Searching for the classic tonewheel sound with modern conveniences? Sweetwater’s here to help. Check out our tips for buying the best virtual drawbar organ for you! Shop electric organs at Sweetwater 👉 imp.i114863.net/5b4r32

This video is absolute GOLD. Not just for pointing out the strongest contenders for virtual tonewheel organs in 2022, but for providing general organ education for a tonewheel noob like myself. The organ has always been a mysterious instrument that I could never quite grasp how to make it do what I wanted. 20 minutes with Daniel answered so many of my questions it’s mind blowing! THIS is why I love Sweetwater so much!

@JeffPalmer83

Жыл бұрын

Yes! Daniel is one of the most informative keyboardists on KZread. You’ll almost always learn something (or many things) from one of his videos!

There's a lot of information here that I really didn't know about.

Nuns in a convent! B3 painted black. Pure Gold! Great video.

Another Crumar Mojo thing I don't think I've seen in other desktop units: it's a USB *host*, which means you can plus a USB midi controller directly into it without a converter or a computer

I know this is a video on clonewheels... so I definitely was not expecting the Hammond organ fundamentals and basics! ! What a refreshing course! Thank you so much.

Man that Mojo Desktop sounds sweet like some one kicked it out of the 60's .... Thanks Dan

I bought the Hammond XK-5. Absolutely killer. The guy is right. Once you use a dedicated organ, you won't be happy with samples. I absolutely love this organ.

The Mojo is the bomb. Just sounds more like the real thing. The others are good, but not quite the same as the Mojo. Sweet.

I have a Crumar Mojo Desktop and there's so much to dive into. You can mess with THE DAMN RESISTOR VALUES! WHO DOES THAT?!?

@akamrkris

Жыл бұрын

I use it live and mess with editing before the gig then save presets for the show.

I’m a Hammond user from way back (with the always aching back to prove it) and picked up the Yamaha YC-88 a couple years ago and have been really pleased with it. Especially after the recent 1.2 update.

A fascinating video, thanks Daniel! Has the best explanations of some of the effects I have heard.

This is such an amazing video, thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge! You've explained these concepts so well I have learnt a lot! I also appreciate you sharing your own personal stories leaning organ from your nun teachers! I love the sound 17:49 so much!

I'm in love with the B3. Someday I want the whole setup with the Leslie and everything. It's harder now that the generation who had them in their homes have mostly passed, but I still occasionally see one at an estate sale. Just never have the room.

Man - what a great video! And so wonderful watching Daniel being so enthusiastic! Thanks very much for this deep basic insight!

Epic Video ! The best summary of Tone Wheel sound generation fundamentals.

@18:20 - Argent.. Hold Your Head High... you should have warned me.. now I've got to go change my manties.

@keithmurray9241

Жыл бұрын

I experienced leakage. Man, that was a bangin demo! I learned a ton!! I knew a lot of that already but lots and lots of extras I had no idea on. Wish I could have you in my band!! You're one seriously talented keyboard player!!!

Excellent stuff Daniel. I always enjoy your professionalism and presentation ability. Please do more videos if you can.

This is btw one of the best explanations of a Hammond organ that I've watched. Thank you very much.

Superb Info, extremely useful and interesting ! Thank you Daniel and Sweetwater too !

These are sall Ok. My personal favorite is the Viscount Legend, which is a virtally perfect clone of a classic B3 down to controls and layout, with a really amazing sound. Some other good alternatives: - The Nord Electro (I'm amazed this wasn't mentioned--it's probably the #1 choice for most people). - Roland's Fantom or Fantom-0 - The Kurzweil K2700 - Korg Kronos (no longer on sale). The Korg Nautilus has the same CX engine, but has no faders/drawbars, so is not ideal. Also there some amazing Hammond softsynths--especially IK MUltimedia Hammond B-3X. This is available for Windows, Mac or iPad, so its very easy to add to your studio.

