I'm hearing that Hammond have unveiled a new model at Musikmesse, an "XK-5" - can't find any info yet about it online though. Anyone know anything?
It's been over half a decade since their last clonewheel engine proper (subsequent repackagings notwithstanding), so this could potentially be a significant improvement.
(And I wonder will it finally include a model of the Spinet sound?)
Hammond XK-5
Hammond XK-5
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- ramthelinefeed
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A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with!
Re: Hammond XK-5
VIDEO here
It's the full monty BX3 style installation model - dual manual + casing, pedals and bench, I assume using the XK3 engine.
It's the full monty BX3 style installation model - dual manual + casing, pedals and bench, I assume using the XK3 engine.
Reliably fallible.
Re: Hammond XK-5
Oh - well a preposterously large, heavy and expensive new re-hash wasn't really what I was hoping for 
I thought they might manage a new portable model just with an even better sound engine.
I thought they might manage a new portable model just with an even better sound engine.-
- ramthelinefeed
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2433 Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 12:00 am Location: UK
A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with!
Re: Hammond XK-5
IIRC, the newer XKs are using the refined engine that was done for the SK series. I have one of those and it's loooooverly ...
My only gripe is the wall wart. Oh .. and no midi over usb either which is silly. But it sounds great and is quite compact for a double manual (I have the SK2).
Maybe I shout take it along to a sosmeet and see what Hugh makes of it...
My only gripe is the wall wart. Oh .. and no midi over usb either which is silly. But it sounds great and is quite compact for a double manual (I have the SK2).
Maybe I shout take it along to a sosmeet and see what Hugh makes of it...
Veni, Vidi, Aesculi (I came, I saw, I conkered)
Re: Hammond XK-5
......sigh.....here we go....
Re: Hammond XK-5
Dave B wrote:IIRC, the newer XKs are using the refined engine that was done for the SK series.
Yes, the XK3c or whatever it's called - but that is half a decade old. The engine *is* very good, from the 20 mins or so I doodled around with in at last Musikmesse. I just thought they might have revamped it yet again by now!
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- ramthelinefeed
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2433 Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 12:00 am Location: UK
A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with!
Re: Hammond XK-5
OK, I have a bit more info on this now:
- it IS a brand new sound engine. They've retired the "VASE" thing (which I gather had some sample-based element) and gone for an entirely modelled approach. The new model includes emulation of the 9 different key contact wires under each key (one for each tonewheel).
- it's not an entire monolithic wooden behemoth, it's the same modular approach as the X3c, i.e. you can just buy one manual if you want, and get the 2nd manual, pedals and bench all seperately.
- the 1 manual does have more drawbars than the X3c though, so no drawbar sharing needed when you add the other bits.
This all sounds exciting to me!
The only slight reservations I've read expressed are "it's gonna be more expensive, heavy and not sound that much better than the hugely cheaper and perfectly good Crumar clonewheel" - well I've never had a go on the Crumar clonewheel yet, but since it's just using a VSTi that's years old, I'd be surprised if this new Hammond model didn't improve on it. And the ergonomics surely are better?
- it IS a brand new sound engine. They've retired the "VASE" thing (which I gather had some sample-based element) and gone for an entirely modelled approach. The new model includes emulation of the 9 different key contact wires under each key (one for each tonewheel).
- it's not an entire monolithic wooden behemoth, it's the same modular approach as the X3c, i.e. you can just buy one manual if you want, and get the 2nd manual, pedals and bench all seperately.
- the 1 manual does have more drawbars than the X3c though, so no drawbar sharing needed when you add the other bits.
This all sounds exciting to me!
The only slight reservations I've read expressed are "it's gonna be more expensive, heavy and not sound that much better than the hugely cheaper and perfectly good Crumar clonewheel" - well I've never had a go on the Crumar clonewheel yet, but since it's just using a VSTi that's years old, I'd be surprised if this new Hammond model didn't improve on it. And the ergonomics surely are better?
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- ramthelinefeed
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2433 Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 12:00 am Location: UK
A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with!
Re: Hammond XK-5
IIRC, the Crumar is a bit of a con : it's basically running the code from the GSi VB3 inside a keyboard - that's a €50 bit of software in a €1900 keyboard... it wasn't much more for my SK2 and that's got a much better spec.
