wurlitzer 200A. One thing we love about this plugin is that it offers several songwriting features to help those who may struggle in that area. Transposing MIDI tracks is a breeze, and you can also use various playing styles from other MIDI tracks. The Chord Wheel feature can be used to add some color to your chords or adjust the voicings.
With the EZkeys MK I, you can experiment with tones that are outside the natural realm of the Rhodes. There’s an exciting collection of various presets with built-in effects for processed sounds. These include a chorused Rhodes, a distorted Rhodes, and a funky Rhodes with a wah-wah pedal.
If you’re not a super strong keyboard player but would like to add some chord progressions and keys into your mix that sound human produced, the EZkeys bundle is a great option.
Pros
- Included Export to WAV function
- Built-in sequencer is top notch
- Awesome sound quality
Cons
- MIDI data is a little too similar to some popular songs
The Sweet Sounds of the Fender Rhodes
When you look at all the options of Rhodes VSTs out there, it might be a bit overwhelming narrowing down which one is best for you. But we have to say that it pretty much comes down to your budget as any VST on our list will likely get the job done. The plugins we have described are the best on the market right now, and each holds its own in this space.
What is impressive, the software is updated almost monthly with new features or modules and the community is already huge. Instruments are possible as well as effect processors which can be controlled with up to 16 parameter inputs. With the new VCV Host, it’s possible to load VST plugins (PC/Mac) into the VCV Rack software modular Synthesizer and to control it with up to 16 parameters!One of the most successful software products in the field of music tech this year is certainly the. Vcv plugin vst download. Today, the developer has released an update which makes the system even more exciting.VCV Host (separate purchase) is a module that allows you to load VST plugins for PC/ Mac into the VCV Rack environment.
You already know that there is nothing quite like the sound of a real Fender Rhodes in a professional production. Trying to replicate this sound with various effects and piano and synth sounds might seem like an impossible task. Make the whole process much easier for yourself by adding a Rhodes VST to your collection.
EZkeys Pipe Organ
Free vst plugins download. The EZkeys Pipe Organ sound library features the majestic organ found at Sweden’s Täby Kyrka, an historic church dating back to the thirteenth century. It was designed to fit the songwriting-friendly format of EZkeys and includes the most characteristic pipe organ stops and instruments.
- Publisher: Toontrack
- Home page:www.toontrack.com
- Last updated: December 14th, 2015
Vocal Remover - VST Plugin
Vocal Remover - VST Plugin is an open source plugin that removes vocal form songs using M/S system trick with EQ on mid signal. This plugin is very easy to use.
- Publisher: Sharki
- Home page:vocalremover.codeplex.com
- Last updated: March 15th, 2012
D50v VST-Plugin Demo
Free Rhodes Vst
The D50v software runs either independently (stand alone) or as a VST plugin in VST compatible host software like Steinberg Cubase. It has attractive graphical user interface with access to all parameters of the synthesizer. All parameters controllable via MIDI control changes.
- Publisher: vst-control.de
- Home page:www.vst-control.de
- Last updated: March 29th, 2012
Bitsonic Keyzone
Bitsonic Keyzone is a free VST plugin that enables you to mix your music. The program includes support for virtual instruments such as Piano, Rhodes, Organ and Accordion, it brings powerful sound enhancements that will make your music composition to be clear and unique.
Rock Organ Vst
- Publisher: Bitsonic LP
- Home page:www.bitsonic.eu
- Last updated: October 14th, 2015
MIDI Polysher
MIDI Polysher is a free VST plugin primarily designed for eaReckon BloXpander users (but it works with other compatible VST host apps). With multiple instances of MIDI Polysher loaded into your DAW, you can create 'zones' and control several instruments from a same MIDI keyboard (or controller).
- Publisher: eaReckon
- Home page:www.eareckon.com
- Last updated: December 17th, 2014
Gater
Gater is a free VST plugin that brings you 16 note trance gates. The program features two envelope shapes, a gate pattern randomize button, stereo input—output, minimal CPU power and memory bandwidth. It is a program that can be used the enhance your favorite songs.
- Publisher: SPC Plugins
- Home page:www.spcplugins.com
- Last updated: May 14th, 2014
Hauptwerk
Hauptwerk is a complex pipe organ modeling and per-pipe sound shaping program. Hauptwerk includes a 30 stop English symphonic organ recorded from St. Anne's, Moseley in Birmingham, England. It also models all of the physical controls and functional details of a pipe organ.
