KEYBOARDPARTNER HX3.6 User manual

User Manual
HX3.6 MIDI Expander
with Extended License
(preliminary, as of firmware version 6.010, March 2023)
keyboardpartner.com

2 HX3.6 MIDI Expander
Please read this manual carefully before using the HX3 Expander.
Only use appropriate power supply as advised. Input voltages exceeding
15V may damage the device.
Designed for indoor use only. Do not use HX3 Expander in moist places.
Do not spill liquids or solvents into unit.
No user-serviceable parts inside. Refer to qualified technician or service
representative if problems occur.
Only clean with damp soft cloth. Using detergents or solvents may
deteriorate finish and lettering.
Keep packaging in case of service shipment.
EU conformity declaration
The producer/distributor
KEYBOARDPARTNER UG
Entwicklung elektronischer Musikinstrumente
Carsten Meyer
Ithweg 37, D-30851 Langenhagen
[e-mail]
hereby declares, that the product
HX3.6 MIDI Expander
has been designed, produced and examined in compliance with the DIN VDE 0580 standard and in
accordance with the EU Low Voltage Directive.
Following directives, standards and guidelines have been used:
EMV-Richtlinie 2014/30/EU
Niederspannungsrichtlinie 2014/35 EU
RoHS-Richtlinie 2011/65/EU
Langenhagen, March 2023
____________________________
Carsten Meyer / Geschäftsführer

HX3.6 MIDI Expander 3
Contents
HX3.6 MIDI Expander......................................................................................................................4
Features...........................................................................................................................................4
Jack Connections.............................................................................................................................5
Swell Pedal/Volume Control.........................................................................................................5
HX3 Apps and Tools........................................................................................................................6
HX3.6 Manager............................................................................................................................6
TouchOSC for HX3 ......................................................................................................................6
Menu Panel......................................................................................................................................7
Saving settings .........................................................................................................................7
Menu Overview ............................................................................................................................8
Start menu................................................................................................................................9
Upper Voice............................................................................................................................10
Lower Voice............................................................................................................................11
Pedal Voice.............................................................................................................................12
Audio Setup............................................................................................................................13
Reverb Levels.........................................................................................................................14
Rotary Setup...........................................................................................................................14
Percussion Setup....................................................................................................................15
Vibrato Setup..........................................................................................................................16
Phasing Mode.........................................................................................................................16
Organ Setup ...........................................................................................................................17
Keyboard/MIDI........................................................................................................................19
MIDI Control...................................................................................................................................21
Panic button ...............................................................................................................................21
Supported keyboards and MIDI controllers ................................................................................22
Updates..........................................................................................................................................24
DSP Files ...................................................................................................................................24
How To …?....................................................................................................................................26
Touch control by tablet / smartphone.............................................................................................26
Serial numbers and licenses..........................................................................................................27

4 HX3.6 MIDI Expander
HX3.6 MIDI Expander
HX3.6 MIDI Expander is a tonewheel emulator with all the features of a classic electromagnetic
organ. It is controllable via MIDI with selectable CC sets for various keyboards. The CC sets are
editable. Additional CC sets are loadable.
HX3 offers unlimited polyphony, 100 presets, 3 x 15 drawbar presets and CaM rotor simulation
with rotary speaker, scanner vibrato and amp 122. General MIDI sounds such as piano and strings
are also available.
As an option (extended license required), the HX3 RealOrgan engine is capable of emulating all
electromagnetic organs including the famous H100, combo organs, concert organs of the 70s and
80s like Böhm Orchester and Wersi Helios. This implies up to 15 harmonics, up to 12 drawbars
per manual with individual mixtures, including phasing rotor (WersiVoice). An ADSR envelope is
available on all drawbars, also H100 percussion and "Harp Sustain". Various tone generator
waveforms are selectable, for "cheesy" combo organs as well as fully fledged concert organs.
Features
Compact organ emulator in aluminum box, 222 x 150 x 42 mm
Authentic reproduction of generator. Key contacts, percussion, rotary effect, scanner vibrato
and TubeAmp realized using physical modeling in pure hardware.
Extremely low internal latency of 50 microseconds Key-to-Audio. However, MIDI transmission
delay is about 1 ms per note played.
Natural key click due to 9 (B3 mode) or 12 (H100 mode) contacts closing in succession
Authentic ‘CaM Rotor’ simulation with 122 tube amp
Predefined, editable organ models and rotary models
General MIDI (GM) Synth, 54x polyphonic
Tunable in range of A = 433 through 447 Hz
Effects DSP with 3 reverb levels
Dual MIDI IN for two keyboards or bass pedal, swell (expression) pedal and footswitch jacks
LC display and menu system
USB for MIDI over USB, firmware updates, parameter editing
Made in Germany
Default MIDI setting: channels 1/2/3 for upper/lower/bass, MIDI CC NI B4.
DC input 9 to 12V, 500 mA min., 5.5/2.1 mm plug, plus on center.
Trademarks Hammond®, B3® and Leslie® belong to Hammond Suzuki Corporation (Japan). Trademark NI B4
belongs to Native Instruments GmbH, Germany. Product and company names used in this document apply for
illustration and example purposes only. Keyboardpartner is not related to these trade marks in any way.

