JJK

Interesting about the mike - I think I'd have been better getting something secondhand on ebay. My Sony mike (bought new for £60) starts rolling off at 100Hz, and there's not much bottom octave on 16' organ stops. My Sony MD retains the manual levels - and all other configurations - when turned off. Only loses them if you remove the Li-ion battery for a time. JJK

hmmm - this is interesting. Would this also apply to larger instruments? What about instruments (small or large) with a romantic bias? Has equal temperament had its day? JJK

I've also been using Sony minidisc - the latest format (Hi-MD, I think) allows well over an hour on a 1G disc (costing 45p) with full linear coding - giving CD quality. I use a £60 sony microphone - which is OK, but does lack bass response for organ music. This is only an amateur set-up, and I'm still experimenting, but I used it to record a choral concert recently (with the permission of the performers), and was staggered at the good results. I'm sure a better microphone would improve it further. JJK

Well it would probably be one of the Byrd settings. Sadly not practical in my church, where we have a newly formed choir who have to work at singing hymns properly (in unison) - not that I'm complaining, they are enthusiastic, and improving and have my respect! However, I'd be interested in people's views on congregational settings. We have used the Tambling Holy Trinity setting, and currently the Bill Ives Salisbury. These are quite good, and better than many others, but I'm ever on the look out for something new that would work without a strong 4-part choir. JJK

Yes of course - nothing wrong with strong views. Although my reply was to your post, please don't think it was directed at you! JJK

The biggest problem we have here is not the subject of the debate, which is interesting, but the way in which it is being conducted. Tasteless, personal and unpleasant comments cannot be the way to go, and one hopes they will be withdrawn. It also seems unfair to our hosts at Manders. One of the great things about this board is that we have a good deal of informed and intelligent comment - from all sorts of people, including cathedral organists, recitalists, village organists, non-players, professionals and amateurs alike. For the most part the debate is friendly even where there are fundamental disagreements. However, it now seems that due to the unpleasant and intemperate nature of some posts, we have lost a contributor whose comments I have greatly appreciated - for the quality of his postings, and not because he is well-known as a cathedral organist and recitalist, and not because I agree with all he says. JJK

Ah, swell shutters. Well of course I always leave my toaster swell pedals in the open position to save it drifting out of tune. I also do this to the pipe organ at church - however it serves no purpose since the shutters (horizontal) close as soon as the organ is turned off! JJK

....or Crotch

for sure - that one is now out of business!

Not the one in our church. It's number of tomorrows is very limited. It was never very good, and is now on its last legs - 18 years after its last major rebuild. JJK

Thanks. I sang in the choir at SMT for several years - and the then assistant organist worked for Bishops, whose workshop was (probably still is) a stone's throw from the church. I played it once (over 20 years ago) and rather liked it as well. But what happened to the similar period (1980s) Bishop in Little St Marys - currently being replaced by a new instrument from Tickell? Anyway, I'll shut up, as we're well off-topic....... JJK

Transposing mechanisms - fairly common on organs with digital transmission from the console, but rare on mechanical action instruments. Christs's Cambridge springs to mind - built in early 1980's by Bishop. As an aside, does anyone know if Bishops are still going, and have they built anything recently? JJK

Mainly, they are an agent for Viscount instruments, but put their own sample data into them. When I visited (a couple of years ago) they also had a custom 3m instrument based on musicom technology - this was their demonstrator. However, I had a feeling it was the only custom instrument they had built, and weren't really selling any. I also understand they do some refurbishing of old Compton electronic instruments. JJK

Liverpool - both LC and SGH, I think - have a Solo Ten Solo to Pedal coupler which achieves a similar effect. JJK

Do you mean St Giles, Edinburgh - I think this has a bar inside the organ JJK

....and the bit about sound frequencies! JJK

I don't understand this. I think the phoenix system offers up to 64 channels, and I'd be very surprised if Wyvern WPx is any different. Typical installations of course have rather fewer channels, but this is not a technology limitation - more to do with money and/or space. Of couse even 64 channels is not "enough" when compared to a pipe organ, but I've never heard of a Makin installation (or any other in the UK) with 64 or more channels! JJK

Absolutely right. My 5000 odd "pipes" would certainly not fit, and even if they did would make a terrible noise! The choice is between 1. a "flight simulator" approach, creating an illusion of an organ in a much larger building, and able to simulate the registrations and registration aids needed to tackle a large part of the repertoire. 2. A real organ scaled for the room - likely to have 3 stops - with a sensitive mechanical action, and very good for practising the basics of technique. Both may be serious practise tools, and both may be a lot of fun in different ways. The answer for me, if and when space and funds allow, is to have a real organ and a simulator! JJK

I am sure Copeman Hart would tell you that they make their own consoles! However, I have heard that Renatus have made some of them.... JJK

....and of course St John's Cambridge - 4m 64 stops. A bit heavy, this one, I'm told...

Sydney Opera House has an ISG crescendo pedal! JJK

5m, 131 stops, 200 ranks (lots of mixtures!) JJK

Sydney Opera House? JJK

Sadly I think that might be it. Westminster lost them at some stage (Harrison rebuild?). I did wonder about St George's Hall - however NPOR lists them as balanced (but I note that they are switchable to different pedals, as ISG's are). I'm a bit surprised if they were converted away from ISG, given that the Cathedral organist has been the curator in recent years. Anyone know the facts? JJK