Electric Grand 80 Piano by Waves virtual instrument plugin interface

Electric Grand 80 Piano: Electro-Acoustic CP-80 Piano Instrument by Waves

Electric Grand 80 Piano is a virtual instrument plugin by Waves that models the CP-80 electro-acoustic piano. It is built for the polished, reverberant piano sound heard in late-1970s and early-1980s pop and R&B.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

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01Overview

Electric Grand 80 Piano is a sampled model of the CP series, the electro-acoustic pianos used by many late-1970s and early-1980s pop and rock acts. Waves positions the CP series as sitting between an acoustic piano and a tine-based electric piano, with a more focused tone than the former and a richer voice than the latter. The instrument is aimed at producers who want that specific electro-acoustic character for chords and leads. It runs as a plugin in VST2, AU and AAX formats, and it can also be used in standalone app mode for live performance.

Best for

Pop chord progressions
Retro R&B keys
Bright lead melodies
Live keyboard performance
Layered pad textures
1980s-style production

Developer: Waves
Category: Virtual Instruments
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Expertly sampled model of the CP-80 with extended low end
Sustain simulates sympathetic resonance of unplayed strings
Mechanical key-up and sustain pedal sounds for realism
Multi-effect section: tremolo, autopan, chorus, phaser, reverb
Bass, mid and treble tone controls
Limiting and compression for dynamics
Formant control from mellow to brash
Dynamic velocity response with variable curve
Standalone app mode for live performance
NKS-ready for NI Komplete Kontrol and Maschine

03In depth

Sound and Character of the CP-80 Model

The plugin is built from samples of the CP-80, with the extended low end of the original instrument included. Waves describes its chords as reverberant and its leads as shiny and polished, which suits layered pads and bright melodic lines in a mix.

The sustain pedal can simulate sympathetic resonance of unplayed strings, which adds body to held chords. Mechanical sounds from key release and the sustain pedal can also be added for extra realism.

Formant control moves the tone from mellow to brash, giving a wide range of color from a single instrument.

Effects, Tone Controls and Dynamics

A multi-effect section includes tremolo, autopan, chorus, phaser and reverb. Bass, mid and treble controls shape the overall tone of the instrument.

Dynamics can be refined with limiting and compression. Velocity response is adjustable through a variable response curve, which changes how softly and forcefully played notes translate to sound.

For performance, the instrument can run in standalone app mode. It is also NKS-ready for use with NI Komplete Kontrol and Maschine.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Waves
Type	Plugin
Category	Virtual Instruments
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is the Electric Grand 80 Piano based on?

It is a sampled model of the CP-80, one of the CP series of electro-acoustic pianos. Waves says the series was used by many late-1970s and early-1980s pop artists.