HX3.6 MIDI Expander 5
Jack Connections
Left to right:
SWELL ¼” stereo jack. Expression pedal input is compatible with Yamaha FC-7 and similar
expression. Plug connection: Sleeve = ground / potentiometer start, ring = potentiometer tap,
tip = potentiometer end. Resistor value 10 kOhm to 50 kOhm.
FOOTSW ¼”stereo jack. Single or double footswitch controls simulated rotary speed:
SLOW/FAST on plug tip, RUN/STOP on plug ring. By default configured for latching foot
switches; can be configured for momentary (button type) switches (parameter #1502, set bit 0
to 0. If single footswitch used, Rotary is always on RUN (no plug ring, input grounded by plug
sleeve).
USB USB B-type connector for MIDI over USB, updates, parameter editing. USB port and
MIDI IN/OUT cannot be used at the same time.
MIDI IN/OUT Factory default secondary MIDI input for additional lower manual, bass pedal or
MIDI controller. Optionally internally jumpered to supply +5V/200ma to our Drawbar Controller
or our Bass25 MIDI (phantom voltage). May be changed to act as MIDI OUT by internal jumper
swap. See HX3 Installation Manual for details.
MIDI IN Primary input from MIDI keyboard.
DC IN Use stabilized DC wall wart 9 to 12V with at least 500mA current output, inner/outer
plug diameter 2.1/5.5 mm on DC input jack. Polarity: positive voltage on inner tip.
AUDIO1/AUDIO2 Main audio stereo output. Output level is approx. 300 mV at full swell.
Swell Pedal/Volume Control
Output level of all output channels is controlled by Master volume setting in menu or MIDI CC #7
“Volume”, whichever occurs last.
Organ's swell pedal position is controlled by an expression pedal or MIDI CC #11 “Expression”,
whichever occurs last. The loudness curve is similar to the swell pedal of a classic tonewheel
organ, so expression volume will not reach zero. We recommend connecting an expression pedal
Yamaha FC-7 or similar (1/4" jack, 10k to 47k total resistance) directly to the HX3 module.
MIDI CC #11 and #7 may be altered via menu to any valid MIDI CC number.

6 HX3.6 MIDI Expander
HX3 Apps and Tools
The following chapter describes how you can control the HX3 device completely via the menu
panel. However, there are other, more convenient options: Use the Panel in the HX3.6 Manager
for operation via PC or notebook. Use TouchOSC for operation via tablet or smartphone.
HX3.6 Manager
The HX3.6 Manager supports the use of your HX3 device
with a variety of functions:
The Panel contains switches and drawbars for your HX3
device. In the panel window you can adjust sounds and
effects, create, name and save presets. When the panel is
open, you can recall presets live using the function keys on
your PC keyboard.
The Preset Mover makes it easy to manage presets. It lets
you try out, move, and rename presets. You can transfer
presets from a file to the HX3 device or save them to a file.
The Editor lets you set up the HX3 for all conceivable
hardware configurations, gives you access to all available
parameters, and lets you fine-tune sounds and effects.
With the CC Set Editor you can edit the MIDI CC Sets of the
HX3, create CC Sets or load them from a file from your PC.
This allows you to get the most out of your keyboard
controller, even if none of the included CC Sets fit right
away.
The Updater updates the operating software of your HX3
device completely in an automatic process or individual
selected parts. Use the Updater also to activate an Extended
License or to change the username.
TouchOSC for HX3
Control your HX3 device via tablet or smartphone with the TouchOSC mk1 app from Hexler, which
you can get for a few euros in the Apple App Store or Google Play. For wireless connection of iOS
or Android mobile devices, the optional WiFi interface for plugging onto the HX3 mainboard is
required. Wireless control is only possible when the HX3 Manager is not connected. iOS devices
can also communicate with TouchOSC via MIDI over USB.

