My "new" Allen 301C...

[MoeTrucker]

Bought the organ home from a church about an hr. away...paid $500 for it, but had $535 in recent cleaning/service by an authorized Allen service tech...Came with 2 HC-12 speakers...
Everything works, and console is like new, almost showroom condition...
But coming from a church and moving it to my living room makes the sound acoustically dead - needs some sort of reverb...
I know the "reverb" issue has come up before...and hate beating a dead horse about it...have had to search this forum backwards and forwards to piece together what needs to be done - I think...
Lexicon, Nanoverb, isolators, etc. have all been brought up...I'm not an electrical genius and don't need to start the house on fire or fry something inside the organ that would render it useless...Oh, I do solder and have been known to do household wiring without having to call the fire dept...

If you folks have some spare time, I'd appreciate some feedback on where to proceed from here...

Have a good one!
"MoeTrucker"
(yeah, I'm a trucker...)

[Clarion]

I'm not an expert on reverb systems, but I can tell you about my experience with the Lexicon 400.

Phoenix organ uses Lexicon 400 reverb system in all of their organs; and I seem to recall that Phoenix and Lexicon collaborated in fine tuning the Lexicon system used for organ. Being tucked away inside the console, I don't get to play with some of the fun options like Leslie speaker emulations and all that kind of stuff; but in reading the manual, it looks like there are a a lot of really fun programs and options.

Nothwithstanding, it does a great job merely as an organ reverb processor.

With balanced, unbalanced and digital inputs, it seems to be incredibly versatile, and incredibly inexpensive.

[Moller Artiste]

I'm using two Lexicon units on my pipe/digital. The digitals are Artisan -- 8 channels (Allen amps and speakers). The units are very versatile from almost no reverb to cathedral. I also like the ability to modify a room setting if I need it to be slightly different from the factory preset. Worth the investment.

[Larrytow]

I use Alessis Nanoverbs on all of mine, and I am happy with them. And, they are small units that can usually be installed in the console so that you can play with all the settings easily.

The wiring in of a reverb unit is not that big of a deal on these organs, it is all RCA connectors in the audio chain.

Yes, you will need a pair of Expression Pedal Isolators from Harrison Labs in CO. There are ways to make your own isolators, but the H Labs ones are so easy to just plug in and use, that it is worth the $30 to just get them.

I've recently posted to other threads about how I do the installs, and so have others, so you should search those posts and then ask any questions that arise. I normally would not tell a new poster to just go search posts, but I am not up to typing the whole process out tonight, when I know I recently have done that on here.

So, even though I am lazy regarding typing tonight, here are some links to You Tube videos of an Allen 301-B I just did the reverb installation on. If you watch all three of these, they will give you a good idea of how they are put together and how to get them open to do things in them. Your 301-C is the same instrument, just it is in the Contemporary style console.

Overview video :

http://youtu.be/L8yd23cOORo

Opened up and interior layout :

http://youtu.be/Et5hV2x5XHE

Features and sounds :

http://youtu.be/Vs9H2kT9jcM

And then here is a photo album of the same organ :

https://picasaweb.google.com/1066479...eat=directlink

Glad to see another Driver that is also into organs. I'm retired from owning a towing service.

[MoeTrucker]

Looks like you can get the Nanoverbs pretty cheap, and if they work as well as I've read, I'll go that route...
Not many options for pedal isolators - just 1 vendor...with shipping, they might cost more than the reverb...
Am thinking of mounting it underneath on either side, within reach...don't want to test my woodworking skills right now...console is in pristine condition...

[MoeTrucker]

Well, guess that's the "cart before the horse"...ordered the isolators...
Still working to get a Nanoverb...

[thadfield]

I also had a 301C that badly needed reverb. I used the TC M350 to incredible results. It made it a completely different instrument and quite delightful. It has by far the simplest controls of any unit and yet it has sufficient control for very detailed adjustment. Being a dual processor, you can set it up so that both processors are serial and I used that to advantage by adding the most minimal amount of chorus in one processor and just the right reverb in the second processor. Each processor allowed independent wet/dry. When I sold the 301C, I bought a new Alesis Nanoverb to put in it, because I wanted to keep my TC ... but the Alesis Nanoverbs did not have sufficient gain for the signal from the MOS DAC. I then decided to use the Nanoverbs in my "new" ADC 6300. Since it was 6 channels, it needed 3 Nanoverbs. Of the 3 I ordered, two were defective and introduced unsatisfactory distortion so I sent them all back and went with a Lexicon 400 for Great/Swell and a Lexicon 200 for Choir. The Lexicon 400 is far superior to the Nanoverb (and better than the Lexicon 200 too), but has more options for setup and is more complex than the TC M350. It probably can get better results than the TC, but the amount of variation is bewildering (in fact, I'd love to hear what others have used as good settings for duration, diffusion, etc. on these models).

