It's time to start planning (and funding) for the next phase in my hybrid project at Zion:
Building/Restoring a 3-manual Skinner replica console.
The plan [now] is to use all new Syndyne moving drawknob assemblies for stops and SAM tablet rockers for couplers, etc.
But as for the combination action, there is [at least] two different approaches:
1. Buy a conventional pipe organ combination and keying system - and install as-is if there were only the wind blown pipes. Of course the electronics would have full MIDI capabilities. In this scenario we basically install a pipe organ and the pipe organ's electronics drive/control Hauptwerk so far as keying and stops control. This also ensures (?) having a usable - 8 rank 1M plus Pedal - instrument in the event of HW/computer/audio failure.
2. Buy MIDI boards, etc. to drive the moving drawknobs and couplers, and let HW control all the combination action - as well as the keying action for the direct-electric solenoids in the wind chests. In this scenario, HW is pretty much in control of the whole organ.
I have a number of questions and concerns::
I've heard that a MIDI implemented combination action can be slow. For example if the G.C. piston is pressed when 30-50 stops are drawn, the movement of the drawknobs and couplers would not be instantaneous as with a pipe organ, but rather "machine-gun-like". True, or False ?
How many pipes can HW drive using MIDI out, while also controlling drawknobs and couplers? We will only have 519 D.E. magnets, but there will be 50 some drawknobs and and the usual assortment if Skinner couplers.
I want to showcase Hauptwerks capabilities as much as possible, but not [if] at the expense of having a first class console.
Building/Restoring a 3-manual Skinner replica console.
The plan [now] is to use all new Syndyne moving drawknob assemblies for stops and SAM tablet rockers for couplers, etc.
But as for the combination action, there is [at least] two different approaches:
1. Buy a conventional pipe organ combination and keying system - and install as-is if there were only the wind blown pipes. Of course the electronics would have full MIDI capabilities. In this scenario we basically install a pipe organ and the pipe organ's electronics drive/control Hauptwerk so far as keying and stops control. This also ensures (?) having a usable - 8 rank 1M plus Pedal - instrument in the event of HW/computer/audio failure.
2. Buy MIDI boards, etc. to drive the moving drawknobs and couplers, and let HW control all the combination action - as well as the keying action for the direct-electric solenoids in the wind chests. In this scenario, HW is pretty much in control of the whole organ.
I have a number of questions and concerns::
I've heard that a MIDI implemented combination action can be slow. For example if the G.C. piston is pressed when 30-50 stops are drawn, the movement of the drawknobs and couplers would not be instantaneous as with a pipe organ, but rather "machine-gun-like". True, or False ?
How many pipes can HW drive using MIDI out, while also controlling drawknobs and couplers? We will only have 519 D.E. magnets, but there will be 50 some drawknobs and and the usual assortment if Skinner couplers.
I want to showcase Hauptwerks capabilities as much as possible, but not [if] at the expense of having a first class console.
Bob Collins