Sampling the Organ of St Mary Redcliffe | Part 2

[@widewanderer]

Fascinating stuff, Richard - and a pleasure to have been able to assist you playing those notes! As a singer at Redcliffe, some 40 years ago, they wouldn't let me anywhere *near* this fine instrument (except to turn pages during the post-evensong voluntary)...until a fine Monday evening in early June 2024, when I got to bash out a fanfare for you on that absolutely ENORMOUS tuba. Bucket list (at long last): TICK! ✔️ Cheers, Richard, and best wishes for the rest of your project 👍 Rob aka Widewanderer

[@beautyinsound]

Many thanks for helping!

[@colinjenkins8124]

That was absolutely wonderful. I was extremely fortunate to spend some time on this amazing instrument when visiting from Australia about 30 years ago. An organist-friend had sung in the choir there for many years

[@davidwright640]

What a surprise to see Carlo Curley in the intro. I met Carlo in his early years in Atlanta as a very young organist. Little we know he would become a worldwide celebrity.

[@simonhancock963]

That's what I call dedication to your art! Really interesting to hear how it's all done, and looking forward to seeing the rest of the process...

[@happygardener4649]

If ever a man was happy!?!?! Love your videos Richard. Your enthusiasm is so infectious. 💓

[@mattleach958]

Excellent. Thank you Richard for all of your hardworking dedicated and caring work. And thank you for the microphone lesson.

[@bobbyhendley3084]

I am sooooo jealous that I can’t be there as a tag-along helping out with fetching stuff and assisting. I’m so anxious to hear this full beast singing wide open.

[@RalphLooij]

Thanks for this very interesting and unique insight, Richard! Good luck with all the work coming ;)

[@beautyinsound]

It’s sounding amazing so far, but there’s still a long way to go before it’s ready!! Luckily it’s all rather enjoyable 👌

[@GertimAlberda]

I saw the equipment, espectially the microphones that you use and I was astonished and envying you for being able to buy (?) or use that expensive stuff. That's simply the best you can get.

[@indiana600610]

WOW! I had no idea how much work when into such a recording!

[@Todd1356]

I was wondering why you’d sample from the aisles, but you answered that. Very interesting!

[@fjbrady]

Very nice microphone collection😍

[@michaelboyd9434]

Very exciting Richard, best of luck with the post editing where I suspect most of the hard work will take place! You managed to arrange your first sampling sessions during a traditional British mini-heatwave. Hopefully the tuning of the flues won’t drift too sharp of the reeds whilst you’re sampling in these rather warm evenings! 😅

[@aBachwardsfellow]

Yikes! so true ...

[@gustinian]

Interesting, Richard. I hope you captured an Impulse Response while you had the chance... Also have you encountered Sound Field microphones, because they have some of the very best stereo (and quadraphonic) sound imaging, an uncanny realism. They are interesting in their own right plus PZMs are also extremely interesting microphones for capturing ambiences with accuracy by avoiding phase cancellation.

[@cprestia]

Hey Richard. I've had this idea kicking around my head and I don't know who else to share it with but you. The shortfall of virtual pipe organs seems to be winding simulation. Pipes speak very differently when played alone with a full and stable reservoir than with all kinds of action going on elsewhere in the organ. I imagine that's how we end up with virtual Schnitger organs that sound like Schnitger pipework on Shoenstein chests. Would it make sense to also sample pipes (especially upperwork) with another "high wind consumption" (large foundation ?) stop drawn but the pipes removed and replaced with something that would dampen the wind noise but allow lots of wind to escape? Then in the Hauptwerk engine, when 8' stops are drawn with upperwork, it trigger the alternate set of upperwork samples? Has that been tried? EDIT: You wouldn't need to remove pipes. Draw a big foundation and just disrupt the wind column to silence the pipe (e.g. foam, cotton balls, etc.) EDIT 2: Or mute pedal C and C# of something like an open wood and play them simultaneously with each upperwork note. That should give you the right attack for tutti playing.

[@dansoper]

Really useful and interesting! I want to sample an organ one day, but currently owning 0 microphones is a bit of a blocker.

[@Recommendable]

Any rough estimates Richard of how much this set is gonna cost a hauptwer user?

