From harjoy@elknet.net Sat May 22 07:43:57 2004
Subject:Re: XK3 Leslie sim


>I've been messing with the leslie sim for a while tonite. Keep in mind I've been using headphones as the family is asleep, so through speakers I'm sure some of this would be different. I set my Nord Electro above my XK3 to do some comparisons. (I have a cutdown Hammond/122 set up behind me, but again, it's too late to do THAT comparison!

>In brief, I still think the Electro leslie sim sounds better. It's not quite right, but it's the best of the lot. It sounds really fine by itself through headphones or through an amp, and in context with the rest of the band, it sits really well in the mix. The XK3 on the other hand has a couple things that are just not right, no matter how hard you tweak.

>First, the most obvious: the low rotor has exaggerated "wow" sound to it..."woW, woW, woW, woW, woW, woW." And once you have it in your head, boy it will NOT go away. Where the Electro goes "woa, woa woa" the XK3 definitely goes "wow, wow, wow" with an emphasis on the second W. Now, this may not be so obvious when played through speakers or when in context, but right now, you can't hide it.

I'm posting to this thread partly because of a thread on another site that eventually got over to mentioning Leslies largely have been built with the rotorsd spinning in the opposite direction. This was said to be accidental by Don Leslie himself as a result of one motor pointed up, the other pointed down. During the history of manufacture some series were built with same direction rotation. These could be changed by reversing the stator of one motor and many people have done this and felt the opposed was better. Of course it may be imagination!

But- if it is not can some of the dissatisfaction with Leslie sims be from not incorporating this into the sim?
Could the exagerated woW, woW of the XK3 lower rotor be moderated by having the upper rotor be simulated as turning the other way?

I guess regardless you won't be moving real air, won't have the Leslies amp, exact speakers, wood box, louvers, etc.

Meaning: it's nice to have something the audience thinks sounds like the big Hammond and Leslie, But that heavy console plus heavy speaker dooes it best.

Harold

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