BookerLab VMC Series User manual

1 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) Manual

2 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
BookerLAB®
http://www.bookerlab.com
+1 [phone]
BookerLAB is a registered trademark of BookerLAB, LLC.
Crumar, Electro, Hammond, Hammond-Suzuki, Leslie, Mojo, Nord, and Viscount are trademarks
of their respective companies and are not associated with BookerLAB.
Copyright © 2017-2019, BookerLAB, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Proudly designed and manufactured in Liberty, SC, USA.

3 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
Table of Contents
Product Description........................................................................................................................ 4
VMC Family Comparison............................................................................................................ 4
VMC Ideal Users ......................................................................................................................... 5
VMC Models & Features ................................................................................................................ 6
VMC – Vintage Motor Controller............................................................................................... 6
VMC-MM – Vintage Motor Controller + Motor Monitors........................................................ 8
VMC-MIDI – Vintage Motor Controller + Motor Monitors + MIDI......................................... 10
Connector Descriptions............................................................................................................ 12
MIDI Configuration................................................................................................................... 13
Available Accessories ............................................................................................................... 14
Installation.................................................................................................................................... 15
Before You Get Started ............................................................................................................ 15
Installing the VMC .................................................................................................................... 16
Installing the VMC-MM............................................................................................................ 17
Installing the VMC-MIDI........................................................................................................... 17
Cleaning Up & Testing.............................................................................................................. 17
Example Operating Modes .......................................................................................................... 18
Plug’n’Play (VMC-MM)............................................................................................................. 18
Clonewheel or Non-Hammond Keyboards (VMC) .................................................................. 19
Fast / Slow AC Inputs ............................................................................................................... 20
Technical Notes ............................................................................................................................ 21
Speed Control Switch ............................................................................................................... 21
Stop Switch / Memphis Mode ................................................................................................. 21
Memphis Mode Override......................................................................................................... 22
Console-Mounted Slow/Stop Speed Control Wiring Diagram ............................................... 23
Warranty & Support..................................................................................................................... 24

4 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
Product Description
The Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) from BookerLAB provides complete motor control for
vintage Leslie® dual-stack motors.
The VMC allows a Leslie to be controlled with an AC Dual Motor Monitor (DMM; either internal
or external), a half-moon switch, a footswitch, or MIDI Controller. Each of these input devices
can select Tremolo, Chorale, or Stop, while an optional second switch provides Memphis Mode
and Stop Mode.
“Memphis Mode” simulates what vintage players did by unplugging the lower motors, thus
preventing the bass rotor from spinning at all. This feature is popular for using the organ bass
pedals on the bass string lines where the Leslie effect may not be desired. Memphis Mode on
the VMC emulates this effect by disabling the bass rotor while still allowing the horn rotor to
spin at the fast (tremolo) and slow (chorale) speeds. Stop Mode disables both sets of motors,
upper and lower, preventing rotation.
The VMC mounts inside or outside the Leslie cabinet and receives AC power from the
amplifier's reverb outlet, or another suitable AC outlet. The upper and lower motors then plug
into the Fast and Slow AC outputs on the VMC.
The VMC family is available in three versions:
•BL-VMC – Vintage Motor Controller for external motor control
•BL-VMC-MM – VMC with integrated Dual Motor Monitors (DMM)
•BL-VMC-MIDI – VMC-MM with integrated MIDI Controller
VMC Family Comparison
VMC
-MM
-MIDI
Four AC outlets for controlling vintage dual stack motors
with fused (3A) main input

Adds Memphis and Stop modes to stock Leslie speakers

Speed controlled by half-moon switch, footswitch, or hard-wired switch

Speed controlled by Dual Motor Monitor (DMM)
** 
Speed can be controlled via MIDI, or with a standard sustain pedal

Status LEDs indicate input power (blue), Memphis mode (red), Stop mode (red),
Tremolo (green) and Chorale (yellow)

Removable 3-pin terminal block (speed input) allows flexible application with
various remote switches and modes

Bypasses or replaces the mechanical relays in older amplifiers

Rugged, plastic, flanged enclosure mounts securely almost anywhere

** Dual Motor Monitor (DMM) available as optional, external accessory.

5 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
VMC Ideal Users
Hammond/Leslie Technicians
- Debugging and troubleshooting Leslie issues
- Assisting with field repairs on Leslie speakers
- Temporary setup for repair situations
Live Players
- Control of Leslie speaker using keyboard’s built-in MIDI controls
- Increased flexibility in Leslie speed control (footswitch, sustain pedal or MIDI)
- MIDI allows recording of live Leslie speed changes
- Live Memphis control for guitar players
Recording Studios
- MIDI control allows engineers to automate Leslies speakers
- MIDI allows control from clonewheel and combo organs
- Stop and Memphis upgrade
- Backline and studio rental
Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
- Ideal for DIY Leslie projects
- Repair non-working or spare Leslie cabinets
- Use preferred new old stock (NOS) Leslie motors
- Use of two-speed motor stacks with older single-speed Leslie amplifiers
- Special “black box” projects are possible
- Stop and Memphis upgrade vs. costly Trek II upgrades

