Native Instruments B4 V2 VST PC

I've been playing bass for at least ten years now. I mainly play a 5 string Dingwall, through and Ampeg SVT 5pro with a Classic 410, on occasion through An Eden, and a GK cab. I am running a 2.2 ghz macbook, 2gigs ram, ect. running os 10.5 (leopard).

I play casually in a funk rock sorta band.

The interface is very straight forward. I've owned a lot of multi-effects pedals, currently the Boss GT-6b. If you compare the ease of use of the software with a traditional multi effects pedal, the software will take the cake any day. The entirely graphical interface makes for simple patching, and can give you a good visual reference for the settings on everything in your signal chain. Unlike with most multi effects pedals which give you a very small LCD that tells you very little.

The accompanying pedal while simple to setup, has an odd feel. The buttons are stiff and require shoes to push them down. Functions like tap tempo are really hard to nail, being that the buttons are so stiff. Although the pedal does support 2 external foot switches, I would have just preferred that they use a more modern "boss" like button.

Initial setup and installation of the program was simple. It took about as much time as i expected it too. There were no compatibility issues with any of my existing software, Sound source could even pick up rig control as a sound card which means i can use it to output any sound.

All the effects sound really good, and the presets are sometimes mind bogglingly accurate. I have to give this category and 8 not becuase it doesn't sound great, but becuase there can be alot of settings you can get lost in, which in turn you can make kinda weird sounds.

For example some of the amps have bias, drag, and power supply options. I dont really know what the sonic difference between a 50/60hz power supply will be.

As well i find its very easy to mess up your gain structure. With this program one can easily keep piling distortions, delays, pre amps, eqs, ect. and the end result can be serious clipping somewhere in the chain. When you try and rebuild your gain structure, certain pedals and effects start making noise.

Overall when you make good patches the sound quality is nothing short of impressive. It sounds much better than my previously mentioned GT6B . Some of the stereo effects can add a beautiful subtle fullness that traditional pedals can often lack.

Im very impressed with this software/hardware. Sound quality is great, operation is simple and very empowering. In terms of value this system just takes the cake. It cost as much as my boss did a few years ago, and offers ten fold more effects, with better control, easier interface, and the added versatility of a pretty decent sound card.

As it pertains to this review I have used pretty much all the NI products from day one of their introductions. Specifically I have owned and used B4 version 1 from the beginning. As well as the tonewheels and other organs from the add on package. Also I have played many different real flesh and blood organs including a huge church pipe organ over the years.

Extremely easy and intuitive to use. I suggest taking a bit of care during initial latiency set up though. Especially if your computer is older.

Here's where one must judge the software relative to one's personal needs and expectations. First off the audio card and latency MUST be set up properly because massive differences in sound can occur if this is not done. Once done I believe most users with quality monitors, soundcards, etc. will find that they have a very excellent emulation. NO, it will NOT sound exactly like a real organ. But NO emulation of ANY analog instrument sounds exactly like the real thing --- period. I prefer to judge it on the respect given to the originals while listening to and judging the usefulness of the sounds on their own merits. On this count it's easily the best organ emulation ever created. Version 2's warmer tube-like sound and advanced cabient capibilities are a very worthy leap from version 1. Lots of options now --- and some cool new screens in which to impliment them.

Worth it. I just bought it (the upgrade to version 2)--- downloaded it at NIversary prices --- $39. I was NOT going to buy it except for the price reduction. Hell, I was happy enough with the first version and the added tonewheels. Plus I don't use organ all that much (and didn't think it would be this cool). But, if you do use organ sounds or want a very cool emulation for your collection, this is it. Great organ sound flexability with no real CPU drain and it never crashes. And even if you are a purist and don't buy the sounds as being particularly or perfectly organ sounding, they are still excellent in their own right --- as sounding like whatever you think they sound like. The only thing I have ALWAYS wished, is that the screen shots changed to look like the various organs that are emulated --- cool looking Vox Conntinentals, Farfisas and crusty old Harmoniums... can't have everything I guess. All in all it's the usual NI quality. NI quite simply make the best computer music sofeware currently available.

I'm a pianist/keyboardist for many decades and play many styles, My preference is jazz & funk.
I've also played in a church for 10 years using a two manual (tone wheel) Hammomd console (w. 2 octave bass pedals) I've also played the C3 model.
B4 II Vers.2.0
Gear: Mac G5, OSX 10.3.9, MOTU DP 4.61
I have many keyboards but I use the Yamaha ES7 with mLAN most of the time. AKGK240 Studio Headphones, Event 20/20 Studio Monitors etc.

Easy installation and copy protection takes 5-10 minutes.
Very good manual.

Sounds fantastic. Fun and inspiring I can't stop playing it.
Very good presets but I like to set it up my way. Easy to program. Overdrive and "aging" features work very well.

