NI's B4 Takes on New Identities

Native Instruments has created an add-on for the prize-winning B4 organ emulation with a set of new virtual tonewheels. Now the B4 can have the personalities of four classic organs including several age-emulated B3 sounds.

The Tonewheel Set Vintage Collection gives the B4 the classic tones of a Vox Continental, Farfisa Compact, Indian Harmonium, and also includes several aged and rejuvenated B3 emulations. Additionally, the B4 can now be tuned to six different frequencies. The Vintage Collection Tonewheel Set is available immediately for US $99 and can be purchased either at your local NI retailer or in the Native Instruments online shop.

The original sound of the B3 is created by its ninety-one hardware tonewheels. Changing the tonewheels in a real B3 is an enormous investement. With the Tonewheel Set Vintage Collection, however, Native Instruments has developed a way to change the virtual tonewheels of the B4 with just a few clicks of the mouse. Now the B4 can emulate three additional cult classics. Three versions of the Vox Continental are provided (Soft, Hard, and Mix), two of the Farfisa Compact (with Tone-Booster and without), and one of the Harmonium. Twenty-four new drawbar-presets showcase the tone possibilities of the new tonewheels.

The photorealistic user interface and original functions of the B4 remain the same even with the new tonewheels. That means that the Harmonium can, for instance, go through the Rotary Speaker, while the Farfisa or Vox can be processed with the B4 Tube-Amp. The original B4 drawbar-presets can be used with the new tonewheels for some unexpected combinations. In addition to the pure emulation of classic organs, it's possible to create many new sounds.

The Tonewheel Set Vintage Collection provides even more: The aging or rejuvenation of the B3 tonewheels has been flawlessly emulated as well. The tone of the original B3-emulated tonewheels can be artificially aged or made factory fresh. In all, there are six different progressions, from "clean" to "far beyond repair." Additionally, the B4 can now be tuned to to 436, 444, 448, and 452 Hz.