Strange Leslie/Amp background noise Electro 5

[analogue]

Strange thing, does this happen to anyone else? On my E5 I can hear pretty loud background noise in organ mode with any amp simulation turned on, especially with the rotary/Leslie, it sounds a bit like a played chord and changes its sound behaviour with the rotary setting (fast/slow/stop). I can only hear it with volume really (!) loud. Sounds almost like background noise of an old amp (like my old Leslie) - is it a "special effect" to make it sound old or a bug? Any ideas?

[zmeyer]

If you have the "Vintage 3" B3 model selected, it models the constant crosstalk of an aging Hammond that occurs whether or not keys are being pressed. I'm guessing you've selected that model.

[caneparelli]

If you have the "Vintage 3" B3 model selected, it models the constant crosstalk of an aging Hammond that occurs whether or not keys are being pressed. I'm guessing you've selected that model.

[analogue]

definetely I selected the B3 So it's a wanted effect then, cool, rock 'n' roll ... Doesn't really bother me, when I turn on my old Leslie, there's also a lotta noise in the room

[pablomastodon]

Hi Analogue,

There are two things at play here: 1) B3 selected, as noted above, and 2) TONEWHEEL MODE SETTING. You can make the B3 sound clean if you like, by changing the TONEWHEEL MODE setting to CLEAN.

Bless,

Pablo

[analogika]

…but then it won't sound like a proper Hammond anymore.

Rule of thumb with my gear (and in the studio): If there's no noise, something is broken.

"That organ isn't humming; it's just on."

[analogue]

Rule of thumb with my gear (and in the studio): If there's no noise, something is broken.

and yes pablomastodon, Tonewheel Mode definetely is on, like analogika said ... otherwise no B3

[RedLeo]

Not quite sure you're understanding what's been said. You can have a clean B3 if you want, you don't have to have the background noise you were complaining about in the first place. The Tonewheel mode isn't an On/Off selection, it's a Clean/Noisy/Noisier/Noisiest setting. It'll still sound like a B3 if you set it to Clean. Hammond didn't design them to be noisy - in fact nobody designs gear to be noisy on purpose - they just tend to become noisy with old age. Personally, I don't view background noise as something desirable in gear. Each to his own, but don't let anyone tell you you have to have noise to make it sound right, because you don't.

[analogue]

Not quite sure you're understanding what's been said. You can have a clean B3 if you want, you don't have to have the background noise you were complaining about in the first place. The Tonewheel mode isn't an On/Off selection, it's a Clean/Noisy/Noisier/Noisiest setting. It'll still sound like a B3 if you set it to Clean. Hammond didn't design them to be noisy - in fact nobody designs gear to be noisy on purpose - they just tend to become noisy with old age. Personally, I don't view background noise as something desirable in gear. Each to his own, but don't let anyone tell you you have to have noise to make it sound right, because you don't.

I know, I set the Tonewheel mode to noisier ... From the very beginning. Even though I didn't know about the background noise. Maybe, if some technician complains about the noise, I'll turn it to clean ... Surely it sounds right without noise, but - it's not noisy then And that's the way it should be, since everything else in our Reggae studio makes lotsa noise too ...

[RedLeo]

So why were you complaining about it in the first place?