NS3 Rotary Speaker Vs. Neo Ventilator II A/B Comparison

[Spider]

I will copy here the organ settings (not just the effects) to have everything in one place, because I think this thread will be useful to many people.

Here are my NS3 sound settings that closely mimic my B3/122 combo when recorded in stereo.

B3 Org Tonewheel Mode : Vintage 1
B3 Organ Click Level : Normal or High
B3 Org Key Trigger Point : High
Rotary Speaker Type : 122 Close
Rotary Balance : Bass/Horn: 40/60
Rotary Rotor Speed : Spd Normal, Acc Normal
Rotary Horn Speed : Spd Low, Acc Low

Drive : 4.3 (Slightly overdriven with full drawbars and full swell volume)

I typically leave the Rotary Speaker drive set to 4.3 for all patches to mimic my 122 overdrive and for added bite, I'll add more drive using the AMP SIM / EQ section (I typically set to 2.0 for most programs and will increase to 4.0+ for heavy rock organ sounds). For further bite, I add +5db to +10db of 2.5 Khz EQ and 5.0 of compression to smooth out the sound. For most patches I have the AMP SIM / EQ section programmed with the above settings but saved OFF, so I can easily turn it on for added bite during solos or lead riffs. Also, I find that the Vibrato/Chorus does add some additional boost to the top end and I generally play with C1 ON and change to C2 when I want more prominent chorus which closely matches the C3 setting on my B3 (I find the C3 to be too deep).

My typical blues/rock drawbar settings are:
Jazz/Blues 888000000 Vibrato/Chorus ON C2, Percussion ON Soft/Fast/Third, Leslie Slow
Blues/Rock 1 888600030 Vibrato/Chorus C1, Percussion On Soft/Fast/Third, Leslie Slow/Fast
Blues/Rock 2 888865300 Vibrato/Chorus ON C1/C2, Percussion On Soft/Fast/Third, Leslie Slow/Fast
Rock 1 888600000 Vibrato/Chorus OFF, Percussion On Soft/Fast/Third, Leslie Stop/Slow.Fast
Rock 2 888844444 Vibrato/Chorus ON C1/C2 and Percussion On Soft/Fast/Third, Leslie Slow/Fast
Sweet Full 868686868 Vibrato/Chorus ON C2 and Percussion OFF, Leslie Fast
Full Bars 888888888 Vibrato/Chorus ON C2 and Percussion OFF, Leslie Fast

[Hlaalu]

which thankfully still works with the external output, even though the reverb does not.

A workaround to this is to create a different Program in which the main outputs are 3-4. That's because the reverb (and the compressor) works from whatever output is set to be the main. Which is different than the rotary sim, which only works through outputs 1 and 2 no matter what, and actually automatically reroute whatever engine is active to ch 1-2 as soon as you switch it on for that engine.

[WannitBBBad]

Thanks again for this comparison and all your settings. One thing I noticed with the Leslie horn speed set at Low and using Chorus C2, is that some phasing was happening on the fast Leslie speed. I held a chord and recorded the B3 with the horn set on Low, Normal, and then Low again. Below is the result: in the JPG you can see the phasing that's heard on the MP3. For the Low setting the phasing is more frequent and seems to go away when switched to the Normal setting, however if you hold the chord long enough the phasing still occurs but at a much slower pace. It's possible that the rotation of a real Leslie horn and the rate of the Chorus setting differ in a way that results in a similar effect. I'll have to check that with my B3 and 122. Take care

Leslie Low - Normal - Low with C2 Chorus and No Reverb.jpg (167.32 KiB) Viewed 3226 times

• Leslie Low Normal Low with C2 Clean.mp3

[Spider]

I have a NS2EX so of course these settings cannot be directly translated, but I tried to come as close as possible. I was surprised by the amount of distortion: on the NS2 organ engine, 4.3 Rotary Drive + 2.0 Amp Sim Drive is a LOT, good for Deep Purple rock organ, surely not for jazz or gospel.
Is your (superStage's) Leslie so aggressive, or maybe the NS3 organ engine has a different range for the Drive settings?

[MarkJames]

Good A/B comparison. The Vent definitely sounds better but the NS3 isn't a slouch at all.

[cgrafx]

I have a NS2EX so of course these settings cannot be directly translated, but I tried to come as close as possible. I was surprised by the amount of distortion: on the NS2 organ engine, 4.3 Rotary Drive + 2.0 Amp Sim Drive is a LOT, good for Deep Purple rock organ, surely not for jazz or gospel.
Is your (superStage's) Leslie so aggressive, or maybe the NS3 organ engine has a different range for the Drive settings?

