Scarbee Classic EP-88S

CLASSIC ELECTRIC PIANO 88S

• Multiple models from 1974 or 1976 included in both a 73/88-key version - passive or keyboard-amped
  
  
• Flexible on-board effects with alternate routings
  
  
• 88 keys, 30 velocities and 8294 samples
  
  
  

WHAT'S IN YOUR SUITCASE?

The BIG EP is a passionately sampled electric piano from the 70's. By design the 88-key version is darker than the 73, however by using custom modifications plus advanced technology, we add a ‘non-existing’, bright 88! You can also dial in the sounds of various Mark 1 models: the ‘woody’ 1974 and the ‘metallic’ 1976. FX includes custom keyboard preamp and the three split EQ - a spoecial modification suggested to me by George Duke. Scarbee Classic EP-88s has more samples, greater dynamics and more keys – 88 of them! (compared to Scarbee Mark 1) Anyone who has tried to restore an instrument like this knows that the lowest and highest octaves take as much time as the rest of the keys put together – It's a true battle where you need a lot of patience, lots of spare parts and some luck too.

We wanted to have the best possible sustain on each key, perfect balance of tone and as much bark too. There are harder strikes (compared to Scarbee Mark 1) - as well as softer ones.

We spend an enormous amount of time cleaning the samples for noise – each sample went through four stages, where the last two were done by hand. The reason for this was the fact that we wanted to be able to offer presets with extreme treble EQ settings without having extra noise – and without hurting any part of the recordings.

Try to select a Snapshot like 'Bahian Love Affair' – and turn the Instrument Noise totally down on the Settings page – and listen to the difference...

MATRIX - CEP-88S EXPANSION is now included for free.

This product runs in the free KONTAKT Player or full Kontakt. Download via Native Access.

FINDING YOUR SOUND

Every musician tries to find his sound - and producers love to be able to get exactly what they are looking for. We made it easy for you: There are 45 different snapshot presets ready for you - and if you want to make your own sounds? Get started with the 117 FX presets.

You can even select different routings and have some FX come before or after amp. The possibilities are there for sure. As a tribute to George Duke we created a 3 zone split EQ and a stereo knob so you can carry on what this great man started.

THE PURE JOY OF PLAYING

• Advanced Release Sample System
  We simply scanned all sustains from start to end and Nils Liberg and me (Thomas Hansen Skarbye) designed a system so that release the samples will always have the correct sound and energy- no matter the dynamics or the time sustain is held.
  
  
• Release Sample Resonance System
  We created a new way to control the "box" resonance so it would completely mimic reality.
  
  
• Advanced Sus Pedal Behaviour
  It wasn't enough to add pedal FXs of all kinds... we also changed the way the sustain notes affect each other when playing the same key repeatedly.
  
  
• Note Off Delay
  On the MIDI keyboard the release sound started a little to fast compared the the real instrument and repeated notes sounded too staccato like. The solution was to simply delay the note-off sent from the MIDI-keyboard or sequencer so that it would change in same time as the original instrument. It too made a real difference in the playing experience!
  
  

You can read more detailed about this in our manual - that can be downloaded too. (see Specs)

INSPIRING 3D ARTWORK

We imagined how it would look in real life...

To be inspired...to do our very best with the sound.

The talented artists at

A LONG AND BUMPY ROAD

A PROMISE TO A LEGEND

In 2013 I decided to make a new version of the classic electric piano that I had created in 2002-2003 (Mark 1 – re-released by Native Instruments in 2010).

As I had been in regular contact with George Duke over the years and also been fortunate to meet him a couple of times, I contacted him in order to discuss the features of this new “Super EP”. I was very interested in the various keyboard mods that was made for him in the 70s and 80s.

On April 1-2, 2013 George wrote to me:
“On the plexiglass version [of the electric piano] that I used for a long time, I had the harp split into three parts so I could EQ each section the way I desired and pan it true stereo if I desired.

By the way, if you can please include some pedal up, pedal down noises along with a WIDE real time dynamic range. The one thing I miss the most playing a virtual electric piano is being able to achieve the softest soft to the grit that happens when a key is punched hard!

There are also some inherent generic noises that occur that one should be able to dial in if desired, that way a single instrument can serve a variety of purposes. I know I'm probably asking for the world but that's the way I see it...and after all, you're the BEST!!".

FULLY NKS READY

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