From tymelys22@tadamson.greatxscape.net Sun Dec 17 03:15:53 2000
Subject:Re: Fwd: Voce Group

--- In VoceSupportGroup@egroups.com, Bruce Wahler wrote:
> Hi,every-one,

After struggling for a few years to achieve a decent Hammond plus
Leslie sound from my XM1 module(same sound engine as the XK-2, I
never quite achieved my goal.) I gave up trying with the Suzuki-
Hammond which I used with the excellent Hughes and Kettner Tube
Rotosphere and I purchased an E-mu B-3 module and finally got the
samples that gave me the sound I'd been after. The result was
incredibly close to the real thing using the H & K for the Leslie
simulation.The only problem with the E-mu though is that there is no
drawbar control and its a bit of a chore to programme to say the
least.

Just recently I saw an advert for the Oberheim OB3/2 drawbar sound
module and after doing some research and getting some views on the
product from end users, I sent for one on a seven day trial from
Turnkey in London where they currently retail for £299 which is
somewhat cheaper than the Voce at £499 plus £399 for the Spin
2. The
Oberheim includes Leslie sim. and reverb in its specification.
At the price I wasn't expecting brilliance, but the module is
fantastic. It includes good chorus/vib and excellent percussion. The
module has IMO a perfect Hammond tone, pure, sweet and strong. It
screams at the top end, is warm and rounded mid range, and has strong
bass, and unlike the Suzuki Hammond XM1., sounds great on any
drawbar combination. The Hammond is not happy with some of the black
drawbars being pulled out too far. I have heard the Roland keyboard
and the Oberheim is much more accurate, the Roland seems to veer to
Italian warmth which though nice is not accurate to Hammond. I have
only heard the Voce on MP3 sample recordings but the Oberheim appears
to be at least as good, if not better, as the chorus is excellent and
the percussion is strong and accurate,
The downside is that the lower manual uses factory set drawbar preset
combinations which cannot be altered. They provide a good range of
accompaniment tones though and each preset is very usable. For the
price, two modules could be purchased to contol upper and lower
drawbars, setting the second module to different midi channels and
using its upper manual drawbars as a virtual lower manual. The other
criticism is the valve distortion which is dire and should be set to
off at all time. It sounds like layered white noise.

The Leslie sim is better than the average but the Hughes and Kettner
with the Oberheim is just about perfect IMO, faithfully reproducing
the sound of a recorded Hammond through Leslie. Of course it doesn't
shift air and you can't hear wind noise or mechanical sounds.Its nice
though to be able to practice using headphones day or night without
disturbing others and still be able to listen the fabulous Hammond
Sound.

Its as good as it gets and deserves better promotion.
Regards Thomas.