From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Sun Nov 06 07:44:32 2005
Subject:Re: Samples of B4 II

Hi Norm,

>I think in the case of a Hammond clone demo it is in the best interest of these companies to have a real Hammond player do these sound samples ala M-Audio and Joey D. plugging the MB-3 which is probably not as good as the B4 but the demo is great.

That's great for the clone manufacturer's sales figures, but not so great for you and me. A top-notch player like Joey DeFrancesco can make a $99 Casio sound awesome. But it also tends to move the focus from the sound of the instrument to the sound of the player, a variation on bait-and-switch, IMHO. I'd rather hear the basic organ sound, because there are only three good reasons to drop one clone for another: better sound, better ergonomics, or better portability. Everything else is just gear lust.

The B4 automatically has a strike against it in the ergonomics department, because it has a virtual interface and requires additional gear to correct this. Portability of a VST instrument is hard to quantify; it depends on how well you like and understand you own virtual setup, and how many other instruments are used at the same time. Besides, an MP3 isn't going to settle that question; the specs and owner's manual are better choices.

So we're left with, "How good does it sound?"

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™ http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com

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