I just made an A/B test between a real Fender Rhodes, Redtape Samples, and EVP88.

I know how much Gearslutters love shootouts, so I figured this would be the place to share it!

An excellent test. Simple and clear. Thank you very much.

Thanks for posting!

the real thing and it's not even close.

Loving the real Rhodes. What year and month is that particular one? There's a 4 number stamp on the inside that tells you.

Redtape blows away Logic for the sims.

-R

in a dense rock mix, the korg sv-1 has tweakable electric pianos that will, more than not, be assumed to be a real one. in a starring role though, it's percussive quality/character still remains mechanical/electrical, and that energy has yet to be simulated, especially when you're in the room with it. a real one will definitely conjure a performance unique to that of a keyboard with a emulated tone, which is a hard to measure and opinion-based variable. i kind of hope that it stays that way...although one in good shape is very expensive right now. who's had experience with a new one? they're just as or more expensive than a mint vintage.

I think the Redtape Samples are pretty close - even more considering that not all Rhodes of the same model sounds the same. We had an Keyboarder in our band, and he played 3 different Mark II over the years, and the all had their own sound.

The Logic is something completely else, not even near.

Excellent A/B test. Although the Redtape samples have a very slightly different attack, when I closed my eyes I could not tell the difference between them and the real Rhodes. I suspect that in a full arrangement a majority of folks would not be able to distinguish between the Redtape samples and the real Rhodes. Heck, I'm not sure anyone could tell in a blind ABx test. The EVP was not even close. Although I could see that sound being appropriate for certain productions.



Thanks for this...

I though the Logic Rhodes sounded great!


heh Just kidding. No surprises here, like more or less everyone else, I thought the Redtape sounded pretty close but liked the richness and varied timbre of the real thing better.

For fun, after listening, I decided to load up my copy of Mr Ray 73 and see how it stacked up... I determined that Jon Estes is a much more tasteful and skilled pianist than I.



(But, FTR, I felt the free Mr Ray came in more than a bit under the Redtape instrument, but way above the Logic instrument.)

I just remembered that I have the Red Tape samples, so I got them out and fooled with them. Yes, they sound very authentic, but the playing response is a bit odd and the sounds require a lot of treatment to work in a track. Sometimes we forget how cantankerous those old Rhodes could be.

Still looking for the best emulation.

-R

BTW, for the sake of disclosure, is Jon Estes, the OP, the person selling this? If so this thread should be redirected to New Products.

-R

If Coca-Cola Bottling Company could get Coke Zero to taste like Coke Classic, there would be no 140 calorie Coke Classic on sale.

nah. even if multiple blind tests proved them to taste exactly same, people wouldn't "buy it". they'd say, "i want the real thing." "i want the belly."

What about Native Instruments Mark I ?

in a deaf world the one-earded is king ..evenwith laptop speakers
cheers