I have owned a Neo Vent 2 for six years. Brilliant. I have just bought a Lester K. The Bottom rota speeds up and slows down very much like my old Leslie 815 that had a rotasonic drum rota. Using both pedals for the first time on a gig tonight. I will use one at a time (bypass one and have the other active) to have different rotary speaker effects. Brilliant video 😃
To my ears, the Neo Ventilator wins hands down, but it's also more than double the price of the Lester K, which doesn't sound bad at all. Think I'll go with the Lester K...for now.
Wow! What a great demo. Your playing style is spot on and so tasteful for this kind of sound, it really helps to get the nuances of the pedals. I’m a guitar player, but I think this was one of the best - if not the best - demo of rotary pedals here on RUclips. Thank you very much!
I'm a guitar player (guess that's obvious!) but man, going back decades and decades, anytime I see and would-see, a big Leslie on stage with everything spinning slow-fast-slow-fast, etc, I get intoxicated with the look and the sound of a Hammond +Leslie and just stare. As a guitar player, I love my phasers, Univibe clones, and my Leslie model 16 powered by my old Super Reverb. They all do their own things in their own unique ways. BUT, I just love moving air with spinning bits! Terrific video brother. Thank you!
WOW ! That was just out of this world ! Your playing along with your deep knowledge of the “Leslie Sound” is worth recognizing and I am thankful to you for taking the time to share with us through this RUclips Video ! The video lasts over an hour but time goes fast and unnoticed when you are enjoying something like this ! Please do more of these comparisons. Thank you ! I definitely subscribed !!!!
Thanks for the video, great job. I have the ventilator. I love its badass close mic sound, which is how my 122 sounded when sound reinforced. (it was the only way you could hear it.) "Back in the day" when everybody in bands used a B3 and Leslie....that was the sound we wanted.
You can critique these pedals, but at the end of the day it is what works best for your situation. I have the Lester K and and older mini-vent. I actually prefer the Lester K. The sound is so smooth and you can't find a more simple pedal. I love the Ventilator II, but that thing is huge and has so many fine tuning parameters, this would be usefull in a studio situation. For live situations, less is more in my humble opinion. I would like for you to add the micro-vent in this comparison. As a price point, the Lester is a great deal. I bought mine off of ebay as a used item. I paid $110.00 for it. When it arrived, this pedal, although used, was in pristine condition. Not a scratch on it and sounds great. I don't want to get into any debates on which is better and why as sound as a whole is so subjective. I run a Roland FA-06 which has the Super-Natual Organs in it. Once the internal rotary sound was removed, the organs sounded great. I did have to fool with the balance as I found the Lester K to be a little bass heavy. Once I made these adjustments, I am totally satisfied.
I think the Vent slays the rest. To me the onboard Nord Leslie is better than both the Leslie and Lester. The Vent just sounds 3D. I love how you can effectively create as much or little width as you want, and to me the drive on it is spot on. I’m gonna grab one for my ‘55 M3. Thanks ever so much for the video man. You got mad organ chops bro 🔥
Agreed. I played through a Leslie ProLine 860 for seven years on the road, hundreds of gigs, and for top and bottom rotor speed (and I'm talking slow and fast speed and acceleration and deceleration times), I could not tell the difference between the Lester K and the 860. The drum rotor never gets up to the speed of the horn rotor on an 860... it just slowly accelerates and wonks away! The drive is even better on the Lester K than it was on that solid state Leslie unit. I, too, love the simplicity of design and function.
As a guitarist, this is a wonderful demo. Love the sounds you're getting, love the playing. I don't know if this will help me find a rotary pedal for guitar use but it is definitely not time wasted!
You're a legend for this video. As a gigging keyboardist who is looking to transition into the organ world without breaking the bank, THANK YOU so much for this. I think you were spot on with what you said about the Lester K: it has it's own unique sound. I was set on the vent before but now I'm rethinking..
Thank you for this! I ordered the Lester K to use with my Roland VK7. I really think it will lift the VK7 to another level and this video showed me I made the right choice! Can't wait for it to arrive.
From this video I chose the Leslie Cream Pedal. It was the closest to my 1967 Leslie 122 speaker, and when I tried it out on my 1969 Hammond C-3 with a Trek VIB-3 line output box it did not disappoint. I found the Neo Ventilator nice, but its doppler effect is too pronounced. No pedal will completely replace the real thing, but the Leslie pedal was the closest for my application.
I had a Leslie 860 (the rock and roll version they created for on-the-road use) for seven years and the braking from fast to slow was quite sudden and indistinguishable from the Lester K.
Great video! I would love to see what you're doing with the drawbars as well! I've made my decision: Ventilator. One question: That second foot switch you're using for the Neo, do you have to use a Ventilator switch or will it work with other foot switches?
