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Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

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1961TC4ME

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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostMon Jul 29, 2019 10:01 am

Thanks to all here that have contributed with the tips and suggestions. Ask and you shall receive! :D I'm in the process of looking at everything everyone has provided here and digesting it as time allows. One thing I can say looking at theater organ is it almost feels like starting all over again, an entirely different deal in ways and I have much to learn, that's an understatement! :lol:

Bob,

Thanks for your kind offer, I may take you up on it and plan to drop you a line.

Edit: It appears the ATOS site is currently down. The link Bob provided suddenly does not work and trying on my own by searching it out results in the same. :(

Marc
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engrssc

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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostMon Jul 29, 2019 10:59 am

Lots of stuff on ATOS Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ATOSTheatreOrgan/

And, yes, T/O is an entire different world thanks, for the most part, to Robert Hope-Jones

Rgds,
Ed
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engrssc

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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostMon Jul 29, 2019 9:43 pm

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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostMon Jul 29, 2019 9:43 pm

From Jim Henry - MidiTzer Forum:

I just discovered some nice video tutorials by Tom Horton about playing a theatre (cinema, Tom is British) organ demonstrated on a real theatre pipe organ:

What Is A Theatre Organ? - https://youtu.be/LEKIDS3B-O8
Theatre Organ Console, Stops and Ranks - https://youtu.be/Qz_c_kujoM4
Basic Theatre Organ Registrations - https://youtu.be/jTLkGZu2Bh8
Hints & Tips On Arranging Popular Music For Organ - https://youtu.be/RAMsYlfU78o
Theatre Organ Accompaniment Patterns - https://youtu.be/5RxBj4xSUuM
Theatre Organ Introductions - https://youtu.be/MCQN9LvljEw[url][/url]
Theatre Organ Endings - https://youtu.be/zNr_6mTPFd8
Theatre Organ Percussion - https://youtu.be/V7wlqcS6bv0
What Is Theatre Organ Second / 2nd Touch? - https://youtu.be/7A7-N2kMgj0
Theatre Organ Counter Melodies (Basic) - https://youtu.be/7qkGGuRfAXw
The Theatre Organ Beginners Guide - 10 TOP TIPS! - https://youtu.be/gOJJy5N52lc
Small Theatre Organ Registrations - https://youtu.be/lysuobXvU74

Interesting, they still know me on the MidiTzer Forum. I, on occasion, play the WurliTzer 260SP Opus 7.
There is a useful addition to a theatre organ, esp for accompanying silent movies or just for having fun: :roll:

http://toycounter.wrgn.com
http://toycounter.wrgn.com/DTCsound.htm

Rgds,
Ed
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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostTue Jul 30, 2019 3:56 am

Don't forget the Robert Morton, Barton, and Compton theatre organ sample sets! Audio demos, downloads, specifications, etc. can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/meltonesoundssa/home.

Being able to experience more of the family of theatre / cinema organs has been a highlight of my Hautpwerk experience. They're all slightly different in terms of voicings and tremulants, but wonderful to enjoy music with :lol:

GrahamG
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Jcvtpo

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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostTue Aug 06, 2019 8:39 am

Jcvtpo wrote:I have heard good things about the Jensen and MDA samples. With these, you have the luxury of being able to fiddle with the trems to your liking. I also understand they are "dryer" samples which benefit from a room in which the sound can bounce around.

I disagree. Listen to the POW through headphones. Not sure how much dryer you can possibly get.

Danny B.[/quote]

I suppose I should clarify. You're right that the POW samples are very dry. What I meant to say is that the POW samples, likely due to them being in stereo, sound more realistic straight out of the box. The Jensen/MDA sets sound as though you're literally sitting directly in front of each individual pipe compared to the POW sets which sound like you're standing directly in front of the swell shades in a really dry room. Listen to some of the direct-to-tape recordings on Contrabombarde to see what I mean.
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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostTue Aug 13, 2019 9:06 pm

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1961TC4ME

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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostWed Aug 14, 2019 10:15 am

I ran across this video and thought it was pretty funny. The guy is obviously a visitor, sounds like maybe from the UK would be my guess, he put together a pretty good short video. This is an amazing theater organ (check out all the interesting features!) in a pizza joint in AZ. Would love to visit the place some time. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ3w7tdh5to

As far as the Paramount goes, I'm getting more familiar with the features and what buttons does what and so on, registration is getting easier, and so far I've put together a few simple songs that I've been able to add to as time goes on. One thing I really appreciate about the Paramount 310 (and I'm sure is the same for the other versions) is the very quick loading time, minimal memory requirements, and even though it is a very dry sample set, the sound is fantastic! The sampling Joe and his team did is superb to say the least. Even the dryness of the set does not bother me at all even though I'm always in every other case a wet instrument buyer only.

Now I wish I had a console with all those buttons and pistons. :lol: I saved the two rails with thumb pistons that fit under the keyboards from my Allen when I first got it, but never implemented them, they're still sitting in the top of my toolbox out in the shop. Maybe now is the time to look into at least putting them into service?

Marc
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magnaton

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Re: Newbie / How to start with theater organ?

PostWed Aug 14, 2019 1:49 pm

Yes, Organ Stop Pizza is a cool place. Haven't been there myself but know of several who have and werer duly impressed. I remember reading about it on the Piporg-L, the older pipe organ discussion board hosted by Univ of Iowa. Charlie Balogh gave lots of updates as construction progresses on the building, organ, and custom console. They left space in the front for a set of un-mitered, 32' Diaphones which they acquired about a year after the grand opening.

The other theatre organ Mecca (not in an historic theatre) is the Palace de Musique, of the Sanfilippo residence in a Chicago suburb. Search for "Sanflippo Wurlitzer" on Youtube. I have been there on 3 occasions. The installation is over-the-top: polished hardwood floors and track lightning in all 6(?) chambers; furniture finished resonators on the exposed 32' Contre Bomarde and 32 Hope-Jones Diaphone; screws used on the Wurlitzer chests, bearers, offset racks, etc. are authentic Wurliizer screws all pointing in the same direction! I can go on and on but you get the picture.

I have the Paramount 320 and it loads about as fast as the 310 on my SSD. The Paramount sets are too dry for liking but fortunately the MOTU interfaces offer EQ along with some basic reverb. This feature was designed for home studio recording when vocalists would like to hear a some reverb on their voice in the mix or headphones. Works great for Hauptwerk to help moist up some dry sets as its available in all channels! I have mine set just enough to give you a little ambience. Most guest organist don't know its even there however if you turn off you know its missing.

With theatre organ playing, there is a lot of hand registration that can take place. Allocating some spare pistons to a cymbal crash or tuned percussion is the norm for VTPO as its easier to quickly press a physical button than aim for it on a touch screen. On the POW organ graphic, you see two drawers of buttons under the keydesk. On a real Wurlitzer, these pivot out on single shaft and provide all the sound effects for silent movies. With modern computer relays, more buttons have been added for more functionality like memory levels, etc. For my rig I have added a Launchpad mini under the keydesk in a custom drawer using telescoping 6" rails. With theatre organs there is always the need for extra stops tabs and buttons. :-)

Danny B.
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