HX3 MIDI expander module

HX3 Expander (special edition "plexi signature" for first 3 customers, other versions will have aluminum or black plastic front)

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

HX3 MIDI expander is a tonewheel organ with all B3 features in a small box! Controlled completely via MIDI, selectable CC-sets for NI B4, Hammond XK, Hamichord and other. 30 presets (to be stored locally), many "secret" HX3 parameters tweakable by menu with incremental encoder - like key contact flex and damping for key click response, or AO28 gain adjustments for more or less percussion punch etc. And, of course, it yields the legendary unmatched HX3 sound (see page Lineout-Demo for comparison with real B3).

Features

• Compact organ emulator module in aluminum box, 222 x 150 x 42 mm
• Authentic reproduction of generator, tapering, key contacts, percussion and vibrato by FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)
• Extremely low internal latency of 50 microseconds Key-to-Audio (see note below)
• Natural key click by "rattling" contacts
• Accurate Leslie simulation with separate 122 amp output
• MIDI IN accepts 5 different MIDI CC sets
• 7 LEDs show vibrato and percussion setting
• LCD display and menu system with 2x16 presets, virtual drawbars and parameter tuning
• Swell (expression) pedal and footswitch jacks
• Built-in DSP reverb with 3 levels
• DC input 9 to 12V, 500 mA min.

Note: HX3 yields an expremely low latency of 50 microseconds Key-to-Audio (not >20 ms as with other MIDI expanders and software emulation). However, MIDI transmission delays still occur which are about 1 ms per note played.

Kit Assembly

You will need only a phillips screwdriver to build! The HX3 expander kit comes with fully functional boards, front and rear bezel/panel, cables, screws and aluminum enclosure. Make shure you have a size 1 PH screwdriver handy, also small pliers or metric 5.5 mm wrench to holt the nuts while fastening.

• Install HX3 main board to rear panel. The 4 jack nuts hold the entire board. The 4 washers are to be installed outside of rear bezel.
• Use M3 screw, locking washer and M3 nut to fasten the voltage regulator to back panel. The voltage regulator's body should have full contact to back panel as it is used as a heat sink.
• Remove protective film from LCD just prior to final installation.
• Fasten MenuDisplay board to front panel using 6 M3 bolts with spacers. Space between board and front panel should be approx. 12 mm. Be shure not to bend LED wires.
• Fasten side panels to front panel using 4 self-tapping screws.
• Insert bottom panel into slots of side panel.
• Connect 2 flat-ribbon cables to board connectors as pictured.
• Set jumper JP6 on HX3 main board to desired operation: In position "MONO", organ main and pedal outputs are mixed to one channel on MAIN/BASS output jack (plug tip), in other position to separate channels (pedals on plug "ring", right channel).
• Be shure to remove jumper JP12 (near DC jack) when using a 9 to 12V DC power supply (default: no jumper). If you plan to use a 5V power supply, move jumper from AGND spare position to JP12. Note: Damage will occur if higher voltage than 5V applied whith JP12 installed!
• Fasten side panels to back panel using 4 self-tapping screws.
• Affix 4 self-adhesive bases to bottom panel in each corner.

You're done! Time to try out: Plug in appropriate power supply 9 to 12V 800mA min. to DC jack. Display will illuminate and show welcome message, serial number and owner information (your name per default). Turn knob to select a preset. LEDs on right side will show corresponding vibrato/percussion setting.

Jack Connections

HX3 Expander (special edition "plexi signature" for first 3 customers, standard versions will have only HX3 logo on top)

The HX3 expander module has two "stereo" type 1/4" audio output jacks, one DC input jack and two accessory jacks on back panel.

• MAIN/BASS: Separate output for main organ manuals (plug tip) and pedal (plug ring) on jack if 3-pin jumper JP6 set to 2-CHANNEL. Use Y-cable or stereo cable to obtain all channels. Outut is mono (mix of manuals and bass) if JP6 set to MONO (only plug tip connected). Output level is approx. 150 mV at full swell.
• LESL/AMP: Leslie simulation (mono, plug tip) and leslie amp simulation (122 amp without speakers, but with overdrive capabilities, plug ring). Output level is 300 mV (full "Leslie Volume"). The separate AMP output (plug ring) may be used with transistor leslies to obtain the nice tube overdrive effect provided by HX3. On higher "Leslie Volume" levels, you will notice the tube overdrive/distortion of simulated 6550 output stage.
• SWELL: Expression pedal input is compatible with Yamaha FC-7 and similar expression pedals (direct connection preferred for speed/accuracy, but may also be remoted by MIDI CC 11).
• FOOTSW: Single or double footswitch controls simulated Leslie speed: SLOW/FAST on plug tip, RUN/STOP on plug ring. Please use latching foot switches; momentary (button type) switches are not supported. Detailed informantion on HX3 usage can be found on Bedienungshinweise page (sorry, german language - use Google translation service). If single footswitch used, Leslie is always on RUN (no plug ring, input grouded by plug sleeve).
• DC IN: Use stabilized DC wall wart 9 to 12V with at least 800mA current output, inner/outer plug diameter 2.1/5.5 mm on DC input jack. Regard jumper setting of JP12 (see above - must be removed for 9 to 12V voltages, default from factory). Alternatively, use stabilized DC wall wart 5V/1A with jumper JP12 installed.

Volume Control

Organ's volume is controlled by an expression pedal or MIDI CC #11 (may also be another CC number on various MIDI CC sets to retain compatibility). HX3 resembles a "loudness" curve exact of Hammond B3's swell pedal, so volume will not reach zero.

We recommend connecting an expression pedal Yamaha FC-7 or similar (1/4" jack, 10k to 47k total resistance) directly to the module, as it has a higher resolution and acts faster than MIDI control by MIDI CC #11. Anyway, instead of the ORGAN MAIN output you may use the simulated Leslie Amp 122 output instead which has a separate volume pot (for example by MIDI CC $4C hex, 76 decimal in NI B4 MIDI CC set). It may be also be changed by MenuPanel entry "LeslieVolume" (to be reached directly by pressing DATA ENTRY knob after power-on).

Note: On firmware up to version #3.44, despite the swell/expression pedal (or MIDI CC #11) there is a "simulated" total volume control by MIDI CC #7. But: It only reduces "travel" of swell pedal, it is not intended as a volume pot substitute (would reduce resolution and S/N ratio due to internal 16 bit audio handling). On firmware #3.45 and newer, MIDI CC #7 controls the Leslie amp volume which only affects the LESL/AMP Leslie Sim and Leslie Amp output jack.

MIDI Control

HX3 expander accepts MIDI key on/off events (default: channel 1 to upper manual, 2 to lower manual, channel 3 to bass pedals) as well as various MIDI CCs with selectable compatibility sets. Please see page Using HX3 with MIDI controllers for details. SysEx data is always ignored. MIDI OUT acts as a MIDI TRHU output on HX3 expander, as no internal key events are transmitted.

Audio Outputs

HX3 has 4 separate audio output channels (see jack description above). Use stereo type or Y-cable to obtain all channels. If using mono cables, only Organ Main and Leslie Sim outputs are available. Despite complex modeling and switchable reverb, the simulation will not replace a "room" atmosphere. If necessary, in studio recording situations you should consider a miked instrumental amplifier; direct mixing of the output signal is rather unsatisfactory.

Menu System

See HX3 MenuPanel user manual for menu system description. Note: Some entries do not apply to expander use (i.e. analog enables for drawbars/pots etc.).