> I have a possibly old memory of the organ sounding about the
same intensity if you barely touch a key as if you mash down on them.
Is that memory right?
Yes and no. I though I would add to Bruce's excellent post with a
perspective of my own. The Hammonds B3s (the most often emulated) did
not have a designed-in velocity sensitivity. However there was a
slight velocity sensitivity associated with it due to the following.
Each of the 9 drawbars in the hammond have an associated contact
within the key. I travel you hand down slowly, you hear the electric
contact noise and each of the drawbars will come in at slightly
different presures (manufacturing tolerance and wear). So if you play
rapidly some of the drawbars don't have time to speak. Which is why a
number of players used staccato to great effect. With varying degrees
of staccato, the sound would change as some harmonics would be
sounded or not. Thats one of the reasons for the "fiery" staccato
technique. It was unintenionally velocity sensitive.
Regards,
Jerry