NAMM 2023: Hammond XK-4 - Sand, software and sound

Hammond have dropped the XK-4 hammer just before NAMM, April 13-15, 2023.

Quoting the Hammond XK-4 web pages:

New Modelled Tone Wheel 2 (MTW2) sound engine
Virtual multi-contact keyboard
New digital Leslie™ speaker algorithm
New tube modelling system
User-assignable knobs and switches
Pitch bend and modulation wheels
Color display
11-pin Leslie jack
AUX INPUT jack with gain control knob
Four control jacks: damper pedal, expression pedal, foot switch, Leslie switch
USB-A flash drive and USB-B TO HOST ports
5-pin MIDI IN and OUT
Standard AC mains plug (IEC C14)
Weight: 20 pounds

Check the Hammond XK-4 product video. The XK-4 details page has links to all-playing demos by Jim Alfredson (organ) and Eric Johnson (drums).

MTW2 models slight pitch fluctuations due to tonewheel backlash and volume fluctuations due to de-centering. The virtual multi-contact keyboard simulates the feel of an electro-mechanical keyboard.

The XK-4 provides three vintage combo organs: Farfisa, Vox and Acetone. It also includes classical and theatre pipe organ stops which can be registered in the traditional way.

No manual (yet). Folks will want to know more about those assignable knobs, etc. Will the XK-4 make a good controller for non-organ voices on iPad? Will it interoperate with IK Multimedia B-3X? If the XK-4 is a good controller, it’s lack of non-organ sounds could be moot.

The new XK-4 replaces the old XK-1c model. You can find XK-1c advertised as low as $1,395 USD, if you can still get one, that is. Typical XK-1c MAP is $1,725. As usual, no XK-4 price announced as of today. Jim A’s source sez “2K MAP, available August.” Hold your breath. 🙂