LX122 - New Leslie Simulation by Xils-Lab

[Bathrobe]

That's a nice effect. Congratulations

For me there is one issue though: On my Core2Duo Notebook the CPU consumption is very high. Some presets overload the CPU by 200% in Studio One 32bit (windows 8 32bit).
I have never come across anything that has such high demands.

Hopefully there's room for optimization. If so i would consider upgrading the demo to a full version.

I really dig your delay plugin very much by the way.

[Lotuzia]

That's a nice effect. Congratulations

For me there is one issue though: On my Core2Duo Notebook the CPU consumption is very high. Some presets overload the CPU by 200% in Studio One 32bit (windows 8 32bit).
I have never come across anything that has such high demands.

Hopefully there's room for optimization. If so i would consider upgrading the demo to a full version.

I really dig your delay plugin very much by the way.

Hi Bathrobe,

Thanks for your kind comments,

Regarding cpu usage two solutions : Either there are some specific problems on Live, in this case they will be solved, either the situation is normal, because, as quoted on the site, certain presets WILL use a lot of CPU.

What can you change to make a preset eat much less CPU :

First and mainly : Change the reverb room algorythm : The three complex and medium room algorythms are very CPU demanding, because there's an awfull lot of parameters to master simultaneously. Thay are comparable to some other hi-end reverbs that will also use a lot of CPU on my system. SO change this for the SIMPLE ROOM algorythm, or in the worst case, if you have a slow computern to the NO ROOM option. ( Bt the simple room algorythm also sounds good and will eat much much les cpu, and is also available in the standard LX122 series )

So the LX122 series aim at proposing a complete solution : Several Cabinet Configutions with multiple parameters + Real world ultra flexible miking + Incorporated Reverb.

If you use all these techniques with the most sophisticated and demanding options of the modules, it has a cpu cost, this CPU cost is ok is you're just using an Organ and a Piano in a mix, with other real musicians, or for studio sessions. It might be less OK if you use tons of other synths, multiple effects, and several other verbs in a busy itb mix. In this case I'll recommand that either you freeze/rendre the organ track, either you use your other external reverbs to treat the Organ/Lx122 comba along with your other instruments.

This i partly why we offer the LX122 in two models : The LX122 standard offers you for a very modest price, all you could desire from a regular but still very sophisticated Leslie/Other Cabinet virtual unit. As it only uses the Simple Room algorytm. The premium edition however can be froms strictly identical low cpu demanding, to quite demanding, depending on the options you use.

So below is a quick list of the most demanding modules :
1/ The Complex Studio Room Algorythm ( Will make 4x more demanding than base algorythm)
2/ The two Medium Rooms ( 2/3x more demand)
3/ The Simple Revebr iteself ( will add 50% relative at the sem ithout any reverb)
4) The Cabinet Effect ( internal reflections) Algorythm ( Will add 50% to a similar no verb patch without it)
5/ The Ribbon age Algorythm ( Will add 30% to a similar patch with no verb )

And if you combine them all, when the CPU can be quite high.

Nevertheless we'll also check if there are not some specific problems related to Live. SOmetimes there are

So I'd suggest that you try the possible optimisations described above, then eventually you can also choose to get only the Standard LX 122 : Cheap as chips, and really enough to get the core and crucial benefits of the Premium Edition without fearing for your CPU.

LtZ

[AdmiralQuality]

To the Hammond/Leslie experts: what are the main differences between 147 and 122?

The amp. In the 122 the power tubes' plate voltage comes from the organ's preamp and it receives a line level balanced (on 2 wires like an XLR cable) audio signal from the organ. (Yes, this means there's something like 400 VDC in the Leslie cord. Watch out!)

The 147 is exactly the same cabinet, but its amp makes its own plate voltage and it takes an unbalanced audio input at a very hot level (this is actually because its designed to connect to speaker outputs from organs that didn't have Hammond style cabinet plugs.) You typically need a preamp pedal to use 147/145 with regular line or instrument outputs.

[Brother Charles]

I tried to find a good b3 to play through this but couldn't (not free anyway)... so i thought ... what about Oxium? Sure enough, the Easy Organ T works perfectly! (i turned off drive, delay and chorus)
But if you know of a free one, please let me know (I tried the OrganF but that isn't really a B3)

@Crackbaby:

Yessir. I know of a very decent FREE B3 VSTi. The link I had for Iliadis organs is now defunked. If you can find the (ILIADIS) iBX or Euthymia ver.2 organ VSTs, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Another very good one is found here:

Planet Botch's Classic H Organ

[Lotuzia]

Thanks Brother Charles, it will be very usefull for those who want to test the LX series.

For those who want to test the LX series and are happy owners of the Native Instruments B4 II Virtual Organ Module, I've created a new bank of around 50 presets that are naked ! ( Hence why its called Naked B4 )

Naked means that I've disabled all the internal B4 II Leslie, Overdrive and Reverb parameters so that you dont have to disable them each time you change the preset. So its the "pure" Organ sound.

Additionnaly, a good half of these patches were created from scratch, so even if you don(t want to try the LX, it might be worth to DL them in case one or two would serve your needs and be of interest.

Anyway, they're free.

