Retro Keys: AudioKit Pro Packs Four Vintage Electric Pianos Into One iOS App

AudioKit Pro released Retro Keys, a new iOS app. It combines four classic vintage keyboard sounds in one compact package. The hybrid sample-and-modeling instrument is now available on the App Store with an introductory price of $4.99.

This release strengthens the case for serious production on iPad. You get four characterful electric pianos in just 150 MB, plus full AUv3 support for any compatible iOS DAW.

What is Retro Keys?

Retro Keys is a vintage electric piano app for iPhone and iPad. It works as a standalone instrument and as an AUv3 plugin. The app models four iconic keyboards.

RHDS Stage 73 delivers the warm, bell-like Rhodes Stage 73 tone.
Wurl '78 captures the gritty, barkier Wurlitzer 200A sound.
CP Electric Grand recreates the bright, projecting Yamaha CP-70 and CP-80.
Retro Piano offers a vintage upright with natural hammer snap.

The app blends sampled audio with physical modeling. AudioKit Pro describes it as sampled character with modeled response. Core tones come from recordings, while real-time modeling shapes feel, articulation, and dynamics.

What's inside

4 instruments — Rhodes, Wurlitzer, CP-70, and vintage upright
200+ presets created by sound designers including Moby Pixel and Analog Matthew
~150 MB total install size
Standalone iOS app + AUv3 plugin
8-track stereo tape double-tracking
Selectable noise layers for tape and vinyl
Built-in effects — chorus, tremolo, phaser, drive, reverb, delay, LFO, AR envelope, and auto-pan
External MIDI, sustain pedal, and aftertouch support
Hi-fi to lo-fi tonal options
Key-release sounds for extra realism

Why analog tape matters

AudioKit Pro recorded the samples to analog tape before further processing. This adds natural saturation, harmonic thickness, soft compression, subtle noise, and rounded transients. The result sounds more record-like than purely digital captures.

You can adjust this character easily. Dial in tape or vinyl noise layers for warmth, or switch to cleaner hi-fi modes. This flexibility suits both polished pop tracks and worn-in lo-fi beats.

The instruments and their history

These four sounds shaped decades of popular music.

Rhodes — smooth, warm, and expressive. A staple in pop, jazz, soul, and neo-soul.
Wurlitzer — rougher, more organic bark. Artists from Ray Charles to Supertramp used it, and modern indie producers still favor it.
Yamaha CP-70/80 — electric grands built for stage volume. They defined much of the late-70s and 80s rock and pop sound for acts like Genesis, the Grateful Dead, Billy Joel, and Joe Jackson.
Vintage upright — intimate character with hammer snap. A go-to for lo-fi and indie producers.

AUv3 workflow

Retro Keys builds directly around Apple's AUv3 framework. This lets you host it inside iOS DAWs such as Logic Pro for iPad, GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, and other compatible apps.

You insert the plugin on a track, use the host's transport and MIDI tools, and save the instrument state with your project. The workflow feels seamless for mobile producers.

Here's a recent demo from Moby Pixel that showcases all four instruments:

Where it shines

Many producers reach for Retro Keys in specific styles:

Lo-fi and chillhop — tape noise paired with the upright Retro Piano nails the dusty vibe instantly.
Neo-soul and R&B — the Rhodes and Wurlitzer presets are tailor-made.
Indie and singer-songwriter — the upright and Wurlitzer add character.
80s-style pop — the CP-70 brings authentic stage-grand energy.
Hip-hop sampling — vintage warmth without crate-digging.
Cinematic and ambient — built-in effects push presets into textured soundscapes.
Quick iPad sketching — small size and fast loading suit on-the-go ideas.

How it compares

Retro Keys stands out by packing four complete vintage instruments instead of focusing on one. It prioritizes musical vibe and character over exhaustive multi-sample realism. At 150 MB, it stays light enough for any mobile template.

It loads faster than many deep sample libraries and feels more immediate than complex modeling plugins. The design favors quick creative flow over endless tweaking.

A solid value at intro pricing

The $4.99 introductory price rises to $19.99 after the launch period. This is one of AudioKit Pro's strongest value launches. The one-time purchase model includes no subscriptions or in-app purchases.

iPad producers already working in AUv3 environments will likely see it as an easy addition. Those using Logic Pro for iPad as a main DAW will find it integrates cleanly.

Get it

Download Retro Keys directly from the App Store. Visit the official Retro Keys page for complete details and more audio examples.

Looking for more iOS music production gear? Check out our other coverage of mobile DAWs and AUv3 plugins on the Dubspot blog.