@GizzyDillespee

Жыл бұрын

K2700 got the wrong kind of keys, but I agree about kb3 for sound

@itsmaistro

11 ай бұрын

Viscount is ok. The internal lesie Sim is not top notch at all without a physical leslie

I am not a keyboard player per se, but I found this video. Fascinating and very educational. Thank you so much.

Fascinating, you're very knowledgeable Daniel, thanks

Thanks Daniel. A great presentation on the tone wheels organs…

I love my Hammond SKX!

Around 1970, I saw a rig that had a 3 speaker Leslie. It also had a custom peddle board that could individually control fast and slow breaking on each of the 3 speakers. Was so cool. I also learned part of the key click sound was because there were several switches under each key. They showed me how you could press the key very slowly and hear each click. I love the rotary speaker plus drawbar organ sound. I once heard 2 Leslies in stereo. That was tripy. Wish they would ad that real strange grinding sound John Lord and Keith Emerson used in early days. Almost like putting a card on the tone wheel. There were many mechanical and electrical mods back then. That is a feature request. Find and add all the mods.

Can you all PLEASE do another organ video featuring the Viscount and Crumar organs. I think I'm literally coming to Indiana on December just to play a Crumar since I can't seem to find it in the D.C. area.

I love Sweetwater! Love my QSC E110 PASSIVE SPEAKERS! Just got them recently and they sound so beautiful that I almost cried (ok, maybe I did a little bit)!

Yes the vr can run on batteries but if you are playing a full gig make sure you have extras!! Batteries go quick !!

Another great Sweetwater demo.

Thank you for this excellent information. I had a hammond in the 80s that I learned on and I would love to get back to playing the organ. However the menu diving on these models are a bit off putting to me. I made the mistake of buying a keyboard with a million settings that I just don't use. But the sounds on these models are just amazing 🥰

Sir, thank you for this phenomenal insight of this great subject There is nothing like the hammond organ the instrument the sound the soul 🎹👍😊❤️🏆🏅💯🌸 My vote is the xk 5 pro system Regards from Israel

outstanding video. wow! loved the explanations

Wow, I love that hiss sound of the Leslie at 24:26 👍 my VRO9 doesn't have that feature.

Great presentation and explanation!!!

Excellent overview!

“I’m gonna be a blue collar man”! You nailed that awesome sound from Kansas’s best song.

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Uhhhhh. You mean STYX, right? ;-) -_Daniel_

Great video Daniel ! btw regarding KeyClick, even if you managed to switch excactly on the ZERO level point you'd have a keyclick. To get rid of it you have to quickly fade in and out (in DigitalSignalProcessing this is called a window). I had to learn this by trial and error 🥴

Great video. Very insightful. Thank you for putting this out. Another reason why Sweetwater is the only place you need to go for gear and insight! #sweetwater

My heart is my most important organ! My second most - Kurzweil K2500! Both do a great beat still.

GOOD One, Daniel! My latest fave is XK-3c, but so heavy! SK-1 still rocks, but Numa 2x is light, with aftertouch, speakers, some unique features, nice pianos...VR-09 sometimes fits the bill...so many choices. yeah. I was hoping the Yamaha YC-61 would be great, but I like their Reface YC's organ sound better! - maybe the demos don't utilize the gain structure with the two distortion locations as well as they could (I don't mean yours.) To me, their FM organ drawbars sound better, go figure!. MainStage and VB3-2 are great, virtually.

@papadopp3870

Жыл бұрын

I have the XK3c, too. It replaced a VR09 and, yeah, the Hammond is heavier, but it feels much more substantial. Palm slides on the Roland always made me worry that I’d throw it right off of the stand! I A-B’d the XK1c with the Sk1 and I had the definite sense that the organ sound- which supposedly uses the exact engine- was fatter and more authentic on the XK3c than on the Sk. Ymmv, of course.

