Just recorded a quickie...

Includes four different Rhodes sounds from Digidesign's Velvet:

1. Clean (no effects) Mark I
2. Clean Mark II
3. Clean Suitcase '73
4. Suitcase '73 preset called "Foster Child". My favourite sound...

In my opinion, the G isn't as good as these when it comes to sounding like the real thing. However, the EP's in the G sound great, they just don't sound like the real thing. But no other workstation or software does either, so...

FatBrass

Velvet certainly sounds like one the better/best emulations.

But it seems to me that
a) the "clean" examples aren't clean, but are running through a chorus effect.
b) the whole dynamics seem a bit over the top compared to a real Rhodes (as if we had another case of dynamics modeling here instead of multilayer samples). I have no Mac and can't check that.

Clavia, not being perfect either, probably allows both the best Rhodes and Hammond B3 sounds on hardware so far, and the Scarbee Library (which just re-appeared at a similar price at Native instruments) still seems to me to be the reference for the best software Rhodes/Wurly/Hohner D6 sounds.

Anyway the vintage Rhodes waveforms on the G are quite good as well, and belong to the best sounds available on the whole Fantom G. You just should use well programmed user patches instead of the custom presets.

andy- checked out the site (not the yahoo one), pretty cool stuff. :p

fatbrass- ive not tried the velvet but as far as the G's waveforms they do sound pretty good, but they are imho a little too clean and thin on the lower end. it also doesn't have the wack! wack! wack! kinda sound down low...if you know wat i mean. hahaha.

the SRX12 (i think it was) in my old fantom actually sounds more authentic because of the different waverform, but also the original fantoms lacked the clarity of the FG so that actually works as a benefit.

completely agree with jim on the nord. so far this has been the warmest sounding and closest hardware based. i like mine and i think if i was going to get something closer to the real thing im just going to get the Mk7 or something they're called these days at Rhodes.

As I said, the recording was done quickly. There are 50 presets on each model (Mark I, Mark II, SC73 and the Wurlitzer A200) and quite a few sliders (for velo curve), knobs and switches to tweak it the way you want. My favourite button is the Condition button, which is graded from "Mint" to "Bad"... You're in for a few quite pleasant surprises when you turn it around a bit!

Well worth the money, I think (about €180).

i like nord's approach. maybe 7-8 great sounds and no more to choose from.

i laugh at people like yamaha and other that sell keyboards like 10,000 sounds onboard!!! but most of them are useless....find your sound from the big pile of crap. :D

Well, a workstation should have more than 7-8 sounds to cover a broad range of possible situations and tastes.

But I agree that 200 high quality patches would be ten times better than 1000 or even 10000 patches with the well known high crap factor, which is so prominent on more than one workstation, and especially among totally outdated G waveforms and patches.

A certain quantity is necessary on workstations, but in the end quality and up-to-date samples top quantity anytime!

yah, for workstation yes it would need a decent selection. i was referring to other digital piano's. :p

The Nord sounded Really Really Really nice on American Idol on Tuesday Night. Song was "Superstition" Stevie Wonder.

Sounded really good!

the nord do sound good.

i think anyone that likes playing the white and black keys should at least try the nord stageEX. i think you'll like them. they are kinda rare in my area though... ive only seen it once at the local music stores.