Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:34 am
Mine just arrived this weekend and having installed it I am truly thrilled.
5/5 overall from my point of view
1) Presentation - the sample set arrived in the most professional packaging I have seen thus far. Three DVDs, the first of which contains installation instructions and registration form, are professionally printed, and the set ships with a beautiful full-color booklet with stunning pictures of the instrument and a detailed history.
2) Installation - no issues. As always, Milan Digital Audio processed the dongle update within hours of Prof. M shipping the sample set so I was ready to go upon receipt of the discs.
3) User Interface - The multiple screens allow for a lot of flexibility in interfacing with the instrument. I use a single touch screen and found it logically laid out and easy to use.
4) The sound - most important in a commentary such as this. I was able to load the set in 24-bit, uncompressed, and came in just below the 16GB limit on my machine. (Windows 7 x64).
- I am truly blown away by this set. Having only had a day or so to play thus far, it is by far the most incredibly true-to-reality set which I have ever played. Despite the church having a large accoustic, and the set being wet, the multiple-release samples make the response incredibly crisp and alive. Sampled tremulants all around, which is particularly noticable in solo passages which call for the cornet or other mutation stops - the tremmed samples are warm and round.
- The original organ has a slightly limited compass in some stops, but the sampleset comes with the option of extended compass.
Summary:
This is a great set, and in terms of value for money this is a lot of organ for the price paid. One should also consider the prominence and historic significance of this instrument. I highly recommend listening to all of the wonderful recordings on contrebombarde and am happy to say this is the Silbermann I was waiting for. I anticipate a lof of hours in the coming weeks will be virtually spent at Arlesheim.
Thank you Prof. Maier for another wonderful addition to the Hauptwerk Library.
Jeremiah Martin,
Portsmouth, Ohio