Cakewalk Expansion Pack - Hammond B-3 Organ

The Hammond Organ was designed and built by ex-watchmaker Laurens Hammond in 1935. The Hammond B3 generates sounds using a tone generator consisting of an AC synchronous motor driving a set of 91 tone wheels, each of which rotates adjacent to a magnet and coil assembly. The number of bumps on each wheel determines the pitch produced by a particular tone wheel. The Hammond uses a unique drawbar system of additive timbre synthesis and stable tuning. A note on the organ consists of the fundamental and a number of harmonics, or multiples of that frequency. In the B3, the fundamental and up to eight harmonics are available, controlled the drawbars which are labeled to represent pipe organ pitches, The 2-speed, Leslie rotating speaker was a large part of the B3’s signature sound. Counter-rotating sound deflectors (one for the woofer and one for the tweeter) create a wonderful doppler vibrato effect, especially when the speed is changing. The Hammond B3 was popular with churches, home organists and became immensely popular during the 50's and 60's with rock and soul groups.