Vintage B3 Motor parameters in MainStage

Motor parameters

• Acceleration knob and field: Set the time required for the rotors to attain the speed set with the Max Rate knob and also the time required for them to slow down. The Leslie motors need to physically accelerate and decelerate the speaker horns in the cabinets, and their power to do so is limited. Turn Acceleration to the far left position to switch to the preset speed immediately. As you rotate the knob to the right, it takes more time to hear the speed changes. At the default, centered, position the behavior is Leslie-like.

• Max Rate knob and field: Set the maximum possible rotor speed.

• Motor Control pop-up menu: Choose different speeds for the bass and treble rotors. Use the Rotation switch to choose slow, brake, or fast mode. See Vintage B3 Rotor Cabinet window.

  • Normal: Both rotors use the speed determined by the Rotation switch position.

  • Inv (inverse): In fast mode, the bass compartment rotates at a fast speed, while the horn compartment rotates slowly. This is reversed in slow mode. In brake mode, both rotors stop.

  • 910: The 910 (also known as “Memphis”), stops the bass drum rotation at slow speed, while the speed of the horn compartment can be switched. This is useful when you’re after a solid bass sound but still want treble movement.

  • Sync: The acceleration and deceleration of the horn and bass drums are roughly the same. This sounds as if the two drums are locked, but the effect is clearly audible only during acceleration or deceleration.

  Note: If you choose Single Cabinet from the (Cabinet) Type pop-up menu, the Motor Control setting is not relevant because there are no separate bass and treble rotors in a single cabinet.

• Speed MIDI Control pop-up menu: Choose a MIDI controller that is used to remotely switch the rotor speed. All items (except ModWheel) in the pop-up menu switch between fast and the speed set with the Rotation switch positions—either switching between slow and fast, or switching between brake and fast. If fast is chosen, the rotor speaker switches between fast and slow.

  Note: When using a pedal to control rotor speed, you can hold down the pedal for a second or so, then release it to activate braking. Repeat to switch to the previously active speed mode: Fast or Slow.

  • Modwheel: Assigns the modulation wheel to switch between all three speed settings. Brake is selected around the modulation wheel center position, slow is selected in the lower third, and fast in the upper third of the modulation wheel range.

  • Modwhl Toggle: Switches as soon as the modulation wheel moves away from the centered position. If the modulation wheel passes the center position when moved from a high to low position, no switching occurs. This caters to Roland keyboards with combined pitch bend and modulation controls.

  • Modwhl Temp: Switches as soon as the modulation wheel passes the center position, regardless of whether you have moved the modulation wheel from high to low or from low to high positions. This caters to Roland keyboards with combined pitch bend and modulation controls.

  • Touch: Switches with aftertouch on messages. No switching occurs on aftertouch release.

  • Touch Temp: Switches with aftertouch on messages. A second switch occurs with aftertouch release messages.

  • SusPdl Toggle: Switches when you press the sustain pedal. No switching occurs when the sustain pedal is released.

  • SusPdl Temp: Switches when you press the sustain pedal. A second switch occurs when you release the sustain pedal.

  • CC #18 and CC #19 Toggle: Switches when you press controller 18 or 19. No switching occurs when either controller is released.

  • CC #18 and CC #19 Temp: Switches when you press controller 18 or 19. A second switch occurs when you release controller 18 or 19.