Lounge Lizard EP-5
by Applied Acoustics Systems · Keys · Modeled electric piano
Not rated yet
A physically modelled electric piano with separate engines for tine pianos (Rhodes-style) and reed pianos (Wurlitzer-style). It recreates the hammer, tine or reed, damper and pickup, so you can shape the instrument itself.
It includes 13 effects, 390+ presets and MPE support. It is used for soul, R&B, jazz and pop keys, and for sound design beyond classic electric piano tones.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: R&B & Soul, Jazz, Acoustic & Classical, Pop, Lo-Fi, Hip-Hop & Trap.
Keywords: electric piano, inspired by, MPE support, preset-driven, sound design, classic, hardware emulation, vintage, 60s, 70s, CPU-heavy, gritty, lo-fi, punchy, resizable UI, simple, smooth, physical modelling, undo/redo.
What it does
Lounge Lizard EP-5 is the fifth version of AAS's modelled electric piano, rebuilt around a new two-part synthesis core.
- Two models: tine-based (smooth to bell-like, Rhodes-style) and reed-based (gritty and punchy, Wurlitzer-style).
- Modelled parts: hammer, tine or reed, damper and pickup, with Simple and Expert views.
- Effects: 13 types, including auto-wah, chorus, compressor, delay, distortion, guitar amp, phaser, reverb and tremolo.
- Sounds: 390+ presets, including a remastered EP-4 library; 720+ with the sound-pack bundle.
- Extras: MPE, microtuning via Scala files, a scalable GUI and unlimited undo.
A version with three sound packs is also available.
Source: Applied Acoustics Systems product page
When to use it
Lounge Lizard EP-5 is the modelled alternative to the sampled electric pianos among the rated keys. Where Electric 88 and Keyscape give you recordings of specific instruments, EP-5 lets you change how the piano is built, covers both Rhodes-like and Wurlitzer-like sounds, and uses little memory.
- Best for: electric piano parts that need tweaking to fit a mix, and players who want tine and reed pianos in one plugin.
- Genres: R&B and soul, jazz, pop, lo-fi and hip-hop.
- Look elsewhere if: you want the exact sound of one famous recorded instrument, or you're short on CPU; a sampled piano such as Electric 88 is more direct.
What producers say
Reviews of version 5 are strongly positive.
- Sound On Sound (2025) gave it five stars, saying it captures the personality of vintage reed and tine pianos with a workflow that gets to the right tone fast.
- Bedroom Producers Blog found it one of the most naturally responsive virtual electric pianos, though purists may still prefer samples.
- Magnetic Magazine called it "a powerful synth disguised as an electric piano emulator", with the price as the main barrier.
- KVR user reviews praise the sound and effects; a few mention high CPU use.
Where to buy
- Best Service: $168.40
- PluginFox: $185
- AudioDeluxe: $185
- Applied Acoustics Systems: $199 ($249 with three sound packs.)
- Plugin Boutique: $199
Tutorials and reviews
- Introducing the Lounge Lizard EP-5 Electric Piano Plug-in (Applied Acoustics Systems)
- This VST is Great For Making RNB! AAS Lounge Lizard EP‐15 Demo Playthrough (No Talking) (audiodopebeats)
- Overview—Lounge Lizard EP-5 Tutorial (Applied Acoustics Systems)
- Lounge Lizard EP-5 Electric Piano by Applied Acoustics Systems (No Talking)
- SONIC COMPARISONS: Lounge Lizard 5 vs. Arturia Stage vs. Scarbee CEP88
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