As for the new XK5 .. I'm fine with what I have thanks.
As for the new XK5 .. I'm fine with what I have thanks.
Veni, Vidi, Aesculi (I came, I saw, I conkered)
Re: Hammond XK-5
Dave B wrote:As for the new XK5 .. I'm fine with what I have thanks.
This is a first!
Last edited by Forum Admin on Fri Oct 21, 2016 10:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reliably fallible.
Re: Hammond XK-5
give it time
Re: Hammond XK-5
Bumping this old thread just to say the first production batch of XK-5s has finally arrived in the UK and I'm expecting one this week for review... Stay tuned!
H
H
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- Hugh Robjohns
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(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Hammond XK-5
Veni, Vidi, Aesculi (I came, I saw, I conkered)
Re: Hammond XK-5
It looks luverly, Dave, and has some interesting engine updates... but your SK2 is a lot lighter!
H
H
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- Hugh Robjohns
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Posts: 43704 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Hammond XK-5
But Hugh - the all important question : is there enough room on the top to lay out a full Indian takeaway? If not, Wakeman won't have one .. his old one did ...
Veni, Vidi, Aesculi (I came, I saw, I conkered)
Re: Hammond XK-5
Yes... as long as it's a small band... the top shelf isn't as deep as an original B3.
Frustratingly, the review model has been delayed. Apparently Hammond EU hasn't released the review unit to Hammond UK yet....
Yet more fall out from Brexit perhaps! I could survive without Marmite, but keeping all the new Hammonds on the wrong side of the English Channel really is beyond the pale...
H
Frustratingly, the review model has been delayed. Apparently Hammond EU hasn't released the review unit to Hammond UK yet....
Yet more fall out from Brexit perhaps! I could survive without Marmite, but keeping all the new Hammonds on the wrong side of the English Channel really is beyond the pale...
H
Last edited by Hugh Robjohns on Thu Oct 13, 2016 4:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Hugh Robjohns
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Posts: 43704 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Contact:
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Hammond XK-5
The Elf wrote:Just let me know if my imminent drooling is justified...
I'd be amazed if it wasn't. New even-further improved engine, improved bespoke keybed with multi-contacts (and some digital fudgery), full set of drawbars, and options for single or dual keyboard rigs with modern or vintage styling and pedals...
It's either the XK-3c on stereoids, or the New-B3 on a diet... but either way it getting my juices flowing.
H
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- Hugh Robjohns
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Posts: 43704 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Hammond XK-5
If you want to nick the SK2 to compare it to then just scream. Mine isn't in use at the moment..
Veni, Vidi, Aesculi (I came, I saw, I conkered)
Re: Hammond XK-5
Most kind -- I might well do that -- just sent you a PM.
H
H
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- Hugh Robjohns
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Posts: 43704 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Hammond XK-5
They do seem to be very slow at getting these beasts into Britain! 
Last edited by Forum Admin on Fri Oct 21, 2016 10:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- ramthelinefeed
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2433 Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 12:00 am Location: UK
A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossed with!
Re: Hammond XK-5
feline1 wrote:THey do seem to be very slow at getting these beasts into Britain!
They do, rather. I'm still waiting for a review model....
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- Hugh Robjohns
Moderator -
Posts: 43704 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Contact:
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Hammond XK-5
The Elf wrote:Hugh Robjohns wrote:improved bespoke keybed with multi-contacts
The New B3 copied the original Hammond system concept, and used ten separate contacts on each note (nine for the drawbar tones, and one for MIDI control). This new XK-5 apparently has three, and then digitally emulates three virtual contacts for each of those, in an effort to introduce some delay and variance in the onset of different drawbar tones.
I gather the weight and 'bounce' of the keybed has also been designed to replicate the original keyboard feel because all the current OEM keyboards don't quite manage to get it right.
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- Hugh Robjohns
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Posts: 43704 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Hammond XK-5
The MIDI implementation will be of interest. Can one record all the wires? With emulation? Or can you only get the "MIDI" control wire, and if it is only one wire, there might not be any velocity.