Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting my very good friend Jon. For those who don’t know, Jon and I share a long history of working together, particularly in creating sounds for the Yamaha Tyros series. Over the years, our collaboration has been a joy, blending creativity, experimentation, and a shared love for music technology.
This visit was especially exciting because I got to play Jon’s new setup—a stunning combination of his Roland Atelier organ alongside my trusty Tyros 4. The sound possibilities were incredible. Jon has incorporated the Hauptwerk system, featuring samples from Hereford Cathedral, which brought a majestic and resonant cathedral ambiance to the performance. On top of that, he’s layered Garritan orchestral samples, giving the music a rich, cinematic depth.
Playing through this setup was nothing short of inspiring. It’s one thing to work on sounds in the abstract, tweaking and layering at the computer; it’s another to sit down and experience them in real-time on such a refined instrument. The combination of cathedral grandeur and orchestral warmth created a palette that felt both powerful and expressive.
Spending time with Jon is always a mix of laughter, reminiscing about past projects, and diving into musical experimentation. Sharing our love of sound design, and then hearing the results come alive in his new setup, reminded me why these collaborations are so special.
If you’ve ever had the chance to explore Hauptwerk or Garritan samples with a high-end organ setup, you’ll understand the magic. And if not, I hope this gives a little taste of the excitement that comes from combining technology, creativity, and friendship in music.
Visiting Jon was a musical treat, and I left inspired, already thinking about new sounds to explore and new music to create.