Fracture Sounds Blueprint: Electric Keys – Free Piano-VST

These days, anyone looking for a free piano sample library will find it surprisingly quickly. However, fans of the Rhodes piano have far fewer options. Fortunately, that’s about to change, as Fracture Sounds presents “Blueprint: Electric Keys,” a high-quality Fender Rhodes Mark 1 sample library for an unbeatable $0!

Blueprint: Electric Keys is the first in a new series of free instruments from Fracture Sounds, featuring one of the most iconic vintage electric pianos of all time. This 2.3 GB Fender Rhodes Mark I library includes a range of effects and sound shaping options and runs in Native Instruments free Kontakt Player.

You can switch between direct and amped signals, adjust the instrument’s mechanical noise, and even tweak the sample start time.

Blueprint: Electric Keys is a Kontakt Player library, which means it can be used as a standalone instrument or within a DAW. Owners of Native Instruments KONTROL S series keyboards will be happy to know that NKS support is included.

Fantastic Effects

The four built-in effects in Blueprint: Electric Keys were a pleasant surprise. Stereo Spread lets you widen the low and high notes across the stereo field, creating the sensation of sitting right in front of the electric piano. Cranked up fully, the effect takes on a more artistic, almost experimental character.

The chorus is relatively simple but adds a soft, pleasant shimmer to the Rhodes sound. In contrast, the reverb offers far more depth. Not only does it sound great, but it also includes several adjustable parameters.

You can switch between hall and room settings, and fine-tune size, damping, and modulation. It’s a reminder that even a compact reverb with a handful of controls can be impressively versatile.

My personal favorite among the four effects is definitely Atmosphere. It’s a unique blend of reverb, delay, and an arpeggiator of sorts, with inverted sounds and an unpredictable, evolving texture.

Download and Installation

Both the download and installation process are straightforward and relatively quick. Of course, you’ll need to allow for the download time of approximately 2 GB of sample content. To get started, you’ll need a Native Instruments account and the Native Access software.

Below, you will find the download links for Blueprint: Electric Keys, Native Access, and Kontakt Player, all of which are completely free.

1. Visit the Fracture Sounds website and click on “GET NOW”. Follow the instructions and you’ll receive an activation serial number via email.
2. Create an account at Native Instruments and install Native Access.
3. If the Kontakt Player does not appear in Native Access, you can download it directly from the Native Instruments downloads page.

Exactly How It Should Sound!

Both the direct and amp signals of Electric Keys produce a pleasantly mellow yet slightly glassy tone. Combined with the high-quality effects included, the result is a beautifully nuanced Rhodes sound.

While playing, I occasionally noticed some transitions between velocity layers. The dynamic gradations could be a touch smoother, but on the plus side, the inclusion of multiple round-robin samples adds a welcome degree of sonic variation.

All in all, Electric Keys offers a somewhat mellow Rhodes character. Ideal for intimate solo arrangements, yet just as capable as a supporting voice in jazz, soul, and similar genres.

Conclusion

Blueprint: Electric Keys is an absolute no-brainer. With great effects, a solid sound, and a price tag of zero, there’s really no reason not to download and install it.

It’s exciting to imagine what Fracture Sounds will bring to the Blueprint series next.

Fracture Sounds Blueprint: Electric Keys – Overview

Platform: Standalone (Windows 10 or later / macOS 10.15 or later) and plugin formats (AU, VST, AAX)
System requirements: Low
Disk space required: 2.3 GB
Developer/Distributor: Fracture Sounds

*Affiliate link. These “advertising links” help us finance our website. If you buy a product through such a link, we receive a small commission – at no extra cost for you. The PIANOO.com team says thank you for your support!