The nice thing about the Lexicon over the TC is that since I put it in the console, I too had the problem Clarion mentioned of having to go inside the console to adjust. But the Lexicon allows you to control everything from a computer program that duplicates the front-end of the unit. So, all I did is run a long USB cable out of the console, and when I want to change the settings I only have to connect my laptop. The TC allows a MIDI control (or computer) to switch the unit between multiple pre-saved settings, but not to do the complete control like the Lexicon. The Nanoverb can only be switched on an off with a remote cutout switch... all adjustments other than that have to be made on the unit.

[MoeTrucker]

I bought a Nanoverb 3 days ago on Ebay - 37 bucks, shipping included...Guess I'll find out soon enough if I should've bought a Lexicon...
Pedal isolators have been bought - same day - but haven't been shipped out yet...
I don't plan to mount the Nanoverb inside the console - want it within reach...

[Larrytow]

Really, the Nanoverb will work fine. If you need install tips, let me ( us ) know. Easy to do though if you are even a bit mechanical minded. H Labs is not the quickest shipper, but they are good folks. You may need additional RCA cables depending on where you are going to put the unit. Regular stereo ones work fine.

[MoeTrucker]

The Nanoverb arrived yesterday and the pedal isolators today...Guess I'll open up the organ tonight and see what kind of mischief I might get into, and put it all together when I stay away from the big truck long enough to do so...
Might have some questions later for you folks when I open it up and take a peek...

[Larrytow]

Hi Moe,

Questions are good - we can help. Photos are handy as well, if you have to describe details

[MoeTrucker]

Took the back panel off and swung the hinged door...I see the DAC with 2 RCA like connectors labeled Main and Flute...I guessing somewhere in that territory is where the Nanoverb gets wired...
Hey, Larry...I noticed in your YouTube video that you have the isolators plugged in the back of your Nanoverb, but mine takes a 1/4" plugs...guess Radio Shack adapter...
Have 2 pictures uploaded, 1 showing the 2 amps, the other is the backside of the hinged door where the DAC is...

[Larrytow]

Hi Moe, Yes, you need the adapters. 1/4" male to RCA female for the Nanoverb. Two pairs of them, so 4 total. Unless you have cords laying about with that combination of plugs on the ends. Where I usually tap into the existing Allen audio circuitry is not at the DAC output, but right at the outputs of the Swell attenuation relay. That is the box right next to the DAC board. Take a paired RCA cord from those outputs to the inputs on the Nanoverb. On the output of the Nanoverb is where the H Labs isolators go. And then from the Isolators run another paired RCA cord back to the wires that used to be plugged into the attenuator relay. You may need to buy some RCA female unions to join the new cables to the existing ones.

There should be an unused switched outlet inside the organ to plug the Nanoverb power supply into as well. If not, you can just use a outlet multiplier on one of them. That way you can have the Nano switched On / Off with the organ power.

I saw that you don't think you will put the Nanoverb where I usually do. Where are you going to put it ? If you install it under the keybed on the side without the card drawer, that may work fine. Just be sure you don't make it a knee knocker. You still would need to make a hole in the woodwork somewhere for the cables to get to the Nanoverb. Also, if you are going to make brackets for the Nanoverb under there, be careful about how long a screw you use in the side panels. Too long and they will hit the guts of the unit and possibly short it out. The holes on the Nano are M3 thread. Fine pitch, and I think there is only that pitch available in that small size.

You are well on the way to making it all work. Keep us posted.

[MoeTrucker]

Hi Larry,
Read somewhere, maybe on this forum, about the connection chain you mentioned above. Should be easy enough, so I can keep the fire extinguisher in the kitchen, where it belongs, where I'm cookin', when my better half lets me...

I think I'll keep the Nanoverb on a small stand next to the right side of the console - don't want to test my woodworking skills...the console looks like new...

Think I saw 1 unused switched outlet back there, wondered if it powered on and off with the power switch...

Really appreciate the help, Larry! Made a comment on my Facebook page that I have a tow truck operator helpin' me wire this thing together - that ought to confuse 'em...

[robmcginn]

Hi Everyone. Is it too early to wish all Merry Christmas? ANyway there it is! I found a Lexicon 400 last year on eBay and purchased same but so far it is not installed on my MDS Protege AP-9 as I want to take 4 channel lines out to remote amps, leaving the organ system intact so I will end up with a total of 8 speakers plus the internals in the console. The present ADR-4 reverb sounds artificial to me ..... I am not sure how to take the lines out from the Allen console and will wait for Ken to show in Thunder Bay if ever one of our 28 Allens ever breaks down!?!?!? I may even take the speakers out of the console and build cabinets for them as I really do not like the sound coming up from down there. I do have the room to play around but the accoustic is VERY dry.
I also note that the inputs on the Lex 400 are not RCA or phone jacks but some sort of multi-prong plugs which I guess I will need converters for.
So my concept is feed from the organ x 4 channels to the Lexicon then to External amps then to speakers.