This list is really missing the Vox Continental. I got one a few months ago and I have absolutely loved the cx-3 tonewheel emulation. Combined with the Nutube and boy you can get some rockin organ goin!

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Hi Joshua. I'm putting the Vox Continental link here (for others who might want to see it) www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Continental73Bk--vox-continental-73-key-performance-keyboard-with-stand-black -_Daniel_

Regarding the price the Roland VR ist by far the best deal. And as I don't have all these keyboards side by side on stage, I don't care about little differences in sound. Sadly Roland charges so much more for the 76 key version with waterfall keybed...

@hamster6791

Жыл бұрын

The funniest thing is it does not have drawbars. It has faders instead of them.

@r.k.2487

Жыл бұрын

@@hamster6791 What's the difference?

@hamster6791

Жыл бұрын

@@r.k.2487 Drawbars are hidden under the hood until you draw them out. With faders you have no hood, you have rails under the surface and fader head that is above the surface. Different feeling, no?

@r.k.2487

Жыл бұрын

@@hamster6791 ah, Okey, didn't know. Never played a Hammond organ, used to have the German Boehm and Wersi. Different planet... 😁

awesome video! just unfortunate for a 4k one that above camera was out of focus :/ as there are not even clear pictures on yamaha's website of the control panel

23:40 Stormy Monday ABB 27:50 Blue Collar Man Styx What other ones did you catch??

I live for organs!

When I first got the VR-09 it was about $700, and I got a 20% off Black Friday coupon so final price with shipping and tax was still under $600. Not as good as a nord or the Hammond, but for the price it gets the job done, specially with the extra piano and strings sounds. It has a bitching accordion sound too!! 🪗

The most interesting that some "forget to implement in the leslie sims in some instruments is the fact that real oegan players learn to experiment with eg seitching to fast speed and bevause the woofer takes several seconds to speed up to full speed you can play with letting it spin up / down for a couple sec. and then reverse it, and you can get some interesting effects where you actually use the sloppyness in the belts and the inertia in the weight of the horn / baffle that works against the motor when switching between slow/fast speed. Only the better simaulations is able to do this. Also There is a big difference if you switch from fast to slow speed or just turns the motor off. the switch from fast to Slow will work as a "break" so that the Baffle (Woofer) will be down to slow speed in ~7 sec but if you just turn the motor off it will take almost the double time before the baffle ges to a full stop. It's all these small details that makes the diff. if the leslie sim is just "ok" or really good. Even Hammond Suzuki doesn't get the leslie sim all the way. The Mojo has propably the best scanner C/V sim and a Leslie Sim on par with the Neo Ventilator. But even these 2 are very good simulations, I still havn't heard something that comes close to the I/K Multimedia Leslie sim you can get either as a single plugin or combined with their B3 Organ plugin. Hammond and Viscount have virtual multi contact simulations, but the raw organ sound in VB3 III is still the engine that has the most details in emulating all the Quirks that makes a Classic Tonewheel Organ totally unique and contrary to both Hammond and other virtual drawbar organ engines VB3 is fully modelled. No samples have been used (or misused). Both Hammond and I/K multimedia is afaik using sampled tonewheel sounds as the basic sund parts with added circuit modelling. The VB3 engine is also found in eg modern Organs like Wersi along with their own engine for the "Wersi voice" sound

Hi. I like simplicity. Should I look to something like the XK4, or in the XK series rather than this on in the Sk series? I really just want something more minimalist. Also, I like the idea of adding a half moon switch to it to access Leslie sounds. I know that might seem odd because the white buttons are already there to do this, but there is something cool and maybe easier to the tactile aspect of the half moon switch. You thoughts welcome.

I can't play a lick but this is cool. Makes me wish I had taken keyboard lessons.

I like my Nord E6D! BTW I can easily get the Mojo or Hammond clones by using GSi VB3-II virtual instrument or Hammond B3x software which would be the software used in their hardware because at the end of the day they are all software/computer driven organs.

