[Rhodes] Get up to 41% off in the Rhodes Easter Sale. Expiry: April 12th [Affiliate Link]
TL;DR: Rhodes is running an Easter Sale with up to 41% off their official electric piano plugins and effects — including the V8, V8 Pro, and V-Rack. If you’ve been eyeing the flagship V8 Pro (regularly $239.95), this is a solid window to grab it at a meaningful discount. Sale ends April 12th. Grab the deal at Plugin Boutique.
What Is Rhodes Software?
Rhodes — yes, that Rhodes — makes official virtual instrument and effects plugins modeled on their iconic electric pianos. Their software lineup includes the V8 and V8 Pro virtual instruments (hyper-realistic recreations of the Rhodes MK8 electric piano) and the V-Rack multi-effects plugin (based on the MK8’s analog preamp and FX circuit). These are the only officially licensed Rhodes plugins on the market, built from samples and modeling of actual Rhodes hardware.
Key Features
- 30,000 samples from the MK8 — The V8 is built from recordings of Rhodes’ flagship MK8 piano, capturing its full tonal range with remarkable detail.
- Up to 127 velocity layers — Fine-grained dynamic response across the keyboard for expressive, realistic playing.
- 14 articulations — Sustains, staccatos, portamentos, legatos, note-offs, sympathetic resonances, and mechanical noises are all included.
- Modeled MK8 FX board (V8 Pro) — VCA Compressor with sidechain, 4-Stage VCA Phaser, Bucket-Brigade Chorus, and Bucket-Brigade Delay.
- V-Rack standalone effects — Seven classic analog effect emulations including 3-mode Drive, resonant 3-band parametric EQ, Vari-Pan, and the full MK8 effects chain.
- Cross-platform support — Available as VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX for both Mac and PC.
What Producers Are Saying
The Rhodes V8 generated significant buzz as the first official Rhodes plugin. On forums like KVR Audio and Reddit, producers frequently highlight the authenticity of the sampling and the expressive velocity response. The V-Rack has drawn attention as a versatile effects unit that works well beyond just electric piano duties. Community discussions commonly note the large install size (~22 GB) but agree the sonic quality justifies it.
Who Is It For?
- Neo-soul, jazz, and R&B producers — The Rhodes electric piano sound is foundational to these genres, and the V8 delivers it from the official source.
- Singer-songwriters and session keyboardists — Designed for expressive, dynamic playing with deep velocity sensitivity and multiple articulations.
- Lo-fi and chill beat makers — The built-in effects chain (chorus, phaser, compression) in the V8 Pro is tailored for warm, textured keys.
- Mix engineers and sound designers — The V-Rack’s standalone analog-modeled effects chain can be used on any audio source, not just keys.
Pricing & Deal Details
Rhodes runs periodic sales — they’ve offered 50–60% off during Black Friday and around 30% off for events like World Piano Day. A 41% discount lands in the mid-range for Rhodes promotions, making this a reasonable (though not the deepest) sale.
| Product | Regular Price | Easter Sale (up to 41% off) |
|---|---|---|
| V8 | Check deal page for exact price | |
| V8 Pro | Check deal page for exact price | |
| V-Rack | Check deal page for exact price |
Note: “Up to 41% off” means discounts vary by product. Verify current pricing on the deal page — prices can change before the April 12th expiry.
Check exact prices and grab the deal here.
Alternatives at a Glance
| Name | Approximate Price | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Scarbee Mark I (Native Instruments) | Included in Komplete | Part of a larger bundle; less focused Rhodes-only experience |
| Keyscape (Spectrasonics) | ~$399 | Covers 36+ keyboard instruments beyond Rhodes, but at a higher price |
| Lounge Lizard EP-4 (AAS) | ~$199 | Uses physical modeling instead of samples, resulting in a much smaller install size |
If you specifically want the most authentic Rhodes MK8 sound from the official source, the V8 is the only option. If you need a broader keyboard collection and budget allows, Keyscape covers more ground. If disk space is a concern, Lounge Lizard’s modeling approach weighs in at a fraction of the V8’s 22 GB footprint.
FAQ
Q: Do the Rhodes plugins require iLok? A: Check the official Rhodes or Plugin Boutique product page for current authorization details.
Q: Can I try before I buy? A: Yes — Rhodes offers a free 14-day trial for both the V8 and V8 Pro.
Q: What’s the difference between V8 and V8 Pro? A: The V8 Pro adds the modeled MK8 FX board (compressor, phaser, chorus, delay) and per-note controls for timbre, damper, level, and tuning. The standard V8 focuses on the core piano engine.
Q: How much disk space do I need? A: The V8 requires approximately 22 GB of disk space after installation (compressed from ~60 GB of original recordings).
Get the Deal
Up to 41% off the only official Rhodes plugins — and the sale wraps up April 12th. Whether you’re after the full V8 Pro instrument or just the V-Rack effects chain, this is a solid entry point. Grab the Rhodes Easter Sale at Plugin Boutique.
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