Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:49 pm
I agree that this console looks terribly expensive but it also looks terribly fantastic. His terraced console design is, in my oppinion the most aesthetic and ergonomic. If its not drawknobs, then tilt tabs, in the terraced design seem to make it easier to use and find stops. The problem with Hauptwerk is that we have so many organs to choose from ( a problem !!!!) that renaming the stop knobs can be an issue. It seems that Glebe's console has resolved that issue by having a strip of replaceable paper above the stop rows. One of my Hauptwerk conversions (a Rodgers 990) had 66 tilt tabs (33 on either side) plus 20 couplers above the top manual. I got around the renaming of the stops problem by using thin stop overlays which could be glued over the original tilt tab with contact cement. This loosely binding cement allowed the stop overlays to be easily peeled off and replaced with a different stop name. These stop overlays, engraved to any stop name you wanted, were supplied by Artisan organs, care of Mark Anderson. Although not as convenient as a touch sensitive monitor, it allowed the organist to experience the tactile feel of changing stops and still have the flexibility of Hauptwerk. I have to admit that touching stops is a better experience than a computer screen although the end result was exactly the same.
Fortunately, Jorge Glebe's excellent taste in console design also extends to his choice of audio. I see he uses a large number of Genelec speakers - probably the best near-field speakers available.