Vintage Clav overview in MainStage

Vintage Clav emulates the classic Hohner D6 Clavinet. The sound of the D6 is synonymous with funk, but it was also popularized in the rock, pop, and electric jazz of the 1970s by artists like Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Keith Emerson, Foreigner, and the Commodores. If you’ve heard “Superstition” or “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder, then you know the D6 sound. See D6 Clavinet history.

Vintage Clav uses a component modeling synthesis engine that not only simulates the basic sounds of the D6 but also the various string buzzes, key clicks, and the tone of the pickups found in the original instrument. Vintage Clav accurately emulates the pluck and bite of the attack phase as well as the sticking of the hammer pads. See D6 Clavinet mechanical details.

The Vintage Clav synthesis engine improves on the Hohner D6 Clavinet with a stereo, rather than mono, output. The 60-key range (F to E) of the original D6 has also been extended across the full MIDI range (127 notes).

Vintage Clav provides extensive sound control options. You can radically alter the tone of the instrument, enabling you to simulate an aging clavinet or to create unique new timbres that have little in common with the sound of a clavinet.

Vintage Clav also incorporates an effects processor that provides classic wah, modulation, and distortion effects—often used with the original instrument. The effects are modeled on vintage effect pedals and adapted for optimized use with Vintage Clav.

If you’re new to using plug-ins in MainStage, see Add and remove plug-ins in MainStage.