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Rotary Speaker Cab Pedals with authentic sounds

The reference for Leslie simulations

Rotary Speaker Cab Pedals with authentic sounds

The reference for Leslie simulations

The list of attempts to authentically imitate the rotary loudspeaker invented by Donald Leslie in 1940 is long – authentic results are rare! Guido Kirsch and his company Neo Instruments have dedicated themselves to the digital reproduction of a Leslie 122. The result was the Ventilator, an elegant stompbox that comes amazingly close to the Leslie 122 in terms of sound. An absolute must-have.

Vintage Modeling

Ventilator II simulates a 122 rotor cabinet, which is recorded using 3 microphones. Two microphones pick up the tweeter rotor, a third microphone the bass drum. The distance between the virtual microphones can be changed using the distance controller. The bandwidth ranges from strong amplitude modulation with an intensive stereo effect to a rather diffuse sound image with calm modulation.

Tube simulation

The drive section is another outstanding feature of the Ventilator. No caustic transistor saw is produced here, but a tube-like, warm overdrive effect that can be controlled extremely dynamically via the organ’s volume pedal. Depending on the position of the drive controller, everything is possible here, from a subtle sizzle to a heavy rock tug.

Vintage Modeling

Ventilator II simulates a 122 rotor cabinet, which is recorded using 3 microphones. Two microphones pick up the tweeter rotor, a third microphone the bass drum. The distance between the virtual microphones can be changed using the distance controller. The bandwidth ranges from strong amplitude modulation with an intensive stereo effect to a rather diffuse sound image with calm modulation.

Tube simulation

The drive section is another outstanding feature of the Ventilator. No caustic transistor saw is produced here, but a tube-like, warm overdrive effect that can be controlled extremely dynamically via the organ’s volume pedal. Depending on the position of the drive controller, everything is possible here, from a subtle sizzle to a heavy rock tug.

“There are some decent rotary speaker plug-ins, and good hardware units too, but I haven’t heard anything that sounds this good.”

SOUND ON SOUND MAGAZINE

“There are some decent rotary speaker plug-ins, and good hardware units too, but I haven’t heard anything that sounds this good.”

SOUND ON SOUND MAGAZINE

The beginnings

Guido Kirsch, founder and former head of access music, teamed up with Christoph Kemper to develop VIRUS, a virtual analog synthesizer unveiled at the 1997 Musikmesse. VIRUS was an instant hit, and in just a few years it had become a studio standard. Its fat sounds, flexibility, and intuitive handling made it a must-have tool for all music styles.

Neo Instruments is born

In 2007, after leaving access music, Guido Kirsch needed a new launch platform for his ideas so he founded Neo Instruments. Uncompromising instruments for discerning musicians – that’s the philosophy behind Neo Instruments. The Ventilator was the first very complex product from Neo Instruments and came onto the market two years after the company was founded.

Over the years

Over the years, the mini Vent, a slimmed-down version of the Ventilator without controls, was developed. In 2019 the micro Vent 122 was released and brought the big Leslie sound in a compact case and pedal format for guitarists. The popular Ventilator has also been revised and expanded in important respects. Ventilator II provides a detailed emulation and an outstanding sound. Paired with new and practical features, it is probably the best Leslie simulation on the market today.