Ever since the introduction of the Nord C1 in 2007, life has been a bit easier on the organ player. No other unit delivers so much, at such a low cost, in such a compact and lightweight package. The sound and the versatility of the C1 has not only made it a player favourite, it has also received great accolades in the music press all over the world. With the introduction of the Nord C2, we now raise the performance bar a bit further and this is the new organ for others to compare and for manufacturers to compete against.
At the recent 2009 Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Nord previewed the New Nord C2 Combo Organ. This is a direct descendant of the acclaimed and award winning C1, with the addition of many exciting new features. Nord also presented two new accessories at the Musikmesse: the new sturdy but lightweight aluminum stand for the C2 and Pedal Key 27: a bass pedal keyboard. The new Drawbar Preview function allows you to dial in a new sound while still playing without any changes being heard. When you are ready, the new setting can be instantly activated.
The award winning sound of the C1 with its extremely faithful tonewheel organ, Voxand Farfisa models have been augmented with a beautiful baroque pipe organ. This makes the C2 even more versatile, perfect to play in church on Sunday mornings and clubs on Saturday nights. It is also a fantastic solution to the pipe organ player who needs a portable dual manual practice instrument that can be equipped with a large pedal board. Other updated features include new keyboard action, monitor input, controls moved to “classic” positions and enhanced click. The dual-manual portable keyboard have been enhanced with a firmer action to better provide the rock solid feel of an original tonewheel instrument. Not forgetting the ultra fast response time is of course still there. The rock solid Portable Nord C2 Combo Organ weight merely 15.5 kg.
The New Hammond XK-1 is Hammond’s latest Pro Keyboard project. This amazing Pro Keyboard like the B3 and XK3 is powered by the critically acclaimed VASE III Digital tone wheel generator plus a host of other essential features familiar to the Hammond Keyboard Players, like ‘real’ drawbars, Waterfall keys, on board twin rotor digital ‘Leslie’ and many more.
The XK-1 features 61-note Waterfall keys keyboard with Velocity, and at only 15 kg it has becomes an essential for gigging keyboardists. If you have ever played a console before this is the original. The sounds are so close that it is like the sound of the real Hammond, if you have ever heard and experienced the power of a real Hammond. Leslie simulation and programmability is fantastic. As for programmability the draw bars registration are the same as the B and C, other parameters are all well laid out.
As the Hammond XK-1 is a single manual keyboard, the key split is nice and the bass to the lower keys give you that extra thump you need when you don’t have the midi foot pedals attached. Amazingly, the portable keyboard cost less than half the price of Hammond XK3. Unbelievable! but true.
The Roland VK-88 is a dual-manual Combo Organ featuring two 61-note manuals and incorporates VK-8 advanced Virtual Tone Wheel Technology, full Polyphony and Effects; Chorus and Reverb. The Roland VK-88 Tone Wheel Organ Sound engine comprises of COSM Amp IV (Vintage 1, Vintage 2, Clean and Solid Organ tone) and Rotary Speaker Modeling - model/simulate the sound of vintage rotary speaker.
The VK-88 weight approximately 39 Kg with maximum polyphony. The dual 61-note Waterfall keyboard has quick-firing keys to compliment players who choose to play organ using traditional organ techniques. Additionally, the VK-88 is further enhanced with light-sensing D Beam Controller with multi-color LED. This features produces infrared light for players to control even preset options like rotary speed, and enhanced real-time control of sounds.
The new Hammond XK-3c has been designed with the professional musician in mind. Built upon the outstanding features and astounding tone-wheel type sound found on the legendary XK-3 keyboard which is no longer being produced. Hammond engineers have added many of the most requested advanced features and effects never before found on a Hammond keyboard of this price range.
The XK-3c features 73 (61 + 12 preset keys) Waterfall keys with velocity, two sets of 9 and one set of two drawbars, Vase III sound generator creates 96 independent oscillating digital tone wheels for accurate reproduction of B3 sound, original B-3 reverse color keys presets, split upper and lower vibrato/chorus switches, assignable controller for MIDI instruments, advanced digital Leslie and vibrato scanner. The XK-3c is also equipped with a vacuum dual tube preamplifier and overdrive. Most importantly, the XK-3c has full polyphony. Like the Hammond XK-3 keyboard, the new XK-3c can be used strictly as a single keyboard or expanded into a two-manual B-3 like organ when used in conjunction with either the innovative PRO or Traditional XK Systems.
The XK-3c is so well thought out and is set up to be reminiscent of a very fine vintage Hammond B-3 Organ. However, the XK-3c allows you advanced and comprehensive control over all of the different features of a Hammond Organ. This allows you to mold your XK-3c into your dream organ which will sound and play exactly as you wish. Normally, technicians command high prices to customize a B-3 to individual tastes. But, now you have all of this control at your fingertips, in a simple interface. Or you can just play your XK-3c without modification, either way the XK-3c is designed to be mirror image of a classic Hammond Organ.
The Roland VK-8 Combo Organ features cool new “Waterfall” style keyboard with velocity-sensitive keys. The VK-8 comes in 61-key single-manual combo organ and enhanced Virtual Tone Wheel technology. The Portable VK-8 weight 32 lbs with 3 different vintage organ sounds to choose from: vintage 1, vintage 2 and clean, and incorporating COSM® technology to boost the unique sound of a rotary speaker.
Roland got its priorities right; prudent, detailed and improved. By focusing on each of the components involved in the sound generating process rather than just the sounding system and leaving no detail untouched. You can now have the most detailed response not only in what you hear but also to how it feels playing the instrument. There is also a futuristic D-Beam controller, which lets you create effects from tone wheel motor stops to the shock sound of spring reverb using an infrared beam of light, making it a new leader in combo organs.
I understand that improving any instrument or sounding system takes thousands of man hours, therefore, I believe this combo organ will give you as much fun to play and even better when you carry them with you to a gig. BlogUniverse
