Hi peeps, Elektrik Hob here.
I'm new to the forum but some of you may know me from the Nord User Forum (Stage 3 section) as I also have one of those and have been searching for Hammond nirvana (without the usual back-strain!) for decades.
Having had various Nords over the years (Electro 2 which I loved, Electros 3 & 5 and now the Stage 3 which, all-in-all, is awesome!) and a GSi Gemini (VB3-II plus electric pianos and various other sound generators all in a box), I believe that, unlike U2, I've finally found what I'm looking for!
I currently use the Stage 3 for general Hammond pads which, with the latest s/w (which is actually 5 months old now), has a really improved sound (particularly the rotory simulation which was pretty poor a year ago).
And I use the Gemini for REALLY gnarly Kaye/Lord style grunginess although the Gemini has a real problem with 3 notes (F#, G & G#) at the high end of its simulation that unfortunately stick out like a sore thumb in general (non-overdriven) usage
I've also used a Ventillator II with the various Hammond sims and, although I do like it, I'm perhaps in a minority that feels it's actually a little too "lush"...
But, not being totally happy and always seeking the best - I have always had a surfeit of GAS - I decided to purchase an HX3 Plexi a couple of months ago with v5.41x firmware (and the noGM option with added reverbs).
Instantly loved the drawbar emulation, Vib/Ch and the in-depth control of all sorts of parameters (especially from the PC Editor, now called the Configurator(!)) but felt the rotary sim wasn't quite up to the level I'd hoped for...
That has all changed with v5.52x!!
The new CaM Rotor sim is the best I've used; similar to a Vent II to my ears; not as "rich" perhaps but which IMHO is actually a good thing!
The preamp is better too and surpasses the Gemini which had been my favourite for gnarliness up til now.
As far as I'm concerned, the HX3 is now my genuine Hammond substitute of choice and I have to say that it's an absolute pleasure to play using my Stage 3 as a controller (I've created my own hardware MIDI filter/modifier using an ATmega328/P microprocessor so I can control many of the HX3's parameters live).
I can't recommend enough that anyone who has an HX3 of some sort with the 3.5 board goes for this upgrade!
Yes, KBP's update mechanisms were quite clunky (even for me and I'm a real-time embedded systems software engineer by trade!), but they've improved that aspect too with the new PC software.
The whole procedure does still seem, perhaps, a bit too much aimed at tech-heads like myself compared with other keyboard companies, but it's definitely easier than it was
Cheers, Hob
P.S. KBP's tech support is exemplary!
I've spotted a few minor bugettes in the last couple of weeks (Christian's asked me to become part of the test crew now ) and they sorted out 3 issues I raised within a couple of days (these fixes are in v5.522).
