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Allen Organ Company MDS-8 Manual

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MDS-8
Copyright
1997 Allen Organ Company
©
All Rights Reserved
AOC P/N 033-0094

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  • Page 1 MDS-8 Copyright 1997 Allen Organ Company © All Rights Reserved AOC P/N 033-0094...
  • Page 2 ALLEN ORGAN COMPANY For more than fifty years--practically the entire history of electronic organs--the Allen Organ Company has sought to build the finest organs that technology would allow. In 1939, Allen built and marketed the world’s first purely electronic oscillator organ.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents I. Description of Stops..................1 II. Solo voices and Second Voices ..............7 III. Artistic Registration ..................8 IV. Transposer/Setting Pistons................12 V. Programmable Console Functions ............... 13 VI. MIDI Guide....................14 VII. Installation, Voicing, Care of the Organ, and Battery Backup....17...

  • Page 4: Description Of Stops

    Principal Voices Principal Characteristic organ tone, not imitative of orchestral Diapason instruments. Usually present at many pitch levels, as well as in Octave all divisions. Rich, warm, and harmonically well developed. Superoctave Quinte MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 5 Organ Company. The voices are stored in memory devices, each having affixed to it a copyright notice; e.g., © 1996 AOCO, © 1997 AOCO, etc., pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code, Section 101 et seq. MDS-8 STOPLIST MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 6 Soft string tone. Viola Celeste 8’ String tone, slightly detuned, used with the Viola 8’ to create a warm string celeste. A celeste is created by sounding two voices simultaneously together, one tuned slightly sharp or flat of the MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 7 Applies a vibrato effect, natural to the human voice and wind instruments, to the Swell division stops when selected. Also applies to (SW) voices in the Pedal Division. MIDI on Swell Opens MIDI channel to the Swell manual and division. SWELL PERCUSSION VOICES MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 8 This intermanual coupler allows Swell division stops to be played from the Great manual. MIDI on Great Opens MIDI channel to Great manual and division. Classic Voicing Gt/Pd See Section II, Solo Voices and Second Voices. GENERAL STOPTABS: MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 9 External Speakers Off De-activates the external speakers. EXPRESSION SHOES The MDS-8 features two expression shoes. These are volume pedals located under the manuals in the lower center of the console The shoe on the left expresses the Great and Pedal divisions, while the one on the right expresses the Swell division.

  • Page 10: Solo Voices And Second Voices

    SOLO VOICES AND SECOND VOICES SOLO ORGAN VOICES In addition to the comprehensive stop specification of the MDS-8, there are a variety of solo stops that can be accessed from the Swell manual using the Solo Organ Voices. These second voices are accessed from stop tablets in the Swell division. The stopnames are printed on the stop tablets in red superscript as follows: Tuba Mirabilis, Open Flute, Clarinet, and Cor Anglais.

  • Page 11: Artistic Registration

    Try to seek a “natural” balance of volume between solo and accompaniment. This will be especially easy to accomplish since the solo and accompaniment voices are expressed by separate expression shoes. MDS-8 Section III...
  • Page 12 Volumes have been written on the subject of ensemble registration. Following is a summary of the major points. Ensembles are created by combining stops. Always consider two factors, tone quality and pitch. Ensembles begin with a few stops at the 8’ and/or 4’ pitch and expand MDS-8 Section III...
  • Page 13 2. Rohrflöte 8’, Spitzflöte 4’, Superoctave 2’ 3. Diapason 8’, Octave 4’ 4. Diapason 8’, Octave 4’, Superoctave 2’ Great Continued 5. Diapason 8’, Octave 4’, Superoctave 2’, Mixture IV 6. Diapason 8’, Rohrflöte 8’, Octave 4’, Sptizflöte 4’, Superoctave 2’, Mixture IV MDS-8 Section III...
  • Page 14 For those interested in gaining further insight into this vital area of organ playing, we recommend the following texts: Audsley, George Ashdown. Organ Stops and their Artistic Registration. Hialeah, FL: C.P.P. Belwin, 1985. Irwin, Stevens. Dictionary of Pipe Organ Stops. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan Books, 1983. MDS-8 Section III...

