From tymelys22@tadamson.greatxscape.net Sun Jan 14 00:21:49 2001
Subject:Re: Rotosphere Just Purchased

Hello,
I've been using the Rotosphere for three years or so and I too have
been delighted with this excellent box.
I have found though that more can be done to "improve" its sound,
I have posted before on this, but basically there appears to be more
throb available and a little less "vibrato" particularly on fast
spin, if, when used in stereo mode, you partially crossfade left and
right channels into each other.
I use a small Fostex mixer to do this.
Also I use a Stereo EQ and by experimenting it is possible to further
enhance the sound by applying some EQ to both channels, but not
applying exactly the same EQ to both channels.It is well worth
experimenting with the EQ settings to brighten and add to the overall
power of the unit.
I play at home in a small studio for my own amusement. The rest of my
family don't share my enthusiasm and so I use headphones a lot, which
I have found benefit from the use of a Sennheiser Pro-Logic Headphone
Processor which gives me the same sound as when listening to speakers
in a room. (This is a great feature of the Leslie Sim, you can hear
the same sound on phones and record direct into a recorder without
miking problems.) But when I do use loudspeakers I have found that
using speakers facing back to back, say pointing N.E. and S.W. gives
an altogether better representation of a Leslie rather than the usual
left right configuration.
In my "studio" (converted bedroom) I use four satellite speakers and
subwoofer to great effect. The four sats are situated so that they
radiate outwards N.E. N.W. S.W. S.E. roughly representing the
radial size of the Leslie horn spinning in a cabinet.
A cabinet built for gigging could easily be assembled, which could be
relatively compact and powerful at the same time.
Eminent Organs used to use their patented Multi-tremulant Cabinet
using fixed speakers.

The tubes don't last forever and its as well to purchase a couple for
when the day comes.
Changing the tube can be a bit of a pig, but it can be achieved
without dismantling the box.
First off, disconnect from power source and then remove the side
cheeks. It is then possible to reach the tube with just the tips of
your fingers, one hand into the box on the right and one hand in on
the left, palms upwards, By exerting a little pressure with both
middle fingers on either side of the tube it is possible to wiggle
the tube out of its base.
That's the easy bit.
To put in the new tube, I found that it was fairly easy to insert the
new tube by sticking the tube to a plastic ruler with a blob of
BlueTack also stuck to the side of the tube. Weigh up the position of
the pins relative to the base and sticking the tube to the ruler with
pins pretty much in the right position, insert the tube into the box
on the end of the ruler.
From this position it is possible to replace the tube by trial and
error and a little chafing to the back of your hands, by wiggling the
new tube off the ruler and onto its base.I have done this twice so
far so with no real problem, just a little
cursing.
I don't run the tube too hot but I presume that it is designed to be
run like this.I use the H&K pretty much every day and I am just on my
third tube running the tube with the yellow LED just flickering.
It might be worth emailing Hughes-and-Kettner for advice on this.

If any-one out there can advise on the "correct" method of replacing
a tube without needing a degree in electronics, I, and the back of my
hands, would be grateful.
The H&K can be made to sound incredibly realistic and it is very warm
and very musical. I believe that is was endorsed by Jon Lord some
wile ago.
It only just misses sounding exactly like a Leslie because it is just
a little bit smoother than the real thing.
I would imagine though that had it been available when the Leslie
cabinet was first attached to organs, it would have given the Leslie
a good run for its money and not just for its convenience but because
the tremulant is truly excellent.Mr Hammond might even have liked
this one.
Cheers, Thomas.

--- In VoceSupportGroup@egroups.com, "m pituch" wrote:
> Hi cool people
>
> Today, I just purchased my H&K Rotosphere. Thanks to all who
answered my
> very 'generic' "which is the best Leslie simulator?" question.
>
> As soon as I powered up, I knew I made the right choice. (I'm using
it with
> the Voce Micro BII.) In my opinion, this almost completely changes
the
> original instrument from very good to excellent. The unit is super
easy to
> set up, the controls are straight-forward, the visual indicators
are
> helpful, and the tube "satch" is dynamite.
>
> The rotors are an incredible recreation of the original.
Lower/upper offset
> speeds seem very realistic and ramp times, w/o breaker(BRAKE?) seem
> authentic. If anything, even if not completely true to the
original, you'd
> have to be an ingrate to complain about any small flaws in the
sound and
> design. Not only for the convenience factor alone, this is a super
addition
> to any musician's arsenal. I tried my Etherwave,(Theremin) through
the
> rotosphere...amazing, dramatic...sort of scary.
>
> I would recommend this F/X box to any and all 'musical' people.
Even a
> harmonica would probably sound good through this machine.
>
> My only question is: I've run,(with great results!) the tube
saturation
> fairly high...the yellow light is pretty much always on, is this
O/K or will
> I decrease the life of the precious tube?
>
> Since it sounds great, this is more of a "preventive maintenance"
type
> question. If it truly does lessen the tube life...I'll budget for
extra
> tubes. The overall sound is the only thing that matters
anyway...right?
>
> In any case...thanks again to all.
> M.
>
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