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Joined: May 2000
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Quote:
How is it that the DX7 piano is considered to be naff (does "naff" translate ok?) but the Rhodes piano, which is just as ubiquitous, is still cool?
Just wondering ...
ROG.
Cuz da Rhodes be FUNKY.
And, there is not just one Rhodes sound.
First there is the "when". The knowledgable and accomplished Rhodes player can tell you which era the piano was built and marketed by the sound of the doggone thing. They are different.
Then there is the mods and customization, as well. Studios still will tout that they have a certain era Rhodes that is either full stock or modified, and there have become more accepted mods over the years, as well as one particular mod, the good "Dyno-My" mod, with the harp shifter, that is getting rather pricey if you are looking for such.
And then there's the hammers, the original rubber covered hammers have one sound, think vintage Ray Charles, the same era piano can be made to sound a LOT different simply by changing over to Rosewood or Maple hammers. Ditto for each era model of the Rhodes, as well.
Ray Charles
George Duke
Richard Tee (!)
Chic Corea
Donald Fagen (who famously always uses an MXR Dyna-Comp between his Rhodes and amp)
Virtuosos of the Rhodes piano, yet each gets a completely distinctive and instantly recognizable sound, something that I think is the epitomy of the Jazz player, regardless of instrument.
Consider that all of the above would sound rather identically bad on a DX7, in comparison.
It is simply not a very rich sound, and that sound is rather static. A DX7 driven through various effects units still sounds like -- a DX7 piano.
Klang, Blang, Klang...
Expressionless.
--Mac
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I still have my Ensoniq TS-10 which, by factory default, has about 16 different variations on the Rhodes theme. Deeper phasing, faster, slower.... Rhodes is still a great sound. Garage Band actually has an electric piano sound that is close. Wurlitzer had it's own unique sound as well. So I guess to be charitable, we can say that the DX7 went for a specific unique piano sound of it's own. It was done to death, but it was unique.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Expert
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Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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I can vouch that some of the list from zerozero are not even close to a DX7 sound. Mr. Ray in particularly is a physical model of Rhodes-type electric pianos.
FM7 was probably the best known attempt to emulate a DX7 in software. It's now called FM8 and it's a bit pricey, but available from Native Instruments. Also, you might want to check out Native Instruments Komplete free player. I bet you that a DX7 electric piano is amongst the freebies. However, be prepared for a big download.
I think that in zerozero's list, Double 6 is probably going to be the closest thing for free. It's a true FM synthesis engine that has 32 DX7 patches. If the DX7 electric piano isn't one of them, I will be surprised.
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Sampletank was close enough for my needs.
Thanks to all.
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Quote:
John:
You could take a look at FM Piano by Sonivoxmi --$19 and they have a free 3-day demo
http://www.sonivoxmi.com/ProductDetail.asp?Item=FMPiano&Fr=Demoslist
can run as vst or rtas host or standalone.
They have a brief mp3 audio demo on the page above.
John
I got this one with a 5% discount coupon. It's the REAL DEAL!!!!!! 
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Quote:
Then there is the mods and customization, as well. Studios still will tout that they have a certain era Rhodes that is either full stock or modified, and there have become more accepted mods over the years, as well as one particular mod, the good "Dyno-My" mod, with the harp shifter, that is getting rather pricey if you are looking for such.
Man o man. Who is this guy? Mac you never cease to amaze me. My Kurz PC3 tries to use actual instrument names or the band name that made it famous for their patch names like Traffic Wurly. One name is Dyno My Rhodes and I had no clue what that meant. Now I do. Talking about PC3 patches, each Rhodes has two or 3 sliders to control high/low EQ and/or amp sim and tremolo or phase speed, the mod wheel is depth and several patches use the CC2 expresion pedal input for wah. I bought two M audio exp pedals for $29 each just because it's so cool. I can get any Rhodes you've ever heard out of this thing plus all kinds of digital EP's too.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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