EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Scarbee is proud to announce the immediate release of the Scarbee 
R.S.P.' 73, the most comprehensively sampled Rhodes piano on earth. 
The depth and sophistication of this sampling project has allowed us 
to finally capture the elusive 'soul' of the Rhodes piano.

The R.S.P.'73 consists of a collection of truly authentic `deeply 
sampled' renderings of the classic Fender Rhodes Stage Piano MK I -
 '73, captured in high definition 24 bit quality. Ingenious Danish 
programming has resulted in both the 24 bit Emagic EXS24 mkII and 24 
bit Steinberg Halion editions of the library being included in the 
same 4 CD set, with the added bonus that registered users will 
shortly be able to download the 24 bit Native Instruments Kontakt 
version at no extra cost. The same programming system allows 
purchasers of the 2 CD set 16 bit Gigastudio edition to download 
small files which will allow installation of both the 16 bit Emagic 
EXS24 mk II and Steinberg Halion editions at no extra charge. This 
new delivery system should prove to be a major boon to both users 
who need to switch sample platforms from time to time, and dealers - 
who will be able to supply the library for any of several popular 
samplers simply by stocking two multi platform editions.

The Scarbee R.S.P.' 73 was recorded at 24 bit resolution through a 
Mindprint En-Voice preamp (without any use of EQ, tube saturation or 
compression), and then digitally transferred to a Nuendo AudioLink 
96 audio card. The piano sound was captured directly from the harp, 
bypassing the passive tone control on the front panel, in order to 
capture the full frequency range of the instrument and minimise 
unwanted noise. All sample editing – including noise reduction and 
normalizing was also done at 24 bit resolution.

The Giga edition includes two versions of the Rhodes:
The "Direct" version, was recorded directly from the Rhodes harp, 
bypassing the passive tone controls.
The "Classic" version simulates the output from the front panel 
socket of the Rhodes, with the "bass boost" knob set at 5 (the 
middle position).
Each Giga version utilises 1752 samples and weighs in at 1.5 
gigabytes.
Registered Giga owners can download the 16 bit EXS24 MK II and 16 
Halion version at no cost.

The 24 bit native EXS24 mk II and the 24 bit native HALion editions 
are not conversions. They have been programmed `from scratch' using 
the "Direct from harp" sound. Programming this way allows us to 
utilise every facility available on the native sampler, rather than 
create something which might have taken mere minutes to port, but 
which was only `pretty close' to the original version because of 
inaccuracy in the porting software. In fact, critical comparison of 
the three versions has confirmed that they have identical timbre and 
response. The "Classic" sound can easily be created by using the 
internal EQ of your favourite sequencer program. Accurate presets 
for Cubase and Logic are included with the library.
Each 24 bit version utilises 1752 samples and requires 2.25 
gigabytes of disk space (shared).
Registered 24 bit EXS24 II and Halion users will shortly be able to 
download the 24 bit Native Instruments Kontakt version at no cost.

How much detail is there in the instrument?

To start with, all samples are full length and unlooped. Each of the 
73 keys of the Rhodes was sampled at 12 different velocities – 
ranging from 0 to -26 dB - but this is only half the story. In order 
to capture that magical feel of really `playing' a Rhodes, we also 
recorded `release' samples for each of the 12 velocities, at the 
exact same level as the corresponding 12 sustain samples. The 
release tone - a sound created when a damper bounces against the 
tine as a key is released, is an intrinsic element of what musicians 
recognise as the original `Rhodes Sound'.

To accommodate systems with RAM limitations, several `Lite' versions 
of the piano are included. Lite versions contain the samples of the 
white keys, which are stretched up or down a semitone to cover 
adjacent black keys. Lite versions come in 12, 8 and 4 velocity 
layer flavours. 

For that duller `old school' sound, a special Hi-cut version of each 
program is also included. 

In response to a number of requests, all programs are available in 
both Equal and Stretch tunings.

HALion release trigger breakthrough…

In order to overcome the current HAlion release trigger obstacle, we 
created 876 special release samples for the HALion version of the 
R.S.P '73. The result is that the sound, feel and action of all 
three editions (Giga, EXS24 and HALion) is identical!

Preparing the piano….

In order to guarantee that the sampled Rhodes was as close to, or 
better than, it's original 1976 condition as possible, an exhaustive 
process of refurbishment was undertaken prior to the recording 
process.

All rubber hammer tips and damper felts were replaced. Hammers, keys 
and harp were modified for optimal response/action. Rubber grommets 
on the tone bars were replaced to improve sustain. New tines were 
carefully selected for ideal timbre and sustain. Tonebars, tines and 
pickups were also carefully adjusted to provide a perfectly balanced 
sound – ranging from warm and mellow to but bright and barking!

During the whole programming phase we even used a proprietary system 
of sampling in order to ensure that the sound, action and feel of 
the original was mirrored and maintained. We went to this kind of 
trouble because a key element in recreating the experience of 
playing a real Rhodes is accurately capturing the response dynamics 
of a real Rhodes. As a result of this effort, the action and feel of 
the Scarbee R.S.P.' 73 exactly duplicates that of a well `hot 
rodded' Rhodes. 

