This module is designed to deliver the classic sound of the B-3 Tonewheel Organ in a programmable rack module. It does this via 32MB of sampled B-3 sounds at a lot of different drawbar settings. Authentic sounds are completed by the addition of distortion and a rotary speaker (Leslie) emulator, with B-3 like real-time control! There are also 12 assignable real-time front panel controls, and the B-3 is expandable with an additional ROM slot (or more with the Turbo upgrade) for adding more sounds. This is the best B-3 hardware solution available (for software check out Native Instruments B4) and is used by Steve Walsh of Kansas.

Current E-mu sound modules ship with one 32 MB sound-set each, but are expandable up to 128 MB via three additional slots for 32 MB expansion cards. These cards include (ranging from $249 to $395):

• 9061: Siedlaczek Orchestra 32 MB ROM.
• 9062: Pure Phatt 32 MB ROM - standard in Mo’Phatt, MP-7 and MK-6.
• 9063: Beat Garden 32 MB ROM - standard in Orbit 3.
• 9082: Protozoa 16 MB ROM - standard in Proteus 1, 2, 3.
• 9083: Definitive B-3 32 MB ROM - standard in B-3.
• 9084: Techno Synth Construction Yard 32 MB ROM - standard in Orbit 3.
• 9085: Orchestral Session Vol. 1 32 MB ROM - standard in Virtuoso 2000.
• 9086: Orchestral Session Vol. 2 32 MB ROM - standard in Virtuoso 2000.
• 9087: World Expedition 32 MB ROM - standard in Planet Earth.
• 9088: Sounds of the ZR featuring the Perfect Piano 32 MB ROM - standard in Ensoniq Halo.
• 9089: X-Lead 32 MB ROM - standard in Xtreme Lead-1, XL-7 and XK-6.

With these expansion options, you could buy a PK-6, then add the sounds of the Orbit 3, XK-6, and the MP-7... or any other combinations you may want. If you like desktop synths, you can start with an MP-7 or XL-7, and then add these same expansion card options to add Proteus, Orchestral, or the new Halo sounds to them. E-mu/Ensoniq's interchangeable sound cards and a variety of keyboard/sound-module options means that there's a model out there for everybody now.

Digi Fan

January 21, 2010 @ 10:30 pm

iv seriously had dreams bout, its that creamy colored faceplate and the dedicated chip, a whole proteus 2000 series chip made only for the mighty B3! hard to find.

Peter de Mander

December 8, 2009 @ 4:29 pm

I have the B-3 card mounted into the EMU PK-6
Quite fun to laborate with and it does have some very nasty possibilities to sound extremely good... but for live performances I use my Nord C1 which is the best clone ever made in my opinion

planetplayer

January 20, 2009 @ 3:06 pm

I played this when it came out. Still wishing for one with 32MB. It is great sounding and portable. Has many draw bar setting combinations. After playing the real thing, much greater- the real thing, the Hammond, pedals and Leslie or Roland VK-77 may be better for me now. Need the waterfall and response.

Norm

November 5, 2008 @ 6:08 am

This unit simulates the transition between fast and slow Leslie by cross-fading between samples. There is no acceleration or deceleration.

The Nord Electro has a better sound, a much better Leslie simulation, and is available in a rack version. But it's more expensive.

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