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-   Using Notation Software products with other (third party) products (http://www.notation.com/vb-forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4)
-   -   Hauptwerk virtual Pipe Organ (http://www.notation.com/vb-forum/showthread.php?t=2102)

Clyde (clyde) 09-29-2006 07:14 AM

Hi Mark, I have been exper
 
Hi Mark,
I have been experimenting with a 'trial' version of the English Digital organ product from CrumHorn Labs (http://www.crumhorn-labs.com/) to produce a better organ sound for my website for backing files for small congregational singing (www.smallchurchmusic.com).

As an pipe organist at heart, this product has a most interesting interface, namely of a real pipe organ console, with several manuals (keyboards) and pedals, with lots of drawbar stops. These can be all worked with the mouse as if you were actually sitting there playing, or better still, can be included in the midi file.

I have used Composer to drive the Hauptwerk Organ. The interface in the product is extremely configurable, and therefore interfaces very easily with Composer.

Each keyboard (and pedals clavier) is a separate stave in Composer. Piston changes are as simple as changing instruments (eg instrument 1 is piston 1). Swell volume pedal is done with Modulator Wheel (1).

The whole product makes sense to an organist, and gives complete control over the music. It is wonderful - so much so that I've put my money where my mouth is and purchased the product (125 English pounds).

I haven't as yet received the licence 'dongle', but I'm so sold on the product I just had to do a test mp3 file to share with you and it is at:
http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/File...H-demo-CAM.mp3 (size 755kb)

(Note: the 'bell' noise every 5 seconds is because I'm still on the free 'trial' version - but anxiously waiting for my licence dongle).

The demo has 3 verses of 'Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah' and starts with the softer stops, 2nd verse is the more standard organ sounds, and the 3 verse includes all those 'growling reed' stops - just to illustrate the range of sound. All this was driven by Composer, and the only three things I had to add to the midi file were:
(1) select the output midi device that 'talks' to the organ,
(2) put the piston changes in as 'instrument changes'
(3) adjust the swell pedal with a modulation wheel command.

For those looking for a good organ sound, suggest you visit their website to see what the product is like, and then get their 'Trial CD' for 10 English Pounds.

Cheers .. Clyde

M G Jacobs (mgj32) 09-29-2006 08:00 AM

Hi Clyde, I'd be excite
 
Hi Clyde,

I'd be excited, too. When I clicked on the link, I rather expected I'd hear the typical GM sound, perhaps a little improved. But the timbre and depth of your demo goes way beyond that. It doesn't happen often, but now and again when listening to a CD or tape, I get for a moment the sense that the performance is happening in the same space I am occupying. I got that listening to the demo. It is probably the most realistic recorded organ music I've ever heard. I wouldn't have been at all surprised to hear an instance or two or coughing, throat-clearing, feet shuffling or paper crinkling from the congregation during the performance.

Congratulations on your find and your use of the program.

all best,
mgj

Clyde (clyde) 09-29-2006 10:48 AM

Hi MGJ, Thanks for the comm
 
Hi MGJ,
Thanks for the comments - it really is something unique. I gather from the web site they actually have recorded each individual pipe (eg all 1000's of them) and when playing it adds all these separate samples together. The actual organ samples I have were from an organ in Moseley, Birmingham, England. But they have samples from many organs - see http://www.crumhorn-labs.com/Hauptwerk-SampleSets.shtml

In regard to coughing etc, one of the fascinating things about this software is that it includes all the mechanical noise of an organ. For example, when the program starts, there is the sound of the blower starting up. When there is a stop change, you can hear the mechanical noise of the slider, and even here they don't all sound the same, each slider has its own sound, and its own position on the stereo span. They seemed to have covered everything.

Anyone looking for realistic organ sounds ought to visit this site, as I think the quality of the sound certainly justifies the cost.

Thanks again for the comments ... Clyde

Mark Walsen (markwa) 09-30-2006 04:20 PM

Hello Clyde, What a great f
 
Hello Clyde,

What a great find, http://www.crumhorn-labs.com You've pointed other organ fans to some excellent organ sounds.

How are organ stops represented in the MIDI file? Are they MIDI bank/program changes? Or are they special pitches in a separate "organ stop track"? Or something else?

Cheers
-- Mark

Clyde (clyde) 10-01-2006 12:53 AM

Hi Mark, It is a wonderful
 
Hi Mark,
It is a wonderful piece of software. Perhaps I ought to mention that it not only caters for classical Pipe Organs, but also there is a theatre organ section, and even a harpsicord. (I have not tried these - but there are MP3 sample files on the site)

In regard controlling organ stops, couplers and tremulant stops, these are as you say a separate track for each keyboard (and for pedals). The default setup (as it comes out of the box) actually spreads all these over two staves for each manual, simply because it caters for massively large organs (see http://www.crumhorn-labs.com/Hauptwe...eenshots.shtml which shows the 4 manual, 51 speaking stop Litomysl cathedral organ (in Czech Republic, Europe)). A full list of the organs available is at http://www.crumhorn-labs.com/Hauptwerk-SampleSets.shtml

However, in my case where the Birmingham St. Anne's, Moseley organ is sufficient, I can easily have all the stops and couplers represented on one stave for each manual, and so I have reconfigured the setup. (which is very easy to do).

I have actually prepared a document on how it is setup under Composer - a bit like the notes you did for the Garritan GPO. I did this for my own documentation so I would have an easy reference on how everything is configured. I'm happy to share that with you on the forum, but it is specific to how I have done things. I would be happy to do a more general one for your users. Perhaps I need to wait a month or so before I do that, until I have had more experience with the product, but in the meanwhile, I'm happy to share what I have learnt with others.

Cheers ... Clyde


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