Hammond XK5 Vox Organ Demo

[@LiamEnea]

Love your tutorial and the detailed way you got the sound! Excellent playing as well, Art!

[@azurehillsmusic]

Thank you Liam - appreciate you stopping by to watch!

[@mortondavisproductions7578]

I am so grateful that you have introduced the PIPE and VOX organs that are within the XK-5. I perform with backing tracks and have been a bit frustrated with using B3 organ with a number of my arrangements... however, I love the VOX sounds and will most likely focus on this organ more than others - I see that there are others who comment that the VOX sounds don't sound exactly like the original VOX keyboards... but, just as you have noted, you can take any combination of B3 organs and those organs will all sound different depending on tubes and such... I don't split hairs. I love having the VOX option on the XK-5. Thank you!

[@azurehillsmusic]

Thanks so much for watching. The Vox is the one option in the XK5 that can be tricky for folks who don't realize that one or both of the far right drawbars must be pulled out to get a sound. After that, it's all 1960s joy!

[@timothysobina6777]

Thank you!!!! And, once I get time to get back on the XK5, I'll figure out the question(s) I may have to clarify some confusion I have. Again, thank you and maybe another video maybe you might consider is an explanation of the functionality of the B3 in the XK5.

[@azurehillsmusic]

Sounds good - I have a Farfisa explanation that hopefully I'll have up shortly and after that, can maybe tackle some more of the B3 aspects.

[@thomaspick4123]

Do a video on the Farfisa organ also. Any Japanese cheesy organs also? Lowery?

[@azurehillsmusic]

Greetings - I do have a video on the Farfisa sounds within the Hammond XK5 - you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqCwoJmHZ6yondE. (P.S., I'm hoping to have a video soon per your request on my sheet music stand - as soon as I get over a current cold)

[@cristiancornejo]

the "4" mix is wrong doesn't sound like a Vox... so you can't have the vox continental sound... i did have a HAMMOND SK AND IVE NOTICED comparison with my 1968 vox.. doesnt sound the same. the other 3 drawbars are spot on with EQ help.

[@azurehillsmusic]

Thanks - While I've had multiple opportunities to play original Farfisa organs, I've not come across original Vox organs. Still nice to have an approximation in the XK5 - and on the "doesn't sound the same" note, I sometimes even have the same reaction on the XK5 versus a vintage Hammond tone wheel organ. Played several original Hammonds on my last recording session - even moving from one vintage Hammond to another, was a new sound experience. Happy music making Cristian!

[@cristiancornejo]

@@azurehillsmusic the MIX drawbar is the heart of the vox without that you cant sound like a vox at all.... its about the octaves as well .. seems like its a lower octave...dunno remember. I sold that hammond long ago... I do have a NORD electro 6 now.. and it has the same problem.. probably should be a good idea to make a video with my continental vs nord.. My experience with hammonds... vintage and new ones ... they sound really close its about EQ... anyway its gonna be a long conversation . .. . cheers !

[@delysidkeys]

I can’t speak of the Hammond XK5’s VOX sound, but I can tell you I’ve owned many VOX Continentals over the years, and it is indeed VERY important what you said about the IV DRAWBAR which is an equal MIXTURE of the footages 2-2/3’ , 2’ , 1-3/5’ and 1’ , to obtaining an accurate VOX Continental sound. I previously owned both the Hammond XK3C and the HAMMOND SK. The XK3C nailed it, or was the closest to an accurate VOX sound IMHO, amongst Hammond products, because you could pull out those four individual footages mentioned above, and the balance of those footages seemed spot on. As you already mentioned, the 16’ the 8’ and the 4’ are already spot on, but it’s that mixture drawbar, that is CRITICAL. I did notice on the HAMMOND SK, a cue was taken from NORD VOX drawbar layout, and the SK combined the mixture footages to a single drawbar, but the BALANCE and overall TIMBRE was OFF, and I found the SK VOX unusable, due to that reason. The 16’ the 8’ and the 4’ were fine on the SK, but the IV mixture drawbar sounds inaccurate. Again, the XK3C gets it most accurate, in IMHO. Same w/ the NORD, the 16’, the 8’, and the 4’ are spot on, but the IV mixture drawbar sounds inaccurate. I will add, unlike the Hammond products, the NORD does goes after the pre-1965 VOX sound. The circuitry on the 1962-1964 VOX organs were different than 1965 and beyond, and the 62-64 versions share the same sound, which is believe or not, different from the later Continentals, which even amongst those later Continentals, they sound slightly different from one another when comparing US, vs Italian, vs UK. The main difference amongst VOX tonal variabilities when comparing VOX to VOX, is the IV mixture drawbar. That drawbar on the 62-64 versions, share a uniqueness, that is not present on the 65’ and later Continentals. Not to say it’s better or worse, it’s just different, and it’s all a matter of preference. I can achieve a VERY CLOSE VOX Continental sound on my vintage Yamaha YC-20 and YC-45D, when mixing the drawbars properly. You CANNOT have any footages that were not available on the Continental. You can mix the 16’ 8’ 4’ as you wish, but the four mixture footages have to be pulled out at equal length to on another, and they have to be the SAME mixture footages, that are combined to a single drawbar on the VOX, which are 2-2/3’ , 2’ , 1-3/5’ , and 1’. I was interested in the HAMMOND XK5, and I’m happy a video was posted demonstrating the VOX engine, but I would like to hear it completely dry, and without any effects, and would like to hear the IV mixture drawbar in isolation. I’m nervous about the XK5 combining those footages to a single drawbar, because it HAS to be done right. The XK3C was EXTREMELY close, but you have to mix the footages properly, that is KEY!!

