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organ from “tomorrow never knows” by the beatles | ToneDB

tomorrow never knows

the beatles

organ

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The organ sound on 'Tomorrow Never Knows' features a swirling, Leslie-esque effect, creating a psychedelic and hypnotic texture. It's characterized by its modulated timbre and prominent presence in the mix.

Gear

Hammond RT-3instrument
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Leslie 147amp
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AKG C12microphone
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The Story

The organ sound on 'Tomorrow Never Knows' was created using a Hammond RT-3 organ played through a Leslie 147 rotating speaker cabinet. The distinctive swirling effect comes from the Leslie's rotating horn and drum, which creates doppler-shifted pitch and amplitude modulation. The setup was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with an AKG C12 microphone, capturing the full spatial movement of the rotating speakers that became integral to the psychedelic sound.

Production Credits

Producer: George Martin

Engineer: Geoff Emerick

Recorded at: Abbey Road Studios

Signal Chain

Instrument: Hammond RT-3

Amp: Leslie 147

Microphone: AKG C12

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Hammond organ sample or virtual instrument.
  • Use a rotary speaker plugin to emulate the Leslie effect, adjusting the speed and depth of the modulation.
  • Experiment with microphone placement and stereo widening techniques to capture the swirling sound of the Leslie cabinet.

Original Gear

  • Hammond RT-3(keyboard)
  • Leslie 147(amp)
  • AKG C12(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Native Instruments Vintage Electric Pianos$99-$149

Alternative to: Hammond RT-3 organ

Includes accurate Hammond organ modeling with the RT-3's characteristic transistor-based tone and key click

ReverbSweetwater
Hammond SK1-73$1,200-$1,500

Alternative to: Hammond RT-3 organ

Modern Hammond with authentic drawbar organs including vintage transistor models, plus built-in Leslie simulation

ReverbSweetwater
Neo Instruments Ventilator II$300-$350

Alternative to: Leslie 147 rotating speaker

Highly accurate Leslie cabinet simulation with separate horn/drum controls and authentic acceleration/deceleration

ReverbSweetwater
IK Multimedia Leslie Collection$99-$199

Alternative to: Leslie 147 rotating speaker

Detailed modeling of vintage Leslie cabinets including the 147, with adjustable mic positioning and stereo spread

ReverbSweetwater
AKG C414 XLII$1,000-$1,200

Alternative to: AKG C12 microphone

Modern descendant of the C12 with similar smooth, detailed character for capturing rotating speaker movement

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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