  • Page 15: Transposer/Setting Pistons

    General Piston 1 of the same memory is pressed. You can change the registration assigned to any General piston at any time by repeating the above procedure. PROGRAMMABLE CONSOLE FUNCTIONS MDS-8 Section IV...
  • Page 16 VI. Music Memory ™ I. DESCRIPTION The MDS-8 is equipped with a programmable control system that provides useful extra functions. It is not necessary for the organist to use all available features to play the instrument. The organ is capable of all traditional functions without the use of the control system.
  • Page 17 Piston and press the “R” Piston three times. The bottom five lights of the GT/PD expression indicator will flash to indicate that the organ is in the Restoration mode. To restore all factory settings, press General Piston 1. MDS-8 Section V...

  • Page 18: Midi Guide

    “Set” piston and then pressing the “Cancel” piston. VI. Music Memory ™ The MDS-8 features Allen’s Music Memory™, a selection of pre-recorded demonstration pieces in a variety of tonal combinations and musical styles. To access these selections, press and hold the “Set” Piston and press the “R” Piston once.
  • Page 19 The student’s ability to hear the piece in its entirety and to become aware of, from the earliest stage of learning a composition, the interrelationship of its voices, is especially valuable in learning contrapuntal works. MDS-8 Section VI...
  • Page 20 Allen MDS-Expander™ II and Allen Smart Recorder™ to an Allen MDS organ equipped with SmartMIDI™. ORGAN MDS-EXPANDER™ II SMART RECORDER™ MIDI OUT 1 MIDI OUT 2 MIDI IN MIDI IN MIDI THRU MIDI IN MIDI OUT MDS-8 Section VI...
  • Page 21 When external MIDI devices are connected to the organ, it is important to make sure that the devices’ channels of transmission and reception match the MIDI channels of the Allen organ divisions to which they are assigned. The MDS-8 transmits MIDI on the following channels: Swell = Channel 1 Great = Channel 2 Pedal = Channel 3 MIDI Program Change Messages are transmitted from the organ’s General Pistons on MIDI...
  • Page 22 Reasonable care will keep the instrument looking beautiful for years to come. The wood surfaces may be cleaned using a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water. A mild solution of lukewarm water and furniture soap may be used to remove fingerprints, etc. Polish dry with a soft cloth. MDS-8 Section VII...
  • Page 23 AC circuit analyzer before connecting the organ. Do not change the cable plug or remove the ground pin or connect with a two- pole adapter. If you are in doubt about your electrical connection, consult your local electrician or power company. MDS-8 Section VII...
  • Page 24 In churches where circuit breakers are turned off between worship services, the circuit breaker affecting the organ console AC power should have a guard installed to prevent its being accidentally switched off. Read and comply with all instructions and labels that may be attached to the instrument.
  • Page 25 MDS-8 Copyright 1997 Allen Organ Company © All Rights Reserved AOC P/N 033-0094-1...
  • Page 26 ALLEN ORGAN COMPANY For more than fifty years--practically the entire history of electronic organs--the Allen Organ Company has sought to build the finest organs that technology would allow. In 1939, Allen built and marketed the world’s first purely electronic oscillator organ.

  • Page 27: Installation, Voicing, Care Of The Organ, And Battery Backup

    Contents I. Description of Stops..................1 II. Solo voices and Second Voices ..............7 III. Artistic Registration ..................8 IV. Transposer/Setting Pistons................12 V. Programmable Console Functions ............... 13 VI. MIDI Guide....................14 VII. Installation, Voicing, Care of the Organ, and Battery Backup....17...

  • Page 28: Description Of Stops

    Principal Voices Principal Characteristic organ tone, not imitative of orchestral Diapason instruments. Usually present at many pitch levels, as well as in Octave all divisions. Rich, warm, and harmonically well developed. Superoctave Quinte MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 29 Organ Company. The voices are stored in memory devices, each having affixed to it a copyright notice; e.g., © 1996 AOCO, © 1997 AOCO, etc., pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code, Section 101 et seq. MDS-8 STOPLIST MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 30 String tone, slightly detuned, used with the Viola 8’ to create a warm string celeste. A celeste is created by sounding two voices simultaneously together, one tuned slightly sharp or flat of the other, creating a warm, undulating, “celestial” effect. MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 31 Swell division stops when selected. Also applies to (SW) voices in the Pedal Division. MIDI on Swell Opens MIDI channel to the Swell manual and division. SWELL PERCUSSION VOICES Celesta Delicate percussion sound similiar to a music box. MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 32 Opens MIDI channel to Great manual and division. Classic Voicing Gt/Pd See Section II, Solo Voices and Second Voices. GENERAL STOPTABS: Bass Coupler When this coupler is used, the lowest note played on the Great manual will automatically key any Pedal voice, playing those MDS-8 Section I...
  • Page 33 External Speakers Off De-activates the external speakers. EXPRESSION SHOES The MDS-8 features two expression shoes. These are volume pedals located under the manuals in the lower center of the console The shoe on the left expresses the Great and Pedal divisions, while the one on the right expresses the Swell division.