HX3.6 MIDI Expander 7
Menu Panel
After power on the Preset/Drawbar Menu is present. Pressing the
rotary knob twice briefly will let you return to the home position from
any other menu position.
Turn the rotary knob to scroll through the menu. A hatched arrow indicates the menu position.
Press the rotary knob once to edit a parameter value. A white arrow indicates the selected
entry that may be altered. Turn the rotary knob to change that value. Press the rotary know once
again to continue scrolling through the menu.
In the preset/drawbar menu the rotary knob selects the Presets 0 …99. Presets consist of
drawbar settings and optionally tab switch settings (percussion, vibrato etc., including rotary
Run/Fast/Slow), volume and 122 tube amp gain as well as all other effects.
Scroll downwards (= turn the rotary knob clockwise) to the drawbar
presets (Voices) for Upper manual, Lower manual, and Pedal. The
top display line shows the drawbar positions as numbers from 0 –8.
Scroll down one more step to get to the Master Volume setting. Master Volume adjusts the
overall volume for all outputs. Higher values are recommended for the best signal to noise ratio.
Scroll down to the TubeAmp Gain setting. TubeAmp Gain sets the
internal tube amp simulation.
Saving settings
Parameter values tagged by the letter Care part of a single preset. Values tagged by Dapply to
all presets and are stored as defaults. The assignment can be changed in the editor of the HX3
Manager with parameter #1498 or on the Presets page of the Manager’s Panel.
Values tagged by U, L, or Pare part of the current voice for upper, lower, or pedal. These are
saved as Voice (Drawbar settings only) if you save them while one of these markers is displayed.
An asterisk appears at the bottom right of the display when a value has been changed. To save
the setting, keep the rotary knob pressed until one of the following prompts appears on the
display:
"Saved Defaults done" for default values.
"Save to Preset #XX" for presets ("XX" stands for the number of the currently active preset).
Change the number as desired and press the knob again.
"Save Upper to #XX", "Save Lower to #XX" or "Save Pedal to #XX" ("XX" stands for the
number of the currently active Voice). Change the number as desired and press the knob
again.

8 HX3.6 MIDI Expander
Menu Overview
From the HX3 menu you can access all control functions, such as rotary speed, percussion,
chorus/vibrato. You can select organ models and rotary models. You can adjust many sound-
defining parameters. You can create and recall Common Presets and Voice Presets (drawbar
settings only). You can perform updates of the operating software, optionally even without the
HX3.6 Manager.
Important to know:
The HX3 menu is arranged in function groups and has two levels: The main menu, shown in
green, contains the operating functions that are frequently used. In the submenu of the respective
function group, shown in blue, you will find parameters that are used less frequently, usually the
pre-settings.
Press the lower button to switch from a main menu to a submenu. An "S" symbol then appears at
the bottom right of the display. Press the upper button to return to the main menu.
Turn the rotary knob to navigate through the menu. Press the rotary knob briefly to change a
setting. Briefly press the rotary knob again to navigate further.
The menus are arranged in a ring. The last menu item in the list is therefore followed by the first
again when you scroll down further, and the same applies vice versa.
Some menu items are only available with the Extended License. These are shown in italics in the
following overview. It also depends on which organ model is selected (default: B3 Standard). In
the overview, a light blue Hmarks menu items that only appear in H100 mode, and a red E marks
menu items that are available in EnvelopeGen (EG) mode. Depending on the device type, some
menu items are omitted or replaced by physical controls.
As of firmware version 5.637, the menu is shorter and therefore clearer than in previous versions.
Rarely used parameters have been removed from the menu, but are still adjustable with
TouchOSC, with the Panel or with the Editor of the HX3 Manager. Please use this method for the
manifold settings in EG mode.
The editor can be used to remove other unwanted menu items from the menu or added to the
menu.