Thanks for this, I like the built in Nord rotary OK, but might geta Lester K, so I can control my Roland if I bring that instead. The ventilator sounds really awesome too.
I wanted to the Lester k to be the best simply bc it cost less but The neo vent is still king. I think this is your favorite as well. Lester k has better low end tones
You did a great comparison job. The Lester K has its own special sound not comparable with the other two models. But I will buy this Emulation for sound experiences with my M-100 and my Fender Guitars and Basses. But the Ventilator has the best simulation in my opinion. Your Video was very helpful for me. Thank you very much.
Great demo. I have another pedal for you to try if you do this demo again. Since you did this demo Fender has introduced its Pinwheel Leslie simulation pedal and at $100 less than most of the other models that were available in 2023. I got the Pinwheel because I also play guitar and it has two features that impressed me. The sensitivity control allows you to dial in the effect for the pickups on your guitar and it has a switch to select input impulse for guitar or keyboard. This might make a difference to guitar/keyboard players. The Pinwheel has all the cabs the other pedals do as well as expression pedal control of ramp up speed, overdrive, tone, ramp up speed, and level controls. And it’s a stereo pedal.
You didn't give the low frequency simulation enough time to get up to speed. Like a Leslie, rotor takes a LONG time to get up to speed. I'd also note that the blinking light strictly indicates the speed of the lower rotor only...can't show both. Also, on the "stop"....absolutely realistic that the horn slows immediately and the lower rotor takes a while. My greatest surprise in this pedal was the realistic distinct ramp up and down speeds of the lower and higher frequencies.
You are absolutely right... I should have recorded this at the time with headphones, but had limited space and was using monitors at a quite low volume.
Ben - Thank you for your great video's, knowledge, and help with keyboard equipment. This video was very helpful. I'm looking for something that will fit all my needs in one package and the Korg Grnd Stg. seems to be the best one(except for the Leslie FS). Holidays are coming and hoping there will be some deals out there! All the Best! - Paul
The Ventilator I is a great pedal also, even though it doesn't allow for the nitty-gritty tweaking that the Ventilator II allows. Both have the same price. Thank you for the video.
This was helpful. I just wish it was panned out so I could see what your hands were doing! I just bought a nord electro just to capture this sound. I'm a decent pianist but beginning organ player. Any suggestions on where I can learn how to do this?? Make another video please Ben! Haha. Anyways, about pedals, I bought the lester k but exchanging for vent II. Just too grungy.
You'll never regret a Ventilator. I came from the other direction: real Hammond and two Leslie speakers for years and it took the Ventilator to make me give them up. Haven't plugged one in since.
I have owned and gigged with a neo ventilator II linked to Hammond XM1 and Roland Workstation. Can’t fault it. Years ago i gigged with a Leslie 815. A back breaker. Just received a Lester K. Planning using the neo ventilator and Lester K wired in series just to add variation to the sound. Great demonstration by the way.
@@benallen5967 I would bypass one and have the other active. My other idea is maybe have just the bass rotor on the vent and horns on the Lester K. Just experimenting really.
@@benallen5967an update. I have used both at a few gigs now with one of my XM1s. I bypass one simulator while using the other. They do sound significantly different to each other through the PA system. I like both. What I did find was I have to have the Lester K wired directly to the XM1 then out to the neo ventilator 2. If I wire in the vent first the volume of the Lester K drops considerably.
@@martinhudson2552 thanks for the update! That’s very interesting. I’m glad you are able to use both in your setup. That sounds like fun. What music are you playing?
@@benallen5967 The Two simulators make the Hammond sound like two different organs. Both have their unique sound. I have played many different organs and other instruments over the years and a lot of different styles of music. In the early 80s I had an Elka x705 with a Leslie 815. The Elka was very unreliable but wish I had kept the Leslie although carrying one around would prove very difficult these days. I use a Roland G1000 with Hammond XM1 hooked up through MIDI. We are a duo called Eclectic and we perform songs from the 50s to say the 90s. Our bread and butter are working mens clubs in the Midlands. The Roland is a very versatile instrument for orchestral and string instruments and the XM1 with external Leslie simulators add a realistic Hammond sound. The neo vent is particularly realistic and I have been asked a few times over the years where the Leslie is. I did say one night oh it is in the dressing room. Vocally we specialise in harmonies but also I sing Roy Orbison songs by Johnny Cash and the Highwaymen.
Rael Yudelman yes, the balance knob controls the amount of horn or rotor that is heard. So, since the rotor delivers mostly lows and mid lows, and the horn delivers mostly highs and mid highs, I think it is fair to think of a balance knob as acting somewhat like an EQ.
My opinion is that the Neo Vent is the King..... if you’re looking for inexpensive and beats the Lex, buy the NUX Roctary... it’s amazing. Truth be told... we can hear the differences , the audience can not .... Also, each of us have different ears and you may like one over another.
