I am becoming increasingly frustrated by not having the facility of a 3 manual to play so am wanting to consider a home instrument. Can somebody explain in words of one syllable how this Hauptwerk system works?

Ok, I have worked out I would need to pay for the software and download it on to my 4 year old middle-of-the-road laptop. I have become very used to paying for things so I can cope with that aspect, but do I need a more expensive up-to-date PC?

I presume I would then need to buy a suitable 3 manual console. Where would I get that from and how much would I need to pay for a draw stop variety?

Next question is through what would I hear it apart from headphones? An expensive range of speakers I hear you say. How much?

And so on and so on. Would it be cheaper to buy an Allen or a Viscount or something similar? If I am to go down this route I would want a reasonably well specified instrument, so I get the feeling that the Hauptwerk solution would be the less expensive option.

Help!

I know people who run this in the US and who need a separate computer just to run the software successfully. It eats and digests memory like there's no tomorrow!

DISCLAIMER: I have played a Hauptwerk set-up three or four times, but not for a couple of years. I do not pretend to be abreast of the latest developments, so any or all of what follows is open to correction.

Yes, the memory requirements are becoming very large indeed. Goodness knows what they are now that samples like Salisbury and Hereford Cathedrals are available, but I seem to recall that, if you want to use these large organs to their full potential you need 64-bit Windows and 20gb of RAM. Have I got that right?

You do also need at least a couple of very large speakers.

Soundwise Hauptwerk can be very impressive, but a number of factors have discouraged me from investing in a system. I'm not at all sure that they have yet been addressed.

1. The system was developed not as a complete organ, but rather as software for organists who are computer geeks. What sort of system you use for playback is entirely up to you. It will work through a one-manual synthesiser if you want, but if you want to play the 65-stop, four-manual at Salisbury Cathedral you are going to have to make compromises. So far as I know, no one yet sells a complete "plug and play" system. The software and the console are completely separate investments.

2. So let's say you invest in a custom-made, stop-knob console. You can configure your various organs, allocating the stops on each spec to particular stop knobs, but every time you change your organ you have to change to stop labels (or develop a prodigious memory). Alternatively, since Hauptwerk displays the consoles (including stop jambs) on screen, if your screen is touch-sensitive you can plonk it next to the keyboards and register on that - but don't expect it to be as easy as handling a real console - I found it completely impossible to register while playing. Some people invest in two touch-sensitve screens which are placed on either side of the console like stop jambs (Hautpwerk's stop display can be divided left and right, so I believe). This sounds much better, but I have not played such a set-up and still wonder whether they make touch screens big enough to be practical. At least toaster consoles can handle like a real organ, even if they don't sound like one; I'm not yet convinced that Hauptwerk ones with touch-screens can.

3. You need to understand a fair bit about MIDI - the more the better.

4. You can't just switch the organ on and play like you can with a toaster. You have to wait for the thing to boot up and windows to load - and then load the instrument you want to play.

Have you discovered the Hauptwerk forum yet? That would be the obvious place to ask: http://www.hauptwerk.com/

Already I'm beginning to think this is not the way forward for me. I don't need a replica of a cathedral instrument as a medium spec 3 manual would be adequate. There are some used 'traditional' pipeless organs out there that would seem to be a lot less expensive and much less hassle.

You can see some specially designed consoles here. Not that cheap and you also need the touch screens and computer.
http://www.midi-organs.eu/html/hauptwerk_consoles.html

It's a lot of money for a bit of furniture really isn't it. I am sure if you bought all the component parts from Kimber-Allen or something, and then got a cabinet maker to build a suitable console around them, it would end up being half the price and might actually look very pretty !

There is some truth in this statement, but Hauptwerk is, nevertheless, a viable system.

You mentioned Daniel Cook (presently at Salisbury) in one of your earlier posts. He is possibly the best person to talk to, as he worked with Hauptwerk on the sampling of Salisbury, and also builds complete systems in his spare time. He posts under his own name on the Hauptwerk forum. I understand that complete, working systems may be purchased for as little as 3,000 pounds, and can incorporate components, such as computers and keyboards, that you already own.

Daniel has also installed Hauptwerk in existing pipe organs (usually just for a recital) to provide 32' reeds (or similar) when none exist, and also fitted a (temporary) extra manual into the 3M Binns at Hartlepool. Some permanent 'hybrid' installations also exist.

In the case of the Hartlepool instrument, the electrical contacts on the peddleboard were wired to a MIDI device so that it could talk to the computer, and the additional manual (a keyboard from a Yamaha machine) was very neatly slotted into a space above the Swell.

May I clear up a couple of misunderstandings:

Firstly, it is possible to configure a system where Windows (or Mac) boots up into Hauptwerk, in exactly the same way that it is possible to get any computer to boot up into MS Word or similar. Equally, it is possible to configure the system so that pushing the ON/OFF button closes down Hauptwerk and shuts the computer down gracefully. All that is needed is to fit the computer ON/OFF button into the console.

Secondly, any Yamaha keyboard with a MIDI output can be used with Hauptwerk. These are readily available second-hand for a few pounds, and once the outer casing is removed they are quite compact, and easily slotted into a console. However, the peddleboard will need electrical contacts, and will need to be wired to a MIDI device as described above.

Thirdly, the Hauptwerk system does demand a lot of memory and processor power, but this need not be too expensive these days. However, if you are building a console it does make sense to have a dedicated computer, which is not slowed down by antivirus or other unwanted programmes. (AV is not needed if the computer is rarely or never connected to the internet.)

It also makes sense to use 64 bit Windows or the Apple Mac operating system, as these can address significantly more than the 3 gigabytes of memory seen by 32 bit Windows.

Less obviously, a dedicated graphics card is preferable, as integrated graphics cards use a significant proportion of system memory.

Finally, registration is probably the most difficult aspect of the Hauptwerk system. Ideally it could be installed into a redundant console [from an electronic or electro-pneumatic instrument], with the stops wired to a midi system. However, this is rarely practicable for most people. Touch screens can be fitted in place of stop jambs, and are actually much cheaper than draw stops. An possible alternative would be to set registration in advance on the computer, and to use the sequencer function.

Off the shelf systems such as Viscount, Allen (or on our case, Roland) may be neater and more convenient, but you get what you buy, and there is not likely to be the opportunity to 'play' different instruments from the same console. Additionally, the consoles for most of the ready built systems are quite large; being designed for church buildings or school halls. The Hauptwerk system does at least allow you to build a console to fit your home, rather than having some monstrosity take over the Dining Room!

SB