The overall tone of the Rhodes in Tubed Keys is on the dark side. I don’t mean that you can’t get bark and pop — there’s plenty of that. I mean that bell-like transients are at the very edge of hearing, and boosting treble EQ doesn’t get you much more. That’s not a bad thing. On the contrary, it’s ideal if your other Rhodes sounds are too clean ’n’ sparkly for that old-school soul vibe. This one puts the grr in greasy. Velocity response is slightly uneven across the keyboard, but it sounded like this was because the Rhodes they used in the sampling sessions was a bit uneven itself — just like nine out of ten vintage specimens you’d encounter in the real world.
Tubed Wurli was similar. It sounded thoroughly warm and real, but played less like one fresh from a restoration shop such as Speakeasy Vintage Music, and more like one from an actual speakeasy.
If you purchase by downloading from SampleTekk’s site, you get “part 1” in compressed RAR format, and an email with a link to parts 2 and 3. You then have to make sure all the RAR files are in the same directory, and unpack only the first one. Also, if you work in EXS24 (Logic Pro’s sampler), you have to manually swap a special set of release samples into the “Samples” folder, or else you’ll hear digital noise bursts when you lift off the keys. Both these issues are only with Tubed Keys (the Rhodes), not Tubed Wurli. Still, you could save some trouble and order the disc from U.S. distributor Big Fish Audio.
INSTRUMENTS
Tubed Keys: Rhodes Mk I. Tubed Wurli: Wurlitzer 200.
PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED
No.
SAMPLER FORMATS
EXS24, Gigastudio 3, HALion, Kontakt.
PROS
Perfect sonic character for soul, funk and R&B music. Very expressive.
CONS
Complicated download and file expansion process.\
BOTTOM LINE
Like real instruments from a pawn shop, these have tons of personality and attitude, and can be a little unpredictable.