@adamjacksonmedia

2 ай бұрын

So does the $2000 Mojo sound the same as the $100 VB3 app?

@wavester46

2 ай бұрын

@@adamjacksonmedia Never tried a mojo but the B3-x and VB3v.2 are on par with the Nord IMHO. In fact when I had my Electro 3 I used to use it as a controller for B3-x because it sounded way better. Don't forget with the Mojo you're paying for a premium keyboard and controls and of coarse the computer inside to run the software. This from their website: The CRUMAR Mojo is a modern computer-based musical instrument. The source of the sound of the instrument is the VB3 CE 2 software.

The only thing the yc is missing in regards to organ is the bass drawbar options

Muito bom. Muito bem explicado. Parabéns Magnifique três bien expliqué. Félicitations

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Gracias et Merci! -_Daniel_

13:30 I need to know more about Daniel’s rock n roll shows. I’d love to attend one!

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Hi Jeff. My two main bands are Pink Droyd, and The Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra. Pink Droyd plays as far east as Pittsburgh, as far west as El Paso, plus Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, and of course, Indiana. -_Daniel_

@JeffPalmer83

Жыл бұрын

@@sweetwater That’s awesome! I’m in Indianapolis so I’ll keep an eye out!

I’m sorry but I still pick the XK-3c and XK-5 organs with real built in tubes. Joining all relevant aspects Suzuki really made the grade with those, all others come next.

Very informative Thanks

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Love to hear it, Paul. Thank you!

Great 5 year old pics!

23:54 There's digital clipping in the right signal when you're playing the yc. I have that same issue with a modx7. Most of the time did I hear it it's on edited patches, but there are a few stock ones that do it too. Just gotta bring down the level on that part below 105 or so depending on the number of parts. How can that be rectified in the yc?

Daniel did you break into Tarkus for the nuns? 😆

the tri-timbral of the yc61 is very tempting! and it has my personal favorite wurli in hardware at least. But Its lacking string resonance, its rhodes arent my fav, the clav doesnt have all pickup positions....and there are sample sets in the yamaha archive that id like AVAILABLE, NORD style, or allow for 3rd party...one way or the other. Mojo61 is only mono-timbral...but has a great modeling approach to all the main keyboards except acoustic piano, and mallet sounds. They need to make a bi-timbral mojo61 and 73 with all the engines from the Gemini.

Well, what can I say? 5*, high 5, excellent, great, amazing... U know what I mean, what we mean... and we mean it... Thank U very much! :)

I’ve been tearing my hair out trying to pick between the SKpro, the YC61 and the Roland Vr730. I’ve got nowhere to demo them. And feel is as important to me as sound. I’m really really picky about keybed. And i tend to get… enthusiastic when im playing live. I also need electric piano and the ability to switch/mix sounds live.

@thaJeztah

Жыл бұрын

Have a look at the MOJO61. Keybed is really good (waterfall with an extra short throw to match the original hammond action); it also has one of the best Rhodes pianos (modelled,same as the Crumar 7)

@AJL200

Жыл бұрын

I had a VR-09 and didn’t like the action (? short keys), the VR730 was much better

@stanley5394

8 ай бұрын

Hi. I’m also picky about keybeds, so I’m wondering how/what you ended up choosing. Do tell.

Does the HK-4 have the same background noise effect as the YC61

Well put together video, lots of valuable insights and information. Why doesn’t any who showcases keyboards like this ever talk about what is the best amplifier to use with these boards? After all, the amp could totally mess with the final sounds you spend so much time producing.

what a great video. would love to know more about the double-tier organs and if they differ any from the single-tier organs. is there any reason why one would prefer one over the other?

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Hi Donny. If we're only talking organ sounds, it's nice to have a gentler sound for your left-hand chords on the bottom rank. Some use it for left-hand bass. Others use it exclusively for glissandos. -_Daniel_

Which one has an action most like a Hammond? That's the only thing I cant abide in these.

