VTines Live - User Guide | Acousticsamples

01

Overview

SAMPLING MEETS MODELING ON IOS

We have always known that the future of virtual instruments would be a hybrid of sampling and modeling. With samples alone, the flexibility is lost when it comes to performance, and with modeling alone too much of the authentic sound is lost.

Enter the VTines. We have found a way to combine both technologies by using samples as the sound source alone, controllable using modeling techniques. This allows the V Tines to weight only 80Mb (retina graphics and presets included), to really sound like a Fender Rhodes© with all of its imperfections and to have a fully continuous response (if you're not convinced, listen to the 127 velocity example in our video) as well as a highly tweakable sound.

The VTines was limited to desktops for a while, but we were able to make it work on iOS, you can now take it with you everywhere, on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 11.0 or later.

The VTines LIVE is almost the same on iOS, the only differences are that it is not as tweakable as the desktop version, but the base engine is untouched and you still get the continuous response, the great suitcase simulation as well as the vintage stereo tremolo effect.

The « Live » version of our instruments has been especially thought for Live performance usage. CPU and RAM footprints have been optimized, so that our model can run on IOS devices. We paid a particular attention to making it easy to connect and use with external MIDI keyboards, and/or within you favorite AUv3 host

02

Interface

03

Features

Pure Rhodes© sound, uncompromised playability

Our model is based on real samples of a 1978 Fender Rhodes© Mark1 fully restored with clean pickups and tines, new grommets, new hammer tips, etc, so it is the best an electric piano can sound.

Our model gives you access to a 100% continuous response, a very small sized app (86Mb) and a very high tweakability.

It also ensures that the staccatos and releases that make up for half of the realism sound perfect, not like a fadeout, not too loud, just perfect.

How does sampling + modeling work, and why does it sound so natural? Read sampled, modeled or hybrid.

More about this

Front panel

You can adjust the overall volume of the VTines live.

The second concentric knobs, just like on a real suitcase rhodes control Treble and Bass. We measured this carefully and made sure the ranges and frequencies matched the original.

The vibrato (we talk about it more in depth below) has two controls, the depth and the speed. We carefully measured the output of the preamp and copied the real output of each channel. We also added a tempo link as it can be very useful. We also extended the original range as this is a common mod on real Rhodes.

There are two very common FX accessible on the front panel: reverb and drive. You can control their amount from here but if you want further adjustments, you need to go to the FX page.

You can also engage the AMP simulation from the front panel.

Vibrato and front FX

We carefully measured the output of the preamp of a Rhodes© suitcase and created an exact replica of the stereo panning of the Vibrato. We just added the possibility to sync it to your tempo and also extended the speed range just like some real mods do.

The Bass and treble EQ are precisely adjusted to the frequencies and ranges of the original preamp.

Pre 1969 Rhodes© only had a mono tremolo, so we added that option and you can get that old school vibrato effect.

Suitcase AMP

Rhodes© are often recorded through the direct output, but the suitcase models have a stereo amp that has a very recognizable sound with two 12' speakers facing the front and two facing the back and each side.

Our AMP simulation is true stereo, meaning that we have a very precise stereo image which is extremely useful when the Vibrato is on.

Precise adjustments

Modeling also means customization, the full desktop version allows for more options, but the LIVE version still ievs you access to a few parameters.

More about this

Preferences panel

On this panel, you can adjust many parameters to shape the sound of the VTines LIVE. Here is what each parameter does.

1- The pedal volume controls the volume of the sound made by the pedal when you press and depress it.

2- The Dynamics button controls the volume of the lowest velocity allowing for a greater or smaller dynamic range. It is set by default to the maximum range of the real instrument.

3- Bell amount: The Bell is a known characteristic of the Rhodes pianos, you can adjust how much of it there is for all notes. Increasing it will also increase the attack as the Bell plays an important part in the attack of a Rhodes.

4- Release Volume: The release is the the sound captured after the note is released. That characteristic noise has been carefully adjusted to sound exactly as the one of the original instrument, but you can control its volume.

04

Technical specifications

Requires an iPhone or iPad under at least iOS 11.0

App size once installed on your device: 43Mb

Works as standaloine and AUv3

- Sampling and modeling hybrid of a Mark1 Fender Rhodes©
- Full continuous velocity
- Perfect staccatos and release samples
- 7 high quality presets
- Bass and treble EQ adjusted to the frequencies and ranges of the original preamp
- Precise modeling of the original Vibrato effect (can be synched to the host tempo)
- Very detailed Rhodes© AMP simulation
- Reverberation and Drive FX
- Adjustable pedal volume, release volume and bell amount
- Adjustable MIDI response, input sources and channels
- Adjustable MIDI CCs to control knobs and switches
- Standalone app and AUv3 plug-in
- Low download and installation size (about 45 Mb)
- Low RAM and CPU footprint

Sample player

VSTVST3AUAAXStandalone

VTines Live plays in UVI Player (formerly UVI Workstation), UVI's free sample player. We provide it with every library you buy, so you don't need an expensive sampler to use our products. It works on Mac (macOS 10.14 or later, Intel or Apple silicon) and Windows (10 or later), standalone or as a plug-in (VST / VST3 / AU / AAX), in 64-bit only. More about it here.

Copy protection

We use the iLok system to protect our products and you can choose to register your license to your computer or to an iLok dongle. If you decide to use an iLok dongle, both V1 and V2 are compatible with our products. You can activate your license on up to 3 computers or iLok dongles at the same time and you can deactivate one and activate another as many times as you want.

Registration

Once your order is complete, you will be provided with a serial number. You will then be able to register it to your iLok account from our website on this page (you need to be logged in to access this page). The whole process is described in the FAQ (instructions + screencast).