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spookyman
Published on 08/14/14 at 23:18
The Hammond SK1 is a "Stage Keyboard" keyboard with a waterfall type 61 keys. Touch is very nice, I even found above the keyboard equipping the Nord Electro. The rest of the instrument is made of sheet with sides made of plastic that does not inspire confidence at all in terms of strength ... it's the first thing I'm going to change, and replace these sides by models with solid oak - and it will become 500 g heavier, but it will always be very very light!
The push buttons are very nice, the plastic knobs are in order, although I prefer the buttons in North or on some Yamaha synths. But for now, everything works flawlessly, so I'm not going to criticize this aspect.
The SK1 has an LCD screen amber, very readable day or on stage. A big advantage over the NE3 or NE4D which has a tiny LED display 3 digits. Editing is still easier on the Hammond. Most settings are accessible by long pressing the dedicated button, which directly accesses the detailed parameter settings - very convenient and fast.
The zippers are not stopped, more sliders that let manipulate without any trouble. But they remain accurate. Note that it is not really like a drawbar XK3C, they are like the NE4D, linear knobs, except that the Hammond you can still read the value displayed on the back.
In terms of connections, the SK1 is still provided. It has a stereo output, headphone output, Leslie output as a DIN 8 pin. Then come the connections for sustain pedal, expression pedal and foot switch. Then the trio for MIDI and a USB connection so you can plug in a USB stick. Unlike the NE4D, food is not included, there is always a transformer to lug around with either. It's not really worthy of a pro instrument, but ... we made it. The SK1 is perhaps not thought for professionals users, I do not know.
SK1, unlike NE3 or multi-timbral NE4D is, which means that you can play two sounds at once. Whether on the stereo output, or only the organ sounds on the 8 pin Leslie output and other sounds on the stereo output. That's one big advantage of this keyboard ... no problem to have an organ sound on the lower half of the keyboard and sound Rhodes on the top of the keyboard. In addition, both parties have their own practical effects engine! Or there is also the ability to stack two sounds across the range. But beware ... only an organ sound and sound the EXP library. So there is no opportunity to sound Rhodes and acoustic piano sound at the same time.
For fans of sounds "Piano + Pad", there are many presets offered by Hammond - but not editable.
At the pedals, it's always better to use the pedals proposed by Hammond. They are heavy and expensive, but they are those who are more progressive and allow better expression. A BOSS EV5 is not really usable, the race is far too short. The EV7 Yamaha model is much improved.
UTILIZATION
As with any new keyboard, it takes time to adapt, but in general, usage is very simple. The edition is very detailed, parameters for each entry. There can store up to 10 simulations of Leslie speakers, through the Leslie 122, 145, 760, 925, PR40, short ... many equipped with tube amps or transistors models. Everything is configurable at the Horn and drum. The response of the speaker (flat, medium, etc ...), to the distance of the microphones, the angle of the latter, speed, acceleration, deceleration, the stop, the type of amp, etc ... North can get dressed on this point.
Ditto for tonewheels where everything can be configured in detail. And I promise you it is worth to dive! Because the differences are really audible. I will not bother me either to say that the presets do not break three-legged duck. But by changing some parameters, one quickly reaches impressive results.
There are 10 buttons fast memories, very practical live use when you want to store some sounds all cooked to a certain program. The effects can be switched on or triggered in a very direct way (like the North).
In short, the possibilities much more thorough than the Nord Electro, and use relatively simple sum ... not bad at all!
SOUNDS
Hammond Organs: I will not go through four paths is greater than North. No doubt about it. Sounds in North Hammond always that grain "North", the famous compression when Leslie simulation is that the sound is a little distorted it clicks. In Hammond, it just sounds like it should, full, round, that growl, that swing, a feast for the ears and fingers. Leslie simulation (when properly configured) is also much higher than in the North, including the NE4D. I also made a comparison with the Ventilator. It's very very close ... on the other hand, I much prefer the overdrive of the Ventilator downright low simulation SK1 ... especially in extreme settings that remind me of the Korg CX3 more than anything else.
In short, apart from the overdrive, it's practically flawless for SK1.