Here's the link :

Naked B4 SOundbank

To load the bank just unzip it anywhaere on your HD, then go to the B4 II PRESET tab, then choose LOAD ( and not Load 1, for this one looks for single patches ) Browse until you reach the location where you saved the bank

LtZ

[AdmiralQuality]

Don't necessarily disable spring reverb. Several Hammond models had built in spring reverb which make an unreal, ghostly sound when run through a Leslie AFTER the reverb. That's why B4II lets you change the order of the effects.

Room reverb, of course, should always go after the Leslie sim.

[Lotuzia]

Well, the purpose of this soundbank is to allow B4 II users to experiment in a very easy and friendly way with some external solutions, like obviously the LX122 series, but also external Spring reverbs if so they desire.

Then it also contains some new presets.

Then people can reengage the reverb on the B4II if they want : Its only a knob to turn.

Btw the names of some presets in the B4 II bank match the name of the presets I did for the LX122 Premium. So its easy to get the sound I used in the demos, and make pairs.

[Lotuzia]

I'm not a Hammond/Leslie expert, but it is interesting to note that it could be said that many of the old blues and rock guys would never have even heard of Hammond/Leslie if it weren't for the old-time Gospel players. Most cool blues licks find their roots directly in ol' skool Gospel. No offense, Jimmy Smith, Ethel Waters, and Barbara Dennerlein fans.

Personally, I really like a clean Leslie tone. Maybe it's the difference between squeaky clean Robert Cray tone vs. gritty Clapton tone. I really like both.

Its so true that a lot of specific C model Leslie series were released in the early years, C standing for Church.

On these models the difference is mainly that the speed was divided by two.

LtZ

[Lotuzia]

And a splendid review made by Brother Charles on the Lx122 Premium

A 12 round review including :

• Visuals
  Stereo Imaging and Depth Perception:
  Tonal Quality:
  Features Set:
  CPU Consumption:

Well what can I say, I've just very rarely (never ?) seen such an in depth review made by a non professional writer. Everything is clearly detailed, and backed up by a solid experience as a Gospel player.

You can read the whole review here, go ahead its really worth it, and I've learned things by reading as well :

http://reviewrevival.blogspot.ca/2012/1 ... eslie.html

So thank you Brother Charles

LtZ

[DocAtlas]

To the Hammond/Leslie experts: what are the main differences between 147 and 122?

The 147 & 122 are the same, except for the pinout on the cable. The 145 is the same as the 147, except the cabinet is 4 inches shorter. This page gives more details on some of the models: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_s ... organisms2

[AdmiralQuality]

To the Hammond/Leslie experts: what are the main differences between 147 and 122?

The 147 & 122 are the same, except for the pinout on the cable.

Not just the pinouts, but the actual signals on the cable are different. 147 (and 145) take a very hot unbalanced signal (one wire). 122 takes a balanced, line-level signal (two wires). Also the 122 takes a plate voltage from the pre-amp in the organ, so there's literally several hundred volts of DC on one of the wires. Not so in the 147 which simply has mains AC voltage on it. Also the Leslie switch for the 147 is mains AC voltage, where on the 122 it's a low DC voltage that switches a relay in the Leslie amp.

The 145 is the same as the 147, except the cabinet is 4 inches shorter. This page gives more details on some of the models: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_s ... organisms2

Yes, therefore a little less bass response. (Though they still sound great for manual playing. You might miss the extra bass response a bit if you play pedals though.)

[Brother Charles]

@Lotuzia:

Thanks for the opportunity. LX122 is such a great product and well deserves quality, professional-grade reviews. Every product I write about is carefully reviewed because I truly believe in the product(s). As a Gospel/Blues player, I REALLY admire LX122. Native Instrument's Vintage Organs really come to life for me now. Can I have a witness in the house today? C'mon now, somebody oughta shout amen! . . .lol.

[DocAtlas]

To the Hammond/Leslie experts: what are the main differences between 147 and 122?

The 147 & 122 are the same, except for the pinout on the cable.

Not just the pinouts, but the actual signals on the cable are different. 147 (and 145) take a very hot unbalanced signal (one wire). 122 takes a balanced, line-level signal (two wires). Also the 122 takes a plate voltage from the pre-amp in the organ, so there's literally several hundred volts of DC on one of the wires. Not so in the 147 which simply has mains AC voltage on it. Also the Leslie switch for the 147 is mains AC voltage, where on the 122 it's a low DC voltage that switches a relay in the Leslie amp.

The 145 is the same as the 147, except the cabinet is 4 inches shorter. This page gives more details on some of the models: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_s ... organisms2

Yes, therefore a little less bass response. (Though they still sound great for manual playing. You might miss the extra bass response a bit if you play pedals though.)

Yeah, I was typing from my phone, which is always a nightmare for me. I figured the Wikipedia page would explain the details. If I had seen your earlier response to Walter's question, I wouldn't have posted.

I never had any trouble getting earth-shaking response with my pedals through my 145. Most of the time, though, I was playing in rock bands, so the pedals stayed at home. The Hammond does too, now; I'm getting too old to lug that around. I still take the Leslie out to gigs sometimes, though.

Now that I'm home, it's time to download the demo and give it a try.

[AdmiralQuality]

[Lotuzia]

.......

I never had any trouble getting earth-shaking response with my pedals through my 145. Most of the time, though, I was playing in rock bands, so the pedals stayed at home. The Hammond does too, now; I'm getting too old to lug that around. I still take the Leslie out to gigs sometimes, though.

Now that I'm home, it's time to download the demo and give it a try.

Hope you'll like it, its a 0 kg version