It sure is nice to just press a piston and change registration quickly. The very early Allen organs used mechanical combination actions and setter board systems to help the organists set the pistons. Setting the older mechanical systems required the stops to be selected, the SET button pressed and held, then press the selected memory piston. The setter board systems were drawers on each side under the lower keyboard containing toggle switches that were turned on/off to set each individual stop on a given piston.

Allen's revolutionary computer capture system in the late 60s introduced the modern day push/capture system. See if the organ has a COMBO Switch, if so, turn it ON to set the pistons. Turn if OFF and remove the key to protect your combinations, but allow anyone to use them. If the organ has an A/B Memory Switch, then select your memory for programming, select the stops, press and hold the SET button, then press the piston to remember your combination. The A/B switch indicates that two independent memories are available - as for two organists.

Allen's that have a console controller (in the left drawer under the bottom keyboard) will have multiple memories for several organists. Use the arrow buttons to move between memories. Note the display will show MEM 1 - MEM2, etc. These memories are all set the same way by holding the SET button in and pressing the piston to remember the combination. .

In 1970, we were impressed with Allen's MOS technology that allowed new stops to be added to the organ by the organist. This was made possible by the Tone Card Reader. Early Allens have one (or two) punch card slots with a selector knob for programming. Stops named Alterable Voice 1, Alterable Voice 2, etc., are programmed by turning the selector knob to the selected stop name, inserting the card in the direction of the arrow then removing (the card does not need to remain in the slot to play). To play the sound, simply turn on the stop and play. The selector knob is for programming - the stop tab/drawknob is for playing. Beware that all Alterable Voices will 'disappear' when the organ is turned off and must be reprogrammed when the organ is turned on OR recovers from a brief power outage.

In 1983, using the card reader got easier with Allen's ADC technology. The selector knob disappeared and the programming is accomplished by simply turning on the Alterable Voice stop you want to program, inserting and removing the card. The Alterable Voice is then ready to be used just as any regular organ stop. The organs using the colored mylar or plastic cards of this vintage employ a battery back up system and the Alterable Voice memory is retained when the power was turned off. The MADC organs use all sliver cards and the memory is lost when the organ power is interupted or switched off.

Can't find the cards? Check the drawer under the bottom keyboard on the right (or left side). If the cards are bent on the edge because of use, install a piece of clear tape on each side covering then end held by the fingers during insertion. This will make them more rigid and easier to insert. Wonder about the color? Reed stops are Red, Flutes and Principals are white, Strings are yellow, and Percussion stops are green. Don't forget to add the "Percussion" stop to a green card programmed on an Alterable Voice (later model organs added percussion automatically) and use the proper strike and release playing technique.. Perhaps your Alterable Voice percussion goes plunk without sustain? Look for the Sustain knob usually on the left side of the top manual and turn it/them fully clockwise.

Tone Cards were replaced by MIDI devices in the later 1990s because the of limited memory possibilities of the cards. The enhanced Allen Expanders quickly became the standard for adding new high quality organ voices and with the introduction of the Allen VISTA, our MIDI devices remain the only ones made exclusively for organs using easy controls for different stops on each keyboard. More later on modern MIDI tone modules. (OK, MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface.) Still among the large number of organists using tone cards? New ones are still available at a very low cost directly on line at the link below.

http://www.allenorgan.com/www/store/maintonecard.html.