The free Giulioz RdPiano emulates classic 80s Roland and Rhodes MKS digital pianos.
Classic SA-Synthesis (structured adaptive synthesis) e-pianos are throughout 80s hit data, but aren’t emulated as typically as devices like Yamaha’s DX7 or Roland’s TR-808 drum machine.
Italian developer Giulioz is altering that with the free RdPiano plugin for macOS and Home windows.
RdPiano emulates basic fashions, just like the Roland MKS-20, RD1000, and the Rhodes MK-80 electrical piano.
Roland acquired the Rhodes title in 1987 and launched the MK-80 and MK-60 in 1989. Roland solely maintained possession for a decade and returned the Rhodes trademark to Harold Rhodes in 1997.
There have been extra modifications since then, however these MK fashions are fairly uncommon, and RdPiano is an opportunity so as to add that great sound to your setup with out the fee.
RdPiano simulates the CPU-B board utilized in these fashions, emulating the CPU and customized chips. Giulioz obtained the 6800 CPU emulation code from MAME (A number of Arcade Machine Emulator), who reverse-engineered the VLSI customized chips containing Roland’s harmonic/velocity sound evaluation algorithm.
Giulioz used silicon evaluation of the customized chips to breed probably the most genuine sound.
The sound high quality is incredible; the Roland sounds have that legendary percussive character and may typically be fairly dreamy.
These sounds are a throwback to 80 pop hits and TV exhibits, particularly with easy stabbing chord patterns.
The MK-80 additionally has a percussive sound, but it surely’s lush when held past the preliminary impression.
Giulioz has performed an impressive job of recreating these keyboard sounds with such precision.
With that in thoughts, the developer acknowledges one or two bugs, equivalent to patches initially producing no sound. This concern is usually resolved by altering the patch backwards and forwards.
We aren’t wanting free piano plugins, like Sound Mud’s Drift Free Unhealthy Pianos, and we aren’t wanting 80s sounds, like Acustica’s Factor TH2.
However I’m glad to see these classic keyboards get their time within the digital highlight, because of Giulioz.
RdPiano is obtainable in AU and VST codecs for macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Home windows.
It additionally runs in standalone mode.
Kudos to our good friend Tom from Synth Anatomy for recognizing this freebie!
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