Does anyone here use an external sound module? If so, how do you en corporate it in your playing? I have a Korg emx-1 that I found out I can use (through midi) as an external sound module. I would like to achieve some kinda of vibrato, or chorus effect for my organ sample, but I'm not sure if it's really capable of doing that.

I know you can buy a hammond b3 ESM, but it cost almost 2 grand I think, and I don't wanna spend that much money on something that I'm not even sure is worth buying..


Thanks for your advice! clips of you useing an external sound module, opinions, anything!

I used an external sound module for years. I was using a Yamaha P-120 keyboard and a Yamaha TG-100 sound module.

I connected MIDI out from the KB to MIDI in of the module and routed line out of the module to line in of the KB. That would mix the two audio signals together,(at line out of the KB) and by manipulating the volume controls on each, I could play both together or one at a time.

The P-120 has programable select buttons that will send program change messages through MIDI out to the module, so I could select different sounds from the module from the KB.

I use a UseAudio Plugiator. It has 8 software instruments onboard - including the B4000 B3 emulator. It connects via standard midi cables, is programmable via USB/PC, and has a limited amount of front panel control. It does not suffer from latency. I think I paid about $460 for it. The B4000 has Leslie simulation, chorus and vibrato etc. The Leslie effect has a number of parameters that can be adjusted; it's not the best Leslie emulation but it can be made to sound pretty good. The actual sounds of the software synths are stunningly good - the MiniMax is better than the Little Phatty I sold a few months ago, IMO.

When I use the Plugiator with my GEM Prp800, I route the midi signal through a Midi Solutions Event Processor. The Plugiator doesn't like receiving midi clock and will not run properly unless it's filtered. The GEM cannot filter its own clock, and so the Event Processor can be programmed to do that. I also use it to filter out certain control signals (such as sustain pedal) and add triggers. You can set up external Leslie control, too, although the Plugiator has a knob for that on its front panel.

Another handy little inexpensive gadget is the Behringer RM600 rotary emulator (around $50). It's not a bad emulation for the money and offers quite a few tweakable parameters (fast and slow speeds, ramp time, drive amount, horn/woofer balance, Leslie 145/122/L16 selection). The foot pedal control is a little counterintuitive, but you get used to it.

voxpops- I'm looking at the RM600 online, is it a bass pedal? or just all around sound pedal like you were talking about?

also, I'm not familiar with MIDI that much at all, Do I really need to bring a computer with me everytime I want to connect my keyboard (ex. casio CDP-100) into my emx-1 (sound module) ? I figured I could just plug the keyboard into the emx-1, and then the sound would come out of that.

You figured right. With an external sound module, you don't need a computer for live performance.

However for recording MIDI sequences to make a multitrack arrangement it might be necessary.

The RM600 is a rotary speaker simulator - an effects pedal. It will provide the kind of effect that you asked about in your first post. It will take either a mono or stereo signal from your expander and then feed the processed signal to the mixer/amp. Once you've set it up the way you want it, you use your foot to control the fast/slow settings, or to bypass the effect. You have to hold the pedal down for a couple of seconds to get it to switch speeds - if you do it momentarily, it switches into bypass (no effect). There are a number of more expensive alternatives to the RM600 by manufacturers such as Boss (Roland) and Line6.

After you connect your midi cable from the midi-out of the Casio to the midi-in of your emx-1, you will need to take the audio signal from the emx-1 to your amp or mixer. If you add a pedal, you will feed it through that first.

My MIDI cable is some m-audio minisport midi uno thing, it plugs into my computer via USB, but I want to use it just for plugging one thing into the other and hearing it in my headphones.

So if I plugged the keyboard's MIDI out to my ESM MIDI in port, that's all I'd need to do? and then plug in the head phones and go?

I feel that the midi cable I have is not what I need though -

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Uno.html - That's the link to the midi cable I have

Thanks for your help!

What you need is a standad MIDI cable like one of these. MIDI Cable
SW is not a bad place to buy a cable because they will ship even a $5 cable free. But you can buy one locally in any music shop

What you have is a "MIDI/USB interface cable"

alright, that's what I figured what was wrong. I'll have to get a standard midi cable and work things out. thanks for the advice!!