YamahaSynth
Blake's Take
YC OS v1.4

By: Blake Angelos

A new organ model, Live Sets and more.

YC OS v1.4 adds a new VCM organ model, eight new Live Sets, new Live Set EQ and simplified Auto Power Off. Download YC OS v1.4 here. Here is what’s new.

H4 VCM Organ

The H4 VCM organ type has more midrange and low frequencies present and a darker, wider percussion that’s great for playing left-hand bass. There are small but meaningful differences between each of the four H VCM organs, and the new H4 organ is a useful addition to the YC Series Organ Section.

I created a simple organ passage and recorded the audio four times, each with a different H VCM organ type. All organs are set up the same way:

  • Drawbar setting 85300012 with 3rd Percussion
  • 3rd Percussion set to Slow and Normal
  • Chorus 3 on in Vibrato/Chorus
  • Studio Rotary Speaker Type

Additionally I analyzed each recording and generated color images of the waveforms. This offers a cool way to look at each of the four VCM organ types and see the differences in frequencies and harmonic content. Let’s take a look/listen at each of the four VCM organ types.

H1 VCM Organ Audio and Spectral Image

Get the Live Set “Blake’s H1” HERE on SoundMondo.

Each of the following images look similar since they are all organ sounds, but you’ll notice differences in harmonic content that change the character of the sound.

H2 VCM Organ Audio and Spectral Image

Get the Live Set “Blake’s H2” HERE on SoundMondo.

H3 VCM Organ Audio and Spectral Image

Get the Live Set “Blake’s H3” HERE on SoundMondo.

H4 VCM Organ Audio and Spectral Image

Get the Live Set “Blake’s H4” HERE on SoundMondo.

Here are some thoughts about each VCM Organ Type:

  • H1, The Solid All-Arounder: This VCM organ type is a good all-around drawbar organ choice for everything from soul to jazz, country to gospel. The organ percussion is balanced, and the overall sound is nice and clear.
  • H2, The Vintage Performer: A good choice for when you need slightly darker sound with a bit more harmonic “stuff”. This organ has a played-in quality, with a fatter percussion that I like for vintage R&B or soul. Compared to H1, H2 has denser harmonics in the midrange, more pronounced leakage and a little less high end.
  • H3, The Rock Star: H3 is the brightest of all the VCM organs with a prominent percussion sound that really stands out from the rest. This is a perfect organ for progressive rock. The shorter note at the beginning of the example really show the bright H3 organ percussion. Overall, there are more highs in the organ sound and less midrange in that 500 Hz/1 k range.
  • H4, The Soulful Jazzer: This is a great choice for jazz, R&B and ballads, with more midrange and low frequencies present and a darker, wider percussion that’s great for playing left-hand bass. I especially like using this with the “fundamental” drawbar choices like 008000000 or 408200000. It’s great organ pad for ballads. The big red midrange area I circled is where the H4 VCM organ really stands out along with the wider and “puffier” organ percussion. The shorter notes have a wider look to them compared to the sharper prominences in the H3 image.

Most of the music I play is jazz, R&B and soul and the VCM H4 Organ type has quickly become my go-to organ. Which one will you use?

With the addition of the H4 VCM Organ the YC series now has a solid selection of vintage drawbar organs for virtually any musical genre.

Eight New Live Sets

Eight new Live Sets feature different H4 Organ examples along with new splits and layers. Four Live Sets feature just the H4 VCM Organ with different drawbar settings and effects:

Ballad Organ

Prog Organ

Detroit Organ

Loudest!

The next four Live Sets feature the H4 VCM Organ layered or split with Keys Section Voices:

Gospel Layer

Funky Split

Wr-Organ

Fathoms Down

Live Set EQ

You can now store and recall Master Equalizer (EQ) settings in a Live Set. I use the Master EQ a lot for dialing a specific sound to a room. Before OS v1.4 I’d have to recreate the Master EQ each time. Now I can save this setting per Live Set and instantly recall it. This is great for anyone who plays regularly in the same location, like a steady gig at a club or house of worship.

Auto Power Off

Auto Power Off is now 15 minutes when Auto Power Off is engaged.  

Get YC OS v1.4 HERE.

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