Voce Products

The DMI-64 Mark II was Voce's first commercial keyboard product, a single-rack-space sound module with 99 presets, 64-voice polyphony, percussion, a Leslie simulator, and full drawbar support -- but not while a note was being played! -- released in 1991. The programming interface was complicated, especially because of the limited user interface, but the sound and features are clearly the precursor of Voce products to come. Interestingly, the name implies that there was a "DMI-64 Mark I," but I have never seen any reference to one, even in the Voce, Inc. literature at their website.

Two years later, Voce released the Micro B, a 32-voice preset Hammond simulator which supported two manuals (Great and Swell) plus pedals. The user could select among 36 presets (22 by a rotary knob; the rest by MIDI patch change messages) including Vox Continental and Farfisa combo organs. It provided Leslie simulation and chorus/vibrato, but not simultaneously. The Micro B was mounted in a half-rack-space case module.

In early 1995, Voce released the Micro B II which eliminated many of the shortcomings in its predecessor, while maintaining most of the features (36 patches, 32-voice, etc.) The Micro B II added adjustable key click, simultaneous Leslie + vibrato/chorus, and MIDI volume support.

The MIDI Drawbar module was developed to allow users to adjust and program the DMI-64, and later the V3. There are actually two different versions of the drawbar unit: the original version is shown in the pictrure to the left. It had an input for the Leslie speed control, and the knowbs and switches were recessed from the drawbar area. The later version changed the knob/switch layout to the format used in the V5 (seen below), added an expression pedal input, changed the Leslie foot control to a brake and speed pedal, and added a switch to allow the drawbars to act as either Main or Aux controllers, thus allowing for up to four sets of drawbars on one V3, like a console Hammond.

In 1995, Voce released the Spin Leslie simulator. Miles above the compettiton at the time, the Spin provided dual-rotor simulation, adjustable acceleration and deceleration times, compensation for simulated microphone placement, and brake (stop) emulation.

The V3 was the flagship of the Voce line. This organ simulator used analog circutry to simulate the 96 tone wheels in a Hammond B-3, added full polyphony (two 61-key keyboards + a 25-note pedalboard -- all simultaneously), 128 user-programmable preset settings, an effects loop, a built-in Leslie interface (early units were hard-wired for the Model 122; later units have a general-purpose "R/S" jack and require an adapter tailored to the specific Leslie), selectable low-octave foldback, and four levels of release ley click. The MIDI interface was fully adjustable and programmable to adapt to various keyboard controllers, all from the front panel. The V3 included an on-board version of the Spin Leslie simulator. The V3 was retired from production when Voce, Inc. closed its doors, and there are no plans to resurrect to product.

Following on the heels of the V3's critical success, the Voce Electric Piano provided the "vintage keyboard" sounds of Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hohner Pianet, and RMI electric pianos, plus the Hohner Clavinet and the classic 80's Yamaha DX7 electric piano patch, all in a half-space rack module. Players could supplement the basic keyboard sounds with chorus, tremolo, and wah-wah, as well as "auto-wah" for the classic Mu-Tron Clavinet used by Stevie Wonder and others.

Recognizing the trend back to the warmer sound of analog signal processors, the design team at Voce used their analog expertise to create the EVC-1 compressor/limiter. This tube and optical device used much of the same technologies as the great studio systems of the 60's and 70's, but added newer improvements such as a side-chain input, ultra-fast response for use with drums, and a ground-lift switch.

Next-Generation Voce

The musical products business is a tricky game, especially if you're a small player in a unique market like Hammond organ clones. Miscalculate the demand for a product, run into delays in development or manufacture, have a run of bad parts, or find that the "big boys" are suddenly interested in your niche, and your entire company can go down in flames almost overnight. Voce stumbled during 1997 and 1998, and ultimately decided to close their doors.

Luckily, the Voce line is being re-released by DR Music. Several of the older products are returning to production, along with a pair of products that never quite made it the first time around. The "orange" series continues to move Voce into a more mainstream market. The line has finally begun production, and is now at local dealers.

The V5 capitalizes on advances in circuit miniturization to put most of the features of the V3 -- except the Spin Leslie simulator -- into the same box as the MIDI Drawbar module! Improvements were also made in the background noise.

The companion product, the Spin II Leslie simulator improves on the previous design, and provides built-in foot pedal controls for stage use. It's designed as a companion to the V5 for players who can't -- or won't -- carry around a Leslie Speaker, or for guitar, synth, vocal, etc. emulation of the Leslie sound.