Korg CX-3 (1979–2011)
A clonewheel organ in two generations: analog in 1979, digital in 2000. Both were built to emulate the Hammond B3 in a portable package.
Overview
The Korg CX-3 comes in two versions. The original 1979 model is a single-manual analog synthesizer that weighs about 35 pounds. Korg built it as a portable alternative to the heavy Hammond B3. It uses tonewheel simulation and the Siemens SM304 key encoder for keyboard scanning. Nearly two decades later, in 2000, Korg brought the name back as a digital clonewheel organ. This one uses DSP-based physical modeling to recreate the mechanical and tonal quirks of a tonewheel generator. It has a 61-key velocity-sensitive keyboard and two sets of nine drawbars. The Leslie simulation is advanced, with adjustable rotor speeds, microphone placement, and Doppler modulation.
Specifications
| Number of Keys | 61 |
| Key Weight | Synth |
| Key Size | Full |
| Touch Sensitive | no |
| Aftertouch | no |
| Polyphony | 1 (monophonic) |
| Sound Generation | Tonewheel simulation |
| MIDI | no |
| AC Power | yes |
| Batteries | no |
| Audio Out | yes |
| Audio In | no |
| Sustain Pedal | no |
| Soft Pedal | no |
| Expression Pedal | no |
| Weight (analog) | approximately 35 pounds (16 kg) |
| Weight (digital) | approximately 37 pounds |
| Keyboard (digital) | velocity-sensitive with fast-scan mechanism |
| Drawbars (digital) | two sets of nine for upper and lower manuals |
| Drawbar pitches | 16', 5 1/3', 8', 4', 2 2/3', 2', 1 3/5', 1 1/3', 1' |
| Drawbar volume levels | 0–8 |
| Polyphony (digital) | full across keyboard |
| Percussion (digital) | adjustable decay, third harmonic options, multi-trigger behavior |
| Vibrato/Chorus (digital) | seven types (V1–V3, C1–C3) |
| EQ (digital) | three-band with overdrive |
| Reverb (digital) | room, hall, plate |
| Leslie simulator (digital) | adjustable rotor/horn speeds, acceleration, microphone distance/spread, Doppler modulation |
| EX mode (digital) | links all 18 drawbars, adds programmable percussion up to 24th harmonic, disables lower manual |
| Programs (digital) | 128 editable (64 standard, 64 EX mode) |
| Outputs (digital) | stereo outputs, headphone jack |
| Pedal inputs (digital) | expression and assignable controls |
| MIDI (digital) | transmits drawbar positions and effects via continuous controllers |
| Case (digital) | wooden with vintage styling |
Design
The 1979 analog CX-3 uses circuit-based synthesis to approximate tonewheel behavior. The Siemens SM304 key encoder handles keyboard scanning. The 2000 digital version uses DSP-based physical modeling to simulate tonewheel generators, including leakage noise, key-on clicks, and overtone structures. Korg's REMS system handles the effects. Harmonic overtones come from an additive synthesis system with nine drawbars per manual.
Context
In the late 1970s, musicians wanted something more portable than the 400-pound Hammond B3. Combo organs like Farfisa and Vox were lightweight, but they lacked tonal depth. The 1979 CX-3 aimed for professional-grade Hammond fidelity in a stage-ready 35-pound package. The 2000 digital revival answered ongoing demand for authentic clonewheel sound. It used modern DSP to surpass earlier analog attempts in nuance and playability.
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