Excellent review! The leslie pedal killed off some top end rotor, but has the best "warble" Im a guitar player, this is better for a tone comparison, vs. a guitar review. BTW {I had a 1965 E-112 (church) with a PR-40. This sounds identical). GIANT spring reverb on the PR-40. Miss it... Neo Vent , win win.
@@benallen5967 yes. I am fortunate to share rehearsal room with another Hammond player. He has leslies galore, and a great sounding Hammond. Trying out a friends ventilator with my crumar, and I am there! Close enough at least.. damn
Very nice comparison , i use the lester K on the drawbars on a Yamaha Genos & Nord 5D , i also made a footswitch to control the slow/fast see my channel
Hi Ben, thanks for that video! What do you think about using the Neo Ventilator II in a live situation on stage instead of the Nord‘s internal simulation? Will there be a big difference or benefit for me as the player (I‘m using stereo in ears) or the audience? Best ragards Daniel
Thanks for the question, Daniel! So, undoubtedly the Neo Vent II is a superior simulation to what is in the Nord- not vastly so, but yeah, it’s better (more realistic and more tweakable) and using stereo in ears (I do that too) you’ll notice a big difference. It’s gonna be the biggest benefit to YOU as the player to use the Vent. Can the crowd hear the difference? Some of them definitely will, but is that a good reason to bring the Vent instead of using the internal sim? Bottom line. The only reason to use a Vent over the Nord internal sim, is because YOU will play better with a better simulation. It’s just way closer to a real miked Leslie, but the crowd won’t notice the sound difference so much (unless they are a bunch of guys like us)..what they will notice, is your joy, your passion, your real grace with those keys when you play. So… yeah, it’s worth it, but only for YOU. Can you get by with just the Nord? Absolutely but With an IEM mix, the Nord can sound a little too clean and “close”… it just lacks that 3D real space feel. What do I do? 99% of the time, I use the internal sim with my Stage 3, but that’s because most of what I’m doing is blending organ with other sounds, and it’s just easier. If I’m doing solo organ stuff, or in the studio recording? Even though the Nord can more than hold it’s own against nearly any other sim (looking at you Yamaha)…I use the Vent. Every. Time. I can get it very very close to my 147, and that’s what I’m used to with my C3. Hope that helps!
Rael Yudelman interesting! I would say the Nord Electro and Stage 3 series - and Hammond XK5 through the Neo Ventilator 2 are the closest to my 1958 Hammond C3 and Leslie 145. I actually also like the Dexibell B3 emulator, but without an external Leslie effect, I think it’s almost unusable. Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!
I’m torn between the Leslie Pedal and Neo Ventilator. I choosing one for my B3. I feel that the Leslie Pedal is better because of all the different choices compared to the Neo Ventilator. I’m not sure if I should get it because I’ve heard so much about the Neo Ventilator, but to me the Leslie Pedal seems a lot better. I already have a Leslie 122, but I do want a ventilator to practice with headphones. The Leslie Pedal sounds more real to me. What should I do?
Considering buying a Korg GrandStage and was looking at the Lester K as a "foot switch" because there is no foot sw. capability for the Leslie spin on the Grnd Stg.
Ben, I've been checking out all of your video's on the Korg Grnd Stg and want to know if the Lester K would work with the "fixed" organ sounds it has for the Hammond settings. The slow spin would be doubled and I wonder if that would be a problem. I figured the Lester K would solve my need for a foot switch (for fast spin) because the Korg GS does not have that capability from what I understand. Thank You - Paul
Paul Englert you should be able to set the mod wheel to be controlled by the pedal for the organ sound you are using. The manual reads that way to me. I don’t own the Grandstage any longer (I wish I did!)
My question is why companies even sell these pedals when most keyboards have onboard Leslies anyway. I’d understand if someone wanted to use a vintage Hammond B3 or a Yamaha DX7 where there is no onboard rotary speaker per se, but I’m pretty sure that the only reason a keyboardist such as myself would have to buy this pedal is to have either a dual-layer Leslie effect or to allow an additional effect to be used if there are a limited number of those onboard which one can use.
GREAT QUESTION. So, honestly, unless your keyboard has a dedicated organ section (think Nord Stage/Electro, Yamaha YC, Hammond SKX, etc) the VAST majority of built in "Leslie" effects, are pretty abysmal. So, this is a great way to get "that sound" without having to get another keyboard. And, some boards have good Leslie effects on board, but if you are fanatical about getting a 122 or 147 sounding rotary effect - you can't really do it without plugging into the real thing, or using either plugins, or one of these pedals.
The Lester K is EHX's cheap Leslie option, not a bad pedal but the Lester G is a better pedal, IMO, would have liked to see that used in the comparison.
