Nord User Forum

Tried them out, looks like my EPs will be EP1, EP7, Wurly 2.

This one was definitely worth waiting for (EP7, I mean). I'm still trying to figure out how to EQ it to my taste, though. In its raw form, the low-velocity samples of the lower notes (up to somewhere around middle C) have a really soft attack, whereas the high-velocity samples of upper notes (starting about an octave above middle C) sound too thin to me. Right now my preference is to use the Twin amp sim, with a bass boost (because all of the amp sims seem to have a rather strong bass cut built in), and a boost at about 1.5 kHz. Not sure if I will still like it tomorrow, though.

Apart from my personal taste, I do have a small gripe: Ab to C two octaves above middle C sound weak compared to the keys around them (in all velocity layers, apparently). It's not nearly as bad as the Suitcase sample, but it makes me wonder why Clavia/SampleTekk doesn't take care of something that is so easy to detect and fix.

Still, this might finally be a Rhodes sample I really like. (OK, I do like some of the other samples for specific use cases, and for a "generic" Rhodes sound, I've been quite happy with the Suitcase sample once I figured out how to work around its unevenness. But I was really missing a Rhodes I could just "turn on and play".) Thanks, Clavia and SampleTekk!

This is what I have in my NP88 right now: As you'd have guessed, I hardly ever use the Wurly and CP80, just have them there in case someone asks. Ditto for the upright.

I think I'm gonna delete the Fazioli and bring back the Studio Grand, too.

love the amped Rhodes and Wurli but LOVE the amped CP80

EP 7 and Whirly 2 loaded ready to try live tonight. First impressions are very positive - found myself vibing the Rhodes for well over an hour. Love the note off - you can really hear the tine getting choked which is all part of the overall feel. Let's see how it cuts through a mix.

I had some time to test the sounds now. Very grateful to Clavia for providing these.

Some comments, in case anybody is interested.
CP70/80 sample: it sounds brighter than the old one, I seem to prefer it, but since I could not load both at the same time to compare, I might be suffering the placebo effect.
Same as in the old CP70/80 sample, the last 2 octaves appear to be tuned about -20/100. I wondered if this is on purpose and I found this: http://www.fenderrhodes.com/rhodes/manual/fig5-4.jpg
The offsets at the extremes are about 20/100 in the right direction, so I assume that this was sampled from a stretched-tuned CP80. Not sure if this is a re-processing of the old sample or a completely new one (not that it matters too much when the result is better).

EPiano 7: I like this new Rhodes, is more responsive to velocity in the mid range, but comparing with the new Amped Wurli, it still seems lacking a bit of responsiveness in the upper two octaves in the NS2-88: not as bright or loud as the rest with increasing velocity. Specially noticeable in MIDI note 91 (highest-but-one G on the 88 note keyboard) it decays very quickly when played hard (it is not a dirty contact, it happens only with this sample and checked with a MIDI monitor). The Equalizer and Drive help a bit with this. Anyway, it is a big improvement over previous Rhodes samples.

Edit: I have just been listening the new Rhodes with headphones, and I now realise what a big improvement it is. The equalizer helps *a lot* in the upper keys. Very pleased with it.

Darren wrote: Love the note off - you can really hear the tine getting choked which is all part of the overall feel.

Wow, I had the "long release" button on. It is more noticeable when "off".

Credit where it's due. They have done very well to come up with this. I still boost the mid to get it "nice".

Well done Nord! now, off to bed it in.

I've loaded the new EP7 and the newest Amped Wurly. I think they are an improvement. I'm just wondering how much I'm missing out from using them on my Electro 3 SW73, knowing it doesn't have the added capabilities of the E4s or even the 3HP. I've deleted some sounds to make these two new ones fit. I noticed one other E3 SW user that has added them. Anyone else out there able to make a comparison with the two different boards and these two added sounds?

Just back from my gig. The new EP's did a sterling job - found myself preferring EP1 for a few things as it's a bit more 'bell' like in the mid range. But the EP7 for down and dirty funk stuff all the way.