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Why Hauptwerk rather than a conventional digital/electronic organ or expander?
Hauptwerk implements the audio and control 'engine' within software on generic computer hardware, rather than using the custom circuitry and dedicated DSP chips usually used in conventional digital organs and expanders.
This has several major advantages:
- Many sample sets can easily be installed and loaded at will, so you could switch quickly between using an historic baroque organ and a modern romantic organ, for example. Hence you are not limited to one or a small number of banks of sounds in memory cards.
- Because generic mass-produced computer hardware is used with Hauptwerk, there is typically a much lower total cost for an instrument of comparable specification and performance.
- The 'engine' can be upgraded quickly and easily by simply installing an updated version of the software, without an organ technician needing to visit to install new hardware. With many digital organs, the whole organ, including the console must be replaced if you wish to upgrade. Not so with Hauptwerk.
- The computer system running Hauptwerk can be upgraded periodically and relatively cheaply to obtain the latest performance and features, or if additional performance should be required. Computers of a given cost typically double in processing power about every two years.
When you buy a conventional hardware digital organ, the following is usually included:
- The organ console. This must be purchased separately (or built yourself) for Hauptwerk. Dedicated MIDI hardware and consoles are now available for use with Hauptwerk from several third-parties.
- The amplification and audio system. With Hauptwerk these must be bought separately.
- Installation and voicing services. Installing and configuring Hauptwerk yourself is not difficult but some familiarity with computers and MIDI is fairly essential. We hope that pre-installed and pre-configured Hauptwerk systems will be available in the future.
There is also the issue of reliability and longevity to be considered when installing a long-term instrument for public performance. Hauptwerk is designed to be absolutely stable, for which it has a well-proven track-record. Mac OS X and Windows Vista and XP are both now very robust operating systems. Computer hardware has a relatively limited lifespan; typically about 5-10 years. However, replacing the computer system with the latest hardware every few years will give you a much more powerful system, and enable you to take advantage of the latest features and improved performance for a relatively low cost.
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