I've added the EXCEL layout charts for the Connoisseur Theatre Organ as I have it set up for the MOTU Layouts 1 & 2.

September 1, 2008:

I'm adding the PC layouts below that use multiple M-Audio sound cards. The PC Layouts 1 & 2 show which speakers in the array are used. The output signals from the cards are mixed into the same speakers that are used by the MacPro MOTU outputs. The Jensen Connoisseur 3/35 Theatre organ uses the Athlon 4600+ PC with PC Layout 1. The Add-On imported organ uses the Athlon 4200+ PC with PC Layout 2.

August 21, 2008:

I am adding a few mp3 demo's that may show the difference in sound between the two speaker layouts described below. These files are recorded from the Milan MasterWorks 3/31 Theatre Organ. The files are found for download just below the table showing the layout details.

August 11, 2008:

Here are the most recent layouts for my multi-speaker HW3 setup. There are two speaker arrangements that I have found to be the best so far:

Six mono groups of twelve with three stereo groups of two and one two-speaker mono group (SUBWOOFERs). The six groups are in the "Cycle within octave, octaves and ranks cycled" mode and the stereo/mono groups are in Tone Mode 1. (Referred to below as Layout 1);

Eighteen mono groups of four with four stereo groups of two and one two-speaker mono group (SUBWOOFERs). All of the groups are in Tone Mode 1. (Referred to below as Layout 2).

I have included screen captures of what the two different layouts are like and then added a few charts showing a few organs as I have them using these layouts. Layout 1 sounds the best to me! It provides a bigger and clearer sound. However, Layout 2 is a very clean sound too, as long as few ranks play at the same time in a group of four speakers.

In the case of the theatre organ, the best layout is less clear to me. Both sound very fine! Layout 2 offers a much better Main/Solo effect. Here there are just two ranks per group of 4 speakers. The two TIBIA's coming from opposite sides of the array is very dramatic. The STRING's also.
But I do think the somewhat better sound comes from Layout1 since so many more speakers are usually in play. Here there are just five ranks per groups of 12 speakers.

If I have the time, I will record some small MP3 files using each of the two layouts. Perhaps the superiority of one over the other will be recordable.

(The EXCEL organ files further down the page refer to an earlier grouping)

Six mono groups of twelve with four stereo groups of two
The best sound, in my opinion. Here the MOTU channels all light up rather quickly showing many speakers are used

Eighteen mono groups of four with four stereo groups of two
This gives lots of possibilities for placing of ranks. In Tone Mode 1 some speakers are used more than others depending on the key one is playing in.

more to come

Litomysl Concert Organ with MOTU Layout 1
Here the Great uses all groups, the Positiv is to the right, the Swell is to the left and the fourth manual uses all groups.

Litomysl Concert Organ with MOTU Layout 2
Not a bad sound at all, but I really notice a big difference when I go to Layout 1 instead.

MasterWorks Theater Organ with MOTU Layout 1
I was able to separate the Main and Solo stops mostly to the left and right groups here.

St. George's Casavant Organ with MOTU Layout 1
Here the divisional spread works ok. As long as there are half or less number of ranks as speakers in a group, the big full sound is very obvious.

St. George's Casavant Organ with MOTU Layout 2
This organ is just about the prefect size for this Layout since almost each speaker group takes only two ranks. The eighteen groups allow the organ to be nicely divided into the three sections SWELL, GREAT - PEDAL, and CHOIR.

Zwolle Organ with MOTU Layout 1
Here the Great uses all groups, the Positiv is to the right, the Swell is to the left and the fourth manual uses all groups.

?

March 24, 2008:

Here are some EXCEL files that provide information about Hauptwerk Organs setups.

1.  The first file shows how ranks, pipes and speakers go together using different numbers of speakers per output group and the five different cycling output modes. The file now includes groups of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12 speakers, and all of the HW modes:

Cycle within octave, octaves and ranks cycled
Cycle across whole rank compass
Cycle within octave, octaves constant (C/C# split)
Tone matching mode 1
Tone matching mode 2

SOME SPEAKER LAYOUT MODES FOR HW3 ORGANS 2-06-2008.xls

 

2.  The second file shows how I have setup the 82 speakers that are driven by the Apple MacPro and the four MOTU audio output units.

MOTU-MACPRO HW3 layout 1-28-2008.xls

3.  The third file shows how I have setup 3 HW3 organs for the Apple MacPro and the four MOTU audio output units. The organs are:

the Milan MasterWorks Theatre Organ - 6 groups of 12 speakers
the Sonus Paradisi Litomysl Concert Organ - 6 groups of 12 speakers
     and
the Exemplum Organum Casavant-Freres Organ with
     two layouts: six 12-speaker groups and
                              eighteen 4-speaker groups.

MOTU-MACPRO HW3 ORGANS 2-07-2008.xls

To really understand how these organs are spread around to the speakers, one should also look at the second file showing the way the speakers are positioned in the room.

4. This WORD file show how I have set up the Zwolle/Schnitger Organ from Sonus Paradisi to use the 6 groups of 12 speakers.

ZWOLLE - SCHNITGER - 12 SPEAKERS PER GROUP.doc