This Hauptwerk console, meticulously crafted and assembled within a year by Colin Peacock of Renatus Ltd. in Bideford, Devon, Great Britain, stands as a testament to exceptional craftsmanship.
Following the completion of the design draft and the initial visit to Bideford, the planning of the console commenced. It was a privilege to collaborate with Colin, who consistently demonstrated exceptional ingenuity in devising innovative solutions, even for complex implementations. Once the organ was nearing completion, I revisited the Renatus company to address any remaining inquiries.
The console was constructed by Renatus in accordance with the British RCO specifications. RCO specifications. It is composed of a maple, stainless steel, and glass construction, featuring two Acer 23-inch touch screens (T232HL Abmjjz). UHT (Orlishausen, Germany) supplied the four keyboards with pressure point stimulation (Series 40, key form E 85/50). The lower keys are covered with cream-colored mineral, while the upper keys are crafted from blackwood. The pedalboard was also manufactured by Renatus.
The electrical cables for the three LED lights (pedal light, music deck light, and one LED strip beneath the music deck) are routed invisibly. No visible wires are present, not even from the rear of the console.
The organ bench is equipped with a music rack that houses bass pucks. The cables of these pucks are meticulously routed invisibly within the bench.
Renatus designed and manufactured the MIDI logic cards, which offer exceptional flexibility. A total of six boards are installed, connected in series to function as a unified MIDI controller. While the manuals may be expensive, their value is undeniable. Furthermore, UHT provides exceptional service. Each manual (including the associated thumb pistons) is equipped with its own logic board, while the pedal (including the toe pistons) is connected to one of the manuals. Additionally, rocker tabs and four LCD displays share two other boards.
Each piston can be individually programmed, enabling different pistons to fire the same MIDI message. Additionally, a piston can be programmed to send two messages: one when pressed and another when released. This flexibility allows the same MIDI message to be used with any number of pistons. However, it can be challenging to assign more than two pistons to a function. The Renatus hardware eliminates this limitation. For instance, I have plus and minus thumb pistons for each manual stepper, two toe pistons, and two hidden pistons behind the right monitor.
Internally, the console relies heavily on USB ports. A USB hub with seven ports is installed within the console. The Renatus keyboard controller requires only one port; the touchscreen monitors also require one port each. There are several additional ports that can be accessed without opening the console. For instance, I utilize one of these ports for a dongle.
The console automatically initiates power when the Hauptwerk computer (a 2013 Mac Pro) commences operation; it deactivates automatically upon the computer’s shutdown.
In summary, the process of designing and assembling the organ was equally enjoyable as playing it. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Colin Peacock for his unwavering patience and dedication in resolving intricate challenges, ultimately making my dream console a tangible reality.
For any further inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me directly (or even visit my premises). I would be delighted to provide a comprehensive demonstration of all the unique features in detail.
