Clavia Nord series Hammond quality - different generations?

[lfm]

Hi folks

Am to replace some plugins for Hammond sounds with hardware.

What about Clavia Nord Electro 2 vs 3 vs 4D vs C1 organ vs C2 organ?

Are there major improvements in Hammonds sounds or the leslie emulations etc?
Read something about improved clicksound - but that is no biggy for me.

Looking at second hand ones vs new ones etc.

Any input or alternatives are welcome.

Korg maybe or Hammond XK series?

Thank you.

[roland303]

I've heard that for pure Hammond-type organ sound, the SK might be your best bet. But if you need the Leslie sim, I hear it is not. The Nords are pretty playable, although clonewheel people tend towards the Hammond or Korg CX series. I think the Korg has a decent mix between Hammond sounds and the Leslie sim.

[lfm]

Thank you for input.

I've seen ads on XK1 that also had external leslie sim - so you are probably right about their own internal - if any - is not the best. Users get another one.

There are a couple of ads on Korg CX3 as well - might be interesting alternative then.

You helped a lot - thanks.

[ooohhh2]

Hi there,
I only owned Nord Electro 2 once, but i already played the other generations as well. To be honest, it's been better far away from the first generations. But it never really convinced me.
Now my input would be this:
consider getting a second hand nord electro 2 or 3, and get yourself a Neo Ventilator. You won't search anything else.
I use the Ventilator with Use Audio Plugiator, which has a pretty crappy B3 emulation IMHO, now reissued by Ferrofish
http://www.thomann.de/de/ferrofish_b4000.htm
But together with Ventilator, it sounds niice!

The other alternative would be getting a used VMachine and install VB3 in it.
My 2 cents.

[lfm]

Neat suggestions - thanks.

Even if getting a Korg or Hammond Ventilator could be a good addon. Thomann got those too as I saw.

But also, adding upp these different addons one wonders how much better job Clavia did with C1 organ. It's soon in the realm with NE2+Ventilator as a couple of C1's for sale. If they were closeby one could play - but it's half through the country here - nothing round the corner.

[ooohhh2]

If you can get a C1 for cheap, get it! The double set of waterfall keys is great, you can get the Ventilator later, if you really need it. The C1 might do the job as well.

The cheapest alternative would be getting a Ferrofish B4000+ and Ventilator.

You can just order and try them, Thomann has 30 days money back guarantee.

[lfm]

Thanks again.

I'll look into it.

[lfm]

I've heard that for pure Hammond-type organ sound, the SK might be your best bet. But if you need the Leslie sim, I hear it is not. The Nords are pretty playable, although clonewheel people tend towards the Hammond or Korg CX series. I think the Korg has a decent mix between Hammond sounds and the Leslie sim.

Some feedback for those having the same thoughts.

It became an Korg CX-3(ones released 2002) with double sets of drawbars.

And must say I'm impressed by that machine and how you can adapt everything to liking. You can use double sets of drawbars in various ways - as to switchable sounds for upper manual, one each for a split keyboard - or using external manual/keyboard for lower manual.

Not top notch is maybe keybed which is a bit weak to my liking and amp simulation distortion is more like bitcrushing, not all bad but not quite there.

So if finally running through real tube amp and then Ventilator leslie we will see. Leslie is quite good in cx3 so if running that output through tube amp will maybe work. Leslie sim in cx-3 can configure how far apart mikes are, and how far from rotor and horn, so you can adapt nicely to a recording situation. Most simulations are full stereo width that does not work in a mix anyway - so mono is better.

CX-3 is the same chip that is part of Korg Kronos nowadays.

Total is - I'm really pleased with the cx-3.

Thanks again everybody for input on the subject.

[taijiguy]

I sold my XK3/Motion Sound Pro-145, which sounded really good, and replaced them with an SK-1, and I'm happy that I did.

The SK-1/SK-2 are actually stage keyboards and don't replace the XK series, so they don't have the feel of a Hammond like the XK series does, but I think they sound better. Some of the the extra sounds are decent, too.

The Leslie sim is excellent. Some people feel that the Ventilator would make the SK-1 sound even better, but I disagree. If you have a good sound system, it's unnecessary.

One of the nice things about the SK-1 is that with a separate midi keyboard, you can either use it as the second manual instead of splitting the SK-1 keyboard, or you can use it for the extra sounds. Of course with the SK-2, you don't need the midi keyboard.

The SK-1 and SK-2 are also very light weight.

[lfm]

Thanks.

I looked at some videos on SK-1, and I had to look for specific videos to get more organ oriented demonstation.

I'm sure it's really good though - Hammond takes up the fight on stagepianos.

Does it have an effects loop as well?

I was thinking of wanting to use a real tube amp for distortion(or other effect) and still use internal leslie sim.

[taijiguy]

Thanks.

I looked at some videos on SK-1, and I had to look for specific videos to get more organ oriented demonstation.

I'm sure it's really good though - Hammond takes up the fight on stagepianos.

Does it have an effects loop as well?

I was thinking of wanting to use a real tube amp for distortion(or other effect) and still use internal leslie sim.

There is no effects loop. Why not send the output directly into the tube amp?

[lfm]

There is no effects loop. Why not send the output directly into the tube amp?

So I will - but am not sure how good it sounds to run the leslied signal to tube and then into computer.

It will soon show.

Thanks.

[taijiguy]

There is no effects loop. Why not send the output directly into the tube amp?

So I will - but am not sure how good it sounds to run the leslied signal to tube and then into computer.

It will soon show.

Thanks.

The only tube amp I have is a Fender Super Champ X2. That wouldn't be a fair demo. The onboard overdrive is pretty nice, though.