[@beautyinsound]

Not sure yet. It really depends on how much the whole project costs me, which I estimate to be around £10,000 so far (not including my own time spent doing it). I’ll announce in due course.

[@LarcR]

Interesting, but I'd honestly much rather hear the results than your explanations of which microphones you use and where you place them.

[@beautyinsound]

And you will in due course…

[@maureendaniel-braveboy1835]

Technology ever more.

[@mattdotile]

Giving me reasons to put money in the organ sample purchasing piggy bank ha

[@beautyinsound]

You definitely won’t regret it. From what I’ve heard so far….. 😱

[@agatazdebska4590]

To have & to hold right, your own place. So many cables, big technology &, like allways, great, massive sound 😊 thks ❤

[@Jonathan-jw4uu]

Cant wait for its release. We need to have a release party like for Blackburn. (Could even have John Hosking again!!)

[@michaelhattori3121]

Hi Richards - quite fascinating to see how such a feat is accomplished! I’m a bit confused, though. This is listed as Part 2, but I think you said in the video that the actual sampling video was going to be Part 2? And when is that coming out - that’s what I’m really interested in. P.S. How do you like your “new” organ shoes from SupaDance? Very stylish and comfy-looking.

[@ftonfp1715]

Have you produced Part 3 of the sampling process?

[@MDLRX8]

Please be sure to include a "dry" sample set so this organ can be used in larger rooms where we have to rely on the physical room's acoustics and not St. Mary's undoubtedly superior reverberation!

[@mattshfraser]

This is awesome. Really looking forward to this. Love the Diddly Squat towel, too!

[@beautyinsound]

🚜 🚀🤣

[@RainerStrambach]

Can't wait receiving this sampleset of St. Mary Redcliff!!!! Best wishes and admiration from Vienna❤

[@derekwarren4563]

11:33 sounds like the organist has a gas problem!

[@dpapenbrock]

Loving the hype and build up on this project! Exciting and unprecedented for new releases! Except the anticipation is affecting my heart rate .. 😅

[@andrewloose3419]

I’m glad you know what you’re doing! Well! You sound as though you know!! Looking forward to the end result. 😀

[@beyersorganloft]

This is all very interesting! It’s great to get a behind the scenes look and a glimpse at the technical aspects. Looking forward to the next installation in this ‘making of’ series👍

[@wadecamons3844]

Oh Richard id love to enjoy your socks and sniff them and massage your feet after such many hours working on the organ! You are so awesome!!

[@tomgreer5040]

Thank you Richard for this. It is absolutely fascinating how you went about the mic placement and the variety of mics you are using. I can’t wait for more!

[@Toby-tq4nb]

Keep up the hard work! The setup and thorough approach looks amazing, and I was fascinated by the microphone lesson you gave us!

[@thomascosta5115]

I'm looking forward to hearing the sample of St Mary Redcliffe! Quick question-what is the piece starting at 6:50?

[@voxmystica09]

Allegretto from Five Short Pieces by Percy Whitlock

[@beautyinsound]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3Wqf2eNaLZniassi=59CZ4ZcpJ6kaZfSM

[@thomascosta5115]

@@beautyinsound Thank you very much!

[@DavidSherwood-nj9zf]

Fascinating Why are you doing this ?

[@beautyinsound]

It’s a good question. Quite simply, this is widely regarded as one of the best organs of its kind in the world. I’m in a position to be able to sample it so that people anywhere in the world can play it in their own homes. It also acts as a preservation tool to capture the organ exactly as it was in June 2024 which will be invaluable should anything happen to the pipe organ. Also - I’m a serious sound engineering geek and I LOVE this sort of thing! 👌

[@DavidSherwood-nj9zf]

@@beautyinsound Thanks for a prompt reply & now l get it ! I knew all organs are unique & l find your posts fascinating! So well done & keep up the good work !

[@aBachwardsfellow]

SO looking forward to hearing many Hauptwerk performances on this sample set! Give the acoustic the best possible care ... Given all the technology and artistry of the organ, the acoustic of the room, and the plethora of recording equipment -- yet we are all subject to the art and wisdom of the two ears of one human being approximately 5 feet above the floor level! It is amazing that it all comes together as it does. 4,500 x 3 x 20 seconds = 270,00 seconds raw recording time -- not including transition time for changes between events; 4,500 minutes, 75 hours ...