It is worth the price as it takes care of my need for all things Hammond (Farfisa, Vox and Harmonium).
No crashes on the dual 2GHz CPU G5.
I doubt that there is anything out there this close to the real thing. The B4 II also includes Leslie and guitar cabinet simulations and reverbs too! The experience is like having a Hammond B3 with all the all the musically useful options in the studio. This is a real instrument.

Musician for 35+ years (keyboard & guitar), studio owner, record with Sonar 5, primarily rock and progressive rock. Homebuilt PC running Windows XP Pro, delta-66, Mackie HR824 monitors. Current version of B4 II is 2.0.0.007.

Very simple to use. The layout is great and has improved over V1. Everything in V2 is MIDI controllable and the CC numbers are programmable...a huge plus over V1. Copy protection is challenge/response, which restricts it to a particular machine. V1 required you to insert the CD once in a while. I don't know which is worse.

It sounds *like* a B3, but not quite the same. As the previous reviewer stated, there are problems with drawbar volumes. I can live with that. For me, the dealbreaker is the Leslie sim. Although NI have thrown some additional modeled "cabinets" in there and made some alterations to the tube overdrive emulation, the Leslie simulation itself needs some work. It has been 5 years since V1, and this hasn't been addressed. The best way I can summarize the horn (rotor) sound in transition or at high speed is "squirrely." If you switch to dual Leslie mode and increase the distance parameter, it gets a little better. Overall, it sounds fake and detracts from the lovely tone that B4 is capable of producing. Disappointing.

On the other hand, the build-in reverb and addition of a leakage control are excellent. Some of non-Leslie cabinets sound cool. CPU usage is still quite reasonable.

I wouldn't have bought it had I heard it first...unfortunately, NI haven't produced any demos on their website. If you're seriously considering buying this upgrade, wait for the mp3s or a demo version before deciding.

I'm a Hammond fan;own a pair of vintage organs(A100 and M100)plus Voce V5,tried all the clones.I've played the B4 v.2 of a friend of mine on a Duron 2600+ equipped with Audigy2 ZS ASIO soundcard excellent).I'm not sure I'll buy the upgrade :-(
This is the result of a two hours serious test.

A few improvements from vers.1,the best of all are MIDI learn function,reverb and regolable likeage.Obviously more complicated than v.1 but simple and intuitive anymore.

I give it a sad 5, although I love B4 and consider it the best B3 clone,because this version worth a more accurate sound improvement,but:
some elements of the Hammond sound emulation need a close analysis:

DRAWBARS : the overal tone character is the same of the B4 v.1 but the NI guys have modified the volume curves of a few of them here,ie the first (16') drawbar has an annoying
peak of volume on the E-F-F# 2 and on the C-C#-D 3 range:this fact can alter the sound of almost all drawbar settings,since the first drawbar is almost always used,
and doesn't exist either in my Hammond console nor in the B4 v.1!!! ORRIBLE!!! Other drawbars also have unreal volume curves: the 8? drawbar (11/3) is too loud
(you hear its annoying whistle in full drawbars setting),and generally all drawbars are a bit too loud in the first octave(I've accurately made a double bind comparision
with my beautiful sounding A100 console,which is the same as B3&C3).Sadly,this is a serious issue(although easily adjustable,I presume) for the sound realism!

KEY CLICK: louder (good!) than the vers.1 but too harsh and thin,more,the release has an innatural "toc" sound,the real thing has a smoother,"brushed" sound!!!
I keep its volume not over nine-ten, otherwise useless.

REVERB: usefull and very natural: good either spring and studio algorithms

CHORUS & PERC the same of vers.1:great! dedicated button control for percussion 2&3 switching as in the real thing:great!

LIKEAGE: volume reg is a great improvement,also the lik. tone is more realistic now:goooood!

TUBE AMPLI&CABINETS EMULATIONS: The tube amp is good,but the guitar amplifiers give eccentric,unreal Hammond sounds;I hoped NI
would have made Hammond static tone cabinets emulation(PR 40 ecc) and more accurate Leslie emulations,such as transistor models(760,860)
and mono-rotor models.I preferred the generic Leslie of vers.1;now we have two mediocre 147(bright and harsh) and 122(muddy) emulations.
The only good thing in this side is the "dual" option which gives a very spatial and interesting sound.

OVERALL SOUND is obese and lush, but somewhat innatural and artificial compared to the more natural vers.1 sound. THE FIFTH OCTAVE IS EAR PIERCING
whatever the setting you use (Black&Decker effect!!):needs adjustement in order to obtain a more rounded,flute sound in this range!!!!!!

PRESETS: BUM,BAM,YOOOWIING:sad !!! (vers.1 had more serious,real Hammond B3 presets)

NEEDS ACCURATE IMPROVEMENTS IN A FEW DEFECTIVE AREAS!!!!!!