Having studied the Ferrofish A16 MKII and receiving an indication that there was another product in the works, I wondered what it could be. The only clue being 'it is small and cute'.
Well, if it was small compared to the A16 MKII, then chances were it was not going to be a 19" rack unit. I also knew it was Sharc DSP based but eliminated the idea of it being an effects unit due to this already being covered by Scope. So I came to the conclusion that maybe it would be a small mixing desk, perhaps a hardware version of the Scope STM1632.
When the B4000+ was announced I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was in fact an electronic organ instrument in the form of a more compact incarnation of the Creamware B4000, an emulation of the famous Hammond B3 Organ.
Upon first viewing a picture of the B4000+ I was impressed by its compact size (24cm x 20 cm x 5cm) and knew that this would be a great space saver in the studio and easily portable for live use.
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After a favorable first impression, a deeper look at the case and the front panel indicated that despite the economical design, there was plenty of functionality here in a package half the size and weight of the previous B4000. The inclusion of a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display meant that the controller knobs could perform multiple functions by context of what was currently selected and displayed on the screen. For live use, I wondered how the B4000+ would stand up to the rigors of the road and Juergen Kindermann was kind enough to give us some indication of how it was designed to fit the bill in this regard as well as other insights into it's design. Also, a list of the features can be seen from the packaging text provided below. |
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Dante: When I read that the case was metal (not plastic) I gained the impression this thing was built tough, to survive the rigors of the road? Juergen: Yes it is built tough. And is in fact about twice as heavy as it looks. Also the knobs are metal and have metal shafts so it is indeed very robust. Dante: So is the
functionality is very much the same as it was in the original B2003 Creamware model? Dante: The user interface looks very different now, including the display. Juergen: Yes, the user interface now is very different to the old B4000, now you can access every function of the B4000+ directly not needing to use the PC. The TFT display shows a nice 'vintage' screen for each function, also preset names and categories, and you can see the knobs there turn 1:1 when using the endless-pots. Dante: Are the knobs normal pots or digital encoders? Juergen: They are a mixture between potentiometers and encoders, they are analog like potentiometers but 'endless' like encoders. Dante: And how about inputs and outputs? Juergen: Also we added headphone out and you can now route the analog input through the different effects of the B4000+, so you can use the rotor for example also with the external signal. In the case you like to attach two keyboards directly for the upper and lower manuals, you can do this directly with the two MIDI-In connectors. Dante: Looks like a lot of work has gone into this project, how long did it take? Juergen: Even without having to write all the DSP code, it was one year of development for this thing, but I am sure it was worth it! Dante: Will we be able to hear some sound demos? Juergen: We are a bit busy with the first manufacturing run, but a friend of mine is currently doing some demos and I will put them on the website. Perhaps even a video as well as I heard that the Music Store is working on that. I will post a link when I see it there. Dante: Can we expect more Authentic Sound Boxes? Juergen: Yes, we will probably do more ASB II. If the B4000+ sells well it would be silly not to do. Besides it's fun! Dante: Thank you very much, I am sure this unit will be successful as it is a marvel of modern miniaturization without compromising the sound or functionality. Juergen: You're welcome! |
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Dante and Juergen October 2011 |
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