Thoughts on Allen MDS-15

[Vercus]

Hello all,
So I'm *very* strongly leaning towards an Allen MDS-15 for sale by a forum member here. Wanted to just get your thoughts on the organ. Anything to be aware of or look out for? How many channels is it, and what speakers would you recommend?

As I understand it, this has full MIDI implementation, correct?

Thanks a lot,
Jon

[toodles]

I don't think there's anything problematic about the MDS-15. It's a fairly basic stop list. I would have been sold with HC-14 or HC-15 (same design, one is furniture finish, the other utility)--those would be my speaker recommendations; HC-12's could be used, too, with a fatter bass end, but the voicing controls should be able to compensate if necessary.

It was sold as a 2-channel organ, but I think it uses the ADC Mixer, which would permit easy expansion to 4 channels if desired, requiring an addition 2 channels of amplification and 2 speakers. That would separate out 2 channels for Swell & Alterables, and 2 channels for Great and Pedal.

It does not include a 32 ft stop, so speaker requirements are not extreme. The MIDI implementation is complete--late models might have a console controller, which would be desirable for MIDI control and other things, but not essential.

I good choice for a home instruments, I'd say.

[Organkeys Jones]

Two channel console speakers, but would sound better with externals. If you disconnect the console speakers it can drive 4 speakers with the self-contained amps, 6 speakers if there is a Unirel antiphonal relay (or with relay 4 external cabinets plus the console speakers which would be "antiphonal" on the relay). Fine sounding organ.

[myorgan]

It does not include a 32 ft stop, so speaker requirements are not extreme. The MIDI implementation is complete--late models might have a console controller, which would be desirable for MIDI control and other things, but not essential.

According to the owner's manual, the Console Controller was optional on the MDS-15. So was the Alterable Voice Card Reader. Reverb was optional as well. However, it is nice because it has the divided expression pedals in addition to a Crescendo pedal.

In looking at the stoplist, the organ has a complete Flute Chorus, Cornet, and Reed Chorus on the Swell. It also has a complete Diapason Chorus and Flute Chorus on the Great, with either Chimes or Krummhorn 8'.

Hope that helps.

Michael

[jbird604]

A really nice Allen model, in a just-right size console. Fits through most any door. This is basically the same stoplist and feature set as my beloved R-230. In other words, the top of the line two-manual self-contained tab organ. With this organ, you would have every important feature that Allen offers in a mid-level two-manual organ.

I chose the R-230 (and would love to find an MDS-15 or -16) because I wanted to have a complete capture action with the same pistons in the same arrangement as on the MDS-45 at church, just like all large Allen organs. And I wanted divided expression plus crescendo. The MDS-15 fills the order. Every stop sounds wonderful, and there is just enough voicing control to do what you need without being overly complex. The W-4 generator board includes the famous "TG-10" articulation effects inherited from the last iteration of the ADC era.

Like all MDS models, the MDS-15 has "full" MIDI built right in -- the MIDI OUT carries note-on/off data, stop and piston data, expression/crescendo. This makes it perfect for recording to a sequencer or for connecting to a computer to run Hauptwerk, etc. One limitation on the MIDI system in early MDS models is that there is only one MIDI OUT jack, and it is a "switched" output. In other words, it only sends MIDI on a given division when the MIDI coupler is drawn. Therefore, to record to a sequencer you must make sure that the MIDI couplers are enabled in all your registrations or else a given division's notes will not get recorded. But that is a minor quibble. Our MDS-45 at church has that same limitation, but I have no problem recording sequences from it.

(The MDS-16 is a very nearly identical model, but slightly newer and built with the W-5 tone generator module instead of the W-4. The W-5 module was the replacement for the W-4, and it basically pulled together nearly all the peripheral parts of the W-4 system, such as the audio mixer, the reverb, expression, etc, into a single assembly, which simplified the layout inside the console.)

[Vercus]

Thanks for the info. Just wanted to add this does have the console controller drawer, and the MIDI ensemble drawer. So it sounds like it's pretty complete.

[jbird604]

Good to know. Those items were both optional with the MDS-15, and are very valuable additions to the basic equipment.