Hammond XK-7

For decades, the Hammond name has been synonymous with classic tonewheel organs like the legendary B-3, which played a defining role in the music of the '60s and '70s. In the digital age, Hammond has built on that reputation with advanced clonewheel organs, equipped with modern sound generation that approximates the iconic organ sound in detail. The Hammond XK-7 takes the B-3 experience to a new level. This single-manual organ combines a realistic playing experience with an extensive selection of transistor combo organs from Italy, Britain and Japan, complemented by classical and theater pipe organs. This makes the XK-7 a compelling successor to the instrument known for good reason as the King of Instruments.

Equipped with the latest Hammond technologies
The XK-7 features Hammond's newly developed 6 Contacts Long (6L) keyboard. This keyboard uses six mechanical contact points per key and has exactly the same physical dimensions as classic Hammond keyboards. The result is a playing feel and touch very reminiscent of a vintage B-3. Sound generation is provided by the new Virtual Electro Mechanical (VEM) sound engine, combined with four sets of Harmonic Drawbars, Chorus-Vibrato, Touch-Response Percussion and an updated digital Leslie rotary speaker emulation. Everything is focused on one goal: the most natural Hammond experience possible for the purist.

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Absolute sound authenticity
When the Hammond organ was introduced in 1934, it was revolutionary. The technology had limitations, resulting in side noises and imperfections. These very characteristics were later embraced by organists and became an integral part of playing style and sound character. The accurate reproduction of these characteristics is an important criterion for modern clonewheel organs. In the XK-7, the Virtual Electro Mechanical sound engine recreates the entire original tone generation chain in detail, including the characteristic imperfections that make the classic Hammond sound so recognizable.

Extensive real-time tone processing
The XK-7 brings the sound to life through extremely accurate modeling of the 91 tone wheels that formed the basis of vintage Hammond organs. In the process, subtle pitch variations, volume fluctuations and typical mechanical noises are reproduced. At the same time, the instrument offers extensive possibilities for customizing the sound to your own taste. The latest tube modeling system simulates the warmth of classic vacuum tubes, while emulation of the Hammond matching transformer provides additional body and harmonic richness. Combined with real drawbars, it allows direct and intuitive shaping of the sound while playing.

Precise signal chain modeling
The recognizable sound and response of vintage Hammond organs are directly linked to the electromechanical signal chain. Hammond has decades of experience in this and uses the latest modeling techniques in the XK-7 to digitally reconstruct this chain. The signal begins at 108 digital tone wheels, including five extra-high tone wheels and 12 pedal tone wheels. From there it runs through the matching transformer and preamp to the digital Leslie or through the 11-pin jack to an external Leslie cabinet. The latest digital Leslie algorithms even model the airflow of the rotary speakers, providing a convincing spatial effect and characteristic modulation.

Hammond XK-7 features:

• single-manual digital organ
• 6 Contacts Long (6L) keyboard with the dimensions of classic Hammond keyboards
• six mechanical contacts per key for authentic playing techniques such as glissando, squabble and machine gun
• next-gen Virtual Electro Mechanical (VEM) sound engine
• authentically modeled signal chain
• 108 digital tone wheels including five extra-high tone wheels and twelve pedal tone wheels
• matching transformer, preamp and digital Leslie
• 11-pin connection for an external Leslie box
• extensive tone wheel parameters for in-depth editing
• new XPK pedal set with three mechanical contacts for precise response
• separate Key Click and Leakage controls (XK-7D) with standard assignment on rotary knobs
• new preamp function with modeling of vintage Hammond AO-28 and AO-29 preamps, including tube and stompbox modeling
• separate bass output, switchable to pedal output for bass amp or sound system
• lowpass filter on the full-range output for connection to an active subwoofer
• high-precision digital Leslie with gain control for overdrive
• large color display for clear menu operation
• extensive transistor organ section with Japanese Ace sound alongside Italian Farf and British Vx models
• expanded pipe organ section with classical and theater sounds, now with 40 virtual ranks and additional voices and
• tremulants
• expanded DSP features with separate reverb and delay controls on the control panel

Hammond XK-7 specifications:

• sound generator: MTW2 (Modelled Tone Wheel 2)
• 61-note polyphony for manual
• 25-note polyphony for pedal
• keyboard: 73 keys (61 + 12 preset keys), long keys, waterfall type
• virtual multi contact (5 + 1 contacts)
• harmonic drawbars: upper: 2 × 9 pitches, lower: 2 × 9 pitches, pedal: 2 pitches
• voicing: organ types: 6 (TW, Mellow, Vx, Farf, Ace, Pipe)
• virtual multi contact
• touch response percussion: percussion on, third harmonic, fast decay, volume soft
• effects vibrato & chorus, multi effect 1, multi effect 2, preamp, leslie, equalizer, delay/reverb
• master: master equalizer
• patches favorite: 10 banks × 10 tracks
• patches: factory 100, user 100, adjust preset A/B
• storage: USB memory
• display: 320 × 240 pixels
• dimensions: XK-7: 118.4 (w) × 39.9 (d) × 12.8 (h) cm
• weight: 18.0 kg

connections:

• MIDI: pedal in, lower/other in (XK-7), other in (XK-7D), out
• USB: to host
• H-Bus: to keyboard/pedal
• audio: line out L/mono, R, headphones, rotary out, bass out
• Leslie: 11-pin (supports 1 or 3 channel)
• other: leslie switch, footswitch 1, footswitch 2, expression pedal (EXP-100, jack)