From gstory@reboot.com Thu Oct 03 10:12:14 2002
Subject:Re: Chorale Effect

Gosh, it's complex. But it sounds like a lot of 'Cloners' or
Cloneheads' such as ourselves are missing out on a really important
part of the Hammond Leslie sound. (...maybe that's an
understatement)

Do CX-3's and V5's have the chorus vibrato feature? Thanks for
clarifying Chorale and Tremolo, by the way. I originally thought
that shimmery sound was Chorale.

I guess never actually owning a real Hammond/Leslie could be an
advantage as I don't know what I'm missing.

The difference since I switched from using the Motif's Rotary effect
to runnning the Motif dry into the MS KBR3D has been quite a blast
and the members in the band are definitely 'pumped' about it. But
you can always improve - right? Maybe the next step is to get a Voce
V5. There does seem to be some funny EQ issues going on with the KBR
but I'm still futzing with it as it's new.

I don't want to take another Keyboard (like a CX-3) as the wagon is
already filled to the brim with geetars and a Twin (argh...). I know
that's gonna be how I die - on a stairway under that Twin. A noble
death?

Anyway, thanks all again for the clarification...

Au Reverb

Greg Story

--- In CloneWheel@y..., Bruce Wahler wrote:
> Hi,
>
> There are actually three things that you may be talking about...
>
> "Chorale" is just the fancy term for the slow Leslie speed.
(Tremolo is the fast speed.) That's what the switch you saw was
could have been for: Chorale-Tremolo speed switching.
>
> Most classic Hammonds also have a scanner vibrato, which began life
as Hammond's imperfect answer to the Leslie Speaker. This vibrato is
an electromechanical device that is tied to the same motors that
power the tone generator, and can be used straight, or mixed with the
dry signal to make "vibrato chorus," which is the shimmery sound that
fills much of B-3-based music, such as the solo to Green Eyed Lady.
The combination of Chorale Leslie and chorus vibrato is a big part of
what most people recognize as the "Hammond sound." Console Hammonds
normally had a 6-position rotary switch to select V1, C1 (V1 chorus),
V2, C2, V3, and C3, with separate rocker switches for adding the
effect to each keyboard. On some of the later models, however, a
different set of switches were employed, using Vibrato I and Vibrato
II (with V3 = V1+V2), plus a "vibrato chorus" switch. Perhaps this
is what you mean?
>
> To further cloud the mess, certain early Hammond console organs --
the BC and D -- had a true chorus generator, which added a second
fundamental tone, slightly out of tune with the main tonewheel
generator. The result was similar to what you might get by sending
the output of a Hammond through a modern chorus effect -- except that
the chorus generator added quite a few pounds to the already hefty
weight of a console Hammond! This also might be what you are
referring to, but the chorus was normally added through an extra
drawbar on the right.
>
> Regards,
>
> -BW
>
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Design Consultant
> Ashby Solutions™ http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
> CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
> 978.386.7389 voice/fax
> bruce@a...
>
> At 11:50 PM 10/2/2002 +0000, you wrote:
> >I may never own a real Hammond or Leslie...
> >
> >but...
> >
> >I am trying to make some great Hammondy tones with a Motif8 (piano
> >action, using dry outputs dedicated volume pedal) and a MS KBR3D.
> >
> >I have always loved the Hammond Leslie sound and the animation it
> >provides in a live band situation. I used to park a flanger stomp
on
> >my DX-7 and manually turn the speed control up and down to mimmick
> >the fast/slow thing. I played guitar in a 70's prog rock band
that
> >covered a lot of Yes Gentle Giant tunes and the KB player had an L-
> >100 - with no Leslie - talk about dry.
> >
> >Anyhoo - sorry for the digress - I actually have a question.
> >
> >What is the Chorale effect and how does it work? I seem to
remember
> >a Chorale button on one of the few Hammonds I have actually seen
and
> >this leeds me to believe that it is a organ function as opposed to
a
> >leslie thing. Is it a modulation of the tonewheel speed? Or is
> >itjust the leslie going from stop to fast. (this may seem daft
but
> >I've never actually got my mits on a real Hammond/Leslie)
> >
> >Is there anyway to get the same effect on the Motif/MS rig?
> >
> >I'd love to hear if anyone else is using this combination and find
> >out what works/doesn't.
> >
> >While we're thinking of the MS gear - there are very few reviews
to
> >read. The only ones I've found are on Harmony Central in the
> >Guitars/Effects section:
> >
> > central.com/Effects/Data/Motion_Sound/>http://www.harmony-
central.com/Effects/Data/Motion_Sound/
> >
> >It would be great if people could post some reviews to this
> >link. 'Specially on the KBR3D ;-).
> >
> >Many thanks