At the 2025 NAMM Show, Rhodes Music announced the MIDI MK8, a powerful MIDI system for its MK8 electromechanical piano.
The fully integrated, touchless solution expands the capabilities of the iconic instrument, letting you use it to control MIDI instruments, and even to add expression with polyphonic aftertouch.
“After two years of painstaking research and development, we’re proud to present a first-in-class MIDI system that seamlessly integrates with the Rhodes MK8 piano,” said Dan Goldman, Product Manager at Rhodes. “We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure we deliver a fully optimized, noise-free solution that enhances the Rhodes experience while preserving the piano’s signature touch and feel.”
At the core of the MIDI MK8 is Rhodes’ proprietary MIDI sensing technology, which ensures zero interference with the feel of the MK8’s Steinway-designed Kluge keybed. This system transforms the MK8 into a MIDI controller, without changing the instrument’s touch and playability.
This means that you can use the MIDI MK8 to control other hardware synths and virtual instruments, whether layering the Rhodes sound with a synth pad or using the MK8’s onboard effect knobs to adjust settings of a hardware synth.
The MIDI MK8 also features polyphonic aftertouch, which lets you shape dynamics, modulation, and other parameters independently for each note.
“This is our own system, developed in-house in collaboration with industry experts and fully integrated with our piano,” Goldman added. “Just like the MK8’s effects, it’s optimized for the Rhodes by Rhodes, preserving the signature experience while offering unmatched versatility for musicians. With the inclusion of advanced features like high-resolution polyphonic aftertouch, the MIDI MK8 represents a major leap forward in MIDI technology.”
Here’s a live performance demo, featuring Dan Goldman on the MK8 & Errol Rollins on drums:
Features:
- Proprietary MIDI Sensing Technology: Ensures zero interference with the Steinway-designed Kluge keybed, preserving the touch and feel of the MK8.
- High-Resolution Polyphonic Aftertouch: Allows independent control over each note’s dynamics and modulation for nuanced, expressive performances.
- Channel Aftertouch Support: Offers global pressure modulation for all notes being played.
- Dynamic Key Monitoring: Continuous, high-resolution tracking of key positions ensures precise control and expression.
- Onboard Effects Control: Enables MIDI implementation of over 30 MK8 parameters, including preamp and effects settings, for integration with DAWs and MIDI hardware.
- Damper Pedal Integration: Features an optical damper pedal sensor with multiple sustain modes for enhanced playability.
- USB MIDI In/Out: For integration with modern hardware and software setups.
- DIN MIDI Out: Provides compatibility with traditional MIDI devices.
- Noise-Free Design: Fully isolated electronics eliminate noise, ground loops, and interference when connecting to multiple devices in studio or live settings.
- Firmware Expandability: Capabilities are extendable through firmware updates, ensuring adaptability to future advancements.
Note: While the MK8, as an electromechanical piano, cannot generate sound from incoming MIDI data, it can receive MIDI information to control its onboard parameters. For instance, you can program automation data in a DAW — such as adjusting effects like chorus or delay — and send it to the MK8, allowing its effects to shift dynamically in real time during a performance.
Pricing and Availability:
The MIDI MK8 is available now as a factory-installed option for the Rhodes MK8 piano, with an introductory pricing of $1,295 USD / £995 GBP / €1,195 EUR through April 1st, 2025. The regular price is $1,695 USD / £1,295 GBP / €1,495 EUR. An update option for existing MK8 owners is expected to be available later this year.
Finally, another company implementing poly aftertouch keybeds!
Well, it’s PRICED to sell….. it’s difficult to make an objective assessment about what it actually can sound like from the demo clip…., BUT, if it does sound like one of the classic Rhodes, I reckon it will sell by the Bucket load….. Can’t wait to hear a few more demo’s with a few different sounds and players!! Always loved the sound of a Rhodes…. I wonder how different the addition of polyaftertouch will make it sound overall??? I’m sympathetic to the idea, just a little worried about how it will affect the overall classic Rhodes sound. Still, a decent player ought to be able to make it work for him, and a more expressive instrument SHOULD be a good thing???
