Hauptwerk and how it works

[sweet melody 79]

I am really interested in the thought of a virtual organ but would like to know more. I was looking at Hauptwerk and it looks wonderful!.

I would like to know how it actually works?. I am toying with many ideas but one of them is getting an electric organ like a Roland and adding Hauptwerk. Does this mean i would need extra speakers or does the sound come through the organ itself. Is it easy to set up?, is this the best virtual Theatre organ available?, does it work with the bass pedals without any trouble?

Many thanks!

[AllenAnalog]

Hauptwerk is software running on a computer. It requires MIDI input from keyboards and a pedalboard, each with its own MIDI channel. Those channels can get merged internally at your keyboard device or with an external hardware device if each keyboard and pedalboard has a separate MIDI output connector.

The MIDI signal must be translated into a signal your computer can use, usually via a MIDI to USB converter. The computer program generates the sound and outputs audio using the sound card on the motherboard, or an internal plug-in sound card or an external device that connects via USB, Firewire or Lighting interface to your computer. You then either use headphones or an amplifier with speakers to hear the sounds.

So the keyboard you use as your input device must generate MIDI, that has to be translated to a signal your computer can use, and your computer must generate audio. The audio signal does not go back to your keyboard device.

[JoeyB3]

If this is something you would want to do yourself (as I have done), I would highly recommend you relax and spend quite a bit of time reading and researching. The Hauptwerk solution is an amazing adventure if done properly. I have ZERO regrets. But it's not something to dive into headfirst if you are not familiar with the concepts of MIDI and computer based music production.

Everything Allen said above is 100% accurate and he was right to respond in a way that assumed you know nothing of MIDI and how it operates. At the end of the day - it is a fairly simple solution: you are playing a console that is a MIDI controller, that is sending your performance as signals to a computer, and the computer translates that into audio that is outputted to an amplified speaker system, or headphones, or both.

If you are truly interested in exploring this system, whether or not you do it yourself - I would highly recommend you visit the forum at the Hauptwerk website, as well as some sites on the Net that design and sell these systems....just to see what is out there. Read, read, read.....and Good luck!

[sweet melody 79]

Hauptwerk is software running on a computer. It requires MIDI input from keyboards and a pedalboard, each with its own MIDI channel. Those channels can get merged internally at your keyboard device or with an external hardware device if each keyboard and pedalboard has a separate MIDI output connector.

The MIDI signal must be translated into a signal your computer can use, usually via a MIDI to USB converter. The computer program generates the sound and outputs audio using the sound card on the motherboard, or an internal plug-in sound card or an external device that connects via USB, Firewire or Lighting interface to your computer. You then either use headphones or an amplifier with speakers to hear the sounds.

So the keyboard you use as your input device must generate MIDI, that has to be translated to a signal your computer can use, and your computer must generate audio. The audio signal does not go back to your keyboard device.

Hi Allen,

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer some of my questions. I am not computer minded (Although i actually have a online business) but just not in the sense of MIDI how it works and operates. I will take time to delve deeper!. Many thanks!

[sweet melody 79]

If this is something you would want to do yourself (as I have done), I would highly recommend you relax and spend quite a bit of time reading and researching. The Hauptwerk solution is an amazing adventure if done properly. I have ZERO regrets. But it's not something to dive into headfirst if you are not familiar with the concepts of MIDI and computer based music production.

Everything Allen said above is 100% accurate and he was right to respond in a way that assumed you know nothing of MIDI and how it operates. At the end of the day - it is a fairly simple solution: you are playing a console that is a MIDI controller, that is sending your performance as signals to a computer, and the computer translates that into audio that is outputted to an amplified speaker system, or headphones, or both.

If you are truly interested in exploring this system, whether or not you do it yourself - I would highly recommend you visit the forum at the Hauptwerk website, as well as some sites on the Net that design and sell these systems....just to see what is out there. Read, read, read.....and Good luck!

Hi Joey,

What you are saying sounds like a good idea. I am toying with the idea of either buying a Theater organ OR back to a electric home organ like a Roland and add Hauptwerk to it.

Many thanks!

[MrHill]

When it comes to midi there is a lot out there I am sure you will find what you want if you look at all your options I like the BV 3 from Arturia it has a great B3 sound and even better if you are able to hook up a leslie speaker.