Notre-Dame de Metz sample set review
Personal review
The Notre-Dame de Metz is probably the best-selling sample set from [Milan Digital Audio], and quite possibly the best selling one from the whole Hauptwerk sample set library. Introduced in late 2007, this set marked a new level in quality and sonic realism. With is big acoustic, anyone who loves the pipe organ can not remain indifferent upon first hearing this virtual rendition of this Mutin/Cavaillé-Coll organ.
The Metz is a 38-rank, 3 manual French symphonic organ. Delivered in 1903, some of the greatest French organists played it: Charles-Marie Widor, Marcel Dupré, Maurice Duruflé and Marie-Claire Alain. Thanks to Hauptwerk technology, you can now enjoy in your music room the sounds of this same organ, including its huge cathedral like acoustic.
An extended version augments the organ from 38 to 48 ranks; seven additional ranks have been added to the Positif division, one to the Great and two 32' extensions to the Pédale division.
While the set is fairly substantial (it arrives on 3 DVD-roms) it is possible to use it on a computer with 4 GB of memory (On Windows XP, you can use the /3GB switch to access up to 3.2 GB of memory). Of course, you can use the Metz on smaller computers by frugally selecting various options to load fewer stops, use less loops or different bit resolution.
The way to describe the Metz sample set: it transports you to being inside a French Cathedral. This is a very "wet" sample set, meaning you will get a long reverb; my organ teacher finds that this kind of acoustic hides to much of the (my) imperfections while playing ... that's a bad thing when learning, but it is a great thing when you want to give yourself the impression that you are better than you really are ... For example, if you feel a little bit depressed by the way you're playing, simply load the Metz and play a bit... in no time you will smile!
Take the time to listen to some of the demos available on the Milan Digital Audio website, and also on Contrebombarde.com. This is a great sample set to own for anyone looking for a big, symphonic organ sound. Always a crowd pleaser!
People with perfect pitch, beware: This instrument is tuned to A435Hz rather than A440. It will sound noticeably flat in pitch unless you tweak Hauptwerk's tuning back up to A440, or learn to live with the French A435 standard.
