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Use of pistons

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MikeDC

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Use of pistons

PostSun Mar 08, 2020 4:32 pm

Typically, do divisional pistons (i.e., NOT Generals), also include the couplers for that Division?

Thanks.
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IainStinson

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Re: Use of pistons

PostSun Mar 08, 2020 7:30 pm

Not generally on British organs. Often the inter divisional couplers are controlled by reversible pistons below the manual they affect (swell to great is below the great keyboard).
Iain
Last edited by IainStinson on Mon Mar 09, 2020 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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engrssc

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Re: Use of pistons

PostSun Mar 08, 2020 9:22 pm

Also, many consoles have a coupler rail above the top manual. Seems most coupler pistons couple at the 8' pitch, or are there differences in that?

Rgds,
Ed
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organtechnology

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Re: Use of pistons

PostMon Mar 09, 2020 1:25 am

Hi Mike,

I have seen coupler pistons below the affected manual and a coupler rail on the name board(above the manuals). The ones below the manual seem to be there to couple while playing and I think they are also present in the rail.

The 8’ couplers couple all the pipes in the respective manuals while a 4’ coupler shifts the Coupled pipes one octave higher
(Tenor?) and the 16’ shifts one octave lower.

See: https://gstos.org/theatre-pipe-organs/m ... ipe-organ/

Thomas
Complete Hauptwerk™ systems using real wood consoles, PC Sound Engines, Dante Audio for Home or Church. info (at) organtechnology.com http://www.organtechnology.com
Authorized Hauptwerk; Milan Digital Audio and Lavender Audio reseller.
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Agnus_Dei

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Re: Use of pistons

PostTue Mar 10, 2020 6:48 pm

Hi Mike.

A lot of American organs have pistons that are affected by the divisional pistons.

Many Austins, Mollers, and some Skinners had this feature.

This is unfortunate (usually), as it can really limit and hamper the "general use" of the divisionals, since it will affect the couplers each time, which may, or may NOT be what you want!

The British system is much "better" because it does not affect the couplers. :-)

Peace,

David
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CWEB

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Re: Use of pistons

PostWed Mar 11, 2020 6:12 pm

On a historical one maybe. I've seen material from the Harrison & Harrison archive detailing piston settings which did affect couplers (from around 1920s).

The standard now though is the divisionals affect the tremulants and octave couplers within each division, but not the manual to manual or manual to pedal couplers.

Eg Swell Octave is on the Swell divisionals, but Swell to Pedal is only on the generals.

PS I'm talking about British specifically.
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IainStinson

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Re: Use of pistons

PostThu Mar 12, 2020 4:51 am

Mechanical and pneumatic combination systems had the facility to leave the state of a stop which they control unchanged when the combination was engaged. Electrical combination systems with a setter board also usually provided this function too by using a three position switch (on, neutral = don’t change state and off). This is very useful especially when the number of combinations is limited. Modern electronic, computerised systems, including Haupwerk don’t provide this - it is not really compatible with a capture system interface.

The small 1912 two manual Norman & Beard organ I play has three divisional piston for each manual. Sw to Grt, Sw to Ped and Grt to Ped are located together on the left stop jamb and not controlled by the combination system, other than the Grt to Ped which is operated by a reversible combination pedal. The Swell Octave stop is within the Swell division stops and can be controlled through the swell combination pistons (which are duplicated by three combination pedals). The Swell Oct to Grt stop is with the Great division stops and may be controlled through the Great combination system. The Great pistons control only the Great stops, however the Great Combination pedals control the great and pedal divisions. These may all be set by the tuner, from inside the organ. Quite flexible for accompaniment.

Iain
Last edited by IainStinson on Thu Mar 12, 2020 5:05 am, edited 2 times in total.
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mdyde

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Re: Use of pistons

PostThu Mar 12, 2020 5:03 am

IainStinson wrote:Modern electronic, computerised systems, including Haupwerk don’t provide this - it is not really compatible with a capture system interface.


Hauptwerk's master scoped combinations allow effectively that behaviour (with not-in-scope stops effectively being in the 'neutral' state).
Best regards, Martin.
Hauptwerk software designer/developer, Milan Digital Audio.

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