A mechanical action is a fascinating system: A key often needs to be connected to a valve over several meters without compromising the organ's playability. Good actions are therefore smooth yet precise. But how can this playing feel be reproduced on an electronic organ keyboard without the corresponding mechanics?

When you press an organ key, you first feel a slight amount of play. The key moves a few tenths of a millimeter to a millimeter before the action “engages” and applies pressure to the valve.

Because the air in the windchest beneath the pipe exerts counter-pressure on the valve, the key resistance rises steeply until it suddenly drops – the breakaway point is passed, air flows through the valve, and the pipe sounds.

Depending on how quickly this breakaway point is traversed, air flows into the pipe differently, thereby altering the sound. A clearly defined and authentic breakaway point is therefore essential for effective organ practice on an electronic organ!

In the area below the breakaway point, one only feels the counterforce of the valve spring. This can vary significantly depending on the design and shapes the individual playing feel of an organ just as much as the breakaway point.

When the key is allowed to return to its resting position, the valve closes again: The counterforce increases once more at the level of the breakaway point before the initial position is reached.

This results in a force curve that can describe the counterforce acting at every position of the key. Using our electromagnets and the position sensors located beneath each key, we can then precisely replicate this curve: To do this, the position of each individual key is measured over 1,000 times per second, and the electromagnets are energized accordingly.

The big advantage here is that you can use the KeyControl sliders to intuitively and continuously adjust the feel of the keys at any time! The length of the travel, the position and strength of the pressure point, the spring tension, and the release point can all be adjusted in just a few seconds.

But KEYCHANGE KEYBOARDS takes it one step further: Every mechanical system involves friction, and an organ action is no exception. This friction depends on the speed at which the key is moved (and thus on the first derivative of position with respect to time).

If we were to disregard this factor, you would rightly complain about a very unnatural or sterile playing feel!

The flexible force curve, in conjunction with friction simulation, thus enables a truly realistic virtual organ action for the first time.

So, if you hesitate at the investment and maintenance required for a mechanical home organ, yet still wish to enjoy your HAUPTWERK samplesets with an authentic playing feel – then KEYCHANGE is perfectly suited for you!