 The cost of a pipe organ today is extremely high..anywhere from $12,000 to $20,000 per rank, making a relatively small 25 rank 2 manual pipe organ cost from $250,000 to as high as $450,000. Even if the church buys a used organ from OCH or other companies there's still the cost of crating, moving, refurbishing (very expensive) and installation. It can cost as much as a new pipe organ. Many churches are turning to the pipe/combination organ for the soution.
The Phoenix system can control any number of ranks of pipes. Considering that, the benefits of having digital ranks, and a very reasonable cost, makes Phoenix a very attractive choice for console replacement.                           Â
        Robert Knight
Due to the high cost to build a pipe organ and the space limitations in many churches, hybrid or combination organs have become popular. It has become common for pipe organ companies to add digitally sampled stops in place of expensive 32’ pedal ranks. Some churches that cannot afford a full pipe organ opt for a compromise of a number of ranks of pipes added to a non-winded organ. The Phoenix pipe control system is well engineered and has been lauded by pipe builders for its ease of use. All Phoenix Organs are ready for pipes in the event a church decides to do so in the future.
A comment from a Phoenix customer:
"Some very critical organ builders and organists have heard and played the instrument and totally agree that the Phoenix has some of the highest quality samples that they have heard on a digital organ, regardless of price. The sampled stops blend seamlessly with the existing Casavant pipe organ ranks. I am especially pleased with the English Romantic samples from the Harrison and Harrison and Willis organs, as well as the fine quality French samples. The organ technicians were very impressed with the ease of installation of the pipe interface. I found the usual American digital organ choices lacking in tonal quality and having overall lack of definition in their ensemble sound. The Phoenix instrument sells itself."
Robert Knight and Mr. Daniels have been associated for many years, and Mr. Knight  has been a respected organ builder in the San Diego area for many years. He has become the leading builder in the area to install pipe work with digital organs. His attention on how the two interact is the secret to the many succesful installations that he has done. He is presently working on a 30 rank organ that will interface with a 54 stop 3 manual digital in Murietta, California. Mr. Knight is one of the few technicians in the U.S. that is allowed to work on the famous Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia. Robert helped with the Hybrid Casavant/Phoenix at St. Michaels in Carlsbad, Calif. Mr. Knight also enlarged the chapel organ at St. Michael's, adding an extended rank of Diapasons to the original Wicks 3 rank organ. Mr. Knight is presently working on several large hybrid installations in Mexico City.Â