I think you may be confused about what this product is.
The MK8 sounds exactly like a classic Rhodes, because it is one, just manufactured new. They aren’t demoing that, because the MK8 has been out for several years.
The MIDI option is what’s new. It captures the movement and position of the keys and sends this info out via the MIDI Out jack shown in the picture.
So the MIDI option has nothing to do with the Rhodes sounds – it just means that you can do things like layer a bass synth in with your left hand or add a synth pad behind what you play on the Rhodes.
On the contrary, I know exactly what it is (although I grant you I often wish I was even MORE familiar [expert] with it)…. [Particularly when faring my hair out looking for some esoteric function it can instruct to perform or troubleshooting].
I think you mis understood the context, I was talking about the polyaftertouch and it’s [overall] effect on how THAT would effect the overall sound [of the character of the instrument]. Apologies for any confusion caused.
Actually, I was referring to the implementation of polyaftertouch, and it’s effect on the [character of the] sound….
I’m well aware of what MIDI is thanks, although I to be absolutely fair, I often wish I was even more competent with it, (particularly when troubleshoot or looking to implement some esoteric function it supports:)….
the thing with human economics and “markets” forcing the MIDI protocol to remain 50 years behind the rest of technology – thats on you, humanity
thats why you cant turn more than 2 or 3 knobs on your MIDI controller without the data getting choked ….
so – enjoy all that aliasing… enjoy that lack of resolution and precision… enjoy using a 50 year old technology as your primary tool for interaction, along with your “free markets”
i have to wonder if its ethical
Most of us enjoy 100% compatibility with billions of devices made over the last 40+ years, and know enough about MIDI to get around the issues you mention.
The pricing listed in this article is for the optional MIDI upgrade only. One of these babies will set you back $11,000.
Ahhh! RIGHT!!! That sounds much more logical and in line with expectations…. *sighs*
All things considered tho’. $1000 to midi up a genuine Rhodes??? If you are in the market, you’d be a fool not to!
(Complain about MIDI as a protocol as much as you like, [u]I[/u] think it says a lot about how successful it has actually been as a standard! We’ve all got a great deal to be thankful to it for ultimately). I think you could argue that until relatively recently a successor wasn’t really an essential…: Why reinvent the wheel??? [Rhetorical question]. Simply put, it serves adequately in almost all cases.:.. (Frankly, 50 years odd on, I am STILL amazed at the breadth of support it got from manufacturers): {Which may be why it’s still around today, as they can’t agree again on a replacement common standard – although ever so slowly we appear to be getting closer]….
Ahhh! Yes, of course, THAT makes a LOT more sense! *sighs*
(Torgood was right, just not in the way he thought he was)!
Still, if you are in the market for a Rhodes, you’d be a fool not to….
Poly AT is a subtle thing. I had to play it for a while to fully get the point. I think that’s the main reason I can hear it when others use it. The demo didn’t show it off very well, to my ear. The kit itself is a winner, as you’d expect from Rhodes.
My opinion so far: its an interesting capability, but I get more added, organic pad movement and delicate string/choir behaviors from it than anything splashy. Having played numerous EPs and owned a Wurly, I think an EP should be seen as its own creature. This just adds lipstick to a woman whose natural beauty makes it unnecessary.
Yeah, that’s it! You could hear it, sure…. BUT, you REALLY wanted it to SHINE!.. , and it just sounded a little flat to me…. It’ was kinda like, ‘Here, have this’, rather than THIS is what you’ve been waiting for! The next iteration!
It does (kinda’), make the previous posters criticism of MIDI more understandable in the context…. After all, it’s only taken them this long!…. And exactly how much more would it actually have been to implement MPE???? You could hardly accuse them of being forward looking!!! We are in kind of a ‘not quite there’ place @ the moment. The spec. Is there, but the support just isn’t.
It just adds lipstick to a woman whose natural beauty makes it unnecessary.
Yes! I understand, and have a LOT of sympathy with this argument. Why mess with something that is already gold? But a gifted player might get what he’s looking for out of it, to counterbalance your argument.