Lounge Lizard EP 5 is their modern electric piano that captures the mechanics, the harmonics and the performance feel of classic tine and reed pianos without relying on recorded layers.
Applied Acoustics Systems has a long history of doing one thing exceptionally well. Physical modelling. Instead of moving terabytes of samples or endless Kontakt libraries, AAS build instruments that behave like the real thing from the inside out. Lounge Lizard EP 5 is their modern electric piano that captures the mechanics, the harmonics and the performance feel of classic tine and reed pianos without relying on recorded layers.
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Most electric piano plugins are built from samples. AAS take the opposite path. They recreate the hammer, the tine, the pickup and the interaction between them using a physical model that responds to your playing. When you increase velocity the hammer hits harder because the model calculates the force. When you adjust the tone bar or pickup you are adjusting a virtual instrument that behaves like real hardware. That is why Lounge Lizard feels alive under your fingers. It reacts rather than triggers.
This approach also means the plugin loads instantly, uses very little CPU and offers deeper editing control. You can reshape the behaviour of the instrument itself rather than swapping between fixed presets. It is one of the reasons AAS have remained a respected name for two decades. Their tools are built for musicians who value expression.
Lounge Lizard EP 5 covers the classic Rhodes style tines as well as reed based tones. It gives you warm bell harmonics, soulful bark, smooth midrange and that unmistakable shimmer when you lean into the keys. Because the engine is modelled, every note blooms and decays slightly differently, just like a real instrument.
The onboard effects are tightly integrated. You get chorus, phaser and tremolo for vintage flavour. There is EQ, compression, drive and reverb for shaping. These are not afterthoughts. They complete the sound and let you dial in everything from clean studio EP to crunchy stage keys.
One of Lounge Lizard’s greatest strengths is how fast it is to use. The browser is clean. Presets load instantly. If you want to dive deeper you can adjust hammer noise, tine colour, pickup distance or damper behaviour. These tweaks dramatically change how the instrument plays. For quick sessions the presets are more than enough. For producers who like sculpting, the engine is open and responsive.
Because there are no samples the CPU footprint stays low across the board. This makes Lounge Lizard a great choice for laptop producers, live performers and studios working on large sessions.
Lounge Lizard EP 5 fits perfectly into soul, jazz, RnB, neo soul, hip hop, pop, indie and cinematic scoring. It is expressive enough for solo performances and flexible enough to sit inside busy arrangements. It is also an excellent tool for songwriting because inspiration arrives quickly when the instrument responds naturally. Producers who value lightweight plugins with big character will appreciate this one. Writers who need a reliable EP sound without digging through complex libraries will love it too.
🎹 Physically modelled electric piano with authentic feel
✨ No samples, instant load times and low CPU
🎛️ Deep control over hammer, tine, pickup and behaviour
🎶 Vintage tones from soulful clean to gritty bark
⚡ Fast workflow with great presets and integrated effects
🔥 A creative and expressive EP for any genre
If you want exact emulations of specific Rhodes or Wurlitzer models recorded through famous preamps, you may still gravitate toward sample based instruments. Lounge Lizard has its own flavour. It is accurate and expressive but still carries the signature of AAS’s modelling approach. For many producers this is a strength rather than a drawback.
Lounge Lizard EP 5 is one of the most expressive and efficient electric piano plugins on the market. It pairs the warmth of classic keyboards with the flexibility and speed of contemporary modelling. It sounds great, plays beautifully and gets out of your way creatively. For Plugin Month it stands out as a reminder that physical modelling still delivers some of the most musical results in the plugin world.
