On Becoming a Hauptwerkian

[voet]

I have had my Content Mondri 5800 for a year now and have decided to use its 3-manual console for Hauptwerk. I will turn off the Content voices and use a new audio system. This will enable Hauptwerk stops to be mapped to the drawknobs on my console. I hope to install blank heads on the Syndyne DKs so I can print Avery labels with the names of the organ I wish to use. (Fortunately, Avery makes clear round 1-inch labels that are perfect for this purpose.)

Using the Content DKs also makes it possible to use the 87 memory levels on my pistons. Level 87 is used for the crescendo pedal, so that will also be functional. I will add a touchscreen to use with other HW instruments without having to map their stops to my DKs.

I have selected OrganArt Media's Metzler Organ at Poblet Abbey to use as my default specification. This is a beautiful instrument. They describe it on their website:

The tonal conception is based on the German Baroque style, centred in the music of J. S. Bach. However the instrument also includes bright French and Spanish reeds, as well as mutations and fonds, the necessary elements for the interpretation of French, Iberian, Late Baroque, Romantic and modern music.

[Admin]

I'm sure you'll have no regrets in moving to Hauptwerk. Are you purchasing the Advanced version?

Looking forward to further progress reports.

[voet]

Yes, it will use the Advanced version. This is a bit of an indulgence for what is now my private hobby. When I retired from my last church job, I sold my practice instrument and my entire music library. I had a beautiful grand piano, but found that I do not enjoy playing the piano as much as I enjoy playing the organ. So last year I sold my piano and bought the Content. This is more organ than I ever thought I would have in my home. (My last instrument was a 2 manual Ahlborn.)

While the Content is very nice and works fairly well for a wide range of literature, I find that the reverb on it is not very convincing. It was not equipped with Content's auxiliary reverb system and I did not want to upgrade to that option for a specification that is not entirely to my liking. I figured that if I am going to spend money on an upgrade I want to go the Hauptwerk route, since that offers a great deal of flexibility and should give me enough toys to play with for a while. :-)

[voet]

Yesterday my new Hauptwerk setup was completed. I played for hours and ended up with over 10,000 steps on my Fit Bit! For anyone thinking about taking the plunge into a virtual organ, all I can say is do it. It is an unbelievable experience

Attached are two pictures of my configuration. One is the interior of the cabinet for the computer, amplifier and audio interface. The other shot shows the console, speakers and closed cabinet.

I have the Metzler organ from Poblet Abbey, and Piotr Grabowski's Friesach sample set and, of course, the free St. Anne that comes with Hauptwerk. In the future, I would like to add a French organ and an English or American instrument. However, I will take my time because I have a lot of exploring to do with what I already have.

I worked with a consultant to put this together and I am really glad I did. I do not believe I would have had as successful a result if I had tried to do this on my own.

While working on this, I learned that there is a man less than a mile from my home who built a 5 manual console for his Hauptwerk setup. I also talked to a guy about 75 miles from me who bought a theater in a small town and has a Hauptwerk theater organ in it. They show silent films on Saturday evenings, accompanied, of course, by the organ. I hope to make a trip up there sometime this summer to hear it.

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[tbeck]

That's a beautiful setup. I'm envious!

[musicmaker84]

Great console and beautiful PC rack cabinet. The PC screen sticks out a bit like a sore thumb, but probably you considered all other options. How much does this setup cost if you don't mind to share with us? Thank you.

[voet]

It is a bit difficult to answer your question about cost, because I did this incrementally. I did not originally intend to go virtual.

Regular forum readers may remember that a little over a year ago, I sold my grand piano to buy the used Content organ. The purchase and delivery of the organ was about what I got for my grand piano. That organ was offered for sale on this forum near the beginning of last year. At that time, I had no intention of using it for a virtual organ. I spent a year tweaking things to get the best sound out of it that I could and it sounded pretty good. It is more organ than I ever thought I would have in my home. But, and I am sure many can relate to this, it was not my "dream organ."

The cabinet that a number of people have admired is a BDI Corridor audio tower. I purchased it to store my organ shoes and music. While this may seem a bit extravagant, we chose it to go with other Mid-Century Modern furniture in our living room. However, this also proved serendipitous because it is designed for housing audio equipment.

When I decided to go virtual, I discovered that the Content is MIDI enabled. Unfortunately, the original owner purchased the inboard extra voice module that uses the MIDI In port, I had a technician investigate disabling that module and restoring MIDI In, but even with the technical manual, it did not appear to be easily reversible. But we can function OK with only the MIDI Out on the organ.

After I started researching going virtual, I realized that I did not want to attempt this on my own. I selected HauptwerkConsultant in Quebec. François Ratté is very knowledgeable and flexible. He explains things in a way that enables the customer to make their own choices. He does this for private individuals, churches and, just last month he completed a project for the Quebec Sympnony. He offers different solutions depending on the venue and budget of his clients. I feel I got the best "bang for my buck" by using him. He built the computer and installed all of the software, including the sample sets I wanted. This is a dedicated Hauptwerk computer, so it does not have the meriad applications that off-the-shelf computers are laden with. He made sure that I have the horsepower and storage capacity that I need. François is an authorized dealer for Hauptwerk and the equipment he uses. Because these products are sold at MSRP, every place charges the same prices. So the customer gets his expertise by buying through him.

The additional equipment in the system:

2 Difinitive Technology BP9060 tower speakers
2 Difinitive Technology A90 elevation speakers (on the towers above the silver line in the picture and directed at the ceiling)
1 Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 USB Audio Interface,
1 BasX A-5175 Amplifier.
Plus the touch screen, cables and 100 feet of wire for the speakers.

I realizemusicmaker84 that you want to know," How much does this setup cost." My concern is YMMV. But I can tell you that I contacted a couple of major brand digital organ companies to ask about their virtual ready instruments. All of my costs came in at less than half of what they wanted for their models. Also one manufacturers uses a proprietary virtual technology that forces you to purchase the limited offering of sample sets that they make available. I can choose any of the many Hauptwerk offerings. And, if cost had been of paramount importance, I could have spent even less. So while this is not a set dollar figure, you can probably get a pretty good idea of what it cost.

I hope this is helpful.

[voet]

I have a correction and it is too late for me to edit the post, the speakers are from Definitive Technology. (Obviously I did not win the spelling bee when I was a kid.)