Farfisa and Vox organs: I use these sounds relatively little (except on a piece ...). Whether for SK1 or North transistor organs are usable, provided you have not left have removed Leslie simulation ... zippers are handy for changing the registers.
Pipe organs: the big surprise on the SK1. This certainly are not the sounds we use very often, but then the sound quality on the SK1 is just incredible. Unlike in Northern offers only frozen samples, the SK1 there is the possibility to modify the records available. On a good sound system, it really is .... a class test is required.
Acoustic pianos: There is no photo, North is FAR ahead. The sounds in the SK1 troubleshoot when there is no other digital and acoustic pianos available, but no more than that. No sympathetic string resonance, too few velocity layers ... here. Nice to have, but not more.
Rhodes, Wurli: again, North is much better. Especially in terms of velocity layers. But I'd still like to add that the integrated SK1 effects can save a bit average quality of these sounds. In the end, it's still useful to have a sound of Rhodes (there are two samples, a Rhodes a little "barky" and a second, "tiny." But again, I prefer North.
Clavinet: Amazing ... less adjustable than in the North, but it sounds better than the red Swedish! Here again is a nice little surprise on the SK1. With effects, they even become more useful.
Other sounds: accordions (sampled accordion Suzuki) are not bad at all. Nothing from the accordion at Nord. There is a sound of Solina still nice, but ... when you know the original, all simulations are bland ... For the rest, nothing terrible. Some sounds non-editable synths, which troubleshoot but nothing more.
Note that there is the ability to download new sounds on the site of Hammond. The amount is much lower than that proposed North. As for quality, it is very random. Some samples are much better to see than in the North, others are much worse.
OVERALL OPINION
Hammond SK1 plays its role perfectly complement a Nord Stage 2 with a heavy touch. Where Northern fish a little (sounds Hammond, medium Leslie, Clavinet not terrible, hit heavy ...), I can engage the SK1 in a targeted and precise. Having such a small keyboard with a nice light touch, multi-timbral, is really an asset of SK1.
The build quality does not equal by against Swedish side tank.
If I had not yet North in my set-up, I think I would have opted for the Nord Electro 4D because it offers much better acoustic piano, Rhodes and Wurli the SK1. And organ sounds are still more qu'utilisables on NE4D.
For cons, the seeker of Hammond organ sounds of the highest order, it will not go off buying a Hammond ...
The push buttons are very nice, the plastic knobs are in order, although I prefer the buttons in North or on some Yamaha synths. But for now, everything works flawlessly, so I'm not going to criticize this aspect.
The SK1 has an LCD screen amber, very readable day or on stage. A big advantage over the NE3 or NE4D which has a tiny LED display 3 digits. Editing is still easier on the Hammond. Most settings are accessible by long pressing the dedicated button, which directly accesses the detailed parameter settings - very convenient and fast.
The zippers are not stopped, more sliders that let manipulate without any trouble. But they remain accurate. Note that it is not really like a drawbar XK3C, they are like the NE4D, linear knobs, except that the Hammond you can still read the value displayed on the back.
In terms of connections, the SK1 is still provided. It has a stereo output, headphone output, Leslie output as a DIN 8 pin. Then come the connections for sustain pedal, expression pedal and foot switch. Then the trio for MIDI and a USB connection so you can plug in a USB stick. Unlike the NE4D, food is not included, there is always a transformer to lug around with either. It's not really worthy of a pro instrument, but ... we made it. The SK1 is perhaps not thought for professionals users, I do not know.
SK1, unlike NE3 or multi-timbral NE4D is, which means that you can play two sounds at once. Whether on the stereo output, or only the organ sounds on the 8 pin Leslie output and other sounds on the stereo output. That's one big advantage of this keyboard ... no problem to have an organ sound on the lower half of the keyboard and sound Rhodes on the top of the keyboard. In addition, both parties have their own practical effects engine! Or there is also the ability to stack two sounds across the range. But beware ... only an organ sound and sound the EXP library. So there is no opportunity to sound Rhodes and acoustic piano sound at the same time.
For fans of sounds "Piano + Pad", there are many presets offered by Hammond - but not editable.
