Hammond B3X and how to use it

[Rnugteren]

Hi all,

This is my first post to the forum, so hello everyone!

I have a Nord Stage 3, and would love to use IK Multimedia’s Hammond B3X application.
I also have an iPad and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, and I think I need a USB hub to connect them all, but I’m just not sure how to do it.
To be clear in my question, this is for a live situation, I’m looking for a definitive answer as to how to use my Nord, iPad and the Hammond B3X app. Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks in advance, and all the best!
Kind regards,
Robbert

[StuartR]

I've used the B3X module with another keyboard and it just requires you use the Nord as a controller and just send the midi note data to the B3X on your iPad via the USB connector on each. You don't need anything else hardware-wise. I also have to tell you that the B3X has some serious problems running on IOS alongside anything else. As far as I know, they never addressed that issue even after I reported the problem several times and stopped updating it three or so years ago. I gave up and moved to the Nord platform whose Hammond organ is good enough that I don't have to use an auxillary B3 module. I've got a Neo Vent sitting in the closet for the same reason.

If you're insistent on using the B3X then be sure nothing else is running alongside it on your iPad.

[Tasten-Bert]

Hi Robbert

and a very warm welcome to this wonderful forum of nord enthusiasts.

As you‘re talking about your iPad‘s USB connection you seem to have a newer generation one. I‘m lucky that my iPad still has the lightning- and minijack sockets seperated. With a camera connection kit and a standard USB printer cable I‘m able to link my nord to the iPad, whereas the sound of the organ app comes via minijack into my nord‘s Monitor In. That‘s the easiest way for me.

I‘ve only tested the B-3X app some time ago, I have some others on the pad but don‘t use any of them live. All of them don‘t add enough authenticity to the organ compared to my nord that it‘s all too complicated for me on stages. But I fiddle around on them much at home, some kind as trying to improve drawbar settings or similar.

The standard price of the B-3X is too high for me, it is at 149 €. From time to time there are heavily discounted promotions - last one was at 49 € when I tried it - but you‘ll never know when it comes next. The organ-app-market seems moving right now, I think there were at least two newcomers within the last 6 months.

Good luck and cheers from Germany

[StuartR]

My advise is to stick with the Nord Stage 3 B3 emulation. As others have noted, you’re asking for trouble using an external midi controlled module, especially on stage.

[FZiegler]

No idea if it's good to go with iPad sounds on stage. You may be interested in this video, even if it's not about the B3X, but some other software. It seems to cover the connectivity very thoroughly: