I am looking into getting an Allen ADC 320 organ for $400. The amp is broke but the person sent it out for repair already. I want to know what the sound quality is. It is a 2nd gen. digital organ so it is not had for the classical organs of the time, but how about theatre? Are the reeds and tibias nice? Is this organ easy to add midi? Does the organ have a large theatre organ sound? How is its classical sound?
I just want your opinions on this organ or one like it! Thanks
I am looking into getting an Allen ADC 320 organ for $400. The amp is broke but the person sent it out for repair already. I want to know what the sound quality is. It is a 2nd gen. digital organ so it is not had for the classical organs of the time, but how about theatre? Are the reeds and tibias nice? Is this organ easy to add midi? Does the organ have a large theatre organ sound? How is its classical sound?
I just want your opinions on this organ or one like it! Thanks.[/quote]
Brandon,
Forgive my ignorance, but I noticed that no one had responded to your post, so I thought I'd give it a stab. John (jbird604) can correct me if any information I give is wrong.
I believe the ADC 3-digit series (ADC320, ADC420, etc.) were highly duplexed. That means that the Trumpet on the Swell is the same as on the Great and Pedal. Therefore, if you're playing the same note on the Great, Swell, and Pedal, you'll only hear one sound. Same with the Koppelflöte, etc.
From what I read and understand, the ADC technology was (arguably) the pinnacle of digital organ sound with the Allen organs. It is a classical instrument, so you will probably not have the reeds and tibias you were hoping for from a theatre organ. I've been keeping a close watch on eBay, and have noticed that a 3-manual Rodgers or Allen theatre organ will sometimes sell for less than an organ half its size in classical form.
I'm sure the organ will have as large a sound as you have speakers for. There are no 32' stops on the pedal, and no 1' stop on the Swell, and no mutation on the Great (on the ADC-420, a step higher than you're looking at). Consequently, I'd guess it would do well for a practice organ, but not necessarily a performance instrument. My MOS-2 instrument (4 channels) filled our local auditorium with only 8 HC-12 speakers. They had me turn it down so the 70+ Symphony could be heard better.
I believe MIDI can be added to these organs, but from what I understand, it is only MIDI out, so you can play it or add an expander and play those voices through the instrument, but not have a computer control the organ.
Check out the PDF created by a fellow for LDS (Mormon) organists. They use only Allen and Rodgers instruments, so they have facts about both instruments readily available. However, some models were customized by Allen for LDS churches. I'm not sure what the customizations were, but I think that only took place on later instruments.
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