help on organ module/expander and piano combo

[DaytripperMC]

Hi Everyone

As a budding organ / piano player in a gypsy-reggae band - I'm after some advice

i don't have space at home or on the stage for a large traditional organ, and going for the reggae-esque hammond-ish sound i'm looking for a smaller, portable solution.

I currently use a Roland Juno G keyboard - which is pretty rubbish and too technical for me to program properly, plus being like 16 years old it sounds rather clunky.

I've been looking at purchasing an organ module / expander (such as the ferrofish or the Oberheim) and a midi keyboard combo - does anyone have any thoughts on this? or experience?

I'm looking for a waterfall / synth action keyboard and think that both modules have sustain and expression so the board doesn't actually need those inputs…

finally i also play piano but find that my skills aren''t so good on the synth board - so will be looking later for either a weighted controller and piano module or a digital/stage piano with weighted keys.

if anyone has any helpful advice at all i would be extremely grateful.

thanks in advance,

Gavin

 

[delaware dave]

Not sure how much you can afford to spend, you didn't say. Some suggestions:

HX3 expander and drawbars: New technology, sounds awesome: http://diversi.us/kpproducts.html $1125. Here is what would sound like:

VB3- version 2 (same as Crumar Mojo): obtained in a rackmount or table top:
http://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=43 $1100, but you would need a drawbar controller to control the module in real time (add another $300), so $1400. One big advantage is that it not only does it provide organ, but also rhodes, wurlitzer, acoustic piano, Clavinet, trumpet, Strings and VA synths. All instruments sound top notch. additional $300 for the extras worth it to me. listen to the video at the above link.

Voce V5+ (organ module used in Diversi DV100) Hammond only, can be obtained used for no more than $400, probably less.Make sure it is the V5+, not the V5. V5+ has an improved Vibrato/Chorus circuit and improved Percussion output http://voceinc.com/v5p.html As the Voce is an organ-only module you will need a leslie simulator to go with it. Neo Instruments Ventilator is the best on the market $350 new. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEO-mini-VE...427742?hash=item2c9604569e:g:23IAAOxyLN9SmMIV
be sure it is the neo ventilator "for organ". The 'for organ' has the leslie cabinet simulation needed to complete the sound. video of what it sounds like is here.

so the Voce +Vent =$750. I own and gig with both. Here is what a Voce V5+ sounds like through a 122 leslie (Diversi organ uses the V5+ engine):

Hammond XM2/XMc2: organ and leslie in a rackmount (XM2) with a separate drawbar unit (XMc2) various in price $700-1000 for both. http://www.ebay.com/itm/XM2-Hammond...590873?hash=item3ac247d5d9:g:6qQAAOSwQTVWCIZB Its the organ module version of the hammond XK1, so the XM2 sounds identical to the XK1. The XK1 can be heard here:

If you are looking for a waterfall action keyboard, two come to mind:

Studio Logic VMK161: waterfall board with 9 sliders for drawbars. $700 new and less used http://www.ebay.com/itm/Studiologic...581103?hash=item1eaeacd4af:g:zfcAAOSw~oFXDZ9t

Jamkey: http://www.diversi.us/jamkey.html two sets of drawbars, two manuals; manuals at purchased can be configured to your liking, i.e. top manual is waterfall and organ action, lower manual is either same as the top manual (except it is 73 keys) or can be hammer action to play piano/organ on lower manual. $2500 (expensive).


I have the Voce V5+, the Hammond XM2/XMc2 and the Neo Ventilator. I gig with them and the sound gets me there. I also use the Ventilator with the XM2 as the leslie on the Vent is superior to the XM2's internal leslie.