Multi-channel recording and post-production of digital concert organs

Sound engineering project by Jan Ročnik, 2014

The Rodgers Organ at the Institute for Church Music and Organ works with electronic sound production which is projected through more than 24 speakers. The console and the speaker system are connected digitally (MADI).

 

Signal paths after the rebuild of the Rodgers Organ in Spring 2014

As a result, the organ signals can be recorded directly with minimal technical effort, and in addition to traditional microphone recording.
The recordings are not affected by the organ’s location or any background noise or acoustic shortcomings. Furthermore, the spatial layout of the individual works can be carried out “virtually” in the postproduction phase.

Panoramisation of the organ works: Blue: Récit, Red: Positif, Green: Grand Orgue, Black: Pédale and Solo

The following audio samples allow comparison of a microphone recording (large AB placement) and the modelled organ sound from the direct signals. The material comes from the organ@MUMUTH production “Petr Eben – Faust für Orgel‏ [Faust for Organ]”, played by Aleksey Vylegzhanin.

/ Prologue – microphone recording
/ Prologue – blend of direct-out signals
/ Walpurgisnacht [Feast of St Walburga] – microphone recording
/ Walpurgisnacht – blend of direct-out signals

Detailed documentation is available in the project thesis:
Jan Ročnik, Mehrkanalige Aufnahmen und Postproduktion digitaler Konzertorgeln, Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz, 2014.
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