I use the Korg CX-3

I like the feel, I like the sound. The authentic shallow waterfall keybed is pretty hard to simulate in software!!

Lots of parameters if you really want to get in there. The Modeling Amp simulations are very cool also.

Being able to adjust the transition times between fast and slow is way cool if you are in the Studio and want to make the transition last exactly one measure...

Previously I had used the Oberheim/Viscount OB3 squared, but the Korg to me is much more on the money.

Probably you are wondering why I didn't get the BX-3 with both manuals? If I really need to have two manuals at once, I can just MIDI up what ever keyboard the CX-3 is sitting on and access the Lower Manual sounds that way.

That's my two cents.

Hey Russ, It's been a long time since I played a real B3, C3 or A100 but I have just got the B4 software and it's pretty close - I love it.

I had the EMU B3 module for a while and that was nice but the B4 software is much better in my opinion

However the main difference is that 1) a B4 solution if much more affordable than the real thing and 2) I don't need 3 other guys to help me move the thing.

I'm sure I would really like to play a B3 again with a real Leslie and I'm envious that you can and I can't but at least I can play mine anywhere........hehehe

Regards - Keith

Where and for what cost can I pick up the B4 software? Who is the manufacturer?

Tom

Native Instruments ( who also make Reaktor ), manufacture B4.

I would recommend shopping around. All of the major online retailers have it, as well as stores like Guitar Center, Sam Ash, etc. The average price for B4 is around $200 Usd, but I've seen it for less. I got my CS80v for a well under $200 usd at a Guitar Center on sale`( also Native Inst ). I think the original price on that was $249.00.


Like most others here, B4 for me is as good as it gets without lugging around a real B3 from place to place.

AJ

So let me ask what do you need to get into a soft synth like the B4? I have a laptop with win 98 and a desktop mediacenter (xp pro) can I use the tyros keyboard? what about latency?

Do I need a different or special soundcard?
I know in some other threads I've said softsyths don't interest me, So I'm just wondering how much of an investment and learning curve I would need?

Is this one more thing to tie me to the computer and take me away from the music?

Any good free ones I can use with powertracks pro to try out and see if I can get into it.


[This message has been edited by mikeathome1 (edited 03-17-2005).]

Mikeathome1,
I am fairly new to softsynths so I can be corrected by others.
The NI B4 can be used as a stand alone, so you would not need any other software. You don't need a special soundcard. There is a demo available at the NI website, but they really cripple these demos excessively IMO. You could use your Tyros as a MIDI controller. I tried the demo and had some sticky notes I think, but your mileage may vary. A driver update would correct this.
There is also ZR3 and daOrgan, but these are vst which wud require a wrapper and a vst host. Playing an authentic sounding Hammond B3 should make you keep playing, but yea, you will need a computer.
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 03-17-2005).]

Dave,
You see the Monkees on regular on TV in those advertising commercials for old songs on cd

They use a VOX Continental in the old film
So must have been the reason

My "portable" Hammond set-up is a Hammond XB-2 and a Motion Sound top rotor box (don't think Motion Sound sells this one anymore-it it is a small box with horns-about 18 lbs).

I use the Hammond on the bottom of the rack and my Ketron on the top. That way, I have left-handed bass through the Hammond when I need it, and doppler effect when I need organ sound. I use a channel on the PA for the bottom rotor simulator (15" cabinets).

Occasionally, for big jobs, I use a tube 147RV Leslie with the XB-2. That's better!

Still, I wouldn't want to move it, but a REAL B-3 with a 147 is THE BEST! My one night a week job at a country club let's me play "old school" without having to move the "monster". Luckily, when I was playing B-3 all the time, the jobs were all "house" jobs, so I only moved every few years or so.


Russ

You'll need a decent to good quality soundcard, preferably with ASIO type drivers. Otherwise you will notice latency, or delay between the time you press a note or use a pitch wheel and the time you actually hear it. Even a Soundblaster is ok, if it has updated kx drivers, or you use the freeware ASIO4all, which pretty much makes any soundcard ASIO compliant. There is a link to Asio4all on the main SZ page BTW.

For now, if you are using a lesser soundcard, try ASIO4all and see if that eliminates the sticky note problem.

You'll need a host. If you just want to try out one softsynth, with no added vst effects, try Tobybear's freeware Simple VST Host, available at KVR audio. It works fine. Otherwise, you'll need a soft sequencer / daw ( Sonar, Cubase, FL studio, edtc ) or a standalone app like Xlutop chainer ( approx 49 Usd ) or Brainspawn Forte. There are even a few freeware daws out there that now support multiple Vst instruments and effects.

Does this stuff tie me to the computer ? Absolutely. Does it hamper my music making ability ? Only if I let it. Often I used to start a piece out on hardware, but the finished product would go to software if I thought it would be sonically better ( usually it is ). But... using a simple app like Chainer has freed up so much of the technical workings for me, that it feels like I'm playing a real instrument again. My laptop is simply another module now, and I use Chainer to host the instruments. I keep all of my Vst instruments and effects on the laptop, but I generally use no other daw software on it, except that I keep One Man Band on it for live work and Adobe Audition on it so that I can make it a portable daw for recording away from the home studio. I also kept FL studio on it in case I want to make quick beats away from home.

All of the daws and actual software programs ( Band in a Box, FL Studio, Sonar, jammer pro etc ) now reside and are primarily used on my PC, and I connect the laptop output to the PC's daws by going right through my hardware mixer, just like all of my hardware instruments do.

AJ



[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 03-17-2005).]

I can't find the link for Asio4all is it within another link?