From jukefox@jukejoynt.com Fri Jun 20 13:38:39 2014
Subject:Re: Electro Harmonix B9

Hi David ...


Personally, I do not find the sound of this thing convincing in the least (and I realize that I'm not EHx's target audience) ... having heard the demo, I still feel that both Bob Murrell's Musiconics 60s/70s Guitorgans and Vox's V251 were much more convincing.


I suspect that the triggering is more responsible for this perception than anything else. I have no doubt that EHx's engines (samples?) are better, given today's technology (although the demo sounded quite shrill and harsh to me on all the voices), but there really was no "pitch tracking" in the early guitar/organ hybrids ... the organ sounds were triggered mechanically by 6 buttons under each fret, embedded in the fretboards. This prevented unnatural (to organ, anyway) pitch bends, non-breaking glissandos, vibrato, etc,. which are string manipulation artifacts. Polyphony was limited to 6-notes (one for each string) and later versions of Bob's machines even eliminated triggering of duplicate pitch-sets (which are possible on a guitar, but not on a linear keyboard). B9 would seem to me to be much more convincing were it to limit the emulation to half-step pitch resolution in the pre-effect stage (ie before c/v, percussion/rotary sim, etc).


While the EHx advanced tracking feature could well be its second-greatest flaw (behind the engine), the third (an overcomable-through-practice one IMO) is the degree of performance technique required to make this emulation convincing. Such was not evident in the demo.


Those of us who adapted to synths, romplers and samplers in the 70s and 80s learned early on that, while it was great to have pretty good string sections, trumpets, violins, flutes, guitars, etc., most sounded pretty bad if played like an organ or piano. In order to make them sound convincing, we needed to use voicings, pitch-bend, modulation and performance techniques that mimicked those used by actual violin, viola, cello, string bass, trumpet, trombone, sax, clarinet, flute, guitar, harmonica, steel drum, didgeridoo, etc. players. In other words, to play the acoustic instrument emulation and make it sound right, you have to not only play the notes, but the articulation, modulation, dynamics, attacks, releases, etc, all while implying the physical limitations of whatever instrument(s) and musicians you are attempting to emulate.


Yes ... I believe that tonewheel organ performance techniques are learnable on a guitar ... but this little B9 box (as friendly as the name sounds) will not play below E2, occupy 2' x 4' of stage real estate, or allow a guitarist to give Keith Emerson (even with his chops today) a run for his money. Jordan Rudess (and many pretty good synthesists here I suspect) on the other hand can put their own guitarists to shame, given a great synth guitar patch. Remember how pissed off your guitar player was the first time you blew a lick off your keyboard that sounded absolutely authentic that he couldn't touch (or even one he could)? It's doubtful most guitar players will be able to do the same to us using one of these boxes, or will be able to for some time to come ... so, I guess it's sort of like that in my mind. Still, doubtless many guitar players will find hours of joy and mesmerization playing with this little box ... which I guess makes it all worthwhile.


Yep ... it's a new take on an old concept and, I'm certain that (should this prove to be a lucrative enough niche' for EHx) the technology will improve and in 3 or 4 years the B9 2.0 box could be giving VB3, VASE, CX3 and what-have-you clonewheel engine a run for the money. I'm not holding my breath though ... I still haven't got the flying car Cosmo Spacely promised me ... and that was in the 60s!


Best,
Fox



---In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, wrote :

As a struggling keyboard player who came over from the dark side see the attached video and you will know where I am coming from. The Clonewheel makers won't have t lose any sleep yet, but this might just be start. So many guitar players have tried to emulate the classic B3 and unless you have a midi guitar forget it. This device as rudimentary as it is, suggests that with refinements perhaps one day I will be able to play my guitar which I am much more fluid on and sound like a decent Hammond Clone. Check out the EHX B9 organ simulator and try not to laugh to hard. At least they tried.


David Hammond 1951
Ottawa


EHX introduces B9 Organ Machine pedal | KeyboardMag http://www.keyboardmag.com/default.aspx?tabid=347&articleid=31045&categoryid=1183&pagetype=article


EHX introduces B9 Organ Machine pedal | KeyboardMag http://www.keyboardmag.com/default.aspx?tabid=347&articleid=31045&categoryid=1183&pagetype=article


View on www.keyboardmag.com http://www.keyboardmag.com/default.aspx?tabid=347&articleid=31045&categoryid=1183&pagetype=article
Preview by Yahoo