Computer Music was so impressed with Hammond B-3X in their February 2020 issue that it was awarded an impressive 9 out of 10 score and was a front-runner in their annual Virtual Instrument of the Year awards. The astonishing realism, the comprehensive control of every tone generation nuance plus the powerful set of tone-shaping effects all contributed towards an overwhelmingly ecstatic verdict.

Here are some of the key comments:

"To our ears, it's difficult to tell the B-3X apart from the real thing. The plugin combines the warmth of a real-world B3 and Leslie setup with enough digital sheen to enable it to cut through a modern production."

"IK have faithfully replicated every design flaw that gave the original B3 so much of its character, but they have also made these features user-adjustable so you can tailor the sound to your taste."

"There's a parallel guitar amp option that exploits IK's proven AmpliTube technology. With this, you can add a healthy amount of grit and crunch that can be mixed in with the Leslie and a dry, DI output from the organ in the mixer section of the Cabs tab, resulting in a stunningly realistic, infinitely customisable facsimile of the real thing."

"Many B3 emulations capture the sound of the organ, but very few manage to capture the feel of the real thing - the way the air moves around the speaker, the rumbles and clicks of the components working together to create the vibe that Hammond players love so much."

The final verdict was:

"Whatever your bag, from gospel to jazz, hard rock or even EDM, with its full complement of tweakable options and effects, the B-3X might well be the closest plugin, compared to the real thing, that we've ever heard."

Key Plusses:
+ An incredibly-realistic Hammond organ sound
+ Great interface
+ Four tonewheel models to select from
+ Intricate levels of tonal adjustment
+ Extra effects and amp simulations

Hammond B-3X is awarded a 9 out of 10 score

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