I owned both. They sound identical as expected as they have the same processing algorithm. Although the Lester G has the addition of more control (acceleration control) and a compressor (not useful for organists, I feel), it loses the option to run stereo inputs.
I think we'll get to hear the effect better if you hold the notes thru ramp up as well as ramp down and then up again without letting go of the long notes. You kept cutting off your notes every time you ramp down. Hold some more long notes thru ramp up & down & up again. That's what a Leslie is meant to do. Thnx.
Hi Ben, I just noticed your videos. Particularly the B3-X tutorial and this one on the Leslie sim pedals. So comprehensive and clear instruction. Do you ever offer individual instruction for those who are technically challenged? Thank you
@@folk49 Check the Numa Compact 2x out. It's a relatively inexpensive (~$700) good bang-for-the buck board that fits your criteria. IMHO, even though the Numa Compact 2x has an internal rotary speaker simulation, adding a Lester K to it for a couple of hundred bucks turns it into a decent Hammond B3 "clone".
@@manmars1581 EXACTLY! While ALL DUE RESPECT to LESLIE CABS ... With digital technology advancements, it's all about which pedal sounds as close and/or gives you the most options for tweaking the sound. My $$ is on Neo Ventilator II.
@@robertkaye5434First of all you have to have a good, valuable source of virtual Hammond sound and only after that comes good virtual Leslie device. I personaly prefer Neo Ventilator II too.
I have owned a Neo Vent 2 for six years. Brilliant. I have just bought a Lester K. The Bottom rota speeds up and slows down very much like my old Leslie 815 that had a rotasonic drum rota. Using both pedals for the first time on a gig tonight. I will use one at a time (bypass one and have the other active) to have different rotary speaker effects. Brilliant video 😃
To my ears, the Neo Ventilator wins hands down, but it's also more than double the price of the Lester K, which doesn't sound bad at all. Think I'll go with the Lester K...for now.
Don't. Just save, and wait for it. It'll be worth it, even if it takes a whole year.
@@MiguelBaptista1981 I went with Lester k…then sold it. Honestly, the built-in sound on the Nord is better than lester. I actually quite like it.
Wow! What a great demo. Your playing style is spot on and so tasteful for this kind of sound, it really helps to get the nuances of the pedals. I’m a guitar player, but I think this was one of the best - if not the best - demo of rotary pedals here on RUclips. Thank you very much!
I'm a guitar player (guess that's obvious!) but man, going back decades and decades, anytime I see and would-see, a big Leslie on stage with everything spinning slow-fast-slow-fast, etc, I get intoxicated with the look and the sound of a Hammond +Leslie and just stare.
As a guitar player, I love my phasers, Univibe clones, and my Leslie model 16 powered by my old Super Reverb. They all do their own things in their own unique ways.
BUT, I just love moving air with spinning bits!
Terrific video brother. Thank you!
WOW ! That was just out of this world ! Your playing along with your deep knowledge of the “Leslie Sound” is worth recognizing and I am thankful to you for taking the time to share with us through this RUclips Video ! The video lasts over an hour but time goes fast and unnoticed when you are enjoying something like this ! Please do more of these comparisons. Thank you ! I definitely subscribed !!!!
Thank you. I greatly appreciate your thoughts, and I'm glad it was so helpful! Stay safe out there.
Thanks for the video, great job.
I have the ventilator. I love its badass close mic sound, which is how my 122 sounded when sound reinforced. (it was the only way you could hear it.) "Back in the day" when everybody in bands used a B3 and Leslie....that was the sound we wanted.
You can critique these pedals, but at the end of the day it is what works best for your situation. I have the Lester K and and older mini-vent. I actually prefer the Lester K. The sound is so smooth and you can't find a more simple pedal. I love the Ventilator II, but that thing is huge and has so many fine tuning parameters, this would be usefull in a studio situation. For live situations, less is more in my humble opinion. I would like for you to add the micro-vent in this comparison. As a price point, the Lester is a great deal. I bought mine off of ebay as a used item. I paid $110.00 for it. When it arrived, this pedal, although used, was in pristine condition. Not a scratch on it and sounds great. I don't want to get into any debates on which is better and why as sound as a whole is so subjective. I run a Roland FA-06 which has the Super-Natual Organs in it. Once the internal rotary sound was removed, the organs sounded great. I did have to fool with the balance as I found the Lester K to be a little bass heavy. Once I made these adjustments, I am totally satisfied.
If you ever want to sell your keyboard let me know
I think the Vent slays the rest. To me the onboard Nord Leslie is better than both the Leslie and Lester. The Vent just sounds 3D. I love how you can effectively create as much or little width as you want, and to me the drive on it is spot on. I’m gonna grab one for my ‘55 M3. Thanks ever so much for the video man. You got mad organ chops bro 🔥
Well as a longtime Hammond and actual Leslie user I'm adding another vote for the Lester, drives better and sounds more natural. Controversial!
