VOX organ plugins...

[vihreamies]

Hi there,

 

I'd like to hear your experience and opinions about available VOX organ plugins.

 

I have NI Vintage Organs at the moment, and really love the Farfisa, but the VOX is missing something soundwise IMO. I know VOX is a "hollow" sounding instrument, but this is kind of too hollow and cold, it feels a little bit weak. I don't get the "meat" from the sound at all.

 

I had a real VOX when I was kid, and haven't played a real thing after that, so my references are far away So shoot me if I'm wrong here about the NI VO sound.

 

I googled for other options and I found a Hollow Sound Vox sample library. Does someone has an opinion about that beast?

 

And is there any other possibilities? And don't say, that "you should play a Hammond", I'm really digging the transistor sound here )

 

best,

-Vm

 

[yannis D]

There's a nice and free Vox plugin called Martinic Combo Model. I never had a real Vox, so i can't compare, but with a little bit of reverb, it's quite persuading. I, too, loke the Vox sound. It's ideal not only for 60's sounds but for balkan/greek retrodelika!

[eric]

The Nord Electro 3 and C1/C2 have a really cool Vox and Farfisa model.

[Al Coda]

There's a nice and free Vox plugin called Martinic Combo Model. I never had a real Vox, so i can't compare, but with a little bit of reverb, it's quite persuading. I, too, loke the Vox sound. It's ideal not only for 60's sounds but for balkan/greek retrodelika!

 

Confirmed !

Martinic ComboV is excellent,- for PC and MAC in 32Bit and 64Bit versions.

I had a real VOX.

 

A lot of fun is ComboV together w/ GSi Watcat freebee,- also PC and Mac.

 

A.C.

[Dana.]

There's a nice and free Vox plugin called Martinic Combo Model.

+1 (or 3)

[burningbusch]

Both NI B4II and GSi VB3 have Vox and Farfisa tonewheel sets included. I think the Martinic Combo is excellent. STAY AWAY FROM SAMPLES.

 

Hopefully you already own VB3, even if you have only a passing interest in the Hammond sound it's WELL worth the $49.

 

Feature list:

Full polyphony (147 notes)

Virtual 91 modeled tonewheels generator with accurate phase synchronization

Adjustable leakage noise and cross modulation between tonewheels

Three sets of waveforms: Set H (American Electromagnetic), Set F (Italian Transistor), Set V (Red Tolex Transistor)

Three different organ models

Adjustable global tuning

Foldback on 16" deactivable

Realistic motor wow & flutter

Busbars and 9 key contacts simulation

17 steps drawbars

Two separate sets of drawbars per manual

Full "inverted octave" presets

String Bass with adjustable release time

Dynamic pickup coil impedance loss

Adjustable generator filters scaling

Single triggered percussion with natural capacitor discharge/recharge

Adjustable global Percussion Level

Adjustable global Percussion Decay

Vibrato/Chorus virtual scanner

Adjustable Vibrato Scanner depth

Electronic vibrato simulation when Sets F or V are selected

Separated Upper and Lower V/C tablets with smooth switching

Dynamic tube overdrive simulation

Spring reverb derived from Type4

Smooth action volume pedal with adjustable MIDI response

Stereo wooden rotary speaker simulation with artificial environment and microphones positioning

Five different rotary speaker algorithms with adjustable "character"

Tone Cabinet (stationary speaker) simulation

Rotors brake position

Adjustable background hum and noise

Very low CPU consumption

Midi controllable, supports VST automation

Easy MIDI Learn function

Up to four separated outputs

Upper and Lower manuals SPLIT with adjustable split point

Upper and Lower manuals octave transposers

Selectable output level

 

Busch.

[mate stubb]

VB3 has a vox setting, but Guido admits he is only halfheartedly including it here, and doesn't plan to spend any energy making it more authentic. The vibratos in particular are not authentic to the Vox.

