AAS releases Lounge Lizard EP-5

[Canopus]

I just noticed that AAS has released an updated version of their electric piano, called Lounge Lizard EP-5. The price is $149 (regular price a pretty hefty $199), or $49 when upgrading from EP-4 (regular price $79). It can optionally be bought at JRR Shop for $125.16, or the upgrade for $41.16, using code GROUP.

Here's what's new.

[MrFigg]

Hmmm. I have Lounge Lizard 4. Also have another 10 (at least) Rhodes plugins. $41.16 though. Hmmm

[Canopus]

1 hour ago, MrFigg said:

Hmmm. I have Lounge Lizard 4. Also have another 10 (at least) Rhodes plugins. $41.16 though. Hmmm

Yep, my exact thoughts. I have tons of Rhodes and Wurlis, including Lounge Lizard EP-4, and don’t really need another one. But AAS has always been one of the really good and generous companies, giving away a free sound bank every year, so I thought I’d show them some love and pressed the button anyway. Still waiting for my license, though.

However, I bought the upgrade for $41.16 at JRR Shop, and not directly from AAS for $49. My altruism has its limits.

[MrFigg]

7 minutes ago, Canopus said:

Yep, my exact thoughts. I have tons of Rhodes and Wurlis, including Lounge Lizard EP-4, and don’t really need another one. But AAS has always been one of the really good and generous companies, giving away a free sound bank every year, so I thought I’d show them some love and pressed the button anyway. Still waiting for my license, though.

However, I bought the upgrade for $41.16 at JRR Shop, and not directly from AAS for $49. My altruism has its limits.

Let me/ us know if you have no regrets when it finally arrives :).

[MrFigg]

Now I'm trialing it and trying to pretend that it sounds better than all the other ones. Side by side with the new Klevgrand one.

[Promidi]

Is anyone having an issue with the VST2 version preset dropdown of Lounge Lizard EP5 not staying put....  it disappears before you have a chance the select the preset.  

This is on CbB, VST2 only.  VST3 is fine.

[Canopus]

On 6/5/2025 at 1:00 PM, MrFigg said:

Let me/ us know if you have no regrets when it finally arrives :).

Wow. Is the site up again already? That was fast! Just a tad more than 24 hours.

As to the question, I can’t really hear any difference when running the EP-4 sound banks in EP-4 and EP-5 side by side. But that may be a good thing. I’m sure the enhanced physical modelling core will add to the realism when put to the test.

However, I honestly prefer the main user interface in EP-4; it’s brighter, has better contrast and larger knobs compared to EP-5. Also, to have all the tweakability that’s available by default in EP4, you have to switch EP-5 to its detailed Expert mode. Sure, you can resize the GUI in EP-5 from 75 % to 200 % in 25 % increments, which is great, but to my aging, not-so-20/20 vision, it’s questionable whether the UI overall can be considered an upgrade.

On the other hand, I do appreciate the new Library with its Search function and possibility to select and filter Favorites. An additional 150 factory presets won’t hurt, and the updated Effects rack is a step forward.

As always, you win some and you lose some, but overall, I have no regrets.

 

[Canopus]

38 minutes ago, Promidi said:

Is anyone having an issue with the VST2 version preset dropdown of Lounge Lizard EP5 not staying put....  it disappears before you have a chance the select the preset.  

This is on CbB, VST2 only.  VST3 is fine.

I can't see that when running the VST2 version in CbB. The drop-down stays where it should be. I tested 75 %, 100 % and 125 % scaling to see if there was any difference, but it worked as expected regardless. However, I much prefer the Library view as it allows presets to be changed without the need to press Enter each and every time a new preset should be loaded. Using the Up and Down keys are sufficient there.

Edited yesterday at 02:34 PM by Canopus

[Promidi]

7 hours ago, Canopus said:

I can't see that when running the VST2 version in CbB. The drop-down stays where it should be. I tested 75 %, 100 % and 125 % scaling to see if there was any difference, but it worked as expected regardless. However, I much prefer the Library view as it allows presets to be changed without the need to press Enter each and every time a new preset should be loaded. Using the Up and Down keys are sufficient there.

Must be particular to my PC.  

However, you’re right about the Library view.

[Promidi]

1 hour ago, Promidi said:

Must be particular to my PC.  

However, you’re right about the Library view.

Found the issue.  It was Jbridge.  

For AAS plugins in Cakewalk, I have an issue where AAS plugins have an intermittent "click of death" and stops producing sounds.  Freezing and unfreezing gets the sounds back.  Bizarrely,  Jbridge prevents this issue from occurring. (Yes, I know Jbridge is actually for 32bit plugins that don't play nice). 

But that is a story for another thread (perhaps).