TRANSFORMATION
TRANSFORMING AN ORGAN INTO A HAUPTWERK VERSION
HAUPTWERK is a software package designed by Martin DYDE (UK) in 2002, and marketed since 2008 by MILAN DIGITAL AUDIO (US). The software simulates the performance of a pipe organ. Today, HAUPTWERK is the world leader in this type of system.
Based on a pipe-by-pipe digital recording of a real church organ, HAUPTWERK models the airflow from the blower to the valve release via actuators, stop combinations, tremulant effects, expression and crescendo pedals. In short, all the components of a pipe organ. HAUPTWERK, the physical simulation engine, interfaces with databases published by numerous third-party companies, representing a particular historical organ (sampleset). The user can then select the organ sound from the catalog. To date, a hundred of the world's finest organs are available.
HAUPTWERK runs on PC or MACINTOSH, so it needs an interface to detect keyboards, pedals and other console controls. This is done with the help of electronic cards that convert contact signals into MIDI messages. An amplification system is also required to hear the sound generated by the HAUPTWERK software.
STUDIO-BERNARD's mastery of interface electronics and MIDI standards enables us to create or conserve a console and make it compatible with HAUPTWERK software. Below are a few images of the transformation of a console into a HAUPTWERK version for two different projects.
Converting a pipe organ into a HAUPTWERK version is also possible. Every pipe organ has its own unique sound characteristics, which is why Hauptwerk offers a catalog of the world's finest pipe organs.
HAUPTWERK can simulate several pipe organs in a way that a conventional pipe organ cannot. Faced with the astronomical costs incurred by the expertise of organ builders and the rarity of the materials used, many parishes with a pipe organ are distraught by the financial consequences of the work required..
HAUPTWERK's quality pipe organ simulation is a solution to this problem. HAUPTWERK produces a remarkable sound linked to the sampleset executed. However, in the case of a church, it is very important to consider the quality of the sound chain, and in particular the loudspeakers used.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE ORGAN AT CHATEAU D'OLONNE TO A HAUPTWERK VERSION
The project to transform the Château d'Olonne organ was initiated by Benoit LETARD, who for many years has been principal organist at Saint Hilaire church in the parish of Sainte Marie des Olonnes in Les Sables d'Olonne. He also composes for international artists and local choirs.
The parish of Château d'Olonne contacted STUDIO-BERNARD to look for a solution to significantly improve the acoustic performance of its Ahlborn Hymnus II organ in terms of pipe organ simulation realism. It became clear that a cost-effective restoration solution would involve replacing the Ahlborn's internal electronics with another conception, while retaining and adapting the original console.
The choice of software was HAUPTWERK, whose main characteristic is its ability to reproduce the tones of a real, dedicated pipe organ, as opposed to the concept of the original AHLBORN, which produced tones approaching those of a classic generic electronic organ.
The organ now has the capacity to integrate three sample sets, each representative of a historic pipe organ (Saint Eucaire de Metz, Menesterol, Friesach).
These historic organs have been fully sampled pipe by pipe to produce a digital sound bank capable of working in conjunction with software and hardware. The resulting realism enables these historic organs to be reproduced in all their main characteristics, including their imperfections, making this simulation much more realistic.
STUDIO-BERNARD installed this IT solution and the midification electronics modules in the original Ahlborn console, and designed the electronic and software coupling between the console controls, the amplification and the computer running Hauptwerk.
Last but not least, important improvements have been made to the organ's playability, such as the presence of OLED displays for each register to enable them to be matched to the selected sampleset.
Conversion of an Ahlborn Hymnus II organ into a HAUPTWERK version
Videos directed and performed by Benoît LETARD
TRANSFORMATION OF THE SOULLANS ORGAN TO A HAUPTWERK VERSION
The Bon Pasteur de Vie et Marais parish contacted STUDIO-BERNARD to look for a solution to create a digital organ with high quality pipe organ simulation realism.
The choice fell on the HAUPTWERK software, whose main characteristic is its ability to reproduce the tones of a real, dedicated pipe organ, as opposed to the concept of a conventional electronic organ.
The organ is now able to integrate a sampleset representative of the historic Cavaillé-Coll Saint Etienne de Caen pipe organ.
This historic organ has been fully sampled pipe by pipe to produce a digital sound bank capable of working in conjunction with Hauptwerk software and the organ console. The resulting realism makes it possible to reproduce this historic organ in all its main characteristics, including its imperfections, making this simulation much more realistic.
STUDIO-BERNARD installed this computer solution and the midification electronics modules in the original GEM Concerto console, and designed the electronic and software coupling between the console controls, the amplification and the computer running Hauptwerk.
Last but not least, major improvements have been made to the organ's playability, such as the use of touch pads for organ registration.
Converting a GEM CONCERTO organ to a HAUPTWERK version
TRANSFORMING AN ORGAN INTO AN ORGANTEQ VERSION
ORGANTEQ is a software package recently developed by MODARTT. It uses an innovative physical modeling principle to recreate the tones of a pipe organ. Starting from the dimensional definition of each pipe, ORGANTEQ mathematically calculates, in real time, the flow of air through each pipe. The type of pipe characterizes the sound emitted. MODARTT has already won numerous awards for its piano version (PIANOTEQ), which follows the same principle. Interaction between pipes is taken into account, depending on the number of speaking pipes and their physical proximity. The result is a realistic sound reproduction that is quite impressive considering the compact size of the software.
ORGANTEQ differs from other pipe organ reproduction systems by the fact that it does not use sound banks recorded on a specific organ. It recreates all sound parameters in real time. The result is very low disk and RAM requirements. Mathematical calculations require a recent processor.
ORGANTEQ is not a copy of a historic organ. But its sound reproduction parameters can be easily modified to approximate a desired organ type. Each configuration is called a Preset. Inspired by the structure of a Cavaillé-Coll organ, ORGANTEQ features three manuals and a pedalboard. There are ten stops per keyboard, from a choice of some thirty. If you're feeling like an organ builder, you can modify every timbre of every pipe using the built-in editor. ORGANTEQ supports MIDI protocol, so it can interface with an existing console. It features a Midi player and recorder.
ORGANTEQ runs on PC and MAC.
You'll find full details of this product on the ORGANTEQ - MODARTT website. It is now integrated into my CHORGANIUM.
ORGANTEQ software screens