Awesome!
Agreed. I played through a Leslie ProLine 860 for seven years on the road, hundreds of gigs, and for top and bottom rotor speed (and I'm talking slow and fast speed and acceleration and deceleration times), I could not tell the difference between the Lester K and the 860. The drum rotor never gets up to the speed of the horn rotor on an 860... it just slowly accelerates and wonks away! The drive is even better on the Lester K than it was on that solid state Leslie unit. I, too, love the simplicity of design and function.
PEDALS COMPARED
3:28 Hammond Leslie G 6:29
16:48 Lester K 21:27
39:16 Neo Vent 53:16
As a guitarist, this is a wonderful demo. Love the sounds you're getting, love the playing. I don't know if this will help me find a rotary pedal for guitar use but it is definitely not time wasted!
I managed find a mini ventilator for under $300. If you can run a second amp the sound is pure heaven.
You're a legend for this video. As a gigging keyboardist who is looking to transition into the organ world without breaking the bank, THANK YOU so much for this.
I think you were spot on with what you said about the Lester K: it has it's own unique sound. I was set on the vent before but now I'm rethinking..
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this! I ordered the Lester K to use with my Roland VK7. I really think it will lift the VK7 to another level and this video showed me I made the right choice! Can't wait for it to arrive.
I hope the Lester K is working well for you!
How does it sound with the Roland?
@@jaydee3514 It sounds brilliant in my taste. It makes the VK7 very organic and "3D" like. It's quite a transformation, I definitely recommend it.
@@benallen5967 It sure is!!
Thanks for this video… The Neo Ventilator is bought. Your Great playing that helped with my decision.
Remarkable video, thank you for making such a comprehensive analysis with so great details!
Thank you!
loved the detailed deep-dive comparisons... I wish you would've included a shot of your hands playing, so we could check out your palm smears, etc.
The EH has a surprisingly smooth drive. The Strymon Lex is definitely worth a demo.
I actually tested the Strymon Lex on my own, and didn't feel that is sounded like a real moving speaker.
@@benallen5967 I had a Lex, sold it and bought the I expensive NUX Roctary...
It’s amazing. Not as good as the Vent...
From this video I chose the Leslie Cream Pedal. It was the closest to my 1967 Leslie 122 speaker, and when I tried it out on my 1969 Hammond C-3 with a Trek VIB-3 line output box it did not disappoint. I found the Neo Ventilator nice, but its doppler effect is too pronounced. No pedal will completely replace the real thing, but the Leslie pedal was the closest for my application.
Right on. Did you see in the review you can change the Doppler effect on the vent to being less so by lowering the mix/dist lo and hi knobs?
Thanks!
I had a Leslie 860 (the rock and roll version they created for on-the-road use) for seven years and the braking from fast to slow was quite sudden and indistinguishable from the Lester K.
Great video! I would love to see what you're doing with the drawbars as well! I've made my decision: Ventilator. One question: That second foot switch you're using for the Neo, do you have to use a Ventilator switch or will it work with other foot switches?
Thanks for this, I like the built in Nord rotary OK, but might geta Lester K, so I can control my Roland if I bring that instead. The ventilator sounds really awesome too.
Oh, and your organ playing is fantastic. Loved hearing all those classic hammond sounds.
Good call!
I wanted to the Lester k to be the best simply bc it cost less but The neo vent is still king. I think this is your favorite as well. Lester k has better low end tones
I just bought one for my 6-string bass guitar!
Try the NUX Roctary, inexpensive and kicks Ass !
Thanks for the video. Your playing is beautiful!
You did a great comparison job. The Lester K has its own special sound not comparable with the other two models. But I will buy this Emulation for sound experiences with my M-100 and my Fender Guitars and Basses. But the Ventilator has the best simulation in my opinion. Your Video was very helpful for me. Thank you very much.
Very happy it was helpful!
Finally I would say that the neo ventilator is the best way to get an authentic Leslie Sound.
Great demo. I have another pedal for you to try if you do this demo again. Since you did this demo Fender has introduced its Pinwheel Leslie simulation pedal and at $100 less than most of the other models that were available in 2023. I got the Pinwheel because I also play guitar and it has two features that impressed me. The sensitivity control allows you to dial in the effect for the pickups on your guitar and it has a switch to select input impulse for guitar or keyboard. This might make a difference to guitar/keyboard players. The Pinwheel has all the cabs the other pedals do as well as expression pedal control of ramp up speed, overdrive, tone, ramp up speed, and level controls. And it’s a stereo pedal.
