If you think about Soul and R’n’B music, we could bet that you imagined a track with a Rhodes sound inside. That’s how essential this electronic instrument is. Also, one of the most iconic bands of all times said that “they wouldn’t exist if Mr. Rhodes didn’t invent the keyboard bass” (The Doors).
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Rhodes VST Plugins
- OUR TOP PICK: Arturia Stage-73 V
- RUNNER-UP: XLN Audio Addictive Keys Mark One
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Essential Keyboard Collection
Table of Contents
History of Rhodes
Rhodes was named upon its creator, Harold Rhodes. Despite some predecessors, the real Fender Rhodes journey started in 1965 when CBS bought a Fender company and released a 73-key Rhodes Mk I.
It became most popular thanks to The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Chick Corea. On the wings of success, CBS created a portable version named Suitcase Piano and in 1979 Rhodes Mk II was made, a cost-efficient remake of the original.
Because of the digital sound era of the 1980s, Rhodes dropped as the first choice, but in the late 2000s, it got attention once again, and therefore, Mark 7 was created.
Real Fender Rhodes vs. Rhodes VST
If you were thinking about if you should buy a real Fender Rhodes instead of using a VST, let’s discuss it a little bit:
Versatility
The most famous Fender Rhodes was created 50 years ago. While they will undoubtedly sound the best, they will probably need a lot of regular maintenance to keep in shape and require space and external gear such as amps and effect pedals to sound the best.
Price
Since the most famous models aren’t manufacturing anymore, the price on the used market is very high. Models in mint condition are selling for around $5.000, so unless you’re a hardcore fan of that Rhodes sound, you would be glad to consider VST versions that may come even a hundred times cheaper.
The sound
Sample-based VSTs are able to recreate only a partition of what a real instrument sounds like. Sure, there are some very detailed sampled VST instruments that can cover more than enough for your needs, but if you’re relying heavily on the sound of Rhodes nothing can beat the real thing. In case you don’t have a budget or space, consider at least those VSTs that use a physical modeling approach.
Comparison of the Best Rhodes VST Plugins
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Review of the Best Rhodes VST Plugins
Now we’re going to see what are the best Rhodes VSTs out there:
Best Overall:
Arturia Stage-73 V
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Arturia software comes with a suitcase and both stage Fender Rhodes models. All models are physically modeled to the details so it’s as good as having the real Rhodes. On top of that, it comes with a perfectly matched Fender Twin Amp while the suitcase model comes along with a preamp. On the output routing, you can also use volume and wah-wah pedal and couple of typical rhodes effects such as flanger, chorus, analog delay or compressor,
And the best thing is that since it’s an emulation and not a sample-based instrument, it takes only 1 gigabyte of storage space.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Thanks to Arturia’s “True Analog Emulation” engine, it is possible to edit it in every possible way you could do with the real instrument, but with a couple of mouse clicks, whether it’s about hammer hardness or pickup alignment. Even Fender Twin Amp can be tuned to your taste ao this VST instrument is as good as playing the real Fender Rhodes.
Arturia also went a step further and allowed you to resize the VST screen so that it can match with your next industry-standard 4K monitors without upscaling.
Runner-up:
XLN Audio Addictive Keys Mark One
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This VST is sample-based and XLN Audio puts a lot of effort into capturing every detail. Sound is taken from Rhodes Mk.1 played through vintage tube amp along with some of the finest microphones along with direct out.
There is a dedicated EQ and effect section and you can stack up two different effects along with the compressor and drive unit.
It supports both 32 and 64 bit OS and can be played either as a VST plugin or work as stand-alone software.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is one of the best Rhodes emulations on the market. Sound can be blended further from the mixer panel from four microphone sources used on capturing the amp on and off-axis and even including room microphone.
This allows you to adjust to overall tone in every possible direction, from smooth and soft warm sound up to crisp and punchy percussive character required to upbeat songs. The user interface is very comprehensive and it also comes with a basic front panel in case you want to perform live to give you access only to the most necessary switches and controls.
