What new features would you like to see??

I would love to see the ability to set a range of stops for pistons. Basically allowing every piston to control every stop on the organ --- I have that capability on several of the pipe organs I play and would love to be able to specify what stops are controlled by the individual pistons. I know of at least one other manufacturer who has this capability (although to get to their piston configuration is a pain, plus all changes made to the range on their instruments is global for all memories).

I'm thinking along the lines of the Z-Tronics or Uniflex pipe organ systems.

Thanks for the consideration

Tom Hoehn
FUMC, clearwater, FL
Rodgers Custom IV console controlling 36 ranks of Wicks & Ruffatti pipework.

Trevor Orme
Sandy, OR 97055

Would dearly love to see numerical Swell Pedal Position Indicators - numbered 1 (Closed) to, say, 20 (Fully Open), to take the guesswork out of trying to set the correct positioning ('volume balance') between, say, Choir and Swell Organs before starting to play.

for the computer. It could be either directly in front of the organist or off to the side but at eye level. That way, you could make changes without having to direct attention away from the console. When not in use, it could be removed or swung out of the way. Heck, if done correctly, you could combine it into the music rack that Bill Jacklin just described. I have some ideas on how to do it and may work up a prototype just for fun. BTW, I've considered the metal,

I admit being a technophile, improviser and troublemaker. Currently, I'm using a Mac laptop alongside me on the bench of my A678 to play .mid sequences from Sibelius or record and change stops on the fly (using a wireless mouse). It's awkward, however, since you have to turn your attention down and to the side to use the mouse. It would be great to have a nice-looking support platform (maybe on a swing arm) for the computer. It could be either directly in front of the organist or off to the side but at eye level. That way, you could make changes without having to direct attention away from the console. When not in use, it could be removed or swung out of the way. Heck, if done correctly, you could combine it into the music rack that Bill Jacklin just described. I have some ideas on how to do it and may work up a prototype just for fun. BTW, I've considered the metal, swing arm supports for laptops but they require either drilling into the console (OMG, a horrible thought) or are too insecure to support the weight.
John Bozzola
A678 & MX-200

How about an optional music rack that moves in and out and up and down. There is one on an uh, er, non-Rodgers instrument that I have had occasion to play -- one can become very accustomed to the convenience. I have considered making one from parts ordered from a famous German supplier.

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Bill Jacklin
A788,MX

It would be great to make available a matching, wooden rack underneath the console desk where one could slide in the MX-200. Yes, the MX comes with a metal mounting bracket but it's relatively yucky when put on such a nice piece of furniture. I made a simple, solid-oak rack, sized 8"D x 10"W x 4"H. that will accommodate the MX and several MIDI boxes. The MX and components can slide in and out quite easily. I kept the bottom of the rack open so that no heat would accumulate. The MX slides in on two, wooden side rails that fit under the MX's wooden sides. My organ is stained medium oak but I was unable to locate the med-oak stain locally (only "golden oak"). Does your cabinet shop have any information on the stain used since I would like to match it to the organ? Thanks.

John Bozzola
Carbondale, IL

I would like to see a feature where you could change one expression pedal to a "pan" pedal for a particular division, or the entire organ, to allow panning the sound from the antiphonal to the main organ. Possible uses would be a wedding procession, or bringing the offering forward.

Bob Moody, substitute organist by choice. I have been playing the organ in church for over 50 years. I practice on a Rodgers 530 at home.

While I don't think they need to be standard, I would surely like to have one for some occasions. I have just recently played for a couple of funerals where I sat on the bench of my 967 for over two hours. I guess I'm not as young as I used to be, but it would be great to be able to put a backrest in once in a while. I do think they are unsightly, but I also know my back was breaking after those last two funerals.

Ronnie Johnston
First Baptist Church
Artesia, NM

HEY! I would like to see Rodgers put a terraced console into production as one of their "standard models." It could be either type of terraces, similar to the one at Brick Presbyterian in New York, or similar to Saint-Sulpice in Paris. I think it would also be wonderful to have drawknobs that are lighted AND that move! These items would just be the icing on the cake of course. Rodgers is already wonderful!

I'd like to see an adapter of some sort that would allow me to use an SD card or USB flash drive to store registrations on something other than the old Personal Memory Card -- my instrument is a 1999-2000 vintage PDI customer 4m pipe console with 8 memory levels, 16 generals, and 8 divisionals across all 4 manuals and pedals.

Tom Hoehn -- FUMC Clearwater, FL.

Bill, give me a call. We make back rests and I have one in the finish of your 950 in my inventory. It comes with a template for easy installation. We built in after studying others that were available and we think we corrected most problems.

Al