6 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
VMC Models & Features
VMC – Vintage Motor Controller
VMC Features
•Ideal for bypassing Leslie amplifier for speaker control
•Useful for DIY projects, guitar control, clonewheel or other keyboards/organs
•Adds Memphis and Stop Modes to stock Leslie speakers controlled via ¼” jack
•Speed controlled by half-moon switch or footswitch via ¼” jack
•Requires optional Dual Motor Monitor (DMM) for amplifier speed control
What’s Included
- VMC – Vintage Motor Controller (Plastic enclosure with mounting ears)
- CA724-RED – 110 VAC 18AWG NEMA 1-15P to C7 1M power cord (Red heat shrink)
- KT137 – Accessory bag with:
o(2) 10-24 machine bolts, black stainless
o(4) 3/4” wood screws, black stainless
o(4) 3/16” flat washers, black stainless
o(4) 4” plastic mini cable ties, nylon

7 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
VMC Configuration Options
The following diagram illustrates the configuration capabilities available with the VMC.
Speed can be controlled by an existing Hammond console mounted switch. Speed changes are
echoed through the amplifier to the VMC via the optional, external Dual Motor Monitor (DMM)
accessory, plugged into the Speed Control Switch ¼” jack, which in turn controls the Leslie
motors.
Alternatively, a half-moon switch or footswitch can be plugged into the Speed Control Switch
¼” jack, instead of the DMM box, to control the speed.
The addition of Stop and Memphis provided by the VMC can be controlled by a footswitch
plugged into the Stop Switch / Memphis Mode ¼” jack. A half-moon switch or custom panel-
mounted toggle switch can be hardwired using the 3-pin removable terminal block.

8 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
VMC-MM – Vintage Motor Controller + Motor Monitors
VMC-MM Features
•Ideal for Leslie speaker speed controls via stock amplifier
•Adds Memphis and Stop Modes to stock Leslie speakers
•Also allows speed control by half-moon switch or footswitch via ¼” jack
•Memphis and Stop Modes controlled by 2-position footswitch via ¼” jack
•Integrates Dual Motor Monitor (DMM) for stock amplifier speed control
What’s Included
- VMC-MM – Vintage Motor Controller (Plastic enclosure with mounting ears)
- CA724-BRN – 110 VAC 18AWG NEMA 1-15P to C7 1M power cord (Brown heat shrink)
- CA724-RED – 110 VAC 18AWG NEMA 1-15P to C7 1M power cord (Red heat shrink)
- CA724-WHT – 110 VAC 18AWG NEMA 1-15P to C7 1M power cord (White heat shrink)
- KT137 – Accessory bag with:
o(2) 10-24 machine bolts, black stainless
o(4) 3/4” wood screws, black stainless
o(4) 3/16” flat washers, black stainless
o(4) 4” plastic mini cable ties, nylon

9 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
VMC-MM Configuration Options
The following diagram illustrates the configuration capabilities available with the VMC-MM.
Speed is controlled by an existing Hammond console mounted switch. Speed changes are
echoed through the amplifier to the VMC via the integrated motor monitors, which in turn
controls the Leslie motors.
Alternatively, speed can be controlled by a half-moon switch or footswitch plugged into the
Speed Control Switch ¼” jack. This jack will override speed changes from the Leslie amplifier.
The addition of Stop and Memphis provided by the VMC can be controlled by a footswitch
plugged into the Stop Switch / Memphis Mode ¼” jack. A half-moon switch or custom panel-
mounted toggle switch can be hardwired using the 3-pin removable terminal block.

10 | Page BookerLAB® ©2017-2019
Vintage Motor Controller (VMC) for Leslie Speakers (v19-0214)
[email protected] -[phone]
VMC-MIDI – Vintage Motor Controller + Motor Monitors + MIDI
VMC-MIDI Features
•Ideal for Leslie speaker speed control via stock amplifier, external switch or MIDI
•Adds Memphis and Stop Modes to stock Leslie speakers
•Adds MIDI (Speed, Memphis & Stop) control of Leslie speaker
•Speed also controlled by half-moon switch or sustain pedal via ¼” jack
•Memphis and Stop Modes also controlled by 2-position footswitch via ¼” jack
•Integrates Dual Motor Monitor (DMM) for amplifier speed control
What’s Included
- VMC-MIDI – Vintage Motor Controller (Plastic enclosure with mounting ears)
- CA724-BRN – 110 VAC 18AWG NEMA 1-15P to C7 1M power cord (Brown heat shrink)
- CA724-RED – 110 VAC 18AWG NEMA 1-15P to C7 1M power cord (Red heat shrink)
- CA724-WHT – 110 VAC 18AWG NEMA 1-15P to C7 1M power cord (White heat shrink)
- KT137 – Accessory bag with:
o(2) 10-24 machine bolts, black stainless
o(4) 3/4” wood screws, black stainless
o(4) 3/16” flat washers, black stainless
o(4) 4” plastic mini cable ties, nylon