What to do when there is a sound delay...suggestions?

[Guest]

The organ that I practice on is an electronic Rodgers organ. Since the organ is small and self-contained, the sound is instant- when I hit the key, the note plays.</p>

At the temple that I play at, there is a short sound delay. In other words, it is really difficult to play certain pieces. For instance, faster Bach preludes are very difficult while majestic Handel marches are easier.</p>

In any event, it can be difficult to play "exposed", faster music on the this organ because of the delay. It really thows me off. Can any one give any suggestions for how to overcome this? Any tricks?
</p>

[soubasse32]

Re: What to do when there is a sound delay...suggestions?



You can do several things, namely:</P>


1. If there is a division of pipes close to the console, make sure those are coupled to every keyboard; it can be just one stop, as long as you can hear it clearly.</P>


2. Register a 2' stop, since that pitch will tend to be a bit more audible than lower pitches.</P>


3. Practice with all stops off so you get used to hearing the noise the keys make; in a worst-case scenario you will want to focus on that sound, rather than on the delayed sound of the pipes.</P>


4. Play a bit more detached than usual.</P>


5. Play slower.</P>


That's all I can think of for now...</P>

[davidecasteel]

Re: What to do when there is a sound delay...suggestions?



First of all, you don't say whether the temple organ is a pipe organ or an electronic instrument. </P>


A. If it's an electronic, there area couple ofpossibilities:</P>


1. Arrange for a hookup for a set of earphones and wear them when you play.</P>


2. Get some monitor speakers right next to the organ.</P>


B. If the instrument is a pipe organ:</P>


1. Put some microphones up near the pipes and route the direct pickup sound either to earphones or monitor speakers.</P>


2. Wear hearing protection to block out the sound of the organ and just play in the silence.</P>


3. Learn to disregard the late sound reaching you. (This is probably the most satisfactory method, but the hardest.)</P>


To practice B3, you might buy a delay line and install it in your home instrument to spproximate the delay you hear in the temple. That way you can practice under similar conditions.</P>


David</P>

[soubasse32]

Re: What to do when there is a sound delay...suggestions?

[quote user="davidecasteel"]If the instrument is a pipe organ:


1. Put some microphones up near the pipes and route the direct pickup sound either to earphones or monitor speakers.[/quote]That's exactly what they do at Chartres Cathedral (via headphones). It is a very unsettling experience, partly because it is so strange to do ... and partly because you don't know how many people have worn those headphones. [:O][:)]</P>

[andyg]

Re: What to do when there is a sound delay...suggestions?



[quote user="davidecasteel"]</p>

B. If the instrument is a pipe organ:</p>3. Learn to disregard the late sound reaching you. (This is probably the most satisfactory method, but the hardest.)


[/quote]</p>

That's what I was told to do. Not the easiest way, but I got there. It now gives me the unusual advantage of being able to deal with high latency figures in computer music systems.</p>

Andy
</p>

[Guest]

Re: What to do when there is a sound delay...suggestions?

Thanks for the help everyone! Maybe I'll bringing my sound canceling headphones next time :)

[davidecasteel]

Re: What to do when there is a sound delay...suggestions?



SB32, my church choir sang at Chartres cathedral several years ago. The organ console was high up several rickety flights of stairs and our organist was almost scared silly to get up there.</P>


David</P>