TONEDB

organ from “horse in retrospect” by elizabeth a. carver | ToneDB

horse in retrospect

elizabeth a. carver

organ

70% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A warm, vintage-sounding tonewheel organ with a prominent chorus/vibrato and the gentle swirl of a Leslie speaker, providing a melancholic yet soulful foundation.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Hammond B-3 Tonewheel Organ (or similar model like M-100, or a high-quality clone/emulation)

Amp: Leslie 122 Rotary Speaker Cabinet (or similar model like 147, or a high-quality simulation)

Microphone: Upper Horn: Stereo pair of small-diaphragm condensers (e.g., Neumann KM184s or Shure KSM137s). Lower Rotor: Dynamic microphone (e.g., Electro-Voice RE20 or Sennheiser MD421).

Processing: Hammond C3 Chorus/Vibrato setting, Hammond Percussion (e.g., Third Harmonic, Soft Volume, Fast Decay), Light Spring Reverb (from organ, amp, or external unit/plugin)

Other: Leslie speed set to Slow (Chorale). Mic setup described assumes a physical Leslie cabinet; if using a direct plugin/simulator, microphone choice is not applicable and built-in stereo output is used. Drawbar settings likely emphasize fundamental and lower harmonics for warmth (e.g., 888000000 or similar).

Recording Notes

  • The organ sound is clean, with minimal drive or distortion, emphasizing its melodic and harmonic qualities.
  • The Leslie speaker effect is integral, providing movement and a sense of space, primarily on the slow (Chorale) setting.
  • The built-in chorus/vibrato of the Hammond (likely C3) is a key characteristic of the tone.
  • Subtle percussion adds definition to the attack of the notes without being overly pronounced.
  • A touch of reverb enhances the spaciousness, likely a spring type or a plate emulation.
  • The organ is well-mixed, sitting comfortably within the arrangement to provide a warm bed for other instruments and vocals.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a quality Hammond organ emulation (VST plugin or hardware). Set drawbars for a full, warm sound (e.g., 888000000 or 808000000 as starting points).
  • Engage the C3 chorus/vibrato effect on your Hammond model.
  • Add subtle percussion: try Third Harmonic, Soft volume, Fast decay.
  • Employ a Leslie speaker simulator. Keep the speed on Slow/Chorale for most of the part. Ensure a good stereo image.
  • If using a real Leslie, experiment with mic placement. A common setup is stereo mics on the horn (e.g., spaced pair) and a single mic on the bass rotor.
  • Add a light spring reverb. Avoid overly long or dense reverb tails.
  • Keep the gain clean; this sound does not rely on overdrive from the Leslie's tube amp.
  • Listen carefully to the note articulation and sustain in the original track to match the performance style.

Sources