Why is the `feel' important? 

If you are a composer or piano player, you will no doubt be able to 
answer this question for yourself. The Rhodes piano is one of a 
select few instruments which can honestly claim to be a writer's 
primary compositional workhorse. Not just a tool for committing 
already firm ideas to a recording medium, but an inspirational tool –
 an instrument which works in a synergistic way with the composer to 
generate fresh new musical ideas, simply through the act of sitting 
down with it and playing freely. We believe that this inspirational 
quality is largely the result of a combination of the basic timbral 
range of the original Rhodes piano and its very organic dynamic 
response. We dare to say that the Scarbee R.S.P. `73 has, for the 
first time, captured that same tone and feel – the `soul' of the 
Rhodes piano.. The R.S.P.'73 is an instrument you really look 
forward to sitting down and just playing.*

Why sampling in preference to a physical modelling approach?

Physical modelling is a great synthesis option which allows us to 
break down and explore the nature of a sound, but it relies very 
heavily on the software engineer's ability to fathom the unique 
elements which combine to create that sound, to analyse and measure 
them, to write code which can accurately recreate them, and to find 
a hardware platform capable of delivering enough DSP muscle to 
realise the software in high resolution. This process requires that 
many subtle, and some not so subtle, choices be made by the 
engineering team. As a result, the end product is often the 
combination of a few individuals' opinions, a programming team's 
expertise in coding, and the processing abilities of the host 
platforms available at the time the software is designed. It's a bit 
like computer animated characters in movies. Although they are 
generated by extremely sophisticated software and hardware, and can, 
say, morph from a person to a grapefruit and back in seconds, 
they're still just 'pretty close' when it comes to delivering a 
credible alternative to a real actor. The Scarbee R.S.P. '73 is more 
like film of a human actor in comparison. Perhaps not able to morph 
into a grapefruit, but totally believable in its main role as 
a 'real actor'.

Unlike a modelled instrument, the Scarbee R.S.P. `73 is not a 
software engineer's approximation of the elements which combine to 
create a Rhodes-like sound. The Scarbee R.S.P. `73 is a high 
definition mirror image of an actual Rhodes piano. 

* And now, some comments from early beta testers who played the 
R.S.P.'73, and others who have heard initial demos:

"Scarbee's Rhodes has that soul and lots of it! This is the real 
deal...the first Rhodes I've been completely content with."

"With the Scarbee RSP there is just no way that you can play it that 
will not still sound like a Rhodes. And that -ladies and gentlemen- 
is the ultimate torture test of a sampled keyboard instrument."

"It's a fun instrument. The guys on the beta group have had a blast 
with this library, as you can tell from the demos."

"When I first started beta-testing Thomas' Rhodes, I immediately 
knew I wouldn't play another Rhodes if I ever had a choice. Sure you 
don't get the nostalgia trip of sitting down at a real Fender, but 
then you also don't get the knackered tines, sticking keys, noisy 
preamp etc. No toys or bull****, just the perfect Rhodes."

"This Rhodes PLAYS exactly like a Rhodes. You play soft and cruisy, 
and that's what you get. Stab at the keyboard, poke it, smack it, 
and a good Rhodes will bark back aggressively. The RSP 73 does all 
this as well."

"I had never really thought about the bounce back of the dampers 
when you release a key on a real Rhodes, and in fact I never 
realised that they were a missing factor in any sampled Rhodes I've 
used - until Thomas sent me the first beta. I couldn't believe how 
much more 'solid' this sampled version felt. It feels great to play."

"If you loved your Rhodes and miss being able to integrate THAT 
sound into your midi compositions - I guarantee the R.S.P.'73 will 
make you as happy as a pig in mud!"

"The RSP just has a responsiveness which, no matter how much I 
tweaked the EVP, I could never quite replicate."

"I can assure you that every little noise the RSP makes, - so does a 
real Rhodes, and vice versa. And yes, I am in a way affiliated with 
Scarbee: he has borrowed my Rhodes to sample! This is also the fact 
that enables me to conclude: Not only has Thomas captured the sound 
of my Rhodes to a level of perfection that very few people on earth 
would ever have patience to do even if they had the technical 
abilities but he has also captured the hard-to-explain "feeling" of 
the Rhodes. I can only say, when I play the RSP, I am playing the 
real thing. Honestly: The difference is ONLY in the acoustics of my 
mother keyboard versus my Rhodes: The "klonk" of the keys is 
different."

"The RSP73 IS as some others have already noted a carbon copy of a 
Mark I in all of its grit and glory."

"I can't say anything more than anyone else here, but I have to join 
the chorus here in saying WOW!"

For more information, prices and demoes, visit our web site at 
www.scarbee.com

regards

--------------------
Thomas Hansen Skarbye
Sample Library Producer, SCARBEE
www.scarbee.com