wow..i was never interessted in organ music, but it was fascinating to watch how you built your own instrument. i wish you lots of joy with your custom organ! :)
That was originally my intention, but the cost of 150+ stop actions (and nonexistent replies from syndyne) was prohibitive. It also seemed like it would be difficult to remember which tab went to what on which organ, since Hauptwerk has multiple sample sets. And to top it all off, it's just one software failure away from all those actions being useless!
@@cameronmcgehee Go for second-hand if you can get them. It's not cheap to do though, the cost of the driver boards is pricey, but done gradually you get there with baby steps. Once it's done, it's done. The difficulty is coming up with a final specification. However, if you are going to keep swapping around with sets, then you are best with screens.
You would make a very talented digital organ builder/engineer for an organ company. With the humongous cost of pipe organs today, the digitals are becoming more and more financially accessible for churches in need of a worshipful instrument. I feel that Hauptwerks are especially good for home use.
Well done Cameron - You are a true engineer. solving all the problems to make something reliable! I am lacking the woodworking skills to do this but could have done the rest! Are you considering going into mass production of your organ? I think you ought to consider it, I'm sure there is a market there in North America you could tap into! All the best from the UK!
Thank you! I'm sure you could pick up the woodworking like I did, this was essentially my first true woodworking project, getting suggestions from a more experienced friend of mine (and organist). That would be a cool gig but it's rather impractical. I don't have the skills or time to build my own pedalboards/keyboards/other parts (especially the metal ones) and finding reliable suppliers for them (I've tried) is pretty difficult. If I were to switch suppliers all the time, I'd have to alter my designs which could be a deal of work. It took over a year of my free time to build one of them, so if I were to match my pay needs for going into production, I'd have to probably charge as much as a new Rodgers/Allen organ! I also did not build it to be idiot-proof (the pedalboard sometimes needs it's switches adjusted, and the keys are plastic, etc.). It's also very delicate to move as I didn't build it with others in mind. I suppose these things could be improved upon, but at again more effort and cost. It's best just to leave the mass production to the mass producers with large factories and workforces, I think.
WOW! Your solutions along the way to building your custom organ console were ingenious and you should be very proud of what you have achieved. (My solution to playing some of the world's greatest organs at home in retirement was to buy the cheapest Viscount model I could find and just plug into Hauptwerk running on my computer via the midi interface . . . so zero ingenuity on my part - but then I lack your talent and perseverance!) Having a home instrument has inspired me to start composing for organ (all 'homages' of music I have loved and played over the last fifty-five years. I'm guessing your upload finishes with your own composition? Anyway, I wish you every success in life, as a little bit of luck along the way really helps, even though you are clearly someone who will make success happen. Subscribed!
Thank you very much! Tommy wanted me to play some for this video, but I had not (and still haven't) quite learned good improv...that bit at the end was an embarrassing attempt at it. There definitely were simpler and less laborious ways I could have had an organ console, but at the time I really wanted a theater organ and those are much harder to find in midi-able condition. I also didn't want to deal with physical pre-engraved stop tabs or knobs...and linking them to hauptwerk. And, I wanted a 4-manual if I was going to take the space up in my living room for a console at all. In the end, like many of the things I do, I figured I'll just do it my way haha :)
They are M-Audio Oxygen 61 midi controller keyboards, 61 keys. I got them cheaper by buying refurbished on Amazon. Worked perfectly in the keycheeks after I took the casing all off, and the midi signals for the keys still work when you disconnect all of the case controls and other unneeded parts, which meant I didn't have to keep all that hanging around. The power switch isn't on the case but rather the main board, too, so even more perfect. They are plastic keys and kind of linear feeling but much cheeper than trying to find and wire wooden keys!
Great job thanks - I took a Lightning struck Rodgers 760 2 manual drawknob console. I gutted the analogue components kept the power supply and 4 channel amp - rewired it all and installed an Artisan system [that was before Hauptwerk] I have since converted to a Hauptwerk using a 27” iMac computer [which I managed to find a way to make it touchscreen]. I have the sample set you are using [Weigle Organ] I have installed 9 other sample sets too all were free except for 1 thanks to Peter Graboski [sp?]
