The Rhodes piano is one of the most recognizable sounds in music. It was played by legends of soulful music like Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder. Nowadays, it’s not just for virtuosos. With the right VST plugin, you can turn your keyboard into a Rhodes piano with just a few keystrokes. There are so many options out there that it can be hard to decide which plugin to buy.
If you are not familiar, plugins are pieces of software that enable you to change the way the audio sounds and play virtual instruments inside your computer. They come in many different shapes and forms, but they all serve the same purpose: to enhance your music experience.
It’s important to know that plugins are not something that should be used on their own. They should be paired with a DAW (digital audio workstation) or a VST program. When shopping for a Rhodes plugin, you want to look at its compatibility with other software on the market. Here are some of the most popular Rhodes VST plugins currently on sale today.
Related: Best VST Plugins
A Brief Story of the Fender Rhodes
The Fender Rhodes piano is one of the most recognizable instruments in popular music. Created by Harold Rhodes, the instrument generates sound similar to the way an acoustic piano does: with hammers, but instead of strings, it strikes thin metal tines that are picked up by an electromagnetic pickup similar to those found on guitars.
The Rhodes is still being produced today. In fact, the instrument has become so popular that it is often referred to simply as “the Fender” or “the Rhodes”. With the surge of digital pianos, the Fender Rhodes is no longer the only keyboard instrument on the market; however, it continues to be a popular and sought-after musical instrument due to its unique sound.
Nowadays, you don’t need a physical electric piano to get the classic sound of the Fender Rhodes. Instead, it can be easily achieved inside your laptop or computer using the plugins we will show below.
We Tested 6 Products and found the Waves Electric 88 Piano to be the Best Rhodes VST
The NoiseAsh Sweetcase was our Runner-Up
Best Rhodes VST Plugins Reviewed in Detail
Table of Contents
- Waves Electric 88 Piano
- Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard EP-4
- AIR Music Velvet 2
- ToonTrack EZKeys Classic Electric
- NoiseAsh Sweetcase
- Keyzone Classic
1. Waves Electric 88 Piano
Waves Electric 88 Piano is a Rhodes plugin that’s compatible with the most popular DAWs on the market like Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, and Ableton. This plugin is one of the best because it has analog features like vintage-sounding mics, tube compression, and rotating speakers. You can get this plugin if you are looking for something with authentic sound characteristics.
Product Specifications
- Mix Section, Compressor, Amp, and Effects
- Includes Tremolo, Auto Pan, Phaser, Chorus, and Reverb
- Native Instruments NKS-ready for NI Komplete Kontrol and Maschine
- Plugin and Standalone Instrument
- Price: $79 (Usually on sale for $29)
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- There are several sections in the plugin to shape your sound however you want.
- Tons of different effects included such as compressor, amp, tremolo, auto pan, phaser, chorus, and reverb.
- Built-In 3-band EQ.
- The mix section allows you to control each parameter of the Rhodes, including main, tines, key up, and mech.
- The velocity curve and formant are also tweakable.
- The plugin uses a technology called non-linear sampling for maximum realism.
- Native Instruments NKS-ready.
- You can usually find the Waves Electric 88 Piano on sale for $29, even though the regular price is $79.
- Can be used both as a plugin and a standalone instrument.
Cons
- None.
Conclusion
The Waves Electric Piano 88 is an excellent Fender Rhodes emulation plugin. It is one of the best options out there, and it is certainly worth the $29 price tag. If you want to use this plugin in your productions, we recommend that you get it now while it is on sale since the price can go up to $79 at any moment.
We really liked all of the technologies employed in this plugin to achieve a true Fender Rhodes sound, including the non-linear sampling process, that adds realism to the song, as well as the several effects built-in into this plugin.
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2. Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard EP-4
Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard EP-4 is one of the most popular Fender Rhodes VST plugins on today’s market. It’s used by many professional musicians, including some of the artists mentioned above. The Lounge Lizard EP-4 plugin is compatible with Ableton Live 9 Lite, Apple Logic Pro X, Avid Pro Tools 12 and up, and any VST format that supports the Native Instrument library.
