DB-33
by AIR Music Technology · Keys · Tonewheel organ with rotary cabinet
Not rated yet
DB-33 emulates the classic Hammond B3 tonewheel organ with a convolution rotary speaker cabinet and tube overdrive.
The rotary cabinet also works as an effect on audio tracks; it costs $99.
Best for: Keys & Synths. Genres: R&B & Soul, Rock & Indie, Jazz, Acoustic & Classical.
Keywords: organ, tonewheel organ, hardware emulation, classic, CPU-light, tube, airy, AAX, gritty, preset-driven, vintage.
What it does
DB-33 is AIR's long-running tonewheel organ, first known as a Pro Tools instrument. It recreates classic tonewheel organs such as the Hammond B3, paired with a rotary speaker cabinet, and is built to be light on CPU.
- Organ model: an AIR-proprietary model of a vintage tonewheel organ.
- Rotary cabinet: a custom convolution-based rotary speaker emulation, switched with an animated slow/brake/fast lever that follows the mod wheel by default.
- Cabinet as an effect: the rotary cabinet also comes as a separate plugin, so you can put guitars, keys or vocals through it.
- Drive: a tube overdrive emulation for adding grit.
- MIDI control: controls can be assigned to MIDI CCs with right-click MIDI learn.
- Presets: 122 presets.
The current version is 1.3.1 (2024).
Source: AIR Music Technology product page
When to use it
DB-33 is a simple, inexpensive B3-style organ with a usable rotary cabinet that doubles as an effect on other tracks. Unlike the rated keys plugins, which are built around pianos and electric pianos (Keyscape and Addictive Keys cover many keyboards, and Pianoteq 9 models acoustic pianos), it is a dedicated organ, so it fills a different gap. It is simpler than Native Instruments' Vintage Organs, which has several organ models in one, and than AIR's own newer AIR Organ, which adds more effects.
- Best for: B3-style chords and comping, gospel runs, and rotary effects on other instruments.
- Genres: soul, R&B, gospel, rock, blues and jazz.
- Look elsewhere if: you want several organ types or more detail (NI Vintage Organs), or AIR's newer organ with MPC support (AIR Organ).
- Tip: a KVR user found that setting the cabinet's organ knob around 12 to 1 o'clock removes occasional static.
What producers say
There is little published feedback, but users who reviewed it find it a good-sounding, efficient organ, best value at a discount.
- KVR users rate it 4 out of 5 from 2 reviews, praising the sound, low CPU use, presets and MIDI learn.
- Value: one KVR reviewer called it "great if you can get it in a very discounted deal".
- Criticisms: one user found it less distinctive than rival tonewheel plugins.
Where to buy
- Best Service: $29
- PluginFox: $29 (regular $99)
- Plugin Boutique: $31 (regular $99)
- AIR Music Technology: $99 (list price from KVR Audio; airmusictech.com shows prices only in its shop)
- AudioDeluxe: $99
Tutorials and reviews
- AIR Music Technology DB-33 Overview and Walkthrough
- DB-33 • AIR Music Technology • 16 Selected Factory Presets • Organ VST • Sounds Patches • No Talking
- Air Music Tech DB-33 -Revisión Oficial en Español-
- Pro Tools - DB-33 organ demos
- Studio Files: Introduction to DB33 Organ in Pro Tools LE
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