Hauptwerk (E)

Hauptwerk organ

Hauptwerk is a revolutionary software package made for and by organ enthusiasts. It has long been the dream of many organists to get their favorite organ sound in the living room. With the advent of the digital organ in the 20th century, this amazing idea became more and more relevant. Developers first realized this dream with the advent of the software package called “Hauptwerk”. In this article you can read more about this wonderful piece of technology, and how you can get Hauptwerk.

View our collection of Hauptwerk Organs 

Find out what you need to use Hauptwerk on your own organ here

The technology

In order to realize the dream, quite a lot had to be conceived and designed. Hauptwerk is software that consists of so-called “Samples”. Samples are, as it were, all small MP3 files that work closely together with one goal: to transfer the organ as realistically as possible. They have achieved this by stationing professional microphones in the room where the organ is located, and by recording all (additional) sounds with precision. They combine this with an algorithm that mimics the acoustics of the room and wind pressure of the pipe organ. Never before have many of these pipe organs been processed digitally in such detail!

The software

Hauptwerk's software is user-friendly and can be used on any Windows or Mac computer. In the software you can load an organ of your choice at the touch of a button. Once you've done that, you can use all the stops of this organ, and even adjust where you stand in the church. So you can not only create a realistic sound, but also choose from where you want to hear the organ!  

Hauptwerk has been around for more than 10 years, and in the meantime has digitized more than 100 organs all over the world! Well-known Dutch organs such as the Flentrop organ in Schiedam and the organ of the Bovenkerk in Kampen have also been added to the collection.

Hauptwerk on your organ

Hauptwerk is a program that needs a lot of power to work. Some organs even require 128GB of internal memory! Therefore, you need many accessories - such as a powerful PC and a sound card - to use the program on a standard digital organ.

Fortunately, the well-known organ builders Content and Johannus both make their own organs, with Hauptwerk built in. One of the most popular models in our showroom is the Content Cambiare 312. This beautiful model combines the quality and design of Content, with a full version of Hauptwerk.

View the Content Cambiare 312 Hauptwerk organ here.

Watch a concert by Gert van Hoef on a Hauptwerk organ here

About Joh.deHeer             

Joh.deHeer is a music store in Sliedrecht with a wide range of digital and Hauptwerk organs that are ready to try out in the showroom. Our expert staff will be happy to answer your questions and help you make a choice. Call 0184-419611 or mail to info@johdeheer.nl for more information, or visit our store!