• SarahJ
    Posts: 54
    Hello! The parish I play for is considering going the Haupwerk route, but I was wondering if anyone who had experience with it could help me with some questions. I know we have some threads here about sound quality, but my questions revolve more around usability and reliability.
    How difficult was it to learn how to work the software? Does anyone here use a console made custom for a Haupwerk setup, and does that make it easier to use? Have you been able to find subs that can use the software with ease? Have you run into any problems with the computer (or program) crashing during Mass, etc.?

    Thank you in advance, I very much appreciate any input from someone who has used it for their parish!
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    I've used a portable HW rig in our church on a number of occasions (and at one point I even cobbled together streaming HW via zoom to church when I needed to quarantine but Mass had to go on...). I've never had any issues. That said, I'm tech savvy and have been using HW for a long time.

    I recently visited a bespoke HW installation in a church down in indianapolis that was completely built around HW. Even as a seasoned user, I found myself very disoriented whenever a new sampleset was loaded with which I was not familiar.

    If you go this route, (and I'm not saying you should not; I've mulled over the idea for our church too) here's what I would suggest:

    1.) pick a dry or semi-dry sampleset.
    2.) voice the instrument to the room! the Indy installation was interesting because some samplesets had been meticulously voiced for hours, and others had not, and you could easily tell the difference. The dry sets that were meticulously voiced sounded the most realistic.
    3.) limit yourself to a single sampleset (or two at most). Having a panoply of choices will only muddy the waters. It's really tempting to just throw a bunch of samplesets on the computer and pick them at a whim. I believe the best result would be selecting a single instrument (just as a real organ would dictate) and learning to use it as a single instrument.
    4.) I suspect subs will be averse to this as an option unless you have it set up as a dedicated system, that essentially never turns off or doesn't require them to boot up computers and load samplesets. If they haven't used HW before, they will be utterly lost. Conversely, if the computer boots up and HW auto loads the first and only sampleset, you shouldn't have too many problems.
    5A) you'll want a physical combination system. Trying to wrangle with HW's in-built combination action is not live-service-friendly. I had some issues in Indy when I wanted to use the sequencer but it was getting out of sync with pistons. Conversely, on my home instrument (Johannus) I have physical stops mapped to virtual ones, and then I use the Johannus's in-built capture system of 8 levels. Physical pistons trigger physical stops which activate their virtual counterparts. In this way I can completely ignore the computer if I want to.
    5B) if you create a console with physical stops I doubt you'll have any major issues for subs (or yourself, for that matter). I find that in the heat of the moment it is difficult to mess with virtual stops. It's very easy to grab a stop knob or punch a rocker tab.

    So to recap:
    Get a physical console with physical controls; wed those physical stops to a single, well-voiced (dry) sampleset. Then you can pretend that there's nothing irregular about the organ, just as if it were a Rodgers/Walker/Allen etc.
    Thanked by 3Heath CharlesW SarahJ
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    Tempted to buy one now that my home Rodgers is becoming an antique. I don't want another Rodgers since I don't think the build quality is there any more and the Allens have become so expensive. I have been looking at videos from this guy with interest.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REMIxd5-drM
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen SarahJ
  • Ted
    Posts: 201
    I have been using Hauptwerk software for some time (the old ver 4 when it used to be free with some limitations), as well as the free GrandOrgue and Jorgan. I have a collection of samplesets, but prefer the French organs. I use it with a fast desktop type computer on the floor devoted only for this purpose and have a touch screen monitor hovering over the console for choosing the stops/registrations quickly. The sound is connected to an amplified good quality speaker system including a 18" subwoofer for those 32 ft stops, and I also use an outboard reverb for those dry samples. My console is a 2 manual with AGO pedal board, a Rodgers 525. It does not matter what console you use as long as it has MIDI which connects to the computer that runs the software. It is a practice organ in my living room, but can easily be adapted to a church, and it sounds great, way better than the original sounds from the Rodgers console.

    The software (all 3) is easy to use once set up. But setting it up can be difficult if one is not computer savvy.