- Publisher: Milan Digital Audio LLC
- Last updated: October 13th, 2015
GrandOrgue
GrandOrgue is a sample based pipe organ simulator. When connected to MIDI keyboards and an audio system, it can accurately simulate the sound of a real pipe organ. This application has builds for Linux and Windows.Stop and Piston graphics, and to add some additional wooden backgrounds.
- Publisher: SourceForge
- Last updated: December 22nd, 2019
Cassette Rhodes Vst
MAGIX VariVerb II VST-PlugIn
MAGIX VariVerb II VST-PlugIn is a program that creates classic and modern artificial reverb effects such as room, plate, spring and nonlinear reverb based on algorithmic calculation, without using impulse responses. It offers you a virtual effects device with high-quality reverb algorithms to add depth to your recordings.
- Publisher: MAGIX Software GmbH
- Home page:pro.magix.com
- Last updated: November 22nd, 2013
Vst To Rtas Adapter
VST to RTAS Adapter seamlessly and transparently integrates your VST plug-ins in to Pro Tools, and offers full compatibility with the VST plug-in standard and Pro Tools 7.x and 8.x.The adapter uses virtually no CPU power or memory and makes a vast range of free and commercial VST plug-ins.
- Publisher: FXpansion Audio UK Ltd
- Home page:www.fxpansion.com
- Last updated: March 9th, 2008
Voxengo SPAN
SPAN is a free real-time “fast Fourier transform” audio spectrum analyzer AU, AAX and VST plugin for professional music and audio production applications. It provides you with a very flexible “mode” system which you can use to set up your spectrum analyzer preferences. You may specify Fourier block size in samples, the FFT window overlap percentage, and the spectrum's visual slope.
- Publisher: Aleksey Vaneev
- Home page:www.voxengo.com
- Last updated: October 23rd, 2020
SPL Free Ranger
SPL Free Ranger is an audio equalizer plugin with 4 equalizer bands: 40Hz, 150Hz, 1.8kHz, and 16kHz. It is available in AAX, AU, AudioSuite, RTAS, and VST formats. You get 4 buttons for easy comparison between different EQ settings and automation during a song.
- Publisher: Plugin Alliance
- Home page:www.plugin-alliance.com
- Last updated: October 10th, 2015
MetaProducts Download Express
MetaProducts Download Express is a useful free application for downloading files from the Internet Web and from FTP sites.The application uses the maximum available speed for the downloads and multi-channels technology. The 'Express' appellative surname tryies to show the download high speed meaning that the application offers a download time as low as possible.
- Publisher: MetaProducts corp.
- Last updated: May 26th, 2020
Bass Station
Bass Station is a virtual bass synthesizer - it is available as a VST plugin. The application contains the classicladder filter sound modeling of the 12/24 dB low-pass filter. The easily routable LFOs create simple modulations, which can directly control the harmonic content of the sound by pulse width modulation or filter cut-off for dynamic sound variations.
- Publisher: Novation
- Last updated: October 26th, 2014
WIDI Audio To MIDI VST
WIDI Audio to MIDI VST is a realtime Audio to MIDI conversion VST plugin. The plugin receives input from an audio channel and performs realtime music recognition. Several MIDI output methods can be chosen. Detected notes as well as signal spectrum are displayed in the plugin window. Adjustable recognition parameters allows improving recognition quality. Most of VST capable sequencers (VST hosts) for Microsoft Windows are supported.
Rhodes Organ Vst Free Download
- Publisher: WIDISOFT
- Home page:www.widisoft.com
- Last updated: March 30th, 2008
TDR Nova
TDR Nova is a free parallel dynamic equalizer effect in VST/AU/AAX plug-in formats. Appearing in the familiar layout of a parametric equalizer, each band also includes a full featured dynamics section allowing the processor to cover an impressively wide range of applications. The intuitive equal loudness functions help finding the optimal setting without getting distracted by loudness differences.
- Publisher: Tokyo Dawn Records
- Home page:www.tokyodawn.net
- Last updated: September 22nd, 2016
Soundbytes BagPipes VST
This program is a sample based VST plugin instrument for the windows platform. With Soundbytes BagPipes you can play authentic parts with convincingly sounding ornaments, cuts, taps and staccato runs. The program is specially designed for the pipe filter that adds yet another layer of realism to vibrato, fades and pitch slides.
- Publisher: Andreas Sumerauer
- Home page:www.soundbytes.de
- Last updated: February 8th, 2012
Voxengo Sound Delay
Sound Delay is a free-to-use auxiliary multi-channel signal delaying AAX, AU and VST plugin for professional audio applications. Sound Delay also features internal mid/side encoding and decoding and allows you to delay mid and side channels independently.
- Publisher: Voxengo
- Home page:www.voxengo.com
- Last updated: June 28th, 2017