The NS2 and NS3 Drive ranges and drive implementation are completely different.

[Davey Nordy]

I own a 1959 Hammond B3 and 122A Leslie and have spent considerable time adjusting the NS3 sound settings to try to closely match the characteristics of my real Hammond and Leslie which has been fully retubed and recapped and can go from a nice bright clean sound, to a warm growl to a full scream. I have never been totally satisfied with the realism of the NS3 Rotary Speaker Simulator and finally broke down and bought a Neo Ventilator II and a TCE Hall of Fame Reverb. I am using the global output routing mode to route the organ to output 3 into the HOF (spring reverb setting) and then into the Vent II (in mono) with the stereo output of the Vent running back into the Aux In on the NS3 (with the combined stereo signal going out of output 1-2). I found this routing an easy way to switch between the NS3 sim and the Vent by simply turning off the Rotary Speaker.

Here are some A/B comparison recordings direct out of the NS3 into Logic Pro with the same riffs played first through the NS3 Rotary Speaker and second through the Vent II.

• NS3 VS VENTII Full Bars.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Jazz.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Squable.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Gospel.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Blues.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Hard Rock.mp3

Overall, after my first day, the Vent and HOF sound more realistic to my ears and I am able to more closely reproduce the sound and characteristics of my real B3 & 122 when close mic'd. Having said that, the NS3 Rotary Speaker simulator does sound pretty good and the Vent is not necessarily better in all ways, but is certainly is different. You can really hear how each sim colours the sound in the Full Bar recording. I have yet to play it in a live setting, but my feeling is that I will end up using both the NS3 rotary and Vent, depending on the setting. I will add a further review after I've played with it some more. Let me know what you think.

For the purist, the Vent adds some extra umpfh. BUT, if one is a TRUE purist, they’re dragging around a Crumar or something. If you’re getting paid 100-200 for a gig, I’m leaving the Vent at home!

[Spider]

on the NS2 organ engine, 4.3 Rotary Drive + 2.0 Amp Sim Drive is a LOT, good for Deep Purple rock organ, surely not for jazz or gospel.
Is your (superStage's) Leslie so aggressive, or maybe the NS3 organ engine has a different range for the Drive settings?

The NS2 and NS3 Drive ranges and drive implementation are completely different.

Good to know, thanks for the confirmation!

[eibinger]

I own a 1959 Hammond B3 and 122A Leslie and have spent considerable time adjusting the NS3 sound settings to try to closely match the characteristics of my real Hammond and Leslie which has been fully retubed and recapped and can go from a nice bright clean sound, to a warm growl to a full scream. I have never been totally satisfied with the realism of the NS3 Rotary Speaker Simulator and finally broke down and bought a Neo Ventilator II and a TCE Hall of Fame Reverb. I am using the global output routing mode to route the organ to output 3 into the HOF (spring reverb setting) and then into the Vent II (in mono) with the stereo output of the Vent running back into the Aux In on the NS3 (with the combined stereo signal going out of output 1-2). I found this routing an easy way to switch between the NS3 sim and the Vent by simply turning off the Rotary Speaker.

Here are some A/B comparison recordings direct out of the NS3 into Logic Pro with the same riffs played first through the NS3 Rotary Speaker and second through the Vent II.

• NS3 VS VENTII Full Bars.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Jazz.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Squable.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Gospel.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Blues.mp3

• NS3 VS VENTII Hard Rock.mp3

Overall, after my first day, the Vent and HOF sound more realistic to my ears and I am able to more closely reproduce the sound and characteristics of my real B3 & 122 when close mic'd. Having said that, the NS3 Rotary Speaker simulator does sound pretty good and the Vent is not necessarily better in all ways, but is certainly is different. You can really hear how each sim colours the sound in the Full Bar recording. I have yet to play it in a live setting, but my feeling is that I will end up using both the NS3 rotary and Vent, depending on the setting. I will add a further review after I've played with it some more. Let me know what you think.

Great, thank you very much! I use a NEO I with my stage3 and made the same experience.
Do you also use the EQ from the Stage3 or is it only the Neo, that makes such a great sound?
Thanks again!

[maxpiano]

Great, thank you very much! I use a NEO I with my stage3 and made the same experience.
Do you also use the EQ from the Stage3 or is it only the Neo, that makes such a great sound?
Thanks again!

The settings the OP used are posted at the top of this page and in the previous one