I have acquired a 1975 Conn 651 theatre organ and I have started stripping out all the old circuitry with the intention of putting in new digital circuitry, converting it to a virtual theatre organ where the theatre organ sounds are generated by a PC within the organ console. Service manuals and spare parts and know-how to service these old organs are disappearing but they made such lovely consoles that they are worth preserving in some form. I am currently working on re-wiring the 3 keyboards which are sitting on my workbench. I will end up soldering more than 560 connections all up.







Charles

I took this photo last night of my rebuilt Conn 651. The pedal board can't be attached while it is sitting on the two dollys. Start testing today after installing a PC motherboard.


Charles

Hi Charles,

That is quite an ambitious project! Hope your 'Virtual Organ' works once you get the software linked in. Will your organ sound like the original Conn 651?

I have noticed that it has two expression pedals? What specifically do they do?

We await with baited breath for you to post a recording of you playing it.

Hugh

Hello, WOW, What can I say! That looks fantastic. Must hear some music from it now. Regards, Den.

Thanks for your comments Hugh and Den. The two swell shoes were originally 'volume' controls for the Great and Swell (I think), But I intend making the left one my overall 'volume' control and the right one will hopefully be a Crescendo. The voices won't necessarily emulate the original Conn sound unless I am lucky enough to stumble on some sampled sounds. Instead, the sounds will be computer-generated much like Miditzer or jOrgan or Herptwerk The keyboards, pedals, stops and pistons all generate midi messages which are sent into the computer where they are processed and pull out the sounds from a sound-font file for the selected voices and notes played. I have attached a record with photos of my journey on this project. The organ is in test mode at the moment and I can't attach the pedal board while it is on the two dollys (which make moving the console around easy). The organ will eventually be moved into the music room but, to make room for it, I need to remove a drinks bar with cupboards underneath.

PDF of my journey on this project
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Charles

Hi Charles Some project I would not know where to start. Perhaps I would leave the bar in situe. All the best. John

Just to let you know, I intend loading a new virtual organ software from ..

https://digitalvpo.com

.. onto my midified Conn. The official first version has just been released this weekend and looks very promising. I did try the Beta version recently and was pleasantly surprised at how it has been packed into such a streamlined product. The user manual has not yet been released but I believe it is getting close, not that it matters so much as the whole product is quite intuitive.

Charles