Happy Holidays

A reminder to the organ builders out there, we typically start getting busy in February or early March. Our delivery schedule is officially 90 - 120 days from the time we receive the deposit and complete specs. In the past I have often been able to get a system out faster, but with supply chain issues stemming from COVID-19 we have sometimes found ourselves having to wait 2-3 times longer than normal just to get our parts, which will in turn delay your system. Changes in specs after we have started working on a job can delay things if we have to go back and re-do something.

For those of you unfamiliar with how the electronic component industry works, nobody actually stocks parts anymore, manufacturers wait until they have enough orders to justify doing a run of parts before they actually do it.  For example, say a company makes a specific type of switch, and in order for it to be cost 

effective for them to make this switch, they have to make at least 100,000 at once. The company will wait until they have at least that many on order before they start production, whether their customers have to wait 2 weeks or 2 months.

The American Institute of Organbuilders convention was of course cancelled this year and I know I missed seeing the faces of people I have know for years. Catching up with people I would like to call friend, not just customer has always been my favourite part of the convention. 

 Truth be told, I have been known to start nodding off when going church to church listening to the different organ demonstrations. Originally the 2021 convention was supposed to be here in Toronto , and I was looking forward to introducing some of you to chicken shwarma, however when I look at the AIO website, I see that there is no mention of a convention in 2021. This is not surprising given the Canadian government has said the border will remain closed to non-essential travel, until rates of infection are under control. The AIO website says 2022 will be in Atlantic City, and 2023 will be Toronto, although they may have to find a new hotel, I've heard rumours that the Chelsea Hotel is closing.

Recently a customer from several years ago contacted us about being able to build a  second console connected via wireless MIDI to the Classic system they already have in the church. As it turns out, our new Maestro system allows us to do this fairly easily. We can put the ITX computer in a small case, rather than the large grey box typically used. The Classic MIDI Keyboards, and MIDI Pedalboard, connect to the computer using standard USB cables. Pistons are built into the keyboard, and toe studs and expression shoes can be wired into the Pedalboard.  Touchscreens are mounted on either side of the manuals for stops and control functions. 

The wireless MIDI connection is handled by the MIDjet which we developed many years ago and is

used by artists such as: Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, U2, Ke$ha, and Beyoné. This second console is slaved to the primary console, which is already set up to receive MIDI data. This gives you a cost effective second console which requires little wiring on the part of the builder.

When Viscount discontinued the CM-100 tone generator, they introduced their new Laurel box. 

This unit provides up to 35 simultaneous pipe organ sounds from a library of 620 pre-programmed voices. These sounds are selected via an LCD control panel behind the front cover, but can also be accessed remotely from a PC voicing program. Each one may be assigned to any of sixteen output audio channels and controlled by any of 3 MIDI input channels. Hence, the unit can act as a complete stand-alone small 2m organ or as a source of additional stops for a larger organ.

The voices are generated using physical modeling technology, not by sampling. This system involves real-time calculation of the audio waveform based on the physics of construction, materials and air pressure. The overall goal is to provide better realism of organ sounds as each individual key can have its own set of parameters just like a real pipe organ. Almost every parameter can be individually adjusted.

The unit also has reverberation and tremulant effects selectable on front-panel keys, and expression of all three divisions via MIDI.

Modartt, the creators of Pianoteq premiered their new Organteq program this year. With the discontinuation of Viscount's CM-100, this may be a viable substitute for some builders.

Organteq is a physically modeled pipe organ which we can in install on a NUC mini computer. The   

sound is generated in real time from scratch, reproducing the typical and variable pipe attack transients "chiff" as well as the 3D configuration, where pipes are located in space according to their keyboards. Even the action noises from keys, stops and couplers are modelled.

We have had one builder use it in an installation, who reports that it has an Italian sound.  Organteq cost significantly less than the CM-100.

Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. maybe Christmas...perhaps... means a little bit more!

Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Calvin Coolidge