    Rarely does a note "stick" on Haupwerk, in which case there is an emergency menu item to stop it. This is better than on a real pipe organ which in many cases one would have to turn off the blower to stop it.
    Thanked by 2CharlesW SarahJ
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    Unfortunately, my old Rodgers doesn't do MIDI, so I would have to start from scratch. Thanks for the good info on speakers and such.


    Rarely does a note "stick" on Haupwerk,


    With me, only the organist sticks. LOL
    Thanked by 1SarahJ
  • Ted
    Posts: 201
    Charles:
    If you are up to it, there are MIDI interface retrofit kits available that will convert an existing non-MIDI electronic organ to MIDI output. It would mean disconnecting (and scrapping) everything inside the organ except for the keyboards, stops/pistons, and crescendo/expression pedals. These would need to be wired one note at a time to the conversion kit. It is very time consuming, but not really hard to do at all.

    Hauptwerk actually sells their own kind of MIDI interface retrofit module, but one can find other, better, MIDI interface retrofits elsewhere, such as the USA made modules from DTS Midi Systems.

    If you actually want to build your own conversion electronics, you would need to be quite a bit electronics savvy, but there is plenty of information on the Internet for this if you are daring. Here is an example:

    https://www.instructables.com/Adding-MIDI-to-Old-Home-Organs/
  • LarsLars
    Posts: 116
    well since we are talking about personal experience with Hauptwerk I'll add my 2¢.
    I've converted and old console of a real pipe organ into MIDI enabled instrument. I have a 10 year-old mac laptop(conveniently hidden) running free limited version of HW. I have assigned the stops to virtual stops on the software so I can interact with the instrument like in real life. No touch screens etc.. All I have to do is press power on button, wait 2 minutes, Hauptwerk loads automatically and play. No messing about etc.. I really like it, It hasn't crashed or froze or anything like that..
    Thanked by 2CharlesW SarahJ
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    Sarah, another thought: large, adequate subwoofers are a must. It doesn't matter how nice the manuals sound, the organ will seem anemic if there is not sufficient grounding in the pedal division. The indy organ had two large bespoke subwoofers, but they weren't quite balanced properly (I chalk this up to voicing). I found the pedal aspect wanting.

    I've played many digitals of various builds from fancy allens replete with pipe facades, rodgers, hybrids, $250k Walkers and even a large well-known M&O; the thing that perhaps most jumped out at me when comparing these organs was that the most realistic of them had the most authentic bass and authority in the pedal division. In this case, it was a large 4m Walker in a 1000 seat church. The subwoofer was literally larger than my refrigerator. It made all the difference in the world, though. I don't make this observation as some sort of bass head... just that real pipe organs are grounded by sufficient pedal divisions that you feel as much as hear. For the illusion to be complete, this needs careful consideration.
    Thanked by 2CharlesW SarahJ
  • francis
    Posts: 10,668
    For the illusion to be complete
    Yes... I confirm that you can make a “complete illusion” if you go through the painstaking effort and spend a lot of money. But why?
    Thanked by 1SarahJ
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    Francis, I don't mean to offend, but let's not trot out this tired old trope yet again. Let us spare this thread a pointless war. Not every parish can afford (or even physically house) a pipe organ.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    If I had a pipe organ in my house, I would have to move into the yard. Then again, I hear yurts can be nice although the city zoning commission would have fits. So SS is correct, and I would add not every house can physically house a pipe organ.

    Correct again, on the bass. A real weakness of electronics has been that the bass notes don't seem real. With a genuine 32' set of pipes, you can hear and likely feel the bass notes.
    Thanked by 1SarahJ
  • francis
    Posts: 10,668
    Sorry, Serviam... No offense taken.

    I couldn't resist the the phrase of 'illusion to be complete'... I guess I was baited...

    OTOH

    I have a Hauptwerk setup... I don't think I would ever put it in a church because it is very difficult to understand and utilize, especially for other organists who would sub, and making it acceptable as a substitute to an Allen or Rodgers (acoustically) would be quite difficult and could be very costly.

