Rhodes V8 - The Rhodes Sound & Front Panel Controls; Preamp Controls

Owner’s Manual
7
PREAMP: VOLUME
Provides gain control for the output of the plugin. This provides adjustment
in dB only, and doesn’t colour the sound. While this dial is placed on the
left-hand side of the instrument, its position in the signal chain makes it the
final stage of processing. You can change the Volume to compensate for
changes made in the SETUP window, the Equalizer or the effects.
The Rhodes Sound & Front Panel Controls
The unique and legendary Rhodes sound is generated by pressing a key, which then actuates
a rubber-tipped hammer, which in turn hits a metal wire (tine). This tine is directly coupled to a
sympathetically resonating ‘tonebar’, which extends the sustain of the tine and gives the piano its
inherent character. The tine and tonebar together form what is widely known as the ‘asymmetrical
tuning fork’ (designed by Harold Rhodes). The vibration from the asymmetrical tuning fork assembly
is then captured by a pickup (one per-note) and sent into the piano’s preamp and effects system for
further processing and enhancement.
The first chain of processors that this direct signal hits consists is known as the Preamp. This includes
Volume, Envelope, Drive, Equalizer and Vari-Pan. Controls for all these processors are located on the
left-hand side of the front panel in the V8 Pro and the MK8 piano. The V8 Pro takes its front panel
controls directly from the MK8 hardware instrument, matching its capabilities and sound. Note that
the V8 has a stripped-down front panel compared to the V8 Pro, with Volume, Drive, Low/High EQ
controls and a Pan section (with square wave only and no audio-rate modulation capabilities.
PREAMP: DRIVE
Add distortion to the signal with this circuit. The distortion flavour was
tailor-made for the MK8 to turn the smooth tones into an aggressive and
sometimes biting feel.
PREAMP: ENVELOPE [PRO VERSION ONLY]
A new featured designed for the Rhodes MK8 piano, the V8 Pro’s Envelope
control modulates the Equalizer Mid band’s Frequency settings, with the
source for that modulation being the strength of your playing.
The best example of the Envelope’s use is as an Auto-Wah. Set the EQ Mid
Frequency to its minimum, turn up the Mid Gain to maximum and turn up the
Envelope control to get this effect, ‘opening up’ the Mid filter as you play
each note. You can change the setting of the Envelope dial, Mid Frequency
and Mid Gain to customize the effect to taste.