At the pedals, it's always better to use the pedals proposed by Hammond. They are heavy and expensive, but they are those who are more progressive and allow better expression. A BOSS EV5 is not really usable, the race is far too short. The EV7 Yamaha model is much improved.
UTILIZATION
As with any new keyboard, it takes time to adapt, but in general, usage is very simple. The edition is very detailed, parameters for each entry. There can store up to 10 simulations of Leslie speakers, through the Leslie 122, 145, 760, 925, PR40, short ... many equipped with tube amps or transistors models. Everything is configurable at the Horn and drum. The response of the speaker (flat, medium, etc ...), to the distance of the microphones, the angle of the latter, speed, acceleration, deceleration, the stop, the type of amp, etc ... North can get dressed on this point.
Ditto for tonewheels where everything can be configured in detail. And I promise you it is worth to dive! Because the differences are really audible. I will not bother me either to say that the presets do not break three-legged duck. But by changing some parameters, one quickly reaches impressive results.
There are 10 buttons fast memories, very practical live use when you want to store some sounds all cooked to a certain program. The effects can be switched on or triggered in a very direct way (like the North).
In short, the possibilities much more thorough than the Nord Electro, and use relatively simple sum ... not bad at all!
SOUNDS
Hammond Organs: I will not go through four paths is greater than North. No doubt about it. Sounds in North Hammond always that grain "North", the famous compression when Leslie simulation is that the sound is a little distorted it clicks. In Hammond, it just sounds like it should, full, round, that growl, that swing, a feast for the ears and fingers. Leslie simulation (when properly configured) is also much higher than in the North, including the NE4D. I also made a comparison with the Ventilator. It's very very close ... on the other hand, I much prefer the overdrive of the Ventilator downright low simulation SK1 ... especially in extreme settings that remind me of the Korg CX3 more than anything else.
In short, apart from the overdrive, it's practically flawless for SK1.
Farfisa and Vox organs: I use these sounds relatively little (except on a piece ...). Whether for SK1 or North transistor organs are usable, provided you have not left have removed Leslie simulation ... zippers are handy for changing the registers.
Pipe organs: the big surprise on the SK1. This certainly are not the sounds we use very often, but then the sound quality on the SK1 is just incredible. Unlike in Northern offers only frozen samples, the SK1 there is the possibility to modify the records available. On a good sound system, it really is .... a class test is required.
Acoustic pianos: There is no photo, North is FAR ahead. The sounds in the SK1 troubleshoot when there is no other digital and acoustic pianos available, but no more than that. No sympathetic string resonance, too few velocity layers ... here. Nice to have, but not more.
Rhodes, Wurli: again, North is much better. Especially in terms of velocity layers. But I'd still like to add that the integrated SK1 effects can save a bit average quality of these sounds. In the end, it's still useful to have a sound of Rhodes (there are two samples, a Rhodes a little "barky" and a second, "tiny." But again, I prefer North.
Clavinet: Amazing ... less adjustable than in the North, but it sounds better than the red Swedish! Here again is a nice little surprise on the SK1. With effects, they even become more useful.
Other sounds: accordions (sampled accordion Suzuki) are not bad at all. Nothing from the accordion at Nord. There is a sound of Solina still nice, but ... when you know the original, all simulations are bland ... For the rest, nothing terrible. Some sounds non-editable synths, which troubleshoot but nothing more.
Note that there is the ability to download new sounds on the site of Hammond. The amount is much lower than that proposed North. As for quality, it is very random. Some samples are much better to see than in the North, others are much worse.
OVERALL OPINION
Hammond SK1 plays its role perfectly complement a Nord Stage 2 with a heavy touch. Where Northern fish a little (sounds Hammond, medium Leslie, Clavinet not terrible, hit heavy ...), I can engage the SK1 in a targeted and precise. Having such a small keyboard with a nice light touch, multi-timbral, is really an asset of SK1.
The build quality does not equal by against Swedish side tank.
If I had not yet North in my set-up, I think I would have opted for the Nord Electro 4D because it offers much better acoustic piano, Rhodes and Wurli the SK1. And organ sounds are still more qu'utilisables on NE4D.
For cons, the seeker of Hammond organ sounds of the highest order, it will not go off buying a Hammond ...