VB3-II v1.0.0 R2R
Team R2R | 01 Nov 2023 | 7.7 MB
Released in 2023, this is the second version of GSi’s most famous product: VB3-II Tonewheel Organ emulator. This marks 20 years of research and development of this instrument.
Here follows the timeline:
2003: First experiments – a free plugin was released under the name ORGANized trio;
2006: After important developments, the name was changed to VB3 (Virtual B3) and a first version was released as a shareware;
2007: The first major update of VB3 version 1 introduced some new features such as the virtual 9-key contacts and the Ambience and Cabinet parameters that gave a boost of realism to the rotary amp simulation;
2008: VB3 was adapted to be preinstalled on a hardware organ called Hamichord;
2009: A stripped-down version of VB3 was included in GSi’s plugin Key Performer, specifically made for the V-Machine;
2010: That same version was adapted as a dedicated software for the 3rd version of the Hamichord called VB3 Hamichord Edition;
2011: The VB3 Hamichord Edition was released with a new editor interface with loads of new innovative parameters, including several tonewheel generators to choose from, the Drawbar Trims, and features such as the percussion Paradise Mod and the rotary effect Memphis Style;
2011: The whole VB3 HE was rewritten from the ground up with new detailed leakage and crosstalk algorithms, new rotary effect, new features such as Resistor Wires, rotary Front Stop, and so on… and was renamed to VB3 Crumar Edition 2
2014: VB3 became officially VB3-II but was only dedicated to hardware DSP-based Crumar and GSi instruments such as the GSi Gemini and the new Crumar Mojo line;
2017: VB3-II received major improvements such as a new overdrive, new parameters for the rotary effect, and a complex crosstalk algorithm;
2018: The same VB3-II that powered our hardware instruments was finally released as a plugin for Windows and Mac computers;
2019: VB3-II resulted as one of the most cracked plugins… This let us down a little bit, so we decided to take a pause from it and dedicate ourselves to new projects;
2020: VB3-II had its first 1:1 hardware counterpart, the Crumar Mojo Desktop;
2023: We’ve been quite busy with other projects but in the end we got to refresh the whole plugin, totally rebuilt once again from the ground up.
Features already present in the 2018 edition:
Full polyphony (61 upper + 61 lower + 25 pedals = 147 notes)
91 modeled tonewheels with accurate phase synchronization
Adjustable leakage noise and cross modulation between tonewheels
A total of 22 different tonewheel generators to choose from
Generator shaping for a total of 154 generator combinations
Adjustable global tuning from 430 to 450 Hz
Foldback on 16″ deactivatable
Complex wheels
Resistor wiring with multiple options
Realistic “run” motor wow and flutter
Busbars and 9 key contact simulation
Two separate sets of drawbars per manual
Full “inverted octave” presets
String Bass with adjustable release time
Loudness “robbing” effect
Single triggered percussion with natural capacitor discharge/recharge
Adjustable Percussion Level and Decay
Vibrato/Chorus virtual scanner
Adjustable Vibrato Scanner depth and mix
Separated Upper and Lower V/C tablets with smooth switching
Dynamic tube overdrive simulation
Spring Reverb (pre) and Digital stereo reverb (post)
Rotary speaker simulation with virtual microphone positioning, tube overdrive, tube feedback
Rotors “Front Stop” brake position with adjustable preferred position
Very low CPU consumption
Advanced MIDI Learn function with import/export of custom mappings
Upper and Lower manuals SPLIT with adjustable split point
Supports pedal sustain
Custom programmer with import/export of Programs and Banks
New VB3-II 2023 edition features
Added both the tonewheel engine and the rotary simulator from VB3 v.1.4
The V1 rotary simulator features 3 variations, for a total of 4 different amplifiers
Added 1 new tonewheel generator
Added Ring Modulator and Delay effects (pre)
Added FET Limiter (post)
Session Recorder: silently records everything is played and imports/exports standard Midi Files and renders to WAV files
Built-in Audio Player plays the most common audio formats to add a backing track to your music
Octave transposers for upper and lower separately
New Program browser shows full list with move, swap, delete functions along with import/export of banks and single Programs
Built-in function to import/export from/to VB3-II 2018 (and Crumar Mojo Desktop) Program and Bank formats
New Midi Map with reverse, latch and lock functions for each parameter
New advanced Midi javascript processor for custom event transformations (supports SysEx and RPN/NRPN)
Multiple outputs (Main + Organ Only)
Separate plugin for remote Audio and Midi input – includes the exclusive VoMidiCoder
New bigger touch-friendly interface
Four different drawbar view styles
On-screen keyboards with two different viewing styles
Random program generator
Added rotary effect speed control from Channel Aftertouch
Supports Midi Output, can send whole “snapshots” when loading and when changing Programs
Supports different curves for the Swell Pedal
Built-in Midi Monitor for monitoring incoming Midi messages
Free Cloud service for sharing Programs, Midi Maps and Midi Processor Scripts with other users