greenfox

I have just had this exact same problem occur to me. This is the first time I have had need to modify my MidiBox MIDIO128 system for about 4 years. The system has been running beautifully for about 6 years and now I am adapting it to a new physical console. This new MIOS Studio and the MIDIO128 tool are very good and such a long way from how we used to have to configure the MidiBox. (I don't use Midi-Ox at all, as all functions are done beautifully in MIOS Studio) In the new console I am using 1x CORE8 and 3x DIN. I am using a MIDIO128 hex file that was distributed on the Miditzer forum. This hex file has been specially modified to activate 3x Analogue inputs direct on the CORE8 to pins on J5A. (I am not aware of an updated version of this file being circulated) [could the 3x analogue function be added into the standard application hex?] Most of my inputs are Program Change messages so the OFF function doesn't matter. I entered 25 lines of Note On - Note Off messages, up loaded it and all was good. I then went back, received the config so far and proceeded to add another 8 lines of Note On - Note Off messages and upload. They all checked out fine, but the notes of the previous 25 lines all kept playing. I went back and had a look and they all had disable in the OFF message side. I fixed them and went back and found that the other 8x had then done the same thing. I re-entered all 33 lines and everything is now fine. I can imagine if someone had many lines of Note On - Note Off messages this would cause a great deal of confusion and frustration. In looking at it in detail I can report that trying to load a saved .syx file doesn't show the Note Off messages, and retrieving the current config from the CORE8 doesn't bring back the Note Off messages. I hope this helps in trying to fix this. Regards Rick

has there been any progress on this project or similar?

I will be interested to try this if it could be done using a config file like MIDIO128. the 4x64 would be the easiest to work with for organs I think.

How is your progress Dave? Let us know if you need any more help.

I would be very interested in this SAM's driver project. I am not a programmer. I have used MidiBox to Midify an organ for use with Miditzer. I would love to extend the MidiBox to drive SAM's. As mentioned above, 200+ would be the minimum required.

The Trio is the perfect candidate for Midification. To use MidiBox MidIO128 you just need a switch contact for each note and pedal to get to base 1 of Midification. To be more precise, you need a voltage free switch contact which just means there is no other circuitry connected through that switch. Most older analogue organs have many switch contacts per note. Often 1 for each of the voices available on that note. When Conn organs updated their circuitry in the 1980's they were now using only 1x switch contact per note and left all the others spare. That makes the Conn 650 series organs the easiest to Midify and still keep the analogue organ function. For other analogue organs you can add another switch contact (the easiest way is probably using small magnetic reed switches), or disable at least 1x switch function from the analogue circuit. (there may be 1 analogue voice you can live without without dumping the lot). Other Midi systems will cost 10x times more than MidiBox, or will have functional or expansion limitations that will only come to light when you feel the need to add to your project. I have used MidiBox to Midify a Yamaha E5AR. I am now looking at ways to add a third keyboard. Best of luck with your project.

I have not had any problems with cable length. I suspect any problems in this area are caused by some other problem. My project has 4x DIN to CORE1 and 2x DIN to CORE2 with the cores connected via Midi merge so only 1x Midi input to the PC via USB. I have still not finaliased the position of the CORE PCB's so have experimented on the floor and in the upper console and one in each position. I have 2m and 3m long cables from DIN's to CORE's. My current arrangement for CORE2 has a DIN in the upper console connected to pistons, this connects to the DIN on the floor for the pedals and this then connects back to the CORE2 mounted back up under the lower keyboard.

