Virtual Pipe Organs
Through my work writing reviews for Organ and Keyboard Cavalcade magazine, I have recently discovered the world of Virtual Pipe Organs. These are very high quality digital samples taken of each pipe and effect in some of the very best organs in the world. These samples are then brought together in a Virtual Organ, which lives inside your computer and is played with a mouse or, much more practical, by connecting any MIDI organ or keyboard up to your PC. There are many, many instruments you can obtain, some completely free of charge, and many of them produce a really stunning, lifelike sound.
My first attempts were with a totally free instrument called MidiTzer, a recreation of a small Wurlitzer theatre organ which is available as a free download from VirtualOrgan.com and is very, very simple to install
I then graduated in to the world of Virtual Pipe Organs, available through using operating software called Hauptwerk, the basic version of which is supplied as a free download, with the more advanced versions available to purchase. Installing Hauptwerk immediately gives you use of a very convincing church organ and, new on the scene, the incredible Paramount Organ Works 3/10 Wurlitzer organ, absolutely for free!
The Paramount Organ has a wonderful sound and for a modest charge you can upgrade from the free 3/10 organ onto a wonderful 3/20 instrument or, for a little more again, the incredible 3/32 as featured on my new CD, Virtualoso. Whilst you will find others available, their Wurlitzer organ samples seem second to none and, especially with the free 3/10, you can try them out and enjoy them at no cost whatsoever
In order to run the larger Paramount organs, anything larger than the 3/10, you will have to invest in one of the full versions of Hauptwerk. Bear in mind that once you have bought Hauptwerk, you can then run a whole range of wonderful Virtual Pipe Organs at relatively little extra cost, so at one minute you can be playing the superb Skinner Classical Organ at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Chicago and then, at the click of a mouse, be transported to perhaps the fabulous Father Willis organ at Salisbury Cathedral, all by way of the Wurlitzer at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois!
The Miditzer Screen Console
You will see that the Miditzer gives you a complete organ on a screen and, as you will hear from the sound files below, it makes a good sound.
The Paramount Screen Console
There are a few clips using the Paramount Wurlitzer below, from which you can appreciate its superior sound quality.
As you progress further into the world of Virtual Organs, you will discover that there is wonderful software available to purchase, which will accurately recreate pipe organs for you, both theatre and classical. Many enthusiasts have even built a console specifically to control their virtual instruments, but don't forget you can just use your existing Midi organ or keyboards to enjoy playing with the panoply of Virtual Pipe Organs. A good starting place for exploring this world is to visit www.VirtualTheatreOrgans.com