Keyboard Experts - A leslie simulator direct into the board?

[fast ricky love]

I don't know anything regarding this, so I thought I'd ask you more knowledgable folks.

The singer/keyboardist in our band is a great musician but is a bit tight on $ with 2 kids. He has an inexpensive electric keyboard he plugs into the soundboard. Playing electric piano tones sound fine, but when he switches to an organ tone it is pretty cheesy.

He can't upgrade to a better instrument right now, so I thought maybe getting a leslie simulator will add some dirt/effect to his tone to make it better. I know the H&K unit is highly regarded, but it's too steep for him $-wise. Any other thoughts? Or is it a case of you either spend the $$$ or don't bother...?

Like I said, I know nothing about any of this! I'm assuming you can use this effect into the board? If you guys have other pedal suggestions please let me know, thanks!

 

[Damian]

Line 6 are releasing one in the next week or two. Do a search here for a bit of info.

 

[fast ricky love]

Originally posted by Damian
Line 6 are releasing one in the next week or two. Do a search here for a bit of info.

Wow, just checked into that. The clips sound exactly like what will do the trick here! When is that puppy coming out? Will it be a case of 'penny-wise, pound-foolish', or is it just good value?

 

[Damian]

Originally posted by fast ricky love
Wow, just checked into that. The clips sound exactly like what will do the trick here! When is that puppy coming out? Will it be a case of 'penny-wise, pound-foolish', or is it just good value?

It's out soon, next few weeks.
As for the sound, have to wait and see.

 

[John Phillips]

Negative advice I know, but stay away from the little Danelectro one. It's just about usable for guitar (though not great) but unworkable for keyboards because there is no control over the distortion and it's designed for guitar levels not keyboard.

A friend of mine got one to use with his real 1937 Hammond (it came out of a church, so no Leslie cab, and he doesn't want to get another huge box his wife will hate anyway ), and luckily it broke after about a week so he just got his money back.

He's borrowing one of my MXR Micro-Choruses at the moment - quite a nice Leslie-ish swirl, and a bit of distortion at Hammond levels - but I'm going to lend him my Korg G4 on the understanding that I can borrow his Hammond (and his house) when I need to record one .

 

[fast ricky love]

I'll keep that in mind John. So no problem going from keyboard to leslie simulator pedal and then into the board?

 

[tfire]

Originally posted by Damian
Line 6 are releasing one in the next week or two. Do a search here for a bit of info.

And the Boss RT-20 should be available soon too. There's been a thread or two on it lately.

 

[threm]

Why not run the keys thorugh an amp and speakers and mike it for some de-cheesyfying.
Guitar amp will do and pedals will probably sound much better than when going direct into a soundcard. Can fatten the sound and add some air.

If this is for recording there are lots of freeware effects that could add some spice to anemic key sounds:
http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php
http://www.rekliner.com/?PageID=11
http://www.smartelectronix.com/~destroyfx/
http://www.elementalaudio.com/index.html
http://www.uv.es/~ruizcan/p_vst.htm
http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/
http://www.tweakbench.com/effects.php
Lots of freeware available
http://www.xelenio.com/plug-in/freeware/

or change to a free Mellotron
http://www.tweakbench.com/instruments.php?id=6

or a free synth
http://home.btconnect.com/christopherg/main.htm
http://www.oli.adbe.org/plugins.htm

 

[fast ricky love]

Wow, thanks for all that info!

Actually it's for when we play live. I've heard it's a bad idea to plug a keyboard into a guitar amp. Also that guitar amp would have to be one of mine, since he definately can't afford an amp, and I ain't takin that risk with my babies!