You didn't give the low frequency simulation enough time to get up to speed. Like a Leslie, rotor takes a LONG time to get up to speed. I'd also note that the blinking light strictly indicates the speed of the lower rotor only...can't show both. Also, on the "stop"....absolutely realistic that the horn slows immediately and the lower rotor takes a while. My greatest surprise in this pedal was the realistic distinct ramp up and down speeds of the lower and higher frequencies.
You are absolutely right... I should have recorded this at the time with headphones, but had limited space and was using monitors at a quite low volume.
Ben - Thank you for your great video's, knowledge, and help with keyboard equipment. This video was very helpful. I'm looking for something that will fit all my needs in one package and the Korg Grnd Stg. seems to be the best one(except for the Leslie FS). Holidays are coming and hoping there will be some deals out there! All the Best! - Paul
The Ventilator I is a great pedal also, even though it doesn't allow for the nitty-gritty tweaking that the Ventilator II allows. Both have the same price. Thank you for the video.
YES 43:50 Thank you !
just got an guitar seems i need an organ too =))
Only and always Neo Ventilator 2!! Ciao
Amazing video.
To me, Lester K sounds the best.
This was helpful. I just wish it was panned out so I could see what your hands were doing! I just bought a nord electro just to capture this sound. I'm a decent pianist but beginning organ player. Any suggestions on where I can learn how to do this?? Make another video please Ben! Haha. Anyways, about pedals, I bought the lester k but exchanging for vent II. Just too grungy.
You'll never regret a Ventilator. I came from the other direction: real Hammond and two Leslie speakers for years and it took the Ventilator to make me give them up. Haven't plugged one in since.
I have owned and gigged with a neo ventilator II linked
to Hammond XM1 and Roland Workstation. Can’t fault it. Years ago i gigged with a Leslie 815. A back breaker. Just received a Lester K. Planning using the neo ventilator and Lester K wired in series just to add variation to the sound. Great demonstration by the way.
Thanks! Interesting idea… but I don’t think the Lester K and Vent 2 will sync up and sound good together… maybe they will. Best of luck!
@@benallen5967 I would bypass one and have the other active. My other idea is maybe have just the bass rotor on the vent and horns on the Lester K. Just experimenting really.
@@benallen5967an update. I have used both at a few gigs now with one of my XM1s. I bypass one simulator while using the other. They do sound significantly different to
each other through the PA system. I like both. What I did find was I have to have the Lester K wired directly to the XM1 then out to the neo ventilator 2. If I wire in the vent first the volume of the Lester K drops considerably.
@@martinhudson2552 thanks for the update! That’s very interesting. I’m glad you are able to use both in your setup. That sounds like fun. What music are you playing?
@@benallen5967 The Two simulators make the Hammond sound like two different organs. Both have their unique sound. I have played many different organs and other instruments over the years and a lot of different styles of music. In the early 80s I had an Elka x705 with a Leslie 815. The Elka was very unreliable but wish I had kept the Leslie although carrying one around would prove very difficult these days. I use a Roland G1000 with Hammond XM1 hooked up through MIDI. We are a duo called Eclectic and we perform songs from the 50s to say the 90s. Our bread and butter are working mens clubs in the Midlands. The Roland is a very versatile instrument for orchestral and string instruments and the XM1 with external Leslie simulators add a realistic Hammond sound. The neo vent is particularly realistic and I have been asked a few times over the years where the Leslie is. I did say one night oh it is in the dressing room. Vocally we specialise in harmonies but also I sing Roy Orbison songs by Johnny Cash and the Highwaymen.
Very cool sound. Wondering if I could hook up the Leslie pedal to an M3 hammond.
the balance control is not an equaliser .it controls the volume between upper and lower speakers
Rael Yudelman yes, the balance knob controls the amount of horn or rotor that is heard. So, since the rotor delivers mostly lows and mid lows, and the horn delivers mostly highs and mid highs, I think it is fair to think of a balance knob as acting somewhat like an EQ.
My opinion is that the Neo Vent is the King..... if you’re looking for inexpensive and beats the Lex, buy the NUX Roctary... it’s amazing. Truth be told... we can hear the differences , the audience can not ....
Also, each of us have different ears and you may like one over another.
Lovely demo..On the Lester K, can you get that Richard Wright piano sound that he has on Echoes?
Excellent review! The leslie pedal killed off some top end rotor, but has the best "warble" Im a guitar player, this is better for a tone comparison, vs. a guitar review. BTW {I had a 1965 E-112 (church) with a PR-40. This sounds identical). GIANT spring reverb on the PR-40. Miss it... Neo Vent , win win.
Thanks for your kind words!
Thanks so much for doing this! Think I’m gonna have to go for ventilator though... was hoping to save some money, but alas... Thanks again :)
My pleasure! I have to agree with you... the Vent 2 is just ridiculously close to a real Leslie.