HX3.6 MIDI Expander 9
Start menu
HX3 Preset: Selection of Common Presets 00 ... 99.
Common Presets include Drawbar settings and optionally Tab Switch settings (Percussion,
Vibrato etc.), Rotary Run/Fast/Slow, TubeAmpGain, and other effect settings. In the Editor or
Panel of the HX3 Manager you can define which parameters are saved in presets. Preset 0
determines the settings when the device is switched on.
Edit Name: The name of the preset can be edited in this submenu. Press the rotary knob
once. Turn the knob to select the desired letter and press the knob again to save the change.
Turn the knob to edit the next letter. Turn the rotary knob past the last digit or turn the rotary
knob from the first letter to the left to navigate to the other submenu items.
LED Dimmer: Brightness of the LEDs on connected control panels and on the menu panel of
the HX3 MIDI Expander.
Save Defaults: Saves all settings as default values that apply at power-up.
SD File Exec: Selection of a script file on the SD card when the SD card adapter is connected.
Bootld Update: Press the rotary knob for two seconds to launch the bootloader for operating
software updates. HX3.6 performs a system reset and puts itself into a special communication
mode for "Device Firmware Upgrades" (DFU mode).
DFU upload ... Fast and secure transfer of firmware via DFU (see chapter Updates).
DFU packages can be transferred to the device using the DreamDFU app or
DreamDFU_kbp for macOS. Under Windows, this is also possible with the updater of the
HX3.6 Manager.
FPGA recover from FAILSAFE Restore the FPGA configuration from the backup copy
stored in the device.
FW recover from FAILSAFE Restore the microcontroller firmware from the backup
copy stored in the device.
Exit update, start HX3.6 Exit the DFU mode with a reset, Connect of the HX3.6 manager
via MIDI over USB is then possible again. WiFi Init Def: Reset WLAN interface to factory
default.
Preset Init: Sets the live preset 0 to a basic B3 organ sound.

10 HX3.6 MIDI Expander
Upper Voice
U00 ... U15: Selection of the drawbar presets (voices). The upper line shows the drawbar settings
as numbers from 0 ... 8. In H100 and EnvelopeGen mode, three mixer drawbars are active in
addition to the standard drawbars.
Voice 0 takes over the live setting of the drawbars, if present (not with HX3 MIDI Expander). An
additional 15 settings can be stored to maintain compatibility with organs with preset keys.
UpperDB 16 ... UpperDB 1: Settings of the standard drawbars for the upper manual.
HEUpperDB Mix1 ... UpperDB Mix 3: Settings of the mixture drawbars for the upper manual.
Mixtures consist of up to 3 higher harmonics with individual levels.
In H100 mode the following options are available:
HH100 Harp Sustain: Activates the Harp Sustain Effect, 4‘ harmonics fading, polyphonic, no
vibrato. Independent of 4‘ drawbar and 4‘ percussion.
HH100 2nd Voice: Harmonics selected by H-Perc Mask sound continuously at full level.
Percussion bypasses vibrato like on the H100. Combined with drawbar voices on vibrato and
2nd Voice activated this results in a neat chorus effect.
HE H-Perc 16 …Mix 3: Selects harmonics for the
percussion/2nd Voice circuit. Each “o”-symbol represents a
harmonic from 16’ up to Mixture 3. The selected harmonic that
may be activated by turning the encoder is underlined. If activated the respective “o”-symbol is
filled white.
H H100 PercToDry: Harmonics selected by H-Perc Mask are bypassing vibrato and phasing
rotor “dry”.
In addition to the organ sounds, General MIDI (GM) instruments are available that can sound as
layers simultaneously. To activate a GM instrument, set its level as desired. To deactivate the
organ, set all drawbars to 0.
UpperGM Prg 1: Selection of GM instrument by program number
UpperGM Lvl 1: Level setting of GM voice
UpperGM Hrm 1: Harmonic transposition of GM voice
With the Extended License, another sound layer can be used. This may be detuned to achieve a
richer sound.
UpperGM Prg 2: Selection of second GM instrument (overlay)
UpperGM Lvl 2: Level setting of second GM voice
UpperGM Hrm 2: Harmonic transposition of second GM voice
UpperGM Detn2: Detuning of second GM voice