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GO and stop setup for MIDI-file-only usage

hmmueller

New member
My apologies if this has been answered before (I searched with various keywords ...):

I want to use GO (0.3.1.1665) only to render MIDI files (coming out of a sequencer, notation program, whatever). What I would like to do is that

a MIDI Program Change X pulls a stop
a MIDI Program Change X+1 reverses the stop (so that it does not sound)

As there is no hardware involved, I have to set up this manually. But

A) I do not understand how to set up these two different events for a single stop. If I go into Audio/Midi-->Midi Objects-->(e.g.)Stop Subbas 16'-->Configure, I can manually select Event (Cx Program Change), Channel, and Data. But how can I add the second event? With "New"? But how is it then clear that the first one is the pull, the second one the reverse?

B) I would actually like to set this up for all stops of an organ - I'd like to write a simple program (e.g. a perl script, AWK script, ...): But which file would I have to modify?

It seems that at least a few have solved such problems - e.g. this posting talks about a "file-play only scenario": http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/19084-use-cases-go-midi.html#post170770

Thanks for any help!
Harald M.
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Harald, if you followed the thread you linked to above to my later post you will see

I only work from MIDI files or notation software, I've found the easiest way is using programme change on divisionals and generals, it does mean presetting stops to them before starting a piece but does work well.

Divisionals will control the stops for the manual they are associated with and changing from one divisional to the next cancels the stops set by the previous one, the only disadvantage I can see is when it comes to works requiring many combinations, I usually work with 10 divisionals per manual, but have tried using more with no problems so far. I haven't tried doing anything with generals as yet, not found a need, but then I'm not doing any large complex works. Ideally I would like to see a pair of MIDI commands to work like note on/note off say "control on / control off" that might solve the problem. At one time before I started editing the MIDI files, I tried stop control by note on/note off using "notes" below the playable notes. In notation software this meant adding a stave and using tied notes on it, it worked but was limited to the number of stops it could control and if you forgot to tie a "note" the stop went off. Rethinking along those lines it should be possible to use note on/note off for stop control, if we assume a maximum of 88 notes (piano K/B) that leaves us a possible 40 stops per channel, the organ manuals are not as long as piano but more like 55 notes (C2-G6 MIDI 36-91) so leaving a bit of a gap we could use 1-32, 96 - 128 = 64 stops per channel must have a play with this. it'll mean resetting all my stop numbers and changing all the prog change commands. (and watch out for any "All notes off"

I generate the MIDI file from Finalé Songwriter and then I edit the MIDI files with an app called Midiochre working on the events listing.
 
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Dorsetmike

Member
Looking at the above, can anybody advise what the likely maximum number of stops for each G O manual might be? 32 would be easy anything over that would mean splitting the stop MIDI (note) numbers -just something else to remember!
 

hmmueller

New member
Thanks for your answers - in general, we sing the same tune ;)
And yes, of course, I want to use divisionals instead of single stops, in the end. But right now, while playing around, I want to pull and reverse single stops.

However, I do have technical problems with quite simple stop changes using program change event: After playing a MIDI file once, it works; but one second and later playings, the stops jump out and in only after "a few" Cx program changes (sometimes 2, sometimes 3). I have now filed a bug at https://sourceforge.net/p/ourorgan/bugs/25/ if you or someone is interested in the details.

I would rather NOT want to use note events for stops, because they complicate writing MIDI files, IMHO. Still, I will play around with other event types and look whether they work (for me, with my capabilities).

Regards
Harald
 

hmmueller

New member
Looking at the above, can anybody advise what the likely maximum number of stops for each G O manual might be?

At http://www.die-orgelseite.de/orgelliste_001.htm, there is a (German) database of 1000s of organ dispositions. The largest one, according to that database is the Wanamaker organ at Philadelphia:

http://www.die-orgelseite.de/disp/USA_Philadelphia_Wanamaker.htm
http://www.wanamakerorgan.com/stoplist.php (go to the bottom for a condensed list!)

This would be pretty much the absolute maximum one might ever need, wouldn't it?

Regards
Harald M.
 

e9925248

New member
PGM-Change is for push-buttons without state.

You either RPN, NRPN, Ctrl Change or Note on/off, if you want to set the state.
 
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