Best for the Money:
AiR Music Technology Velvet 2
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Velvet 2 is a hybrid VST that combines both sampling and modeling approaches. It comes with all the necessary analog effects emulations needed including tremolo with the autopan, spring reverb, and tape echo.
It also provides you with the Vintage Mode so you can recreate some of the most authentic Rhodes sounds recorded throughout history. You can pick from 5 different instruments and navigate through 350 professional presets.
There is also a comprehensive MIDI learn option for mapping your MIDI keyboard and it supports both 32 and 64-bit OS versions.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Velvet 2 is an excellent and very affordable pack of electric piano essentials. It gives you a great Rhodes Suitcase and Stage Pianos Mk I and Mk II models and also includes an extra Wultizer and Hohner Pianet-T. Combine this VST with some clavinet and it should cover all your electric piano needs, especially with the given number of presets inside this VST.
We love how the drive preamp is integrated and the warmth it produces and how the user interface changes to match the interface of the electric piano you’re playing at the moment.
Best Fender Rhodes VST:
Essential Keyboard Collection
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This VST provides you with 13 different keyboard instruments compiled together into a player interface - piano, rhodes, organs, clavichord, just to name a few are all packed inside. The DSP effect engine consists of reverb, chorus, delay, and vibrato and comes with many dedicated presets depending on the instrument you’ve picked.
Installation takes up to 2 gigabytes of storage space and you can perform in VST and stand-alone versions. Also, both 32 and 64-bit formats are supported and no additional MIDI mapping is required.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Rhodes sounds very authentic and convincing. It can be enhanced a lot thanks to a well laid and intuitive effects panel. It will satisfy the demands of most users, especially for the price given.
We like that it comes with all the keyboard tools in one single VST and even includes some classic sounds such as harpsichord and church organs. Also, tonewheel organ emulation is as good as on some premium VSTs out there.
While we can’t say that the piano samples are the best we’ve ever heard, if songs aren’t heavily based on piano parts, they will sit well in your mix.
Editor’s Pick:
AAS Lounge Lizard Session
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This Rhodes VST decided to emulate the real rhodes sound instead of sampling. It comes with DSP effects used most frequently with Rhodes piano such as chorus, reverb, and phaser and you can tweak the sound further by adjusting the hammer noise or tine bar or choose between 5 different characters based on the sound you want to achieve.
The standalone version is available and it works in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments and it’s very CPU-resource friendly. Full MIDI realtime controller support is also implemented in both VST and standalone instances.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This Rhodes VST gives you a wonderful sound with the incredibly small storage footprint of 70 megabytes (yep, no typo here - seventy) and it requires only 512 megabytes of RAM. AAS did some really great optimizing here and we can’t recall so many VST instruments of this quality at this size. You can install it in a minute and change patches even during the performance with minimal sound interruption as they load up in less than a second. Everything is oriented towards live performance so we can highly recommend this unit in case you want to perform live using a laptop and a MIDI controller.
When Would I Use a Rhodes VST Plugin?
If you’re unsure what would be the best way to use a Rhodes, let us help you out with some tips or hints to put you into right mindset:
Analog Sound
Modern music tends to avoid digital sound sources as they are often described as plastic and shallow. On the other hand, analog sound sources are warm and pleasant to the ears, and Rhodes can add extra warmth to your tracks compared to that 80s ballad piano sound and sound a bit more modern compared to the regular acoustic piano.
Vintage Atmosphere
Rhodes is an instrument that was used a lot in the 1970s. So, if you want to recreate music from that era, lay a track of Rhodes for an instant retro vibe no matter what you’re recording, funk, jazz, hip-hop, or pop music.
Ballad Companion
If you’re about to compose a slow and soft song, consider Rhodes - it can sound more mellow and the way its sound resonates can provide you even with a rhythmic pulsating background layer that can move your song a little bit in a way that piano couldn’t. Soul and R’n’B songs tend to use this character a lot to create an authentic genre trademark.
Conclusion
Rhodes is a unique instrument that can’t be used in all situations. But, when you use it you will always notice it as it produces very authentic and distinctive sounds that can make a real difference to your songwriting no matter what genre you’re working on.