 

The Nord Vox emulation sounds good, especially sweetened with echo. But it somehow is not as solid or full sounding as the real thing.

 

In VSTs I have tried ComboSister, but it disappoints me. The controls interact in a weird manner, and it sounds more like a generic combo organ than any specific model.

 

I must try ComboV now.

[The Real MC]

I have a real Vox Continental and have yet to hear an emulation that gets that biting weedy sound at the top end of the keyboard.

[Seannn]

I have a ComboV plugin that I used with Logic, and I love it!

[Mark Schmieder]

The Martinic is the one to get, and he keeps providing regular free updates. It's the only one so far to really capture that reedy character.

 

I concur with mate_stubb about Combo Sister's weird controls and how they interact in a bizarre and unpredictable manner. It's hard to create custom presets as a result, and the factory presets aren't very good.

 

I did ultimately create some custom presets for Vox Continental, Vog Jaguar, Elka Panther, Farfisa, and maybe even Gibson Kalamazoo (not technically a transistor organ as I recall, but I'm too lazy to look it up right now), but none of them were very convincing. They simply were more organic and musical compared to sample-based choices.

 

Having said that though, the Farfisa in NI's new Vintage Organs is why I bothered to buy that library (with a voucher, so I only paid $29). It's the first one I know of to model the Farfisa's controls. I think there's a Windows-only dedicated Farfisa that's modeled though. I don't keep careful track of Win-based plugs and often don't recognize them as old when an update gets announced at KVR. :-)

[Al Coda]

I think there's a Windows-only dedicated Farfisa that's modeled though.

 

Another transistor organ alternative from feb 2011

http://iliadis.orgfree.com/organ.html

 

Couldn´t find any dedicated Farfisa clone offering Farfisa UI.

Seems, NI vintage organs are the only one.

 

A.C.

[mate stubb]

Today I tried both ComboV and the iVF Combo Organ mentioned in the iliadis link above.

 

I give a thumbs up to both. The ComboV is a one trick pony sound-wise, but it's a good trick.

 

The iVF is surprisingly versatile, with flute drawbars, reed and string switches, tube preamp emulation, etc.

 

They both kill ComboSister IMO.

[Al Coda]

Today I tried both ComboV and the iVF Combo Organ mentioned in the iliadis link above.

 

I give a thumbs up to both. The ComboV is a one trick pony sound-wise, but it's a good trick.

 

The iVF is surprisingly versatile, with flute drawbars, reed and string switches, tube preamp emulation, etc.

 

They both kill ComboSister IMO.

 

They do !

Now, it´s great to have GSi VB3, ComboV and iVF side by side in a VSTi rack host, all together w/ low CPU and 2 of the trio for free,- and all are modelling VSTis.

Real bang for he buck IMO.

 

Yesterday, I invested some time investigating for new Intel i7 2nd generation processors, mini iTX and micro ATX boards.

Seems, Intel i7 2600K sandy bridge, 4x 3.4GHz / 8MB cache w/ integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 and TDP 95W is right for a "blackbox" VSTi rackmount.

 

For the Mobo, socket 1155, there are choices from Gigabyte and ASUS.

Using integrated graphics needs a Mobo w/ Intel H67 chipset and if integrated graphics will be used, avoiding a separate graphics card, results in overlocking as a "no go".

The integrated graphics will use the processors cache and some of the RAM as well, but it´s a bit unclear to which amount, so it might be a good idea only if going w/ a 64Bit OS, 64Bit host and some more RAM if using sample streaming w/ Kontakt in addition p.ex..

 

Well, that limits usage of mini iTX because these boards most offer 2 RAM slots only.

Socket 1155 motherboards are dual channel RAM solutions.

Eventually, micro ATX motherboards are a better solution then because these often come w/ 4 RAM slots and more than 1 PCIe slot.

 

Up to now, experience using integrated graphics, this accessing processor cache and RAM, is missing.

