Voce V5

Couldn't be much easier, in concept at least. Match up the midi channels with the number on a little rotary nob in back, and you'll be playing, at least on one manual. In multi-timbral mode, you can theoretically get an upper manual, lower manual, and pedals going all at once using three consecutive midi channels. I've been having some problems getting this going on my (relatively new) unit, and I'm beginning to wonder whether its a defect, because sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and this isn't exactly rocket science so unless there's some variable I'm not accounting for (?!), something's wrong. But on the occasions when its working in multi-timbral mode, it works well. As noted by another review, polyphony is full. Setting up presets and splits is not completely intuitive, and the manual leaves a bit too much to the imagination, but it can be figured out with just a little experimenting. I'd give it a higher rating except for the problems with multi-timbrality (again, that might must be my unit). Also, because of the way dual-manual setups work, you can't easily change the settings on the second manual. At least, I haven't figured out how to do that. This is something that the Roland VK-7 and Hammond XK-2 allow to happen fairly easily. Not a big disadvantage, in my view, since I typically leave the second manual on the same setting anyway for use with "comping" chords, but some players might find this a significant disadvantage.

Its a B-3 simulator, period. No onboard leslie effect, which might be viewed as a disadvantage, but it does allow the unit to be a small as it is. This is important for a drawbar organ, because you're going to want to perch it somewhere within easy grasp of your left hand. Velcro it down. With its bright orange color, its going to be hard to forget while you're onstage. Also, there are some good leslie simulators out there, including Voce's own "Spin II," and its nice to be able to choose the one you like best and not have to pay for one you might not. There are knobs for volume, overdrive, key click, and leakage. As explained below, I'm not crazy about the quality of these effects, but giving them dedicated knobs is the right idea. Its about as versatile as a B-3 simulator should be.

Though I play other keyboards, I consider the B-3 to be my main instrument, so I approach the subject fairly seriously. I've spend alot of time comparing the leading B-3 simulators, Voce, VK-7, and XK-2, and I have a B-3 and leslie 122 at home. Just from the standpoint of sound quality, picking a winner among the V5, VK-7, and XK-2 is difficult, because they all have strengths and one can't help but wish you could combine the best of all three. And then there is the subjective aspect. Anyone who has played a few real B-3's knows that they are remarkably individual creatures. Even if they don't start out that way, by the time a few decades have gone by and their innards have been messed around with, their individual personalities have blossomed. You can find fat and smooth to gritty and harsh and all in between. The Roland, Hammond, and Voce simulators likewise have their own personalities and you might prefer one over the others just like you might pick a favorite B-3 out of any given bunch. The VK-7 can produce a nice rounded tone, and to my ear actually comes out sounding like some recorded B-3's, rather than an organ that's "in the house." The Roland allows you to adjust among different amp and cabinet simulations, and leakage is very realistic throughout its variable range. I don't find it to be the most authentic -- for one thing, its too consistent and digital, the gritty randomness of a real B-3 is not accounted for -- but it is nonetheless a pleasing and even inspiring sound. The Hammond probably does the best job of replicating the nuances of a B-3, but I find it to be rather thin-sounding -- disappointing in an otherwise exceptional piece of equipment. I love that full, rounded tone of some B-3's. The XK-2 sounds remarkably like a real B-3, but not one that I would want to own. It is in this basic tonal quality where the V5 shines and, in my opinion, finishes first. The basic drawbar tone is rich, full, and warm, much more so than the XK-2, and it has a great deal more presence than the VK-7. On this crucial aspect, the V5 puts the power and grace of the B-3 at your fingertips much more effectively than the others. And its analog character (I don't know for sure if its analog, but it sounds it), means that it is also authentic in its inconsistency. I cannot, however, give it an enthusiastice review for overdrive, key click, or leakage. Key click is actually OK. There seems to be a significant amount of click inherent in the basic sound, regardless of whether the effect is turned up. That's fine with me, because I can't imagine a "good" B-3 not having it. But I also find that no more than this basic amount is necessary, so there may as well not be a pot for it. You can crank it to a somewhat exaggerated level, if you like. I find the overdrive not satisfactory. However, I feel the same about the VK-7 and the XK-2. With all these keyboards, but moreso with the V5, overdrive doesn't seem to integrate with the basic tone so much as overlay it. In my opinion, the only really useful distortion is what you get from running these keyboards through a real tube circuit and driving it until it starts to break up. I do this with the V5 and the resulting sound is fabulous. Just like with a real B-3, the raw sound is not one you necessarily would want to listen to -- its the combination of the organ tone, with all its imperfections, and the leslie tube circuitry that works magic, making the combination far greater than the sum of its parts. Similar magic can occur with the V5 and a 12AX7 tube, moreso, I believe, than any other simulator I've heard. Leakage is a different matter. The pure tone from the V5 sounds more like a stack of sine waves than a sample, and leakage, like overdrive, sounds like an additional layer added on top. With the VK-7 and the XK-2, leakage sounds much more integrated into the basic tone. With the V5, leakage is, at best, an annoying little buzz. It c

Too soon to tell. I think its made in Italy, and I'm not confident that servicing it will be all that easy. I'm going to be very careful with this thing.

