SECTION IV

GENERAL OPERATION

9. Starting the Organ

a. GENERAL. The electronic organ must operate at constant speed. The use of a synchronous-type motor makes this possible. Synchronous motors, however, do not operate under their own power except when up to normal operating speed. Thus, shaded pole motor is required momentarily to provide running speed before the synchronous motor takes over the operating load.

b. PROCEDURE. To start the organ, proceed as follows:

(1) Push starting switch to START position and hold long enough to count slowly to 8.

(2) Continue to hold starting switch and push running switch to RUN position. Hold both switches long enough to count slowly to 8.

(3) Release both switches.

Note. The starting switch will return automatically to the OFF position; the running switch will remain in the RUN position.

10. Presetting Tone Quality for Organ Manuals

a. GENERAL. Although all tone generating equipment goes into operation as soon as the organ is started, channels must be cleared through the instrument before it can be played. This is done by depressing a tone selection key beside each manual. Preset keys, the simplest of the tone selection keys, are the nine keys, C# to A inclusive, at the left of the manuals. They are frequently used in connection with the extreme left cancel key, C.

b. PROCEDURE. To preset tone quality of the organ manuals, proceed as follows:

(1) Select preset key representing tone quality desired for each manual (see app. III).

(2) Depress selected preset key.

Note. Only one preset key should be used for each manual at anyone time.

Should more than one key be accidentally pressed, both may be canceled by pressing on the extreme left cancel key, C.

11. Changing Manual Presetting

a. GENERAL. With channels cleared as outlined above, the organ manuals are ready for play. During play, however, it is frequently desirable to change manual tones to follow the changing mood of the music. Tone is changed by changing from one to another tone selection key.

b. PROCEDURE. To change organ manual tone during play, proceed as follows:

(1) Sustain flow of musical composition on one manual with the right hand, leaving the left hand free for use on tone selection keys.

(2) Depress newly selected tone selection key.

12. Setting Tone-Quality for Organ Pedal Clavier

a. GENERAL. As with manuals, channels first must be cleared through the organ before pedal clavier tones can be played. This is done by pulling out one or both of the two middle or pedal drawbars. Pedal drawbars, shown in figure 2, pull outward from a silent setting through, eight increasing gradations of volume. The left bar controls tones equivalent to 16-foot organ pipes combined with softer 8-foot pipes. The right bar controls tones equivalent to 8-foot pipes combined with softer 4-foot pipes. The two drawbars are most effective when used together, with greater volume set for the left bar.

b. PROCEDURE. To set pedal clavier drawbars, proceed as follows:

(1) Select drawbar combination representing tone quality desired for pedal clavier (see app. III).

(2) Pull drawbars outward to desired settings.

Note. Pedal clavier tone quality may be changed at will during play by changing drawbar settings.

13. Operating Swell Pedal

a. GENERAL. The swell pedal controls the volume of tone produced by both the organ keys and the pedals. Swell pedal operation is similar to that for any conventional pipe organ. The pedal operates by heel or toe pressure from a normal halfway open position.

b. PROCEDURE. To operate the swell pedal, interpret volume changes indicated by musical notation by pressing gradually with the toe to open the swell pedal to increase volume and with the heel to close the pedal to diminish volume.

14. Operating Tremolant Control

a. GENERAL. The tremolant control measures the extent of volume flutter, or tremolo, in the organ tone. Tremolo is controlled by operating the tremolant control knob shown in figure 2.

b. PROCEDURE. To change the extent of tremolo, proceed as follows: (1) Turn the tremolant control knob clockwise to increase tremolo for the purpose of heightening listener interest or increasing musical tension.

(2) Turn the control knob counterclockwise to reduce tremolo.

15. Operating Chorus Control

a. GENERAL. The chorus control combines organ tones slightly off pitch with tones of true pitch to give the impression that numerous voices or organs are being sounded together. This effect is desirable when the organ is used as accompaniment for choir or congregational singing.

b. PROCEDURE. The chorus control drawbar, shown in figure 2, has only two settings, which are indicated by the following procedure:

(1) Pull drawbar all the way out to introduce choral effect.

(2) Push drawbar all the way in to discontinue choral effect.

16. Balancing Tones

It is necessary for the organist to use skills similar to those required for the conventional pipe organ to balance the manuals and pedals of the electronic organ. Since the swell pedal affects equally all tones produced by organ manuals and pedals, a thorough understanding of the volume or intensity of preset tone qualities and pedal drawbar settings is necessary before proper balance can be maintained.

a. BALANCING MANUALS. Since upper and lower manuals are frequently used together, the organist must recognize the need for proper balance between manuals. Thus it is possible to bring out a melody on the upper organ manual only while carrying an accompaniment with a tone selection key of softer quality on the lower manual. The intensity of each manual preset is indicated on a tab affixed to the preset key. These intensities are listed with their respective keys in appendix III.

b. BALANCING PEDALS WITH MANUALS. Maintaining a proper balance between manuals and pedals is important. Low-pitched pedal tones must furnish proper background for manual tones without being loud enough to hide them. To accomplish this, pedal drawbars must be adjusted to balance the accompaniment of the tone selection key used for the greater part of the music to be played. This setting need not be changed with every change made to tone selection keys. Acceptable pedal drawbar settings are listed with the tone qualities and intensities for tone selection keys in appendix III.

17. Stopping the Organ

a. GENERAL. The organist must accustom himself to turning off the electronic organ whenever it is not in use, even for short periods during a church or chapel service.

b. PROCEDURE. To stop the organ, pull the running switch forward to the OFF position.