Welcome to GSi VB3m.


This mobile App simulates the famous american tonewheel organ better known as the Hammond Organ B3.

Main features:

USAGE

The interface is split in several panels:
THE ORGAN PANEL

This is where the main controls of a classic B3 organ are located. From left to right you have the controls for the so-called "Vibrato Scanner" effect, with the two tab switches for the upper and the lower manual, and the rotary knob for the 6 variations of vibrato or chorus. Following are the four tab switches for the percussion effect that is only present at the upper manual. Finally, a vertical slider that represents the expression pedal.
On the bottom row we find the drawbars, 9 for the upper manual, 2 for the pedalboard and 9 more for the lower manual. These are used to create the sound registration and add harmonics to the sound by pulling them out (toward the bottom of the screen) or pushing them in.

THE EFFECT PANEL

To select the desired amplifier, swipe left or right on the amp image; there are two rotary speakers, one stack guitar amp and the direct output (dry organ sound sans amp). Below the amp you find the classic three-way "half-moon" switch used to switch between slow or fast speed, with the stop option in the middle.
The right part of this page shows 6 knobs for the most common adjustments:

Two further knobs allow the positioning of the virtual microphones in front of the speaker. Use the Balance knob to adjust between bass rotor and horn; use the Distance knob for a more roomy sound or a better proximity effect.

THE PROGRAM PANEL

Here you find the list of Programs. Scroll the list, select a Program then tap on RECALL to activate it. To save your Program, after adjusting all sound parameters, return to this page, select the memory slot where you want to store your new Program (the existing one will be overwritten without notice), double-tap on the name to enter a new name then tap OK to store. If you also want to assign a specific Midi Program Change number, double-tap on the number and enter your choice, then tap OK to make the change permanent.

On the bottom right of the screen there are two buttons for uploading or downloading Programs to/from the free cloud service.
Scroll down to the CLOUD SERVICE section to learn more about this functionality.

THE SETTING PANEL

Here you can set a few useful options. On the left you have the Sound Settings, and on the right the Global Settings. Sound settings can be stored per Program, while Global settings are stored globally.

Sound Settings:

Global Settings:

PLEASE NOTE: The latency setting may have no effect in certain situations, especially under Android. Also, it's not guaranteed that a lower setting will produce a lower latency. Actual latency is determined by the underlying operating system (iOS or Androd). If you experience dropouts, make sure your battery is fully charged or your device is powered, also check for other Apps that may be running in the background.

THE KEYBOARD PANEL

This is where you can play the instrument by tapping directly on your touch screen. But if you want to take this thing seriously, we strongly advice to connect a USB Midi Keyboard (you might need an OTG adapter, though) or a USB Midi/Audio interface, so you can both Midi control the instrument and receive high-resolution audio from your mobile device.
In the bottom left corner of this panel you have the half-moon switch, so you can still operate the rotary speaker speeds while playing on the keyboard.
Swipe your finger across the top area of this screen to "draw" your drawbar sound.

MIDI MAP

VB3m responds to MIDI Continuous Controller messages according to the following map (factory settings):

By default, all controllers respond on all channels (OMNI). You can customize your map according to your needs. All controllers can be freely assigned to Midi CC numbers (other types of messages such as NRPN or SysEx aren't supported) and you can also choose the action range.
To modify a controller, you can either edit the map or use the Midi Learn function. Move a controller (fader, button, etc.) on your Midi controller then double tap on the Parameter label (the first column). If a valid controller number is received, this is automatically assigned to the chosen parameter. To edit values manually, double-tap on the channel and enter a number between 0 and 16, where 0 is considered OMNI; then select a CC number between 0 and 127. To unassign a parameter, enter -1 or leave empty, it will change to OFF. Finally, you can enter the range between a Minimum and a Maximum. Of course, max should be greater than min. All changes are automatically stored.

THE FREE CLOUD SERVICE

The Cloud service is used to easily and quickly exchange Programs and Midi Maps with other users. This service does not require any particular registration, no login or password are required, and no personal information must be provided. The service automatically identifies the device (your phone or tablet), not the user.

The first time you wish to upload a file to the Cloud, you must choose your User Name, then you give a name to your file and an optional short description, and start your upload. From the next time on, you're automatically recognized. You can delete your own files when you browse the file list, just select a file and, if it's yours, a bin icon appears on the bottom on the screen.

To download a file, just browse the list, select a file and tap the download icon. If it's a Program, it will be downloaded to a temporary memory slot, so that you can audition it without overwriting any local Program. In case you decide to keep it, choose a slot and tap on STORE.

To upload a Program you must first store it locally, then select the slot and start the upload.

For more help, don't hesitate to visit the GSi Support Page.

ABOUT

This app is Copyright (2021) by Genuine Soundware & instruments
Visit our web site at www.GenuineSoundware.com