Haven't dealt with the company.

I'd buy it again. I'm thinking of buying another just for back up, or perhaps to use in a dual manual mode (vibrato would be out of sync, of course, but both could run through the same leslie simulator). The value of a B-3 simulator can't be summarized in its features. You either feel inspired when you're hands slide across the keys, or you don't. The V5 is an inspiring instrument. I'm using the Voce Spin II module for leslie simulation and running it through a Blue Tube pedal before sending it to the keyboard amp. Or else I run it directly into my Motion Sound Pro-3T. In either configuration, it sounds like a B-3 should. The Spin II gives you a fairly radical leslie simulation. The swirling sound you hear when its not playing is not so unlike the wooshing of the horn/bass rotor of a real leslie as picked up by a mic. The unmodified sound of the V5 and the Spin II is a little too harsh and distinct. Through the Blue Tube, its much sweeter. The Pro-3T is even sweeter, though a bit more hassle to deal with in some situations. A good leslie or leslie simulation tends to lessen the differences between these B-3 simulators, but I think the Voce gives you the most to work with. Its not as commonly stocked as Roland and Hammond, which is too bad, because anyone thinking of buying a B-3 simulator should at least give it a listen.

This module is fantastic. My church organ C3 broke down and this module fit the spot ( along with my Pro3t leslie simulator). I don't use the presets being that everything is spontaneous in a church setting.
Just make sure the midi channels correspond with each other. Turn it on and play.

Its the same polyphony as the V3 module . I use a Fatar SL161 controller and the Fatar pedal board. Since it has a three way multitimbral setup the pedals and the keyboard works fine with the module. I don't use the overdrive (use the pro3t's) but it sounds good to me.

It sounds like my church's C3. I've done major gospel concerts with this setup. Everybody asking me where is the B3. VERY REALISTIC!!!

My livelihood depends on it. I've even bought a second one to have if this one should break. I've always been careful when it comes to transporting instruments. I made a base for it so the drawbars are somewhat protected. During a concert, there was some sort of an electrical surge but all I did was reinitialize it and it came back to normal.

The people at DR STRINGS are wonderful. Dave Amels made a wonderful piece of equipment. Say goodby to the Hammond C3!!!!!

I definitely would buy another one if it was lost or stolen. I've been playing organ since I was a little kid. My father couldn't afford the B3
I had to play Crumars and Farfisas and still wasn't satisfied. Now the real thing is gone but that sound still lives in that little box. I've tried the new Hammonds (xb2,xk2,), gave away my xm-1,tried out the vk7.Too expensive!!!!!!!! Thank God for the V5!!!!!

In general, just twist the knobs or pull the drawbars. Couldn't get much easier. Presets are like a car stereo. The only difficult is in setting a split, you MUST use a preset for one of the manuals. The manual is equivalently simple. MIDI through & Merge through are supported. It would be nice if the factory presets had a little description in the manual.

Polyphony is as many keys as you can hit in the standard B-3 range. The special effects, which were considered defects on the orginial Hammond (except by those crazy musicians) are Overdrive, Key Click and Leakage. The Leakage is ridiculous above about 1/3 of the knobs range. The key click is great, and the overdrive really gives it some wonderful distortion. MIDI In, Omni mode (takes anything it can get) and Multitimbral mode are supported, (three channels-upper & lower manual, and pedal). MIDI in/out for all control settings is supported. No expansion or sequencer, but these are n/a anyway in a B-3 simulator.

Didn't have a V3 to compare too, but I didn't like the fact that some people have complained about noise on some drawbar settings on the V3. I'm quite happy with the B-3 sound. Anything a B-3 sounds good with the V5 will do. The only bad effect as I mentioned above is the leakage being somewhat ridiculously high. Gotta love that Jimmy Smith sound.

Haven't had a chance to road test it yet :-), but it's got a nice metal case. The drawbars however stick out of the case and could probably be damaged with one nasty fall. I'm going to make a nice protective tray for them.

So far I've had to contact them on registering the warranty. Turn around time on questions has been about a day.

I'd buy another if it were lost or stolen. The main reason I bought it is that I want that B-3 sound and it weighs 2 lbs. A real B-3 is about 400 lbs. and a beast to maintain.

I had a chance to try this module side-by-side with a V3. It is by far inferior to the V3. Given that a second-hand V3 w/drawbars can be had for the same price as the V5 (w/o the leslie simulator which is built in to the V3), this is a no-brainer. Get the V3. If you have the money, you may want to look at the Roland VK-7 as well, which is comparable sound-wise with the V3 (unfortuantely, I wasn't able to do a side-by-side comparison to make a clearer determination). You'll pay about $900 more for the VK7, but you get a keyboard and the ability to do dual-manual plus pedal rather easily which I'm not sure either Voce handles.
-dh