New Music Gear Monday: PSP L'otary Leslie Simulator Plugin

I'm a B3 player from way back and I know the sound of a Leslie speaker intimately, so believe me when I say that the new PSP L'otary is the best Leslie simulator that I've come across. All PSP plugins are killer to begin with, but the company might have surpassed itself with this one.

L'otary is based on the sound and operation of the two most famous Leslies, the 122 and 147, and provides ultimate control over just about any parameter you can think of, making it extremely versatile. That said, the presets sound great and might be all that anyone ever needs.

What I especially liked is the handle that changes the sound from chorale (slow spin) to fast, which also allows the user to select any speed in between. That said, a push button underneath provides the traditional slow to fast switching.

There's also a visual look at both the horn and drum speed provided which helps to lock in the right speed for the song.

One of my favorite aspects of L'otary is the the different simulated mic positions, as well as the motor and wind noise when it's set to fast. Just like the real thing!

The PSP L'otary is a bargain at only $99 and is available in VST, AAX and RTAS formats for both Mac and Windows. Check it out for yourself with the video below.

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New Music Gear Monday: Leslie 122XB Speaker

When you think of Hammond organ, you automatically think Leslie speaker, that unique big wooden box that takes advantage of the Doppler effect to make that sound we love. It's interesting in that while powered monitors are all the rage today, Don Leslie was the first one to incorporate an amp into his speaker cabinet over a half-century ago, as well as the totally out-of-the-box design.

Vintage Leslies like the model 122 or 147 go for big bucks these days because for a long time, they just didn't make them like they used to. Now that may be a thing of the past with the new Leslie 122XB, which maintains all the things we love about the old ones, yet brings them into the future as well.

The 122XB retains the rotating horn, 15 woofer with rotating drum, and 40 watt tube amp, but adds the 11 pin connector used on modern Hammonds. But the coolest new features are the ones that everybody moded on their Leslies of the past; a 1/4 input so you can plug other instruments into it, and a footswitch to change the speed.

I think the 122XB is overpriced at $3395, but on the other hand, it's one of those purchases that you'll use for a lifetime and won't depreciate much. Here's a video that explains more.

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The History of The Leslie Speaker

If you love the Hammond organ as I do, then you're probably a Leslie speaker lover as well. The venerable rotating speaker system has been with us from even before the Hammond, and has taken on a life of its own when used by guitar players, electric violinists, and experimental musicians everywhere.

Here's a great short video on the history of the Leslie.

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The History Of The Hammond Organ

I just love Hammond organs. I played a B3 for a long time during my gigging days, and it's sale paid for my move to Los Angeles (although it breaks my heart that I to this day that I sold it). As much as the technology to artificially recreate the sound of a Hammond and a Leslie has progressed, I must admit that the sound still isn't as good as an "oiler."

Here's a history of the Hammond and Leslie, which includes some great playing and rare footage (especially of Jimmy Smith).

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You should follow me on Twitter for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

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Vintage Hammond B3 Vs. A Clone

I've been a Hammond organ player and lover for years. I can remember carrying my first B3 up multiple flights of steps, over bars, and onto trucks without lift gates, but that was when I was a lot younger and more eager to suffer for my art. You could never beat the sound of a real Hammond and Leslie cabinet though. But the new generations of clones and virtual instruments are getting oh-so close to where it's difficult to tell, especially if they're played through a real Leslie.

Here's a great side-by-side comparison by Jim Alfredson (check him out at organissimo.org), that shows you just how close they really are these days.

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You should follow me on Twitter for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

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"Black Hole Sun" Isolated Guitar Track

In the last post we listened to the isolated vocal of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun." Today we'll listen to Kim Thayil's isolated guitar. Here's what to listen for:

1) He's a little out of tune during the clean intro. You never notice it in the track but it's a lot more exposed when isolated.

2) The song is performed in a Drop D tuning, which means that the low E string is detuned to D.

3) The most distinctive thing about the guitar track is the Leslie speaker effect used during the verse. A Leslie speaker, mostly used with organs (a Hammond B-3 and a Leslie model 122 is the classic combination), has a rotating treble horn and rotating drum around the low frequency speaker. It's been used with a guitar since the 60's, most famously in The Beatles "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." The Leslie has a slow and fast speed, with Black Hole Sun using the fast speed and recorded in stereo.

4) The distorted guitar in the chorus is also recorded in stereo, as is the wah guitar solo (which Guitar World magazine ranked #63 among the top 100 guitar solos) and outro.

5) Listen to the noises at the end of each part before the next part kicks in. These would certainly be cleaned up if recorded today.

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