From c_schonberger@yahoo.com Mon Oct 12 14:45:43 2009
Subject:RE: Dry EMU B3 and "Ventilated" samples

Sven,
 
Yep, I neve rliked the sound of the keyclick in my XK-3. It is especially noticveable on low notes with the higher drawbars in, and it jumps out when you have C-2 or C-3 on (as I have at some point in my demo).
The keyclick is actually tweaked to sound as low as possible (It can't be removed completely not brought down enough - a serious design flaw). I have dialed down the volume of key and release click and the low pass filter. The way it sounded out of the box was unusable. I did not apply any kind of EQ. In fact: the Ventilator dramatically improves on the keyclick (yes, it ios that bad). I also tried - desperately- to soften the attack, but this causes a fade-in exactly like the Attack of an ADSR curve on a synth. A Hammond needs a lightning fast attack. The problem, is not only the bad sound of the key click, but the fact that iot is static. Since a good leslie or leslie sim adds some change in the sound, the infamous re-trigger effect is not that evident, but it sounds horrible on glissandi and palm wipes, as you can year all those dozens of clicks sounding all the exact(!) same (dare I say that this is ridiculous, they clearly cut corners or left room
for future "improvements" on purpose - a common strategy in the commercial world. On a vintage Hammond the keyclick usually sounds sweet and marvelous due to the the 9 key contact design. I think the VB-3 plugin comes very near.
 
I bought my XK-3 in January 2006 - just months before the XK-3 came out, and there was no way to upgrade. Imagine my frustation. As for now: I am not willing to pay (almost) the same money again just to have something a litle better with MIDI features I have absolutely no use for, and with many things still not resolved. I do like the interface (even though I would have gladly paid. say, another 1000 Euros to get four sets of drawbars. I don't need presets where I can't see the rawbar setting physically, and I don't need most of the tweakable parameters.. especially when the factory presets are porr and youy "must" tweak as opposed to "can" tweak.
 
In a band context, my XK-3 sounds great. The sustain tone is fantastic in most drawbar settings. But I wouldn't recommend it for bands where the Hammond is very prominent such as jazz trios.
 
I am desperately waiting for the sucesor of the XK-3c and I pray that it still fits within the existing XK-3 system.
 
Christian
 

--- On Mon, 10/12/09, Sven Wannäs wrote:

 

I must say I did notice the same thing, the key click sound like the "red
ones" (ducking for cover :)> ).
I also have an XK-3 and the key click in mine don't sound like this,
Christian do you have activated some EQ on your XK-3? When I use my XK-3
through a original tube Leslie or the Ventilator I have all tone controls
set flat, no need for EQ IMO.

Regards,
Sven

-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of pontus

The ventlilator sounds great, its a wonderful simulator, but the key click
on this recording is horrible. It sounds like something is wrong.
Is the click on the XK3 really that bad?



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