User Guide

Chapter 22 EVB3 339
Note: The tones of clavinets, harpsichords, and pianos have inharmonicities in their
harmonic structure. The frequencies of these overtones (harmonics) are not exact,
whole-number multiples of the base frequency. They are only approximate and are, in
fact, a little higher. This means that the overtones of lower (tuned) notes are more
closely related to the main frequencies of the upper notes. Due to the lack of strings,
this inharmonic relationship is not true of organs. The stretch feature was included for
situations where you may wish to use the EVB3 in an arrangement alongside an
acoustic or digital piano (EVP88 and EVD6 Clavinet).
Lower Stretch controls the amount of deviation from the equal-tempered scale in the
bass frequencies. The higher the value, the further down the low notes are tuned. At a
setting of 0, the EVB3 is tuned to an equal-tempered scale, with each octave below
exactly halving the frequency. Upper Stretch controls the amount of deviation from the
equal-tempered scale in the treble end of the sound. The higher the value, the further
up the high notes are tuned. At a setting of 0, the EVB3 is tuned to an equal-tempered
scale, with each octave up exactly doubling the frequency.
Warmth
Warmth controls the amount of random deviation from an equal-tempered scale. High
values add life to organ sounds, but tend to sound a little out of tune.
When applying Warmth and Stretch, you should consider that these parameters may
result in a detuned sound, which is similar to a heavy chorus effect. Set Warmth to 0 if
you’re after a pure sound.
Pitch Bender, Brake Effect
The Hammond organ has no pitch bender. As such, use of the pitch bender is not
suitable for realistic simulations, but it does provide a number of creative options.
Pitch up/down bender sensitivity can be set independently, in semitone steps, with the
Pitchbend Up and Pitchbend Down parameters. The maximum sensitivity for upward
bends is one octave.
You can set Pitch Bend Down to Brake, which gradually slows the movement of the
tone wheels down to a total stop, at the pitch bender’s minimum position.
Note: The Brake setting recreates an effect that is audible at the end of “Knife Edge” by
Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Keith Emerson’s virtuoso Hammond work was recorded on a
reel-to-reel tape recorder. At the end of the song, you can hear the tape recorder being
gently slowed to a total stop.