  • Page 34: Solo Voices And Second Voices

    SOLO VOICES AND SECOND VOICES SOLO ORGAN VOICES In addition to the comprehensive stop specification of the MDS-8, there are a variety of solo stops that can be accessed from the Swell manual using the Solo Organ Voices. These second voices are accessed from stop tablets in the Swell division. The stopnames are printed on the stop tablets in red superscript as follows: Tuba Mirabilis, Open Flute, Clarinet, and Cor Anglais.

  • Page 35: Artistic Registration

    Try to seek a “natural” balance of volume between solo and accompaniment. This will be especially easy to accomplish since the solo and accompaniment voices are expressed by separate expression shoes. MDS-8 Section III...
  • Page 36 Such registrations are used in hymn singing, choir accompaniments, and much of the contrapuntal organ literature. Volumes have been written on the subject of ensemble registration. Following is a summary of the major points. MDS-8 Section III...
  • Page 37 Here are typical ensemble combinations for the Swell and Great manuals: Great 1. Rohrflöte 8’, Spitzflöte 4’ 2. Rohrflöte 8’, Spitzflöte 4’, Superoctave 2’ 3. Diapason 8’, Octave 4’ 4. Diapason 8’, Octave 4’, Superoctave 2’ Great Continued MDS-8 Section III...
  • Page 38 For those interested in gaining further insight into this vital area of organ playing, we recommend the following texts: Audsley, George Ashdown. Organ Stops and their Artistic Registration. Hialeah, FL: C.P.P. Belwin, 1985. Irwin, Stevens. Dictionary of Pipe Organ Stops. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan Books, 1983. MDS-8 Section III...
  • Page 39 “remember” the combination of stops you assigned to it and bring on that registration each time General Piston 1 of the same memory is pressed. You can change the registration assigned to any General piston at any time by repeating the above procedure. MDS-8 Section IV...

  • Page 40: Programmable Console Functions

    PROGRAMMABLE CONSOLE FUNCTIONS The MDS-8 is equipped with a Console Controller™ system that provides useful extra functions. It is not necessary for the organist to use all of the Console Controller’s available features to play the instrument. The organ is capable of all traditional organ functions without the use of the Console Controller™...

  • Page 41: Midi Guide

    Multi-tracking can also be used in teaching and learning new organ works. The teacher may record each hand or pedal part on a different track, allowing the student to “mute”, or turn off, any part being practiced while still being able to hear the sequencer play the rest of the MDS-8 Section VI...
  • Page 42 MIDI port labeled MIDI OUT 1, eliminating the necessity of having to draw the MIDI stop controls before recording a digital sequence. The drawing below illustrates the proper procedure for connecting the Allen MDS-Expander™ II and Allen Smart Recorder™ to an Allen MDS organ equipped with SmartMIDI™. MDS-8 Section VI...
  • Page 43 When external MIDI devices are connected to the organ, it is important to make sure that the devices’ channels of transmission and reception match the MIDI channels of the Allen organ divisions to which they are assigned. The MDS-8 transmits MIDI on the following channels: Swell = Channel 1 Great = Channel 2 Pedal = Channel 3 MIDI Program Change Messages are transmitted from the organ’s General Pistons on MIDI...
  • Page 44 The Digital Reverb is on whenever the rocker switch in the Console Controller™ drawer is in the ON position. Adjustments to the Digital Reverberation System must be made by your Allen sales representative or service technician. MDS-8 Section VII...
  • Page 45 If there is a problem the window will display: WARNING ! ! Replace Battery for about six seconds after the organ is switched on. Should the battery in your MDS organ require replacement, contact your local Allen authorized service representative. MDS-8 Section VII...
  • Page 46 USA ONLY CAUTION Do not plug the instrument into any current source other than 105-128 volts, 50/60 Hertz alternating current (AC). A verified grounded outlet is essential to proper operation and protection of the instrument. Proper polarity should be checked with an AC circuit analyzer before connecting the organ. Do not change the cable plug or remove the ground pin or connect with a two- pole adapter.

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