    This is not that much more money and is a much better choice.

    https://www.organclearinghouse.com/organs-for-sale#/3068-detlef-kleuker-newark-nj

    or

    https://www.organclearinghouse.com/organs-for-sale#/3061-casavant-asheville-nc
    Thanked by 1SarahJ
  • Ted
    Posts: 201
    If one just wants a practice sampleset organ that sounds fabulous one does not need an elaborate speaker system with 4 foot sub woofers surrounding the organist. A pair of very good studio quality headphones, and a computer that has a motherboard with high quality sound components is a good start. I would not suggest Bluetooth headphones because even with Bluetooth 5, there is some latency to be expected, so I would stick to wired headphones because latency could already be a problem depending on the speed of the computer in the setup. For this reason I would also not compromise with computer speed and would strongly suggest a gamer motherboard with plenty of RAM. Of course, moving your head around with headphones on will not change the sound patterns coming to your ears as it would in a "real" experience playing at a console, but the quality of the organ sound would nevertheless be excellent.
    Thanked by 1SarahJ
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    We seem to be forgetting that the OP was asking about using HW in a church installation.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    HW could work in a church setting as long as the principal organist is familiar with it. When Aunt Edna comes in to substitute, you could witness a disaster unfolding. A setup without monitors and wired to existing stop tabs and combination action would definitely be better in that situation.
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 890
    A parish I play at (side job, not full time) had an older Rodgers that died and couldn't be fixed (it was never installed properly to begin with). A pipe organ was ruled out due to both space constraints and budget. We considered a Hauptwerk installation, but...
    I'm not that tech savvy and just wanted something that would turn on an play and there are multiple organists who play at this church since they don't have a full time organist.

    We decided on an Allen and I'm very happy with that decision.

    Sure, I would prefer a pipe organ if it were feasible. I might consider Hauptwek for a home installation, but I think Allen is the safer option for a parish installation.
    Thanked by 2CharlesW SarahJ
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    I think Allen is the safer option for a parish installation.


    I suspect you are correct although I am looking at Content, Viscount and HW for replacing my aging home Rodgers. I don't have a dealer for Content and Viscount in my area, so unless someone unknown to me is selling them from their basement, that is a factor to consider.
    Thanked by 1SarahJ
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    I think Allen is the safer option for a parish installation.

    I think this is technically true (the same is true for other mainstream builders) only insofar as you can have a professional come service the instrument if there's ever an issue.

    The fact of the matter is, there are professional "dealers" (for lack of a better term) who are doing church installations of HW now, that include remote trouble shooting and professional installation and service. If you want to put a windows 10 touch screen on top of the console and hope for the best, I'd look elsewhere. But if you engage one of these companies who do this professionally for churches, they will be mounting computers with baked in redundancy in server racks, etc. etc. and they will be quite stable. It all depends on how home-brew or professional you decide to make it. The installation I tried in Indy had 48 independent channels, 3 subs, computers mounted in server racks in a room, a remote connection to the console, etc. I suspect it will serve the parish for a very long time and they accomplished the project for a fraction of what a similarly-equipped Rodgers or Allen would have cost. But it also took a lot of legwork from the incumbent to get the project to where it is today.
  • SarahJ
    Posts: 54
    Thank you, everyone, for all of your input. There is a lot to consider and I find it very helpful!
    Thanked by 2CharlesW CHGiffen
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    Keep us posted. I am going to have to make a similar decision with my home practice instrument - fix the Rodgers, buy an Allen, or go Hauptwerk. I would like to know how this turns out for you.
    Thanked by 1SarahJ
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,721
    Charles, for home-use it's a whole 'nother ball game. Go HW all the way. The realism (especially through headphones) is out of this world. Nothing compares, and the ability to have multiple authentic samplesets that cater to various types of repertoire is quite thrilling. It's worth the effort for sure. Listen to this with your eyes closed (and some good headphones) and then try and tell me that this isn't utterly convincing. https://youtu.be/59_R1eMI-MU
    Thanked by 2CharlesW CHGiffen
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    Sounds amazing! I want to buy the sheet music, too.