I bought so much stuff now geez

Well I havn't tried these latest ones, but I have a Kurzweil Forte SE. Back in 2016, I tried all, and Kurzweil won by far! I guess still today....

@marvinkmooneyoz

Жыл бұрын

For being a complete keyboard,very likely, but not purely on organ

Obviously the Crumar sounds vastly superior here. Only the HX3 seems to be able to best it or at least match it.

Surprised you did the Mojo desktop and not the Mojo 61, which is meant more to compete with things like SK Pro & the Electro. The 61 is monotimbral, but has Rhodes, clav, Wurly & acoustic piano sounds that are the same quality as its Hammond with as many crazy parameters in the menu diving.

Does this keyboard also have good quality grand piano and fender Rhodes sounds

@GizzyDillespee

Жыл бұрын

For future reference, my unfortunate opinion... the Yamaha has the best grand piano, the Crumar has the best Rhodes, and Hammond probably has the best B3... or maybe Crumar. So... there's not one that does all 3 best. I think the Hammond has the least impressive ancillary sounds.

which lower keyboard would fit the Hammond sk pro 61? would the lower crumar 61B be compatible?

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Hi wil pas. Any keyboard with 5-pin MIDI Out can be used for the lower rank, but the 61B gets its power from the main Crumar keyboard, so it isn't ideal for the Hammond Sk-Pro. -_Daniel_

@wilpas1050

Жыл бұрын

@@sweetwater ok thank you very much Daniel, too bad the Crumar lower was very beautiful

I love it all but my hammond is not B3 but some 50 years old and Not 15 pounds sounds good but very dry out oil and they cry out for lubrication , i don't know much about classic hammond I learned more watching this video and wiSH I had that hammond SK PRO, very cool throw in more MOJO thats "wow" : 64 still learning but very slowly ..

Does the YC 61 now come in version 1.20 from the factory or do you still have to install to get the "studio" leslie?

@robertcarhartjr6234

Жыл бұрын

I suspect new ones do, but if not, it’s a fairly easy update. Save your current settings first (if not the factory defaults), so you can reload them as you left them (and/or tweak the settings you want with the new Leslie, etc).

@AdrianHeil

Жыл бұрын

I just bought one and had to do the update. Wasn’t too hard at all.

@planetdog1641

Жыл бұрын

@@AdrianHeil Thanks for the info! how do you like the key action?

@AdrianHeil

Жыл бұрын

@@planetdog1641 I think it’ll work fine for all styles of play. I’m coming from a two board, weighted key stage piano and organ setup and was just ready to lose the weight and find something to do it all. The live band test will happen this weekend. If it passes that I’ll happily go forward with it and won’t regret much!

@planetdog1641

Жыл бұрын

@@AdrianHeil sounds good. Some of the breweries I play at don't have enough room for a weighted board and 4 other musicians.

What about the Ferrofish B4?

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Hi Dave. Here's the Ferrofish B4 product page with a demo video: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/B4000--ferrofish-b4000-organ-module -_Daniel_

hi i have a crumar mojo...i absolutely love it..the only thing that the clones still dont have ... but maybe one day ....is that fat breathing mechanical bomb sound that the hammonds have...its hard to explain the sound...the clones sound like it... but theres a living bomb thats going off in some of the killer hammonds. again hard to explain....mechanical and tubes i guess....love the crumar mojo though....35 pounds...brett g

@shimmyfix9315

Жыл бұрын

I am VERY particular about that authentic,breathing mechanical sound. I know exactly what you are referring to. I’ve been playing Hammonds since the 70s. started on a C3, toured with a B3 and have an A100 at home.The best software emulation I’ve heard was free in GarageBand . I kid you not. ( fairly certain it’s in Logic as well.

I traded my 1955 Hammomd B3 for a Nord C2D because it's a bit lighter to carry and sounds BETTER

Isn't there a keyboard or module especially for harpsichord sounds, or for toko sounds?

