Anyone used Native Instruments B4

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 7:38 am

I'm looking for a plug-in that will make my Yamaha workstation sound like a Hammond B3. Has anyone used this PLug-in before, and can you tell me a little about your experience with it?

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 8:04 am

There is NOTHING in that price range that has such a good sound. The ONLY drawback for me is not being able to physically grab the drawbars and move them, hence, a midi controller of some type is recommended with knobs or sliders. It makes it a more enjoyable experience and allows you to "play" the organ, if you know what i mean.

Try to go to NI's website and see if you can download a demo. Check it out.

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 9:06 am

Thanx Xhiphop,
unfortunately I don't have a budget for a midi controller that has slidebars. Is it possible to take an existing organ track created on the Yamaha organ that I have and add the B4 tone to it? Can I futher change the Leslie effect and such to an existing track?

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 9:40 am

I have seen it in action, it is awesome!

you need to play it.

It is not a retrospective, leslie effect you can put on existing tracks.

it's a real hit with the keyboard guys!

Recomended!

Smile

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 9:42 am

I'm sort of confused about what you are asking. If you want to take a sound off your yamaha and make it sound more like a B3, i think that you have to either program it better or experiment with a plugin like Bombfactory's Voce Spin (it sounds really good)...try the demo. It simulates the chorus and vibrato of the Hammond organs and can almost make anything sound cool.

The NI B4 is a synth in itself. It generates it's own sounds and i'm not sure if you can run your own sounds through it's speaker simulator. It may be possible, i've never tried it. But as a standalone B3 simulator, the B4 is really good.

I hope i cleared some things up.

Oh yeah, you don't NEED the midi controllor. Especially if you are doing sequencing or basic playing. I was just saying that if you wanted a TRUE B3 type feel, that is the only thing this program is missing. The sounds are right on, though. Moreover, you can probably use the knobs on your synth (i'm not sure which yamaha you have) to control the drawbars on the NI B4 if you wanted. Just things to think about..

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 10:14 am

I guess my concern is that won't be able to use it with the keyboard that I have. A Yamaha PSR282.
It has a MIDI output but I'm not sure how to connect it so it'll work with the B4. Can I come out of the MIDI output on the keys into my DIGI 001's MIDI interface and use it that way. If you look up the keyboard you'll notice that it has no slide bars or buttons persay? Can I still use it?

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 10:27 am

You can definitely use it to play the B4 on screen. If you get the RTAS version of the B4, you'll also be able to automate all of the slider movements etc. in Protools. If you get the VST version, look up the "UGLY VSTi Interface" on the web. A guy on the Digidesign User Conference made it for free and it allows you to use VST-instruments in Protools LE via Direct Connect.

All it takes is plugging your midi out on your keyboard into the midi in on your digi001. Then select your midi channel on your keyboard and select the same channel to receive midi in your software. Bingo.

Like i said, try the demo. It's free.

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2002 8:57 am

Thanx XHipHop,
you've all been a big help.

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2002 3:25 pm

I've never done it but legend holds that in VST mode only, you can leslie-a-fy any audio track.

Dan Weiss

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:16 pm

I can only speak of its behaviour in cubase, but Dan, you're right.
Once installed, the B4 will show up in your directory as two separate plugins:

- B4 instrument
- B4-FX

In the FX mode, you can route any audio track through the following elements of the B4:

- vibrato (yes, the funky B3-vibrato)
- tube amp (w/ EQ, drive etc.)
- lesley
- mic placement (angle, distance, etc)

Summary: Besides being an awesome hammond emulation, this plug rocks as insert on guitar, vocals... Well, I guess you guys know about the virtues of a tubeamp driven lesley cabinet.

One of the very few things I don't like about the B4 is the way it blends with other instruments. Sometimes, the B4 seems to be to distant sounding, too wide in the stereo image.
This lead to the fact that most of the time, I run it in mono through something rough sounding (Altec 1612a, Joemek VC1Q), adding just a little bit of reverb.

best,

michael

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2002 10:34 am

If you use the HTDM version you can also use the amp and Leslie Effect on any Audio track.

It's awesome.

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2002 10:46 am

its probably the best emulation you'll find and its handy for the price. If you A/B it with a B3 and a Leslie it sound very puny

Richard

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2002 8:23 am

I love the thing. I bought it used for $100. Some one gave me an old IBM lap top. I bought a midiman laptop midi box at a thrift store for $2. For $102 I have a credible (really freekin' good) B3. I use all the time.

Posted: Fri May 10, 2002 5:59 pm

just got the NI studio package for PT HD ... it's great ... especially the B4

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