Great job Philip. I am glad I was able to be of some inspiration and assistance. You have surged past my project which has gone on hold for a while. We have decided we want to sell our house and most likely build a new home. Getting ready to sell included getting our timber floors polished (you may have noticed the floor under my organ in the photos was bare unpolished floor boards). My organ has had to move into storage under the house and all my 'spare' time is being spent on house renovations. The good news out of all this will be that the new house will have a dedicated music room to house the organ, piano, keyboard and piano accordion. I will be able to close the door and work or play to my hearts content without disturbing the rest of the family or being tripped over and having to pack up all my things after each splurge of activity. I may need to ask you for some pointers when I get to setting up my expression pedal. It is an interesting idea it looks like you have used the rhythm buttons as pistons. Regards Rick

There is a lot of discussion about this at: \http://www.virtualorgan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=165 There is information on how to specially modify the core syx file to allow the use of up to 8x (I think) analogue inputs. Your question may be just asking if you can use six digital ins to give your required signals. I think this is possible, but the analogue custom addition may also be of interest to you.

good stuff. ;)

The DIN board provides the 5v dc for the switches. If you measure the voltage to ground from each of the pins they are already at 5 v dc (you don't need to supply it). You just connect the other end of the switch to the common ground.

Hi Nacho Well done with your project so far. What you need to do now is get the zip folder of mk_midio128_syx and read mk_syx in the HOWTOs section at the bottom of the left menu of this web site. You are almost done. The section on MIDI codes in Wiki will also help on what HEX codes to use for your channels and notes.

Once you get involved in this, I think you will find you might want pistons and expression pedals. A good option to get a pedal board is to look on ebay and/or your local weekend news papers for old organs for sale cheep or even give away (I got mine {complete organ not working} as a give away but had to pay $100 for the stool). You may need to get a complete organ and dump the parts you don't want. Keep in mind you will need a suitable stool that needs to be the right height and be able to span the pedal board. These can be hard to find and expensive if you try to find separately. Another option is that you will likely find a local music shop with dozens of relics from the 70's & 80's or a repair technician with a shed full of old organs.

Hello SounDuke It looks from your number of posts that you have had a fair bit to do with MidiBox. A CORE & 1x DIN will give MIDI to your planned keyboard. AGO is, I believe, the most common specification of pedal board. I can certainly say they are the best to play. Once you have your pedals you could add some spice to your Bach with Miditzer http://www.virtualorgan.com/. There is a lot of shared information on the Miditzer Forum about Midi Organ projects.

Hi Guys, interesting discussion. I apologise Organgrinder that I had not understood the depth of your question. I do understand better now and started heading in that direction at first with my VTPO project as I figured it would save me a lot of money (not having to buy amps and speakers) and should have been made for the task. When I ran the audio through the original organ amp and speakers I was extremely disappointed with the sound. This was for 2x reasons. a/ the Yamaha has a poor amp and speaker system (probably part of the reason why I never liked their electronic organ sound) and b/ the Softsynth uses both channels of stereo to give true effect to the sounds particularly the tremolo-ed voices. My home stereo gives a very pleasing sound to the output of Miditzer (I realise this is very subjective) however, I have very few opportunities to play the organ out loud (particularly with the emphasis on loud) as it is not appreciated to the same extent by other house residents. For this reason I need to make do with headphones most of the time. It has been mentioned that Leslie speakers should be the best way to get the Tremolo effect. In the past I would have agreed. I never found an organ without a Leslie that gave a pleasing sound. The other side of the coin, is that I can’t enjoy playing a Leslie organ with headphones on, as you can’t get tremolo through the headphones. I do enjoy playing Miditzer with headphones. I find the sound very pleasing. The Leslie speaker was invented to make an electronic organ simulate the tremolo pipe organ sound. Yes it was a much better effect than electronic waveform manipulation, but still a simulation of the genuine sound. It seems to me that the improvement in modern spatial sound generation as used in the Bruce Miles sound fonts has made great improvements in emulating the wonderful sound of a pipe organ with tremolo. There may be better ways to set up the audio of a VTPO, however on my limited budget, I am pleased with the results I am getting using headphones and my stereo. I agree with the direction PK is heading in his thoughts in this area. Building new enclosures for existing speakers and using existing amps to drive them. These will be in stereo pairs for each sound card he uses. There has been quite a bit of discussion about amps, speakers and their positioning on the Miditzer Forum. http://www.virtualorgan.com/forum/ The other aspect that has attracted some discussion and experimentation is reverb options.