@@benallen5967 yes. I am fortunate to share rehearsal room with another Hammond player. He has leslies galore, and a great sounding Hammond. Trying out a friends ventilator with my crumar, and I am there! Close enough at least.. damn
Very nice comparison , i use the lester K on the drawbars on a Yamaha Genos & Nord 5D , i also made a footswitch to control the slow/fast see my channel
HI Ben, thanks for all your great videos
Hi Ben, thanks for that video!
What do you think about using the Neo Ventilator II in a live situation on stage instead of the Nord‘s internal simulation? Will there be a big difference or benefit for me as the player (I‘m using stereo in ears) or the audience?
Best ragards
Daniel
Thanks for the question, Daniel! So, undoubtedly the Neo Vent II is a superior simulation to what is in the Nord- not vastly so, but yeah, it’s better (more realistic and more tweakable) and using stereo in ears (I do that too) you’ll notice a big difference. It’s gonna be the biggest benefit to YOU as the player to use the Vent. Can the crowd hear the difference? Some of them definitely will, but is that a good reason to bring the Vent instead of using the internal sim? Bottom line. The only reason to use a Vent over the Nord internal sim, is because YOU will play better with a better simulation. It’s just way closer to a real miked Leslie, but the crowd won’t notice the sound difference so much (unless they are a bunch of guys like us)..what they will notice, is your joy, your passion, your real grace with those keys when you play. So… yeah, it’s worth it, but only for YOU. Can you get by with just the Nord? Absolutely but With an IEM mix, the Nord can sound a little too clean and “close”… it just lacks that 3D real space feel. What do I do? 99% of the time, I use the internal sim with my Stage 3, but that’s because most of what I’m doing is blending organ with other sounds, and it’s just easier. If I’m doing solo organ stuff, or in the studio recording? Even though the Nord can more than hold it’s own against nearly any other sim (looking at you Yamaha)…I use the Vent. Every. Time. I can get it very very close to my 147, and that’s what I’m used to with my C3. Hope that helps!
Thanks for that answer, Ben! I‘ll try to get my hands on a vent to check it out.
ive tried all the new keyboards and to my ears the korg cx3 thru lester k wins hands down
Rael Yudelman interesting! I would say the Nord Electro and Stage 3 series - and Hammond XK5 through the Neo Ventilator 2 are the closest to my 1958 Hammond C3 and Leslie 145. I actually also like the Dexibell B3 emulator, but without an external Leslie effect, I think it’s almost unusable. Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!
Alesis Quadraverb also has a cool Leslie algorithm
Great in-depth comparison!
Thanks, Brandon!
I’m torn between the Leslie Pedal and Neo Ventilator. I choosing one for my B3. I feel that the Leslie Pedal is better because of all the different choices compared to the Neo Ventilator. I’m not sure if I should get it because I’ve heard so much about the Neo Ventilator, but to me the Leslie Pedal seems a lot better. I already have a Leslie 122, but I do want a ventilator to practice with headphones. The Leslie Pedal sounds more real to me. What should I do?
You can't go wrong with either, but the Neo Vent 2 is by far my preference.
Considering buying a Korg GrandStage and was looking at the Lester K as a "foot switch" because there is no foot sw. capability for the Leslie spin on the Grnd Stg.
So I take it this was helpful? I'm happy to answer any questions you might have! I know the Grandstage well.
Ben, I've been checking out all of your video's on the Korg Grnd Stg and want to know if the Lester K would work with the "fixed" organ sounds it has for the Hammond settings. The slow spin would be doubled and I wonder if that would be a problem. I figured the Lester K would solve my need for a foot switch (for fast spin) because the Korg GS does not have that capability from what I understand. Thank You - Paul
Paul Englert you should be able to set the mod wheel to be controlled by the pedal for the organ sound you are using. The manual reads that way to me. I don’t own the Grandstage any longer (I wish I did!)
The neo ventilator is the good sucessor to the original leslie cream pedal.
Nice thorough video. Also enjoyed your playing!
Ben could you summarize your favorite settings for all modes?for the neo vent.
My question is why companies even sell these pedals when most keyboards have onboard Leslies anyway. I’d understand if someone wanted to use a vintage Hammond B3 or a Yamaha DX7 where there is no onboard rotary speaker per se, but I’m pretty sure that the only reason a keyboardist such as myself would have to buy this pedal is to have either a dual-layer Leslie effect or to allow an additional effect to be used if there are a limited number of those onboard which one can use.
GREAT QUESTION. So, honestly, unless your keyboard has a dedicated organ section (think Nord Stage/Electro, Yamaha YC, Hammond SKX, etc) the VAST majority of built in "Leslie" effects, are pretty abysmal. So, this is a great way to get "that sound" without having to get another keyboard. And, some boards have good Leslie effects on board, but if you are fanatical about getting a 122 or 147 sounding rotary effect - you can't really do it without plugging into the real thing, or using either plugins, or one of these pedals.
