adri wrote:For those interested, would you like to post the details on how you adjusted this version of the organ? There are several people already struggling with the 100-euros superwet version.
Here are my impressions on the new Sample Set, "Bergen Op Zoom".
First, the Organ is German, not Dutch, regardless of where it is located.
Second, the specification is Early Romantic, not High Romantic.
Third, the Restored Organ is essentially a new re-build on historic principles but with almost all new Pipework and Voicing.
Unusual for a "Romantic" Organ to have no Tremulant, and to have Swell expression only on one very small and soft division.
There are certain issues in voicing and balance, which can be easily addressed.
The free trial Rear Wet Distant set is a novelty and a Red Herring. It should NOT be used to evaluate the Sample Set.
Given this background, it is what it is, and I find that it can be very enjoyable and it can make beautiful music.
Here are the User Settings I have selected, where they differ from the defaults.
Over-all Volume was -10 by default, set to -15 to rule out any possibility of sound breakup on large chords with full registration.
Polyphony set to 7616 to match my hardware.
Full-load at 24 bits, uncompressed. Cache Size 31.2 Gb.
The Flute Angelica 8' (on Manual III) extends only down to Tenor C. This suggests use as a "special purpose" stop, which to me suggests making it into a Celeste. By raising the Pitch 10 cents (on all three recordings, direct and diffuse and rear), the entire character of the Instrument is wonderfully enriched, making up in part for lack of Tremulant and otherwise thin sound in places.
Both of the Mixtures (on Manuals I and II) are far too piercing. By reducing their volume 4 points (direct, diffuse, and rear), the problem is solved and they now blend well with the rest of the Instrument.
The Cornett (on Manual I) is a bit too piercing as well. By reducing the volume 2 points (direct, diffuse, and rear), again the problem is solved.
These Settings are saved in the User Settings File for this Organ (ID # 2084). By default (in Windows), that would be
C:\Hauptwerk, in the first folder called "Organ Settings".
I set up Floating Divisions so that Manuals I and II can be exchanged. The Great Manual (I) can play either on the Lowest Manual ("French Style", the default configuration), or on the Second Manual (a more common and generally more comfortable configuration for German Organs).
All couplers are "through couplers". What each one couples is carried forward by the next coupler as well.
I gave the Instrument my usual treatment setting up Pistons on the Console for Generals, Divisionals, Couplers, and so forth.
Concerning Registration... some of the Stop Names are unusual and deserve clarification. The "Jubal 8" in the Pedal is actually a String Stop, and a good match for the Violonbass 16. The "Dolce 8" on III is actually a soft Principal. The "Bassethorn 8" on II is another String Stop.
The "Euphone 8" on III is a Free Reed, with the sound of a Reed Organ.
The "Gemshorn 8" on I is, of course, a Hybrid Stop between Flute and String in character.
On all of my installed Organs, I set up a Piston for "Pianissimo" (typically Flutes 8' and 4') and a Piston for "Fortissimo" (typically as full a voice as sounds good on that Instrument).
For my Pianissimo voice on this Instrument, I used the following:
III) Flaut Angelica 8, Flaut Travers 4
II) RohrFlaut 8, Flaut Dolce 4
I) Grossgedekt 8, Hohlflaut 4
Ped) Subbass 16, Gedektbass 8
All Couplers ON.
For my Fortissimo voice (with voicing set up as described above):
All Stops ON, All Couplers ON.
For my General Presets... top row of Pistons has no Couplers active, middle row has all Couplers active, and lower row adds Reeds.
Five families of Voices: I) Strings, II) Simple Flutes, III) Full Flutes, IV) Simple Principals, and V) Full Principals.
For my String Voice:
III) Salicional 8, Viola 4, and Flaut Angelica 8 (voiced as a Celeste, as described above)
II) Bassethorn 8, Flaut dolce 4
I) Quintaton 16, Gamba 8, Gemshorn 8
Ped) Violonbass 16, Jubal 8
For added Reeds: Euphone 8 and Oboe 8.
This gives a string-like character, somewhat enriched. As with all of my presets, it is intended as a "starting point" for registration, and can be easily modified on the fly, adding or deleting a few voices as desired.
For Simple Flutes... same as "Pianissimo". For added Reeds, same as for "String Voice".
For Full Flutes, ADD the following:
III) Quintaton 8, Flageolet 2
II) Bourdon 16, Flautino 2
I) Quintaton 16, Gamba 8, Gemshorn 8
Ped) Violonbass 16, Jubal 8
For added Reeds: Euphone 8, Oboe 8, and Cornett
For Simple Principals:
III) Dolce 8, Flaut travers 4, Flageolet 2
II) Principal 8, Octav 4, Flautino 2
I) Principal 8, Octav 4, Octav 2
Ped) Principal 16, Octav 8, Octav 4
To each division, ADD all the Stops used for Simple Flutes.
For added Reeds: Euphone 8, Oboe 8, Cornett, and Pedal Trumpetbass 8
For Full Principals: ADD the following:
III) nothing added
II) Bourdon 16, Mixur
I) Principal 16, Quint, Scharff, and Cornett
Ped) Violonbass 16, Jubal 8, and Quintbass
For added Reeds: ALL Reeds... Euphone 8, Oboe 8, Fagott 16, Trompete 8, and Pedal Posaunebass 16, Trompetebass 8, and Claironbass 4
Hoping this gives a helpful overview and starting point for the enjoyment of this beautiful (if unusual) Sample Set!