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    Frederik Magle
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Manuals only, and using digital instruments

spotty

New member
I should have posted this in introductions because thats kind of what it is, but no one ever reads those do they?

Anyway, this is me.
I've been out of the keyboard game for a long time. Just getting back in. I'm very interested in medieval, rennaisance and some baroque music.
I'm chiefly Interested in portative and positive organs. In otherwords the real small organs without pedals. In addition, I don't have a 'true' instrument so I'm just using an electronic keyboard that happens to have some not bad organ sounds.
Any one else in a similar situation or have similar interests?
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hello spotty :wave:

Welcome to Magle International Music Forum. On the contrary, lots of members do read the new introductions, it's just that they don't all respond. Seeing as you are from Canada, I can guarantee without any doubt whatsoever that you will receive a nice warm welcome from another of our staff, who hails from Montreal.

Anyway, we are glad you have decided to join our community.

On the portative/positive organs, are you seeking winded instruments or digital voiced ones? What was your playing level before you 'got out of the game'?
 

spotty

New member
Hello spotty :wave:

On the portative/positive organs, are you seeking winded instruments or digital voiced ones? What was your playing level before you 'got out of the game'?

Well,
I played piano and some 'organ' on an old yamaha electone off and on for many years.
Around '94 I started to have major problems with my hands due to my job as a computer programmer. (too much typing). It got pretty bad and I quit playing. A few years later I sold the piano.
A couple of years ago I started playing early music on recorder and eventually became part of an ensemble. After about 2 years of that though I started to get lots of ringing and pain in my ears. I eventually quit that. I now have a 20 db loss in my left ear in the upper midrange. :cry:
Recently though I've got the bug again and i've found the lighter touch of a non-piano keyboard to be so far OK on my hands, and since I am playing an electronic instrument, a volume control allows me to play at a rang where my ears aren't bothered. So I bought myself a Yamaha ypg220 keyboard and it has a few organ patches that I just love. Like I said, I'm interested in pre-classical music. I must admit i find the BIG organs sometimes too 'busy' and I prefer the small scale stuff, but hey thats just me.
For example, on this page there are some great little small organs
http://www.boltonkits.co.uk/organs.html
and I like the 8' sample tune http://www.boltonkits.co.uk/Tr%208bb.mp3
although the player's timing doesn't seem to great to me.:confused:

I'm also trying to approach my playing differently. Rather that being so driven to more and more complex pieces beyond my ability I am trying to just do easier stuff and do it well.

For now I'm sticking with the digital instrument because its what works for me and I ain't too fussy yet. We'll see what the future brings.
 

mrg

New member
Welcome spotty

If you get frustrated with poor quality digital organ sounds, check out the excellent Haupwerk software from http://www.crumhornlabs.com which runs on PCs or MACs and give superb quality digital reproduction of a variety of sampled pipe organs available from a variety of sampleset providers around the world.

I used this as my first "instrument" along with a cheapo electronic keyboard. Over time that transformed into two cheapo keyboards propped up on box files to makes 2 "manuals". Later I midified a pedalboard and later still bought an old 3 manual stack which I midified to replace the cheapo keyboards. I've currently got an old console sitting in my garage waiting for me to mount the manual stack into it.

So be warned, even cheapo keyboards can starty you on the road to ruin.

Best wishes.
 

spotty

New member
Hey MRG. I loke your 'throw it together with duct tape attitude. Great. I remember spotting an old Conn organ years ago with full pedals and thinking I should midify it. I didn't have the guts or knowhow at the time. I'll probably proceed like you. At some point pick up a second keyboard and then at some point after, a pedal boars from 'somewhere'.

Cool.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
. . . . .For example, on this page there are some great little small organs
http://www.boltonkits.co.uk/organs.html
and I like the 8' sample tune http://www.boltonkits.co.uk/Tr 8bb.mp3
although the player's timing doesn't seem to great to me.:confused:

Wonderful small instruments :grin: - Thank you for sharing this link with us, Spotty :cheers:.

I could forsee use for such instruments, being easy to move as they appear, for continuo use at some venues. I didn't see prices listed for these - wonder what they cost. Any ideas?
 

Caddis

New member
Hi mrg
Approx. what is the price difference between the 'cheapo' setup and a Viscount or Johannus electronic organ?
 
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