Can be, a micro ATX board, Intel P67 chipset and a separate small passive cooling graphics card might be more of the safe side as long there are no tests w/ audio/MIDI, H67 chipsets and integrated graphics available.

 

There are micro ATX mobos offering a standard PCI slot too.

Maybe a good idea for going w/ a 32Bit system 1st, not to loose some plugins and going w/ a cheaper PCI audio/MIDI card.

I´m reading, some 64Bit host have probs bridging 32Bit plugins right,- this including Cubase and Reaper 64Bit hosts.

Don´t know if this rules for Cantabile 64Bit too.

 

All of the motherboards I´ve found support DDR3 PC 1333 which is pretty fast in CL8 stepping.

 

Firewire seems to be dead now. NONE of these boards offers a Firewire connection and TI chipset anymore.

Who´s addicted to Firewire, needs a microATX or ATX board w/ more PCIe/PCI slots to use a 3rd party Firewire ontroller card.

USB3 and eSATA as well as Gigabit LAN is available.

 

Now I wonder whas the best and authentic sounding acoustic/electric piano modelling software incl. clav, wurli, Rhodes and grand without using samples.

 

B.t.w.,- since yesterday, the 1st VSTi synth modelling Roland D50/550 architecture is released.

http://www.tubeohm.com/TubeOhm/VINTAGE.html

They avoided stealing original D50 waveforms, but there are ways to find these or sample these from your D50/550.

It´s 100 short waveforms, some looped, so not too much work.

 

A.C.

[vihreamies]

Thanks for all for the inputs.

 

I have to try the ComboV for sure. Altough the demo songs sounded a bit sterile for me. I have the same feeling with almost all modeled plugins. But let's see how it goes when running the plugin through AC30.

 

I wish there would be someone there who has the Hollow Sun product, since I find the demos very authentic.

 

The VB3 is veeery nice B3, but I didn't manage to find a good Farfisa out of it, and didn't bother to try to make it like VOX after that

 

***

 

I'm building a "hardware plugin player"-organ here and managed to find real VOX drawbars for it. It's gonna be neat: keys are inverted colors too and ofcourse the surface is the basket tolex that is commonly use in VOXes. Happily my dad didn't sell his AC30, but unfortunately he did sell his Continental in eighties...I grew up with the VOX...nostalgy trip...

 

-Vm

[mate stubb]

I'm building a "hardware plugin player"-organ here and managed to find real VOX drawbars for it. It's gonna be neat: keys are inverted colors too and ofcourse the surface is the basket tolex that is commonly use in VOXes.

-Vm

 

Pics or it didn't happen!

[vihreamies]

I'm building a "hardware plugin player"-organ here and managed to find real VOX drawbars for it. It's gonna be neat: keys are inverted colors too and ofcourse the surface is the basket tolex that is commonly use in VOXes.

-Vm

 

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

Your wish is my command. Just give me 2 weeks.

 

BTW, does someone know where to get organ style rocker switches?

 

-Vm

[mate stubb]

You mean rockers like on the real Continental?

 

http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Voxcontinental.jpg/220px-Voxcontinental.jpg

[vihreamies]

Great pic!

 

Actually, I'm looking a rockers more like in Farfisa or Hammond.

 

-Vm

 

[imperialpod]

Hi guys.

 

+ 1000 for Martics Combo Model V. It really is a great emulation and being free and for MAC also, makes its an essential plugin and one thats definitely of commercial quality.

 

 

I WAS very tempted by the Vintage Organs,mainly for the Farfisa which,for some crazy reason,there has never been a proper, dedicated emulation of........EVER.

 

However,Martinic is now halfway through his next magnum opus and theres no prizes for guessing what it is...

 

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4372675

 

 

Scroll half way down and behold.

 

 

I can't wait to compare both Martinics and NI's transistors. The ultimate showdown between commercial, paid for samples vs independent and FREE physical modeling.

 

Prediction.......Martinic wins by late TKO.