Product Specifications
- Over 240GB of Carefully Recorded Samples
- Several Knobs for Control Including Noise, Tine Bar, Tone Bar, and Pickup Symmetry
- Built-In Effects: Compressor, Distortion, Reverb, and Tremolo
- Built-In 4-Band EQ
- Price: $199
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- There are several knobs to control the tone and character of the Fender Rhodes emulated in this plugin, including the pickup symmetry.
- Features mod wheel and pitch bend.
- With the character knob, you can easily control how you want your electric piano to sound.
- Includes several built-in effects such as compressor, distortion, reverb, and tremolo.
- Built-in wah wah pedal.
- Includes tons of presets inspired by popular songs.
- Supports microtonal tunings via Scala scale files.
Cons
- High price.
Conclusion
This plugin has a lot of great features to offer. The Lounge Lizard EP-4 is one of the most popular Fender Rhodes plugins with its mellow timbre and tons of personalization features. We like the fact that it comes with more presets than most of the other options on the list, making it easy to get started.
The only drawback with this plugin is its price: $199. While it’s justifiable due to the quality and realism of the plugin, there are similar options that can be purchased for less.
Related: Best Dubstep VST
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3. AIR Music Technology Velvet 2
With Velvet, you have access to five electric pianos from the 60s and 70s into one versatile instrument. Based on the Fender Rhodes Suitcase, Fender Rhodes MK I and II Stage Pianos, Wurlitzer 200A, and Hohner Pianet-T respectively; this virtual piano accurately emulates sound quality response as well as nuances of each original instrument to bring your electric piano tracks to life.
Product Specifications
- Five Different Electric Piano Models
- Dynamic Modelling and Proprietary Engine
- Preamp Section with Tube Overdrive and Compression
- Several Controls over the Character of the Instrument Such as Mechanics and Velocity Response
- Several Built-In Effects
- 350 Ready-To-Play Presets
- 3-Band EQ
- Price: $99
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- There are five different electric piano models in this plugin, including the Fender Rhodes Suitcase and the Fender Rhodes MK I and II, meaning it is very versatile.
- The preamp section is pretty impressive and can warm up the sound in a pleasant way. It also features a built-in compressor.
- Several built-in effects such as distortion, wah, modulations and cabinets.
- 350 ready-to-play presets. It is easy to get creative with the AIR Music Velvet 2.
- Rent-to-own option available.
Cons
- Not as many controls over the character of the electric piano as other options on the list.
Conclusion
An excellent plugin for the price, the AIR Music Velvet 2 is one of the best Rhodes pianos emulation out there. While the price is $99, we like the fact that the company also offers a rent-to-own model, where you can use the plugin and pay a monthly price until it is yours.
The only feature lacking for us was that the controls over the character of the electric piano, such as the tines and pickups, aren’t as extensive as on other options on the list.
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4. ToonTrack EZKeys Classic Electric
The ToonTrack EZKeys Classic Electric features a lot of unique features, such as an extensive MIDI library. The interface is intuitive and presents everything you need in a user-friendly package. You will have no problem figuring out how to use it with just a few minutes of playing around with it. This plugin is also compatible with most DAWs on the market
Product Specifications
- Extensive MIDI Library
- Drag and Drop MIDI Support
- Chord Wheel Feature
- Chords Presets
- Humanize Feature
- Two Electric Piano Models: Electric 200A and Electric MK I
- Effect Chain Presets
- Price: €155 (Regular) and €75 (Expansion)
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The plugin comes with an extensive MIDI library with professionally-played complete songs for inspiration.
- You can drag and drop MIDI files both in and out of the plugin.
- The Chord Wheel feature lets you easily create a chord progression by picking the available chords. There are also presets with the most-used chords and progressions.
- Humanize feature for pre-quantized MIDI files.
- Two electric piano models for you to choose from.
- Even though the customization factor on this plugin is less present than on other options on the list, there are still effect chain presets.
Cons
- Less customization over the character and tone of the instrument, if compared to other options on the list.
Conclusion
The ToonTrack EZKeys Classic Electric is a no-brainer. You can simply choose from one of the MIDI files available and get a great tone/performance right away. With that being said, this plugin has several fewer customization features than its counterparts, so that’s something to keep in mind.
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5. NoiseAsh Sweetcase
NoiseAsh Sweetcase Rhodes is a free plugin that offers so many features at no cost. NoiseAsh Sweetcase Rhodes is very flexible, which makes it great for beginners looking to experiment with different sound combinations. This plugin also has the ability to interface with other DAWs and VSTs, which can make it easier to use alongside your favorite programs.
