GrandOrgue & 70+ Stops/Couplers

[JayR]

I am planning on coverting a 3-manual console with 70 stops/couplers. The MIDI controller boards I am using have 64 key inputs per MIDI channel. In order to accommodate all of the stops, I would have to connect some of the stops to another MIDI channel. The channel controlling GrandOrgue stop changes is set within the audio settings, but there is only one preset channel available. Is there a way to configure GrandOrgue to listen to mutiple MIDI channels for stop changes?

Thank You in Advance!
Jay

[Ghekorg7]

I am planning on coverting a 3-manual console with 70 stops/couplers. The MIDI controller boards I am using have 64 key inputs per MIDI channel. In order to accommodate all of the stops, I would have to connect some of the stops to another MIDI channel. The channel controlling GrandOrgue stop changes is set within the audio settings, but there is only one preset channel available. Is there a way to configure GrandOrgue to listen to mutiple MIDI channels for stop changes?

Thank You in Advance!
Jay

Hi Jay !
If I'm not mistaken we had a discuss here with Mike and Graham about some issues GO has with multi channels and CX commands. Just don;t remember the exact thread....sorry about that. Got too much in my head this time, but Graham gave us good directions and some explenations, so do a little dig inside here.
I stoped workin' with GO for a month or so now due to my unsolved problem with my pistons send CX command to .and I'm waitin' for the new version comming. In the meantime I practice with HW3 free edition and some excellent Silbermanns (my Favorite organs) with jOrgan, buildin' some organ sets for Kontakt4,...and so on
Panos

[JayR]

Panos,

I found the thread you were speaking of, and it appears as though I can separate the stops from the couplers and run them on two different MIDI channels. What kind of issues are you having with pistons? They are my next challenge.

Thanks Again,
Jay

[Dorsetmike]

I've extended my SM set to 39 stops with additions from the Enigma set, I control the stops from Midi channel 2 with Bx control commands. Couplers are also controlled by Bx commands on Channel 2. Pistons for each manual I control by Cx commands on the relevant manual/pedal channel.

Generals 1-30 currently have a bug in the software AFAIK so ignore until the next version.

[ggoode.sa]

Hi Jay,
In GrandOrgue 0.2 the General Pistons were not responding to MIDI commands. This has been fixed in 0.3, of which a Beta version should be available for download sometime in the next two weeks.

GrahamG

[Ghekorg7]

Hi Jay, glad to talk again !

As you saw, Mike and Graham responded with excellent explenations.

My problems with my pistons is a long story, Mike and Graham know everything about,, mainly I cannot change generals (or stops) with them, as I do in HW3 and jOrgan.
This is very important for me to play some difficult works needing stop change during performance.
I play all my VPOs with a Yamaha EL900 2m/20n ped with 16 pistons sending on ch16 along with two controller pedals (no11,no4) using as cressendo and swell.

Mike sends CX in the same kbd ch, I have to send only on ch16....(with HW3 this is perfect cause this program doesn't allow alocation of the same midi ch twice.. and jOrgan can take anything I want to send to...)

Waiting for GOv.3. (GO's great advantage is polyphony - can reach 13.000 !!? and raw power audio output - I set 14/100 to not get distortion...! and as you and others can make yourown definition file and end with a completely individual organ).

Cheers
Panos8)

[Dorsetmike]

It may be worth pointing out to Jay that I do not play keyboards, I generate Midi files from Finalé then edit the Midi files to add the stop and piston commands.

I download the Finalé files from WIMA, edit them so that they generate separate midi channels for each manual or pedal board, convert to MIDI then edit in the stop and piston selections. To cope with this way of working I also rewrite the organ definition files to suit.

[Ghekorg7]

It may be worth pointing out to Jay that I do not play keyboards, I generate Midi files from Finalé then edit the Midi files to add the stop and piston commands.

I download the Finalé files from WIMA, edit them so that they generate separate midi channels for each manual or pedal board, convert to MIDI then edit in the stop and piston selections. To cope with this way of working I also rewrite the organ definition files to suit.

Absolutely right Mike . For me it's just amazing that you do

I did mention what you're doin' with GO without being a player to Mat in welcome forum some hour ago (he asked about samore sets, see if I forgot something)
Cheers
Panos

[JayR]

I, on the otherhand, am working strictly with a console that I am converting, and I am trying to get the most out of it that I can. The last console I converted was a 2-manual with 17 sounding stops. It only had 5 couplers. I was able to run the stops and couplers on a single MIDI channel. I did not even connect the pistons to the MIDI controller as I wanted to use the console's original electro-mechanical action to control the presets.

With this second console, I am still going to use the console's built-in controls for the generals. However, since this console will always remain a VPO console, I want to connect the pistons as well to the MIDI controllers. This will allow me to add and control virtual stops not listed in the console's physical stop list.

I am still not sure how to separate and assign the the stops, couplers, and pistons to different MIDI channels within GrandOrgue or in the organ definition file. All of my current stops and couplers are set to listen on MIDI Channel 4, 9x Note On. I cannot seem to change this. I am also assuming a single instance of GrandOrgue. You guys may be using multiple instances. If you could help give me some further direction with this, I would appreciate it.

Thank You,
Jay

[Ghekorg7]

Hi Jay !
You're right, I don't think it's possible to assign stops ect from a given organ console yet. I didn't manage to do it. As you send in ch 4 I send in ch16. I tried the 'waiting for data' function - no resoult....It'a a piece of cake with HW and jOrgan( here you just push the switch you want....)
I tried multi GO (opens 8 instances in desktop !) - had some crashes at first..But anyway if something is not possible in one instance it will be and in multi.
Multi is damn good for combining small organs to one big, like I did with HW VSTi.
Example : Happybirthday with Smecno and OrgueSalon : a great 2/3 man/ped thing !
or Rommansvillier Mockers with St.Augustin and Prudhoe and St.Stevens : a huge 4man/ped monster organ - just 4 instances of GO. But without control of the generals and swell/cressendo ped this is not workin' easy, even with touch screens, exept if you got a big expencive HW console, but in this case you'll probably can afford advanced HW3 version and no bother workin' with GO...?!
Try the multi GO it's great adventure !

Have fun
Panos
It would be possible in GO v.3. We wait a couple of weeks.

[ggoode.sa]

Hi Jay,
Stop and Divisionals are configurable via MIDI signals (it is only generals that are not). You set the channel number within the Audio setup, and then you can set the MIDI note number or CC number by right clicking on the Stop and using the midi recognition function. If all your actual midi messages for the pistons are configured on one channel, then use MIDI-OX's mapping facility to 'map' the needed changes to give GrandOrgue what it needs. Wait a week or so for GrandOrgue 0.3 and hopefully Generals are good to configure too

GrahamG

[Ghekorg7]

Hi Graham. Great how you make it to the forum after so much internet traffic in S.Africa !!!
Sorry to tell, this thing with MidiOx doesn't work with me. Danno why, I 'll reinstall and see....
On second though I'll better wait for v.3. I'm a patiance man, never rush.
In Greece we say : "slow, slowly my little chicken and I 'm cooking you..."

Something else. I believe it's best if we can have : Console - GO - Speakers.
Nothing else between , before and after. Yes This is good. Simple but powerfull tool to give miles in music creativity !

Cheers
Panos