Canadian Musician - January / February 2020 | Page 70

HOT GEAR IK Multimedia Hammond B-3X Virtual Instrument IK Multimedia has introduced the Hammond B-3X tonewheel or- gan virtual instrument. Created in collaboration with Hammond USA and Suzuki Music Corp. of Japan, along with top Hammond artists, it recreates the sound, controls, and effects signal path of the legendary Hammond B-3. True to the hardware original, Hammond B-3X begins with 91 tonewheels, which are based on well-maintained Hammond organs that IK studied. For authentic realism, these free-running tonewheels are mixed in real-time based on the notes played and drawbar levels. The Hammond B-3X can be fine-tuned using detailed models of the original settings, controls, and circuits. Users can employ tonal filtering, select the independent key click, and engage the iconic Hammond percussion and chorus-vibrato circuits with advanced controls. As well, it offers a full-rig effects chain including stomp effects, a full Leslie rotary cabinet with multiple mics, a variety of mix-and-match power amp and cabinet models, a parallel guitar amp with 4x12 cabinet, a mixer, and three studio post effects. For more information, contact Hal Leonard: 414-774-3630, [email protected], www.halleonard.com. Spitfire BBC Symphony Orchestra Sample Library Spitfire Audio has released the BBC Symphony Orchestra sample library. Spitfire created the package in partnership with BBC Stu- dios and recorded the renowned orchestra at Maida Vale Studios. Spitfire provides the library within its standalone plug-in or as a 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD housed in a hard case, providing plug-and-play-style playability without having to download the library. The collection is comprised of over 200 hours of record- ings resulting in 1,000,000-plus samples covering 55 different instruments on Millennia preamps, including groups and soloists, with 418 techniques, including 33 legatos, for each melodic instrument. It also includes 20 signals, including 11 microphone positions, two stereo mixes, a set of signals designed for use in Dolby Atmos mixing, plus five spill signals for added realism and control. For more information, go to www.spitfireaudio.com. PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN 7-String Guitar PRS Guitars has introduced the SE Mark Holcomb SVN, a new seven-string signature model designed with Mark Holcomb of the progressive metal band Periphery. The SE Mark Holcomb SVN is designed for enhanced playabil- ity thanks to some unique specifications, including a 24-fret, 20- in. radius ebony fretboard on a 26.5-in. scale neck in satin maple with a wide-thin shape. Holcomb’s signature Seymour Duncan Alpha and Omega seven-string pickups provide the right amount of output and articulation, whether playing sophisticated chords or solos and whether playing alone or working in the mix of a band. Other specifications include the choice of a quilted maple or walnut veneer, black hardware, and a three-way blade pickup switch with push/pull tone knob for coil splitting. The model is topped off with coil-taps for the pickups and a string-through, plate-style, seven-string bridge. For more information, contact PRS Guitars: 418-558-8011, [email protected], www.prsguitars.com. 70 CANADIAN MUSICIAN