The Bottom Line
The Abbey Road Keyboards ReFill Collection for Propellerhead's Reason software suite is an exceptional set of patches that go far beyond your inexpensive, typical keyboard samples; these multi-sampled key instruments are legendary on many famous recordings, recorded with high-quality microphones through legendary Abbey Road Studios equipment.
With a retail price of around $185, Propellerhead and Abbey Road nailed it; these samples represent some of the best sounding and most useful samples you'll find, all for an unbelievable price.
With a retail price of around $185, Propellerhead and Abbey Road nailed it; these samples represent some of the best sounding and most useful samples you'll find, all for an unbelievable price.
Pros
- Exceptional Sound Quality
- 16 and 24-bit Versions
- Compatable with Pro Tools via Reason ReWire
Cons
- Complex Installation
- Resource-Heavy
Description
- Multi-velocity, multi-microphone samples of legendary keyboard instruments.
- Requires Reason 3.0 or later, DVD drive, and at least 1GB or RAM (2GB preferred).
- Contains 16-bit and 24-bit samples.
Guide Review - Abbey Road Keyboards Reason ReFill Collection
Abbey Road Studios is legendary for their commitment to quality; from The Beatles to Pink Floyd to Radiohead, many ridiculously talented artists have recorded a Abbey Road.While many studios are lucky to have a real piano (and bonus points if it's in tune!), Abbey Road is home to several high-quality vintage keyboard instruments, all in top-notch condition. The Abbey Road Keyboards Reason ReFill Collection brings these instruments to your desktop in stunning quality.
Recorded in Abbey Road's Studio Two (featuring a mouth-watering Neve VR Legend console), these vintage keyboards were replicated in multiple velocity levels with multiple microphones capturing every acoustic aspect of these instruments. Of course, these mic selections can be changed within each individual sample, giving you limitless capabilities for tone.
Included in the box are both 16- and 24-bit samples for the studio's Steinway Upright (known as the "Mrs. Mills" piano), a Challan Studio Piano (a warmer sounding upright from the 1930s), a Hammond RT-3 Organ (a bigger version of the popular B3), a Mannborg Harmonium (an awesome-sounding reed organ), a Schiedmayer Celeste (a bell-like orchestral instrument, played on keys), a Mellotron M400 (a tape-based sampler including flute, cello, and strings), and my favorite, vintage 1950s Tubular Bells, a percussion instrument made up of tuned tubes played as a keyboard instrument.
While one ReFill pack can't solve all problems, this one comes close; I've been using it on several projects to add body and life to otherwise flat keyboard tracks; in fact, the keyboard samples (especially the Challan piano) sound better than my previously preferred keyboard, the Kurzweil K25.
The Abbey Road Keyboards Reason ReFill Collection is available now for around $185; you'll need to own Reason 3.0 or higher already to make it work.