[@cristiancornejo]

@@delysidkeys exactly what i said. cheers!

[@delysidkeys]

I’ve been giving serious consideration to purchasing an XK5, based on my previous experience w/ the XK3C, which I thought was a phenomenal instrument. The Hammond organ sound on the XKC3 was incredible, I couldn’t imagine the XK5 being anything less. And the action, and keyboard responsiveness in particular, on the XK3C, were absolutely top tier. I could play such quick, crisp, and precise passages on the XK3C, trying to do the same on other organ-based keyboards is sometimes difficult, because action quality and responsiveness is not on par w/ the XK3C. I’m hoping the action and keyboard responsiveness on the XK5 is on par w/ the XK3C...I heard it’s an all new keybed, and I’ve read positive things about it, but new does not always equal better. What really ignites my imagination was Hammond’s decision to introduce the multi-contact key system! That, whether you are in it for a Hammond sound or a VOX sound, is extremely important in adding to the realism, the depth, richness, and complexity of the tone, both on attack, sustain, and release, which also gives it that famous KEY CLICK. Key click is just as important for the Hammond sound, as it is for the VOX sound. Both instruments utilize a multi-contact keyboard system. On the XK3C, the VOX template retained the key click, which made it great. The Hammond SK VOX template, as I recall, did not have ANY key click, which I found very disappointing, and very untrue to the VOX sound. If I ever make the leap to purchasing an XK5, which I would be doing for the Hammond tone, the VOX tone, and to play around w/ the Pipe Organs, I sure hope the XK5 VOX template has key click, and I hope they did a good job on the IV mixture drawbar tone.

[@crazypainter56]

Vox had that weddling sound ----THOTRS-I have a 1971 Vox Super -gray top-- has a percussion drawbar

[@azurehillsmusic]

Thanks for the info about the percussion drawbar on the Vox.

[@socialite1283]

Do you have a vid about your pedal board? does it function as a standard MIDI keyboard? does it work well with the Hammond XK5? Oh, and where did you get it? And how much did it cost?

[@azurehillsmusic]

Hoping to put together a video on the pedalboard in the coming week or two. It has a midi out connection which I plug into my Hammond's midi in. The pedals themselves work with the Hammond XK5 with no problem. However, I've never been able to get the swell pedal to transmit volume to the Hammond (when using Hammond sounds). It does send swell midi data when I play my Hauptwerk program from my Hammond. There are some quirks to be aware of - hopefully if I get to making a video on this I can go into more detail. I got the pedalboard years ago from Classic Midi Works. It is pricy at close to $3k - here is a link to the store: www.midiworks.ca/index.php/products?route=product/category&path=2

[@thomaspick4123]

Besides the Vox Continental, which was expensive, the later Vox Jaguar was less expensive. The Jaguar had great tone, but not much variety.

[@azurehillsmusic]

Always fun to revisit these classic organs. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

[@davidsalter815]

Really enjoy your presentations, thank you. I would however prefer less reverb as it drowns out some of the subtleties of the organs tone.

[@azurehillsmusic]

Thanks for watching and the tip about the reverb

[@donleino]

awesome

[@azurehillsmusic]

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the Vox fun inside the Hammond XK5!

[@Nightstroller34]

What's the song you play at the 2:48 mark?

[@azurehillsmusic]

Greetings, that was just an improv in the moment to demo the sound - not a pre-selected song. Thanks for stopping by to watch!

[@Nightstroller34]

@azurehillsmusic It sounds awesome! I'd sure love to hear more of it. lol.

[@anorganlover6281]

Why don't people read their instruction manual ?

[@azurehillsmusic]

Thanks for stopping by to watch - Vox fun awaits inside the XK5