CAVAILLE-COLL DE METZ. SUPERB.

If don't have this, you are mad!

At last a sample set that also captures the acoustics so no reverb needed.

I had a change of heart recently and decided to spend the money on the sample sets and not on the hardware so my 3 manual console comprises three, M-Audio Keystation 49e (£50 each!) connected via usb (1) and midi (2).

I use an IMac 2.4G not ideal as limited to 4gb, ELO 15" touchscreen and a Saffire.

Its far from ideal and awaits a pedalboard but I think its too easy to get carrried away with expensive hardware when it the playing that matters.
The keyboards are very good considering the price and have a decently responsive feel.

With the benefit of hindsight, a high end PC or Mac Pro with two ELO monitors would have been a better choice, and a Saffire Le would have sufficed as the inbuilt reverb is not useable over firewire.

IanJ

If don't have this, you are mad!

We need an internet database for timeless quotes such as this. In any case, true 'dat!

Hi

I am considering getting a 4GB Ram, Dual Core Quad PC - will this be sufficient to do the Metz sample set justice? I obviously want it to sound as realistic as possible. If not, would 8Gb be enough to load the organ in 24bit? Or can it load in 20bit?
If 8gb is what I need to use a large amount of stops at the same time (without sacrificing sound quality), then this may be what I have to get. Thing is, do you have to sacrifice much of the sound quality to keep it under 4gb? If the differences are only noticeable to a perfectionist, then I will be content with 4gb.

Al[/i]

Hi

I ran the complete unextended version within 4GB - mainly at 16bit stereo compressed with console noises etc at 14 bit mono. You will get about half the organ on multiple loops. The processor should cope no probs. With good audio the sound will blow your mind!!! It certainly has done so for several experienced organists that have visited me. The extended version is much more of a compromise to fit in - I omitted a couple of stops and ran some in mono. In any case I have found myself gravitating to the original version- It feels a more "balanced" organ to me.

No doubt the higher resolution samples with more memory will give better results, but it all a matter of diminishing returns!! Genuinely mind blowing sounds are achievable within 4gb - Just make sure your audio is up to the job!!

I will not compromise on the quality of audio components (EMU 1212m soundcard hopefully, MOTU Microlite interface, AGK Headphones).

Glad to hear that a good sound can still be had within 4gb. I will have to see what the differences are in price. If there's £70 between 8 and 4gb, then I will go for 8gb (for the future more than anything else).

You are probably right that the original set is more balanced, but I will probably try the extended version (greed!). I imagine that the extended version just has extra stops, and is not an upgrade in quality as such. In which case, if it gets overbearing, I could revert to the 'standard' stops!

Cheers
Al

Just make sure no-one is in earshot when you first play it - you will find yourself unable to stop saying involuntary expletives!! My wife also informs me that it produces a grin like a Cheshire cat on ecstasy!!

If you want to hear my setup at <4GB using the HW internal recorder look here

http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/366
http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/365
http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/364

Best to download the mp3 file from the options at the start of the page. I probably still have the original .wav files. They are quite big, but I can forward them if you feel so inclined!!

[B. Milan]

You are probably right that the original set is more balanced, but I will probably try the extended version (greed!). I imagine that the extended version just has extra stops, and is not an upgrade in quality as such. In which case, if it gets overbearing, I could revert to the 'standard' stops!

Hello Alan,

The extended version also includes the ODF for the original as well, so you would have both at your disposal when ordering the extended version.

If You don't own a copy of the St. Maximin Isnard organ You're maybe not complete mad yet, but very close to it.. (I know, I know, it has nothing to do with Cavaille-Coll, and this makes it a very nice instrument) Oops sorry.. I like Cavaile-Coll organs too, it's on the "have to buy within the next 3 months" list..

I believe the Metz is the only sample set I have ever obtained (and believe me, I have quite a few!) that can consistently give me goose bumps when I play it. Of course I had heard it in numerous demo recordings but the first time I played that magnificent tutti myself I was absolutely dumbstruck and my love for this instrument has not diminished with time. In addition to amazing plenum combinations an almost limitless palette of beautiful tone colors can be created. This is especially true with the extended version.

Regards,
Steve

[micdev]

Al,

Have a look at that thread: http://forum.hauptwerk.com/view ... highlight= . One of the post, the one of BarryG explains how to load the sample with 4 gig on XP.

I followed Barry's receipe and was able to load the sample on the first load, everything but the Voix Humaine without tremolo. Since the first load takes close to 22 minutes, I would recommand you to be very conservative with the options (do exactly as describe by BarryG). Once load, check the free memomy on your computer with the task manager; on my system I had about 250 000 of free memory (BarryG had about 323 000).

After a successfull load, you might want to load one more 16' sample in stereo... and wait 22 minutes...

Don't go to low because the system can become unstable. Don't forget to use the /3gb in your boot.ini file.

Even with these settings the sound is great!

Have fun
François

I am getting ready to install 8GB RAM and a 64-bit system.

I am curious to know how you organists out there with such a system are running the extended version of the Metz organ with the most realistic playback. Thanks. Private messages OK.

I have it loaded; it uses 13.2 GB of my 16 GB of RAM! But, I have it
loaded in stereo, no compression, all loops, etc, and in 24 bit.

So, in mono should fit into 6.6 GB; your 64-bit OS will use around
1 GB or so of RAM, also. That would be one way to fit in 8 GB.

Others have said that using the default "no loss" audio compression is
another way. Not sure how much that would save, nor what exatly
the words "no loss" really mean. But must be some sound compromise...

You could also go to using 16 bit for playback; but again, some compromise,
I suppose.

[mdyde]

Hello Jim,

Others have said that using the default "no loss" audio compression is
another way. Not sure how much that would save, nor what exatly
the words "no loss" really mean. But must be some sound compromise...

No - there's no compromise in sound quality in any way by turning on loss-less memory compression. For wet sample sets it typically reduces memory requirements by about 35-45 percent. The trade-off is that the maximum polyphony that can be achieved by your computer will typically be about 10-15 percent lower because decompressing the memory adds some workload to the processor(s). Full details are in the 'loading sample sets' section in the user guide:

http://www.hauptwerk.com/clientuploads/documentation/CurrentUserGuide/UserGuideRedirects/LoadingSampleSets.pdf

I load the extended Metz using lossless compression 24 bit without noises within 6 GB. Plays rather well on my Athlon X2 4600 as long as I do not engage all couplers and stops, which by the way does not produce the most beautiful sound.

[micdev]

Confirmed! Stereo, all releases, lossless compression and noises... about 6.5 gigs - more than 700 megs free memory on an XP64/8Gigs with minimum services. Tutti, all couplers, many notes, no problem with Quadcore