From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Thu Feb 10 14:26:19 2000
Subject:RE: Digest Number 6

I'll add my $.03 ... (I'm the moderator, right? Gotta count for
something! )

The DMI-64 Mark II -- I don't think the Mark I was ever sold -- was
Voce's first attempt at "a Hammond module." For a first try, it was a
pretty good showing. As with any technical development, later
generations build on the knowledge gained from the earlier work. If
you'd like other related examples, consider the Hammond X-2 vs. the XB-2
vs. the XK-2, or the Roland VK-1000 vs. the VK-7.

Stepping down off the soapbox, the similarities are:

- Both units will do two-manuals-plus-pedals, once programmed
properly;
- Both are rack mounted (1U) modules with internal AC power;
- Both have a Leslie simulation;
- Both have drawbar control, and can be used with the drawbar module
(see below).

The major differences are:

- The DMI-64 is a 64-voice multitimbral source (I'm not sure how the
timbres are doled out), while the V3 is a two-61-note-manuals-
plus-25-pedals-simultaneously tone source;
- The V3 responds to drawbars commands in real time, while the DMI
saves up the changes until you stop playing notes;
- The V3 has a 2-line-by-14-character LCD display, while the DMI has
a 2-digit LED display;
- The V3 has a collection of knobs and switches on its front to
directly tweak some of the more common adjustments, while the DMI
only has a couple of up/down switches;
- The DMI uses harmonically-related overtones for the drawbar sounds,
while the V3 uses chromatically-related overtones.
- The V3 has a Leslie interface, while the DMI does not.

Regarding the drawbar module, although I have only seen two versions or
the module, the Voce literature implies that there is a third version
that allows the DMI-64 to send percussion and vibrato switch information
to the module, to keep it in sync with the sound source. I have never
seen such a version; the literature seems to imply that it has three
MIDI jacks (MERGE, OUT, IN).

Either one will provide a decent simulation of a B-3, but the V3 is much
closer to the mark on subtle things like crosstalk, key click and the
lack of harmonic beating. (This is the artifact that you get when you
play a chord with a setting like 888800538: Use of frequency-related
tones in the DMI means that the 10th harmonic of a C note (2nd black
drawbar) will not be exactly the same as the 8th harmonic of an E note
(3rd white drawbar), causing a slow frequency beating between the notes.
This problem can't occur on the V3 -- at least not on major or open
chords, where it's most noticeable.) A V3 through a Leslie 122 is VERY
close to a real Hammond.

If you can see your way financially to the V3, I'd take it over the DMI.
It's more flexible, sounds a little better, and is easier to program,
especially under pressure.

Best regards,
-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Electrical/Computer engineer
Keyboard player
Voce Support Group moderator
bruce@ashbysolutions.com

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