Product Specifications
- Several Modulation Effects Including Phaser
- Bass Boost Knob
- Bell Knob
- Built-In Reverb
- Built-In Parametric EQ
- Sample-Based
- Price: Free
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The NoiseAsh Sweetcase Fender Rhodes Piano plugin is available for free download, so there is no reason not to try this plugin out.
- The samples were carefully recorded with high-quality gear and microphones.
- There’s a built-in, easy-to-use reverb.
- There are several built-in modulation effects and also a parametric EQ.
- The interface and the GUI look very good.
- The sounds are ready-to-mix and won’t need much tweaking right out of the box.
Cons
- Less control over the instrument character than other options on the list.
Conclusion
If you want a free plugin that can give you an authentic Fender Rhodes sound, then the NoiseAsh Sweetcase will do an excellent job. The plugin features several built-in effects and a parametric EQ. Besides, the sounds from this plugin are ready-to-mix and won’t need much processing to sound great.
The only lacking feature is the ability to control the instrument character. There is only a bell knob. While some paid plugins have more control options, the NoiseAsh Sweetcase is still an excellent software and we recommend that you try it since it is available for free download on their website.
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6. Keyzone Classic
One of the most popular VST plugins is Keyzone Classic. This plugin is made by the company, Spectrasonics, who is also responsible for making Omnisphere, which is one of the most well-known virtual instruments out there. It features three different Rhodes patch variations in one package for a total of nine sounds to choose from. This makes it great for anyone looking for a versatile plugin that can be used in many different ways.
Product Specifications
- Features Several Pianos Including Three Different Rhodes Patch Variations
- ASDR Control
- Built-In Reverb
- Built-In LFO
- Customizable Velocity Curve
- Price: Free
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Apart from featuring different Fender Rhodes pianos patches, the plugin also features a Yamaha grand piano and a Steinway grand piano.
- The ASDR control present in this plugin allows you to shape your sound meticulously.
- There is a built-in reverb with only one knob that is easy to use and sounds pretty good.
- There is a built-in LFO that can be used as a tremolo or autopan.
- The interface of the plugin is very simple and easy to use, without any unnecessary features.
- The Keyzone Classic is available for free download.
Cons
- Fewer character controls than other options on the list.
Conclusion
The Keyzone Classic is one of the most popular free plugins out there. It can perfectly emulate a Rhodes electric piano and is an excellent choice for those who can’t spend much on a plugin but still want a great piano sound. We definitely recommend everyone to download this plugin and try it for themselves.
While the Keyzone Classic plugin doesn’t have as many customization options over the character of the instrument as other options on the list, it has the advantage of being a simple and easy-to-use software, so you can easily achieve a great sound with it.
Related: VST Plugin CamelCrusher
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Other Great Fender Rhodes Piano VST Plugins?
Conclusion
In our best Rhodes VST plugins article, we reviewed 6 different Rhodes Pianos plugins with different functionalities and features. All of the software on the list are excellent emulations of the popular electric piano instrument and will get you a ready-to-mix tone right out of the box.
To decide our favorites on the list, we took into account a lot of factors such as the technology employed in the plugin, the customization features, built-in effects, and compatibility, as well as price. Here are our top picks:
Waves Electric 88 Piano – Best Rhodes VST
The Waves Electric 88 Piano sounds surprisingly realistic and packs a lot of customization features: there are 4 parameters only to control the character of the Rhodes signature soft sound, not to mention the built-in effects. The plugin is also usually available for sale at $29, an excellent price considering its quality and features. Definitely a steal.
NoiseAsh Sweetcase – Runner-Up
The NoiseAsh Sweetcase is simple to use, packs in built-in effects and, the best of all, it is free for download. We recommend everyone to download this electric piano VST and try it for themselves since it sounds so good.
How to Buy
You can find the link to each product on their respective titles on the list. Make sure to research extensively and try the demos/free options before committing to a plugin. We hope you liked this article. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!
Ian Sniesko is an experienced music producer and musician who loves to share his knowledge about the best audio equipment for making and enjoying great music. For the past 6 years, Ian has written extensively about the audio equipment industry and has contributed to many of the top music magazines.