As I remarked in my earlier post on this subject, I use the ‘Native Instruments B4’ live onstage running on an IBM 600E- P2-366Mhz laptop running Win98..its connected via an Eidrol USB to MIDI converter linked to a Yamaha S03 keyboard, my laptop is not a high spec machine but there is no noticeable latency if you run the software through the DirectSound option on your sound card. The need for ‘Waterfall Keys’ only applies if the player uses excessive ‘Palm Wipes’ (running the palm of your hand up/down the keyboard) but this criticism applies to any keyboard used for Hammond style playing, its no big deal I can assure you.

The B4 also runs fine via the Game Port MIDI an your PC but you must active the MPU401option in the MIDI setup page for the software, if it plays via the computer keyboard then it WILL play through MIDI to ANY keyboard if set up correctly. I have set up my favorite registrations, which are selectable from the S03 keyboard; I control the volume (swell) from a standard stereo volume pedal between the laptop and my amp and all in all the setup works flawlessly.

When I first tried NI B4 I went through a lot of my Hammond recordings and played along with them, I can tell you that it was hard to separate one from the other and thus it is the same while plying live onstage, obviously a good knowledge of Hammond drawbar registrations helps enormously and the correct use of reverb and EQ help the authenticity

I have listened to Charlie and IMHO the Leslie simulator does not seem to up to the B4’s, looking at the control panel for Charlie there does not seem to be separate rotor and mike placing adjustments etc, the percussion issue has been mentioned what about the Hammond style Vibrato and Chorus…a very important aspect of the Hammond sound… has that been addressed in Charlie???

NI B4 is still ahead in my opinion and is going to be hard to beat.

Larigot

'keybplayer' can you email me, I have some info for you..

gee_dees@yahoo.co.uk