Voce Instruments

We just completed an VPO add-on and audio install project for St Peter & St Paul Catholic Church. The parishioners will be meeting in a converted warehouse space for a couple years until they build their new church building.

An Allen MDS series with factory MIDI was acquired by the Music Director. Our team added a 10.1 audio system plus an extra midi controller to supplement the short comings of the Allen MIDI implementation. I installed a 2nd custom button controller for computer power-up, shutdown, and master volume. This fits perfectly on the left stop jamb.

We were very lucky that this space had a built-out electrical closet to hold 8 speakers plus sub. There was also a ledge about 22 feet away where we added a couple of antiphonal speakers.

BTW, all Allen electronics remain intact. This gives the church the option to sell the organ as an Allen or as a VPO later on.

Today we installed a 10.1 audio system for an upcoming HW organ at Epiphany Episcopal in Burnet, TX. This parish was originally another denomination so there were no provisions for a classical organ of any kind. I consulted on speaker placement with my business associate Drew Worthen and designed the chambers accordingly. VOCE team mate Jon Penner and I wasted no time in getting the wires prepped with female spade and Neutrik connectors. We had sound in less than 3 hours of our arrival. I rented a 12’ material lift that really sped up the install and was necessary for the large powered sub and two 3-way pedal speakers. We spent the rest of the day positioning speakers and some basic VPO rank regulation. The Sanctuary has a slightly vaulted ceiling and a polished concrete floor which makes for some excellent acoustics. The final test before leaving was playing back some MIDI files with heavy registration, walking around the room, listening in the Narthex and even outside on a walkway just to see how audible it could be. Needless to say the VOCE team, along with the church staff, are VERY PLEASED with the end results!

Big day yesterday! We delivered the long awaited VPO console to St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Round Rock, TX. As you can see the Oak finish matches all the wood appointments in the church just beautifully! The audio and related infrastructure were installed and regulated during the past few weeks. The console, as most things organ related, took longer to finish. In this case it was to meet our high build standards. Extra time was spent rerouting data wiring, audio, and USB cables. Additional MIDI encoding/decoding rework was required as well. The console was first placed in the center, the 'sweet spot' for all rank voicing that was performed. Special thanks to Jon Penner (as always), Fr. Larry Covington (consultant), and the music staff of SJV for the success of this instrument.

Worked all day with Carson Brooke and Jon Penner on a new VPO install in Round Rock, TX. Very excited about this new project which will feature a beautiful restored Rodgers oak console repurposed for Hauptwerk! Today was just the audio install that will contain 40 channels of audio which includes 4 dedicated to a rear Antiphonal or En Chamade. Electricians were still working in the chambers so it was enough work just to get all the speakers, equipment racks, and stands, loaded in via the rented Genie lift. There are 4 chambers, 2 on each side of the steeple at 15' and 23' high from the floor. The 3 of us were able to devise a strategy for hoisting the 115lb Walker sub-sonic cabinets on the lift! I will post a follow up once the audio is connected and tested.

Just completed and major audio enhancement for HopePointe Anglican Church in The Woodlands, TX. Hoffrichter console was installed with just 2 large, full range speakers and a sub. Our team added 16.2 channels of audio. Speakers were installed of top of 3 'squared convex' entry alcoves that lead into the Sanctuary. These are 25' high and required a Genie lift to get speakers in place. The main sample set used is Hereford Cathedral and the audio routing was designed for it. We tapped into the existing 12V remote switching but ran new Ethernet cabling for the AVB enabled audio interfaces. Music director and organist are very happy now that it works like a true organ with divisions separated accordingly.