A solution to the lackluster B3 Organ emulation on the Genos? This could be...

[keynote]

This could be the ticket for improving the lackluster B3 organ sounds on the Genos. Nobody really knows when the Genos2 will be released except perhaps current President & CEO of Yamaha Corporation Takuya Nakata. In the meantime, the IK Multimedia B3-X VSTi plugin could be your solution. The B3-X is the only B3 clone plugin endorsed by Hammond Suzuki which is noteworthy.

The Genos Organs are a bit of a letdown for some of us, including me. The Genos B3 emulation leaves something to be desired, needless to say. When Yamaha released the YC-series keyboard in 2020 it too lacked a convincing B3 emulation, but Yamaha fixed that for the most part through a software update. OS version 1.2 on the YC-series improved the B3 emulation substantially. Not so with the Genos, unfortunately. Btw, Yamaha could improve the Genos B3 emulation on the Genos with an OS update too most likely. But since Yamaha is likely doing the final touches on the Genos2 (don't we wish) hopefully it will have a much improved B3 emulation if and when it's finally released. That said, I posted two videos in the links below of the B3-X Organ VSTi plugin by IK Multimedia played by Japanese musician/music producer Katsunori UJIIE. He has a YouTube channel @musictrackjp. He's a fabulous musician who apparently has inside connections with the music industry. Furthermore, he plays and reviews about every keyboard under the sun going back decades in some cases. In the first video he also incorporates IK Multimedia MODO Drums & MODO Bass. In the second video he adds a Sax backing track which I believe he also made/recorded himself. The controllers keyboards he's using are the iRig Keys 2 Pro (37 full size keys) and the iRig Keys I/O 49 (49 full size keys), both relatively inexpensive options.

The B3-X plugin is a relatively inexpensive way to get that great B3 organ sound using the Genos as a controller keyboard. Mr. UJIIE is using two IK Multimedia controller keyboards that are inexpensive options as well, and they seamlessly integrate with the B3-X plugin as you'll see in the videos. I downloaded B3-X from IK Multimedia myself. They give you a trial period to check it out to see if it meets your needs. I haven't purchased it yet, but I am seriously considering it while we wait for the Genos2 to arrive on the scene. The B3-X works well with the Genos. At least in my case, so far.  You can use the Genos Rotor Slow/Fast button, but you need to ensure you have one of the S.Art Organs on R1. I just use S.Art Jazz Rotary JS since it's the first one in the Organ menu. You need to also go into the MIDI menu page and untick Right1 under Local Control. The B3-X also works with the Yamaha Expression Pedal (FC7) which is nice. Without further ado... see what you think...

First Video Demo

Second Video Demo

All the best, Mike   

[Lee Batchelor]

First of all, great playing Mike!! I could listen to you for hours. Yamaha should be ashamed of themselves for not stepping up to the plate with those kinds of Hammond sounds on a (current price) $7,000 keyboard.

Does the IK Multimedia software run on Samsung Android? If so, how does one MIDI it into the Genos.

Thanks, Mike!!

[Duffy]

Wow,  I second that appraisal.
Great sound, great playing and just the kind of music that makes me want to join in - my skill level is not up there though.
Proves that you don't need a real Hammond to Hammondise a tune.
Many thanks Mike.

[JohnS (Ugawoga)]

Hi
Great music playing from Mike,top class.
Yes B3 Sampletank and Arturia have great Organ sounds and for an organ player with Sampletank they also have rotary cabs in their arsenal.
Get some Jon Lord in!!


All the Best
John

[Lee Batchelor]

I'm still waiting to hear back from Mike to see if I can use that software on my Android.

No worries, Mike. After that stellar performance, your fingers are still likely on fire and too sore to type . Whenever you get around to it is fine. Thanks again for the great demo!

[Jeff Hollande]

Thanks, Mike. Wonderful ! CONGRATULATIONS !

Nowadays the music soft offers great results.
It will not be easy for arranger manufacturers to beat the today's music soft, IMHO.
It looks like the sky is the limit.

Best regards, JH

[Christophermoment]

I posted two videos in the links below of the B3-X Organ VSTi plugin by IK Multimedia played by Japanese musician/music producer Katsunori UJIIE.

First Video Demo

Second Video Demo

All the best, Mike

Mike did mention in his post that the videos/music was being played by Ujiie . 

[pjd]

Katsunori Ujiie is an absolute beast on keyboards! He is a well-known producer and musician. His demo videos on Youtube are the gold standard -- his playing is spot on and his positive attitude is infectious!

I recommend following MusicTrack JP on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@musictrackjp/about

He is the man -- pj

[pjd]

I'm still waiting to hear back from Mike to see if I can use that software on my Android.

Hi Lee --

Ground hog day! IK Multimedia B-3X runs on Mac/PC and iPad -- no Android.

Played (again) with Easy Sounds Organ Session expansion on Genos. It's one way to get better B-3 on Genos. Organ Session has 100+ MB of samples.

Organ Session comes with registrations which use more than one DSP insert effect. That means an amp sim (overdrive) may be driving the rotary speaker. It's 42 Euro. Yamaha Musicsoft (or whatever it's called now) sells Organ Session, too.

All the best -- pj

https://easysoundsshop.de/en/yamaha-electronic-keyboards/yamaha-genos/7/genos-organ-session-download

[Lee Batchelor]

Okay, thanks PJ. I think you may have mentioned that in another thread. Too bad. I have an Android for my scores.

[Lee Batchelor]

Mike, I stand corrected. I thought that was you playing in those two videos. All the same, it was great playing!

[jimlaing]

I have been using B-3X (IK Multimedia) as well, for the last year or two.  It sounds FANTASTIC and is no comparison to the Genos drawbar organs.  I have B-3X on an older iPad mini and it works great.  -Jim

[Jeff Hollande]

Hi Lee :

Up to now the Ipad is ( one of ) the best and the most useful software tool(s) ever for making music, IMHO.
I bought one 2 years ago.
" Midi " has always been a problem for Android software.
I think that might never change ... BUT ... never say never though.
In the music software world the sky is not the limit ... it is just a begin. 

BTW ... I really wonder what the Genos' successor might bring us in September/October 2023 ?
Spectacular ? ... will Korg and Ketron be in shock ? ... very exciting though.
Hopefully in July/August 2023 we will know more ? ... it is hard to be patient.



Take care, JH

[Lee Batchelor]

Yes Jeff, it's a tough call. Do I invest in an iPad and IK software or wait for Yamaha to release Genos 2? I think I'll wait !
Hopefully, the crappy B3s aren't the only thing they fix in Genos 2.

[overover]

Hi Lee,

Meanwhile, have you tried the Hammond B3 app "VB3m" for Android by "GenuineSoundware" that we discussed in February? At the low price of just under 15 euros, I don't think you can do much wrong.
>>> https://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php/topic,65358.msg495920.html#msg495920


Best regards,
Chris

[Lee Batchelor]

Thanks, Chris. I had forgotten about that! This time I will try it out.

[soryt]

Ventilator II and you can make "the sound" with the Genos drawbars  No husle with other software .

[Lee Batchelor]

I tried out the Lester G pedal and the improvement was marginal. I've hear the Neo Ventilator II is far superior. It's also $650 plus tax. At that price, I may wait and see what Yamaha comes up with for the Genos 2.

Thanks for that, Soryt  .