Beginners guide to Hauptwerk

Introduction

Note to the reader

1. This page is a work in progress... but we know that you are anxious to begin ... since for the moment, not much information is available on this page, you can have a look at Mr. Randall Mullin's tutorial. This 37-page PDF file will guide you and explain how to configure Hauptwerk, your computer and even your CMK keyboards and pedalboards. With the passage of time, and help from other "Hauptwerkians", we will expand the information and content of this page to better help and guide you.

1. If you want to open one of the link in another browser window, use shift-click.

OK, you searched the web, stumbled on Hauptwerk website or another VPO (virtual pipe organ) website, have an interest for virtual instruments, especially the organ, and now, you're ready to give it a try.

You probably already read a bit about this "Hauptwerk stuff". Still, it seems complicated; there are a lot of technical terms floating around that you do not fully understand. There are also hardware and software issues you need to address.

But, probably most importantly, you're asking yourself, "Where do I start?"

What do I need to begin, to try the Hauptwerk experience?

A virtual organ built around Hauptwerk is composed software and hardware components. Basically what you need is:

Hardware

• A computer (Windows-based PC or Macintosh): Since you are browsing the Internet, you are already using a computer, with a better than 90% chance it is a Windows-Based PC, less than 10% chance it is a Macintosh computer. The good news is that both computer platforms are supported by Hauptwerk. Crumhorn-Labs does have a bias toward the MAC, because of the ease of setting up the computer and requires usually less technical support ... but since it is an eternal debate beyond the scope of this introduction, we will let you choose for yourself. Anyway, you've probably already chosen your own computer camp. Now to help you configure a new computer (or to know how far you can go with your present hardware), have a look at the following pages:
  
  
  • Sound card: even if Hauptwerk will probably work with your internal sound card, the standard internal sound card that came with your computer is probably not optimized for high quality, high polyphony output. Learn more about sound cards and Hauptwerk
    
    
  • Midi interface: To connect your keyboard(s) and the computer you will need a midi interface; many sound cards have onboard midi interfaces included with them, other sound cards and Mac computers require an additional interface. Learn more about midi interfaces and Hauptwerk
    
    
  • Polyphony: Most other samplers, such as Kontakt and GigaSampler, stream large sample libraries from the hard disk, and load only the beginning portion of each sound into RAM. In contrast, Hauptwerk loads all of the samples into RAM. The maximum polyphony of samples streamed from hard disk may only be a few hundred simultaneous samples, where as Hauptwerk is capable of playing literally thousands of samples simultaneously.Learn more about polyphony and Hauptwerk
    
    
  • RAM Memory: The amount of RAM memory your computer has primarily determines the maximum size of sample set that can be loaded in Hauptwerk. Learn more about memory and Hauptwerk
    
    
  • Processors: The performance of the processor(s) primarily determines the polyphony that can be achieved in Hauptwerk. Learn more about processors and Hauptwerk
    
    
  • Hard Disk drives: Since Hauptwerk stores all audio data in RAM memory, rather than streaming audio samples from hard-disk, provided that sufficient amount of RAM memory is installed in your computer, the type and speed of its hard-disks should have no significant effect on Hauptwerk's real-time audio performance (polyphony). Learn more about disk drives and Hauptwerk
    
    
  • Loudspeakers:To hear what you're playing, you need to connect the audio output from your computer to some loudspeakers or a set of good headphones.
    • Hi-Fi loudspeakers: Since the output from your computer isn't amplified much beyond line level, you will need to use some kind of amplifier (stereo amplifier, Home Theater receiver), connecting the computer OUTPUTS to the receiver INPUTS then connect hi-fi loudspeakers to the receiver.
    • Computer speakers or Active Studio Monitor: These speakers are basically the same; they have one or two internal amplifiers; a studio monitor usually offers better sound quality and a more powerful amplifier. Don't forget that Hauptwerk is offering high quality sample sets; to truly appreciate them you will need a good quality audio-system. Of course, computer speakers will allow you to hear the sound, but the sound quality won't do justice to what Hauptwerk is able to produce. But don't forget, the beauty of Hauptwerk is that everything is modular, so you can always, over a period time, upgrade some components.
      
      
  • Input device: Since we are talking about an playing the organ, you will need some midi-capable musical keyboard device on which to play; a Midi keyboard(s) or a midi enabled organ console connected to the computer will allow you to play. If you don't have any midi keyboard, you can buy a cheap midi keyboard (Casio like...) for less than $100.00; this will allow you to experiment with Hauptwerk for almost nothing. If you're looking for more serious midi hardware, have a look at this page

Software

• Hauptwerk: (free trial version available from the official Hauptwerk website). The trial version is exactly the same as the commercial one, but without the dongle will emit a "bell/chime" every few seconds; the trial version will also be unable to use copy-protected sample sets.

The trial version is free if you can download it (about 350 Mbytes) or $20 to receive a CD. The trial version is the full Advanced Edition. Two versions are available, the Basic Edition and the Advanced one; you can have more info about the differences between the to version on the Hauptwerk forum on this page

• Sample sets: The trial version includes a sample set. You can download some additional trial/free sample sets from the Hauptwerk website and from the producers' websites.

• MIDI Utility Software: You will need some information about your midi hardware so you can correctly configure Hauptwerk, mostly to find out on which MIDI channels are the Great, Swell, Choir keyboard and pedalboard transmitting their midi signals.

These two examples of freeware (one for PC, the other for MAC) will help your computer system read what is transmitted to your computer:

• • Midiox - All purpose midi utility (PC)
  • MidiMonitor - Midiox like utility for Mac (MAC)