KORG NAUTILUS KRONOS CX3 - The Best Hammond Organ (on a synth)

Demo and review of the CX3 Sound Engine on the KORG NAUTILUS and KORG KRONOS which emulates the HAMMOND B3 ORGAN and LESLIE ROTARY SPEAKER.

Agenda:
- Introduction to CX-3 sound engine
- History of the Korg CX-3
- Performance controls
- Tone editing
- Organ vs piano playing technique
- Use of expression pedal
- Comparison with stage keyboards
- Dedicated Hammond organ clones
- Playing favorite preset sounds

HAMMOND ORGAN PLAYLIST

KORG NAUTILUS PLAYLIST

MORE WOODY PIANO SHACK

[soundmanks]

One important feature of the KB3 engine in Kurzweil K25xx and newer instruments is that they provide constantly playing sound, very much like a Hammond tone wheel spinning, and literally switch the audio on and off, just like the Hammond. This tone generation, coupled with the rotary effect of the KDFX processor, was really impressive. All of this, coming from a for Hammond organ dealer. I owned a Kronos, but didn’t care for the CX3 engine. However, your demo of the Nautilus is really quite impressive.

[tonyfromrhody]

I think Korg put a lot of value in the Nautilus and your video's are showing really what it can do. I am back playing keyboards and have the MODX7 and can see where this one would really be a great addition with its lush sounds as well. Another GREAT job by the Piano Shack!! Also whiter shade was very well done. Its too bad us keyboardist don't have an endless supply of money cause the want list just keeps growing. :-)

[AsianJBlazian]

I may not be able to afford these beautiful digital pianos. But your playing is always catchy! Keep up the good work!

[soundsfortoday]

This was really great. Now have a birds eye view when my Nautilus AT gets here.

[furiobisotti]

I own a Kronos61, I owned a Kurzweil PC3 and a Nord Stage3.
I sold the Kurzweil and the Nord. Reason is simple: I think VSTs are much better if you need to simulate an Hammond.
With IK Multimedia B3X you have a wonderful tool to play whatever type of tone wheel sound. Leslie simulation is really astonishing. You have stomp effects and post treatment. It is my favourite VST ever.
When I sold the Nord I bought a used Viscount Legend. It is a wonderful tonewheel clone, but Leslie is not as good as B3X.
I agree with Woody, inside workstations, Korg version is the best.

[thecoolestdad]

People get ready there's a train a comin yeah. You don't need no ticket, no, you just get onboard. Love it bro. I love my Nautilus. I have the 88 key and I am still getting used to it. Playing around with the sounds and getting used to them. Soon I'll start compiling the sounds I want for my original songs and start recording them. I enjoy your vids sir.

[victorpeters]

Niacin refers to a trio with the same name. Billy Sheehan on bass, John Navello on keyboards / Hammond B3 and Dennis Chambers on drums. Check out their live album "Live! Blood, Sweat & Bears".

[Hamfantasy]

Here I definetively discovered you're a great H Organ player: you know the best licks and have the right touch: bravo bravo!

[arcanics]

While LS probably is Lonnie Smith, there was also a range of Leslie amps called LS. And of course, Kronos has an LS version of the keybed.

[thehitmakerkay]

Great content. I never used the organs in my Nautilus because of my Nord Stage 3. Thanks for sharing.

[geoffk]

There is one major workstation competitor to the Kronos and that is Kurzweil. Kurzweils like the PC3K have a very complete and accurate ogan emulation engine built in with drawbars, chorus, percussion and Leslie. I have a Kronos and a PC3K and I actually slightly prefer the Kurzweil, although both are excellent. The CX-3 is actually the only engine on the Kronos which I think exceeds most of the competition in terms of sound and features.
The organ is actually a place where the limited controls on th Nautilus really hurt it. On the Kronos, the faders can be used as drawbars in live performance, which is quite expressive (the Kurzweil has this too). But the Nautilus has no faders, so you're limited to awkwardly changing the drawbars one at a time on-screen, which isn't practical in the middle of a song.

[kevanbarrett]

Whilst its fair to say that keys is my second instrument. Since purchasing a Kronos on the back of your first Nautilus video, I have stopped using my Electro 5 because I think the CX-3 is more than good enough for my purposes.😊

[lucasrosa]

Kurzweil kb3 is the way to go! I actually got them both kronos and Kurzweil and Cx3 hardware. Kurzweil effects are killer!

[papadopp]

It sounds warm and sweet, like the original analog CX3.

[ReallyDudeYouGottaHearThis]

Have you tried the ikmultimedia b3-x. It’s a thing of beauty. Also, Most keyboard players just don’t get the whole organ thing. They try to play “ keyboard” licks that don’t really work on organ. You’ve got the percussive touch that helps make it sound more authentic.

[tonewheelorganshop]

I guys . Happy new year . IMHO,
Roland and Korg are really cool when they développe their own sound, filters etc..
HAMMOND sound on Korg and Roland are simply not good enough.
Crumar MOJO, Viscount LEGEND, Hammond Sk sound great, more real.
I used to work with Elvio Previati ( keybduo) and Crumar team too ( some years ago), and they were 100% involved in Hammond sound recreation, side by side with real vintage A100, b3, built in different years. That helps.
This video is cool ! Thanks .
JOsé / Normandy

[HenricoC]

I purchased Hammond B3 x from IK multi media. One of the best Hammond vst

[billyruss]

I still have my Korg CX3 (2001 version). I've nearly sold it a few times - firstly when I got my Nord Stage, and latterly when I bought the Studiologic Numa Organ 2. That has some great sounds, and is very playable. But, when I put the two side by side and did a comparison, the CX-3 is way more playable - there is virtually no key travel required to make the note sound, which facilitates a very fast playing technique, and makes palm-swishing a joy. The wooden end-cheeks are a bit battered, and one of the program select buttons can be a little temperamental, but I can't bring myself to part with it.

As with the Rhodes emulation, the Kronos makes a very good job of the CX-3 sound - and, as you say, probably the best emulation I've heard from a synth. They've added a few more presets - the Niacin one was nice (check out Barbarian at the Gate, if you haven't heard it:


- it's kinda like Focus on something bad). I still love my drawbars, though!

Again, very nice playing, sympathetic to the feel of the Hammond - you have a great all-round technique. Making me want to get hold of a Nautilus even more every time I watch one of your videos (I get the feeling you're quite taken with it!). Just wish it had aftertouch (I know that, obviously, neither the Rhodes nor the Hammond use this natively, but I've programmed my Nord to use aftertouch to bring in the rotary effect - and aftertouch would definitely be useful on the Nautilus' synth patches.)

[jazzplayer]

Nice playing...I have a Kronos LS with an after market set of organ patches...really like the options this keyboard offers...thanks for the review.

thank you so much for playing and information. Very clearly explained