From mlongo@highmarkdesign.com Tue Nov 20 10:46:08 2001
Subject:CX-3 Leslie Sim


Hi Folks,

I had two jobs this past weekend where I had to set up on a tiny
little stage where there simply wasn't room for my Leslie. Recently,
when confronted with this situation I just left the organ home and
played EPs and synth all night. It's nice to change your performance
rig around and challenge yourself to play different parts. But the
last few times I'd done that I've been missing sthe organ more and
more.

So for these gigs I decided to try using the CX-3 with it's on-
board Leslie simulator plugged straight into my amp. I've never
played live using the CX-3 Leslie simulator before. While it
certainly doesn't compare well against my Leslie, as electronic
simulators go I felt that it was pretty usable. I definitely felt
that it was better having the CX-3 and simulator than having no organ
at all.

I prepared for these gigs by setting my CX-3 on top of my '57 C-
3. I plugged the CX-3 into my amp and listened to the C-3 through a
new Leslie 147. I started by entering Bruce Wahler's favorite Leslie
parameters into the CX-3 as my starting point, then did continuous
A/B comparisons with my C-3/147 over the course of a few hours,
tweaking the Leslie program continuously.

Matching the fast/slow and up/down times of the 147 to the CX-3
Leslie simulation program was pretty simple. But I found that the
mic distance parameter was more difficult to get right, and I
discovered that the mic distance is a VERY decisive parameter in the
overall Leslie program. You can change the overall playing "feel" of
the organ quite a bit by changing this parameter, especially on fast
Leslie. I played the two organs for quite a while before getting a
combination I liked a lot and that also seemed closest to what I was
hearing from my 147.

One very important note: whichever mic distance parmeter
sounds "right" is VERY subjective. Move a real leslie a few feet
away from the wall and the rotational effect you hear is different.
Remove the back panels, it's more different still. Clip the
diffusers off the horn and it's even more different. So this
parameter is very much a question of taste. In my case, the 147 I
was comparing the CX-3 to was a new 147 setup in a corner with the
back of the Leslie facing out and the panels removed. Also, the
diffusers have been removed from this Leslie.

Interestingly, I felt that the Chorus warbling sounded deeper
when played through the Leslie simulator than it does when the CX-3
is plugged into my Leslie. I usually use the CX-3 on C2 when plugged
into my Leslie to get the nost B-3 like chorus sound. When using the
CX-3 Leslie simulator, I had it set on C1 most of the time. Your
mileage may (will) vary.

After playing two gigs this past weekend with this Leslie
program, I can say I'm pretty happy with it. For anyone interested,
I've written the parameters I used below. Please keep in mind that
your own opinion can (and probably will) differ.

amp type - 2
gain - 15
horn/rotor bal - 54:46
horn slow/fast - 8/90
rotor slow/fast - 7/79
horn up/dwn - 1/4
rotor up/dn - 60/40
horn mic distance - 70
rotor mic distance - 50
mic spreads - 45

I'll only use the Leslie simulator on rare occasions, but I
expect that as I use it I'll be tweaking with this program more.
With changing taste and playing situations, no parameters stay the
same forever. Always let your ears be your guide!

Mark Longo