Lostin70s has released Keys of the 70’s, a freeware sample-based keyboard instrument in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats for digital audio workstation software on PC and Mac.
Keys of the 70’s is a sample-based virtual instrument developed by Lostin70s. The plugin uses audio samples as the sound source. Additional processing can be done using the built-in modulation tools and effects. Keys of the 70’s features a tremolo effect, a chorus, a reverb, a 3-band equalizer, and an amp simulator with built-in cabinet responses. The plugin also features a tine sound generator that can be mixed with the sound of the sampled instrument.
See also: Best FREE Piano VST PluginsAt the moment, there are six sample libraries available for Keys of the 70’s, all of which can be downloaded for free from the developer’s website. The libraries are provided in a proprietary format (RKS) that is highly compressed to keep the library size low. Here is the list of available instrument libraries:
- Yamaha C5
- Fender Rhodes Mk I
- Tine for Fender Rhodes Mk I
- Wurlitzer EP 200
- Vibraphone
- Clavinet C6
The plugin doesn’t include any sounds when installed. The user should download the expansion sounds manually from the developer’s website and add them to the plugin folder. Once the sounds are correctly installed, the user can select the active preset using the plugin’s preset manager.
Keys of the 70’s sounds quite good, and it’s worth downloading if you’re a fan of vintage keys instruments. There’s no info available as to where the sampled sounds come from, so I’m not sure if the same sounds are available for download from another source and in a different format. UPDATE: Actually, some of the sample sources are listed (thanks to our reader MRG for posting the info in the comments). The Yamaha C5 is based on the “Salamander Grand” sample library which is available in multiple formats.
The instrument can be downloaded free of charge via Lostin70s. You don’t need to sign up to download the files, but the developer accepts donations. Keys of the 70’s is available in all major plugin formats and supports both 32-bit and 64-bit plugin hosts. A standalone version of the instrument is also available.
More info: Keys of the 70’s (5.60 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3/AU/AAX plugin format for Windows & macOS)
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11 Comments
MRG
onThere are in fact sources for the Yamaha C5 and the Rhodes Mark I given on the download page.
The C5 is also called ‘Salamander’ and has been converted in various sampler formats before (Bigcat’s Kontakt version comes to mind). The original samples as SFZ are available on Freepats in glorious 24bit 48kHz.
The Mark I is available as an oldschool soundfont on Audiobombs as the ‘jRhodes 1977 Mark I’ by Learjeff.
Harry
onOkay, so those are just inferior versions of sample sets that have been available for a long time, right?
I don’t understand why someone would create such a redundant plugin, but to each their own.
mrg
onTo each his own, indeed. On a personal note, I found the inclusion of the C5, especially being looped so early in the decay bit weird. But it’s like an old 90s sampled piano and playing with the ADSR I can see its use in a dubby reggae-ish style, maybe even à la Prodigy. So maybe it should be called Keys of the 90s. :D Anywho, why not, it’s there for you to experiment on.
The other samplesets are certainly decent and in a neat little plugin that has some handy fx.
My biggest beef would be the use of a new closed format. It would be nice to know if it’s in the works to open it at some point, or at least a converter from SFZ.
Is it me or the sound is sharp by a note? I only tested the VST2 32bit (REAPER 5, 32bit, 24bit 48kHz) so far, but a tuner gives me C# for each C across the octaves. Anyone else?
Tomislav Zlatic
onOh right, I haven’t seen that. Thanks for pointing it out, I’ll fix the info in the article.
Wing Yee
onv1.1.1 is still one semitone higher from A440! Add Pitch Proof by Aegean Music to your Fx chain and set it to -1 semitone will solve the problem. Other than this tuning issue it’s a great sounding plugin!
mrg
onOops, yep, I meant semitone. Well at least I’m not the only one. May I recommend shifting notes using a MIDI effect instead of doing it sonically? Tho both methods are okay, just give slightly different results.
Still no fix on the website, but they added a new organ plugin in v0.0.1. :D
MRG
onv1.2.2 is out, tuning problems fixed over here. Finally. :D
Tomislav Zlatic
onCool! :)
Bill
onExcuse me. But where should I put the rks files? The plugin doesn’t recognize any rks files. When I try to open the rks in the plugin, it always appear as blank.
BRUTUS
onSAME
Robin
onSame here – tried multiple locations, standalone exe and vst, no rks files shown :(