Forgotten Keys FK9 Hammond Auto-Vari 28 v4.2 KONTAKT

This Hammond AutoVari rhythm unit was originally built into an old old Hammond Dolphin organ from the 1970s. Although it only had 7 rhythm buttons, each one had 4 variations so there were 28 rhythms in all. The unit itself included circuitry and controls for the organs auto-accompaniment section but no circuit diagrams or schematics were available to see how to access it.

Sounds
The FK9 includes isolated samples of the 7 analogue sounds of the AutoVari. Each sound has been sampled 8 times and is chosen randomly within Kontakt. They are, or course, accessible via a keyboard or DAW sequencer also. The sounds are in 24-bit 44.1KHz wav format.

Rhythms
Each of the 28 rhythm patterns have been re-created for Kontakt. They are not sampled loops, rather they are sequences that trigger the individual sound samples when needed. This is how a real drum machine works, only here we use samples instead of a sound generator circuit.

Setup
The Setup tab offers greater control over how the FK9 sounds and operates. There are volume, pan and tune controls for each sound. Incoming MIDI notes can be mapped to any rhythm. Random tune and volume controls add a little human element to the sounds.

Inside
Here's what the AutoVari looked like inside. There was no case of course as it was enclosed by the organ cabinet. Some of the controls you see here were for the organs auto-accompaniment section.