Virtual instrument review - Rhodes V8 Pro plugin

Three years ago the Rhodes Music Group Ltd released its much anticipated Rhodes MK8 keyboard that was meticulously designed to retain the essence of the original 1970s/80s electric piano, but with some serious 21st century upgrades including powerful effects fully integrated into the unit itself. The only drawback of all this innovation is the £7,500 price tag. However, there’s a more affordable option in the form of the official Rhodes V8 plugin, which, on the evidence of our tests, sounds like it may well be the only Rhodes emulation you’ll ever need. With the familiar front panel mirroring the real world version, the interface is simplicity itself.

There’s an entry level version (£149) and a ‘Pro’ version (£249) and anyone going for the fully featured Pro version gets access to the Setup page which provides per-note control over Timbre, Fine Tune, Level and Damper settings. There’s also a selection of microphones and amplifier/cabinet combos that allow you to create various classic Rhodes setups to add further nuances to your sound – as well as the stunning onboard delay, phaser and chorus effects.

Technicalities aside, this thing just sounds superb, with subtle details including percussive key thumps adding a genuine physicality to the sound – it really blew us away. 

Find out more: www.rhodesmusic.com

This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Jazzwise. Whether you want to enjoy Jazzwise online, explore our Reviews Database or our huge archive of issues, or simply receive the magazine through your door every month, we've got the perfect subscription for you. Find out more at magsubscriptions.com