@doordedeur

Жыл бұрын

Why buy a special organ keyboard, while you'll need only one or two organ sounds in a gig? That's what I mean about a koto keyboard. For a koto sound you'll not need to buy a seperate koto keyboard. Imagine to have 128 several keyboards to cover every GeneralMidi sound...

@DonLeino

Жыл бұрын

for harpsichord check the dexibell classico

@GizzyDillespee

Жыл бұрын

Well... there is. There is electronic koto... not exactly a keyboard, but similar idea. Only marketed in Japan, of course.

Only thing I don't like is when a keyboard is too light. It doesn't feel like I'm playing a quality keyboard.

Wonder what's the best VST organ....

@sweetwater

Жыл бұрын

Hi L77kim77l. YMMV but, for my Mac and iPad, it's IK Multimedia's Hammond B-3X: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/B3XPlug--ik-multimedia-hammond-b-3x -_Daniel_

Very informative, thanks to Sweetwater! OK, I've been blessed and also cursed in having played a late 50s C3 back in the day. So...all clonewheels I've heard leave me unimpressed due to their tone being to thin...to rinky dink, so to speak. The overdrive on the clones is welcomed, but its overdriving a thin tone. In this day and age there must be a way to beef these things up, no? A Leslie, or varient is crucial IMO for the spacial depth. But isnt there something like a graphic EQ that can beef up the fundamentals? Lastly, as someone else has commnted, the menus and submenus on the clones are a drag. Peace all!

@GizzyDillespee

Жыл бұрын

Yeah often there's an EQ (para or graph) in the Master FX. I think though, really what the issue is, is that there's no real way to make a PA or even keyboard speakers to push air in the same way as a Leslie or 2 do

I keep telling folks, getting the Hammond sound isn't necessarily the issue (almost any of them can get you there (just be mindful of phasing); the magic is in an adequate LESLIE emulation, which only three companies have gotten; Melda Production's MVintageRotary, PSP's Lotary, &, possibly the most accurate out of the box, IK Multimedia's Leslie@ (T-Racks or Amplitude). If you buy any of these organs, especially for studio, run it through one of those plugins. You'll thank me. Even my XK-5 (now sold) needed a plugin to sound authentic. SMH

@dickydoes

Жыл бұрын

I just bought a Leslie speaker! Sounds the most authentic, but the weight is authentic too.

@dare2win215

Жыл бұрын

@@dickydoes little known fact; hauling a Leslie for Jimmy Smith was actually Hercules' 13th labor. And, congrats! I'm picking up lucky Leslie #13 (8 in possession) in a few days, so I'm well aware of the burden. well, the vsts I mentioned don't weigh quite as much and they're certainly lighter on the wallet.

The best virtual organ, stage piano and synth is the Korg Kronos, so I don't need to carry three devices.

You know you can throw a piano on top of that Hammond SK

Deus, eu quero um Hammond SkxPro dual😥

Tight demo. It seems a particular keyboard, at a particular price point, and that particular keyboards additional functions is the winner. As a musician, my s*** has to work every night, all night long. Too many choices kills the vibe. If I was recording, renting a more pristinely fleshed out keyboard MIGHT be something to consider. Otherwise, grabbing keys quickly and entertaining your audience sufficiently is the point. I do congratulate you that you didn't subject me to additional Nord overpriced flatulations.

It’s impressive how better the Mojo sounds compared to the others. The SK sounds acceptable to me but way veloce, the Yamaha and Roland sounds incredibly fake

John Lord, Merit Hemmingson

😂 great for wooly bully watch it now

😂 great but how about wooly bully watch it now

You clearly dont like Nord as you did not mention it

@sweetwater

9 ай бұрын

Hi hjoreleifuringason. I like Nords a lot. It just wasn't one of the organs that were brought to me to shoot this video. -_Daniel_

Sehr schöner Beitrag 👍👍👍