Whilst a few organ builders still manufacture their own keyboards and pedalboards, the majority source these components from several supply houses around the world. By far the largest manufacturer in the world is the Italian company of FATAR who manufacture keyboards in dozens of different designs for instruments ranging from digital pianos and synthesizers to church organs. Their "ecclesiastical" models were developed over many years and can be found in many commercial pipeless instruments.
The alternative to the FATAR class of keyboard is the typical solid wood keyboard as manufactured by such companies as P&S, Lauckuff, and several other specialist manufacturers worldwide. These are designed for use in either pipe or pipeless instruments.
However, in the last couple of decades, a new manufacturer based in Germany called UHT has come to prominence and they produce very high quality keyboards that are available in a number of different styles and finishes. Using a similar frame construction to FATAR, their keyboards are wooden cored and possess a quality of touch that is as good as any keyboard available. Although they are designed with pipeless organs in mind, they are also used by pipe organ builders where a purely electric action is required. As a result of their superb products, they can be said to have become the leading keyboard manufacturers in the world with a "Rolls-Royce" product.
Pedalboards are more likely to be manufactured "in house" and whilst some of the one time major suppliers (such as Kimber Allen) no longer offer pedalboards as component parts, there are several other sources for this particular component including the UHT company mentioned above. Various different designs of pedalboard are available from the several supply houses ranging from the typical straight B.D.O. style pedalboards of the Continent to the familiar British and A.G.O. specified radiating and concave models.
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Sample Sets
We have been involved with church organs for over five decades. Initially working with conventional pipe organs, we moved into the world of pipeless instruments during their rapid technological expansion in the last quarter of the twentieth century.
With over 30 years experience in creating sample sets for organs for other digital organ manufacturers and since 2003, for the Hauptwerk software platform, we are one of the longest established sample set producers.
In addition to our "off the shelf" sample sets of existing or composite instruments, we also create custom instruments to suit individual requirements.
We have a library archive of many hundreds of stops to choose from. sampled from instruments throughout the UK and elsewhere.
We also supply sample sets and stops to several pipe organ builders throughout the world for use in hybrid instruments.
Hardware
We can supply everything that might be required for a pipeless organ installation from the basic console, amplification and speakers to the computers, software and audio interfaces needed.
The various components are sourced from a number of specialist established manufacturers and supply houses most of whom we have been involved with for many years.
In addition, we have a number of contacts both in the UK and abroad who specialise in obtaining and converting former consoles for use with the Hauptwerk platform.
Contact Information
For further information, please email us at
E-mail:
charlesbraund@gmail.com
or
info@silveroctopus.co.uk
N.B. Some sample sets may not work with basic older versions of Hauptwerk or the entry level version of the new Hauptwerk V and above because these editions do not include some of the features that are necessary for our libraries to work fully on the Hauptwerk platform.