Les is more!
The Leslie pedal is not better than the Nord internal sim
Thanks now you really got me all messed up WHICH IS BETTER THE LESLIE PEDAL OR THE NEO VENTILATOR THANKS A LOT PAL HELP ME OUT ON THIS ONE MR EINSTEIN
Better, is subjective. Which one sounds more like a real Leslie in a room? What do your ears tell you?
Which is better, the Nord Electro 5's internal Leslie or the Lester K?
Very thanks for your comparison.
I'm trying to find one of those online, but I can't find one. Can you send me a link?
One of what exactly?
The Lester K is EHX's cheap Leslie option, not a bad pedal but the Lester G is a better pedal, IMO, would have liked to see that used in the comparison.
I appreciate the comment. I don’t and didn’t have access to one of those are the time.
I owned both. They sound identical as expected as they have the same processing algorithm. Although the Lester G has the addition of more control (acceleration control) and a compressor (not useful for organists, I feel), it loses the option to run stereo inputs.
I think we'll get to hear the effect better if you hold the notes thru ramp up as well as ramp down and then up again without letting go of the long notes. You kept cutting off your notes every time you ramp down. Hold some more long notes thru ramp up & down & up again. That's what a Leslie is meant to do. Thnx.
At what point do you play/compare the Nord Electro 5D Leslie sim? I couldn't find it...
He begins with the Nord at 11:46
I like the nord's internal rotary better. It sounds a bit more "girthy"
FYO I now try to get the word 'girthy' into conversation as often as possible.
It's our band's keyword
@@adamziolkowski2549 u mean like a girthy weiner
Good Job, Ben!
Thank you!
Hi Ben,
I just noticed your videos. Particularly the B3-X tutorial and this one on the Leslie sim pedals. So comprehensive and clear instruction. Do you ever offer individual instruction for those who are technically challenged? Thank you
I do. Reach out at Godisopen@gmail
Killer playing
Thank you, Doug!
Could you recommend any keyboards with built in rotary speakers that won’t break the bank?
Can you clarify what you mean by "built in rotary speakers"? Do you mean good Leslie effects? So an organ centric keyboard?
@@benallen5967 Well honestly any keyboards with a screen and a nice sound bank with sliders that could double as drawbars would probably do.
@@folk49 Check the Numa Compact 2x out. It's a relatively inexpensive (~$700) good bang-for-the buck board that fits your criteria. IMHO, even though the Numa Compact 2x has an internal rotary speaker simulation, adding a Lester K to it for a couple of hundred bucks turns it into a decent Hammond B3 "clone".
The internal Nord leslie vs the leslie pedal of the original big brother with the original models, There are no differences to me sound wise
Hola donde lo puedo adquirir?
LesterK probably better for 🎸 Smaller footprint
Lester G wins hands down.
Hi do you use chorus and vibrato on the nord?
I don’t own a Nord at this point in time, but I never personally used chorus or vibrato on the Organ when I did.
Nice video
Would you sell the hammond leslie pedal??
I actually did several years back.
i like the boss RT 20 best
The Ventilator is the pedal, even at 5 BILL$.
The Leslie Nord sounds better
Is the Nord simulator really that terrible?
No audio... 🎸
Jagger Contreras I’m sorry you are having issues- but I assure you the video has sound.
Man ..... A lot of fuss .... Too bad , the old Hammond XK-1 blows these out of the water and you don't need another pedal ...!
@@joeserrenti9857 that’s hilarious
Sorry to say but some Nord drawbars doesn't sound like Hammond drawbars at all.
That's no the point of the video. It's about comparing three different Leslie simulator pedals.
@@robertkaye5434 At the end it'a all about getting close as possible to Hammond organ sound without Hammond organ and Leslie spaker! 😉
@@manmars1581 EXACTLY! While ALL DUE RESPECT to LESLIE CABS ... With digital technology advancements, it's all about which pedal sounds as close and/or gives you the most options for tweaking the sound. My $$ is on Neo Ventilator II.
@@robertkaye5434First of all you have to have a good, valuable source of virtual Hammond sound and only after that comes good virtual Leslie device. I personaly prefer Neo Ventilator II too.
@@manmars1581 I'm going to use it on my 6-string bass guitar!
WHAT NORD MODEL? WHATS GOING ON HERE? NO DESCRIPTION OF THE KEYBOARD YOU ARE USING
Runnningonempty I actually do tell you that later on- but it’s a Nord Electro 5D.
@@technoxkft.5660 lol..Unfortunately If your dumb ass lives in America you can vote...
Maybe you already addressed this, what are you playing it through Amp, power speakers…
Sounds awesome. Turn it up!
Thanks!