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GrandOrgue 0.2 Beta released for testing...

Dorsetmike

Member
Drastic cure for the USB midi problem not being detected by the midi software, Format C: reinstall windoze and everything else.

Ain't electronics fun
foxes_121.gif
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,
That's the solution to rule all solutions! I've done it too many times to remember... but then I've been using Windows for more than 15 years :)
GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
I joined the Midi Ox forum and posted a query there, still not had a response after 6 days, so I posted a snotty message telling them how I felt about their "service".

Just had the new installation of Grande Orgue crash as soon as I finished loading the organ files.

Oh we do have fun
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Update, works OK with the demo organ, must be a memory problem, strange because it worked on this PC which has more stuff on it.
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike, if you're using a 32-bit operating system with about 4 Gigs of memory then GrandOrgue will only be able to use about 2.5 Gigs before running into a memory issue and quiting with no error message. On a 64-bit system one can load above the 2.5 Gig mark. I'm not quite sure why this is, but it obviously has something to do with Memory addressing... could you figure out roughly how much RAM was GrandOrgue consuming when it 'dissapeared'? You may need to remove a few ranks from the .organ file to trim down the memory used...

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
These PCs are both 32 bit, 2.8Ghz dual core, on board Intel/Sigma Tel audio, 2 hard drives each, a 160G partitioned 80/80 and second drive of 80. I have been managing on 512Mb on both machines, but I've just ordered 2x 1GB, not sure yet if to put it all in one machine and transfer the 512 into the other machine so giving me 2G on one and !G on the other or if to put 1b in each making 1.5 on both.

Is it OK to edit the .organ file in notepad as a pure text file?
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Now got 2GB in the audio PC, St Augustines loads fine, Stiehr Mockers fails, both original and Ext, si I erased and re-downloaded, now works.

I found editing the organ files in notepad somewhat traumatic there seem to be so many interdependant things, must admit I chickened out after a couple of hours hair pulling.

Second keyboard arrived today, pure midi, no internal sound, drives the Farfisa or the PC, but the Farfisa does not appear to have a midi thru function so back to ebay for a midisport or similar, 2 or more midi inputs to the box and single USB out, either that or a second midi/usb cable, but not sure if the PC will support 2 USB Audio devices. Anybody tried?
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,
Yes, editing the .organ file does take some getting used to... :) I'm now so used to them that I can speed read through one!

I have three USB-Audio devices on my Desktop PC, so I can confirm that Windows XP and Windows 7 will support multiple midi/usb cables.

Have fun!
GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
In that case another Midi/USB cable going on order, cheaper than a port box.

Thank Goode - ness for that prompt reply

uhohhide.gif
 

ggoode.sa

New member
:grin: O Goode-eee !

I'm glad you've got the Stiehr-Mockers working (as well as the St Augustine's). Do you have the St Stephen's and the Prudhoe Methodist yet? And the Gernot's Happy Organ?

Have fun!
GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Only have St A and SM so far, still learning!! I did mention a liking for an orchestral trumpet en chamade, the set mentioned that included one was a bit expensive for me.

Must get some recording equipment and bribe somebody to do a set at Wimborne Minster. While Googling I see there is a set of the Father Willis at Salisbury Cathedral, but I can't afford another mortgage!!
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,
Yeah, I've heard some lovely demos of the Salisbury Cathedral sample set (vol 1), but can't afford it either. If you like a Trumpet-en-chamade then you'll like the Stiehr Mockers Extended version 2 sample set that I'm working on as it has a Clairon 4' on the Great and on the Pedal, when combined with the Trompette 8' this makes a very nice clear and loud reed stop. The sample set is only in it's infancy, so it'll be a few months before there is a playable version... I'm afraid that free sample sets are rather lacking in reed stops, so you already have the best available (although the St Stephen's Oboe is quite nice too).

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Current stoopid project, re-writing an SATB vocal score cos Noteworthy viewer sent it out as 4 channels (obviously) and as I'm only using the SM set there are only 2 manuals and pedals, i.e. 3 channels, so I'm combining the S&A on the treble clef, tenor on bass clef and bass to pedals.

Talking of clefs, I downloaded one score with 2 "C" clefs, presumably alto and tenor, must admit I didn't pay much attention to which line they were on. Blast from the past!!
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Slow progress, but better than no progress. Still working from a score in Finalé Notepad, short enough to give a mangeable Midi file, but long enough to give a bit of scope for learning commands and how to insert them.

Looking at the Midi 0x log, I can see what look to me like a hell of a lot of unnecessary commands being generated. I'm only using 3 channels so why generate commands for 16 channels?

Why do I need Pedal sustain on 16 channels, I don't think I want it at all, ditto pitch bend. What can I do with NRPN and data entry messages ------ if anything, volume yes that comes in handy, but why is it accompanied py PAN (I'm not frying anything!) in total about 150 messages for which I can see no use whatsoever.

Any other Fimalé users out there?

I shall use my hexadecimal editor and decimate them and let yu know what happens!!

As for setting stops, I suspect I may be cheating, but it works, set each staff to think it is driving a different instrument and use the resultant prog change command to set a piston, having programmed the pistons with some useable combinations (for me) I'ts the only way I could get Finale Notepad to allocate each staff to a separate channel.

As I saw quoted on another forum, "The learning curve is so steep I keep falling off"
 
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ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,
GrandOrgue won't respond to Volume MIDI messages, so those can go too. PAN is the midi command for panning left to right (stereo degrees), and yes, they can go. The only ones you need are the note on and note off.

You could create a fourth 'instrument' in Finale notepad and then configure your Stops to respond to Note On and Note Off commands and just use that 'staff' for Stop changes... might be an idea worth thinking through some more.

Keep at it... you're getting nearer and nearer!

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
In Finalé Notepad if I use a 4th staff for stop changes, would it be best to set pistons rather than individual stops, 8 pistons for each manual and pedals, so an octave for each and another octave for couplers, should save a bit of confusion. Also what does the POS EXP do?

Next item on the agenda is to possibly change one of the ranks in the Positiv, I'd like a bit more "bite". Assume that will mean loading a different set and trying the sounds, then copy it to replace one of the SM stops then edit the text for the knob.

I can see me tomorrow with both PCs running a different set, and keyboard connected so I can listen.

If one uses a data offset of 12 (decimal) on notes could that be used to transpose by an octave, only the score I'm playing with has a few notes lower than the keyboard (the A below) and maybe not employ any 2' or 4' stops.
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,

When using NoteON/OFF for stop changes you have 128 possible numbers to choose from (theoretically as I don't know if Finale Notepad presents the full MIDI range - I'd assume that you can). So it's your choice if you want to do Memory Pistons or Stops.

What is the context of the question regarding POS EXP? I assume that it is the Stiehr-Mockers original version and it is refering to the Postif Expression pedal (also known as the swell pedal). This responds to Control Change MIDI messages and can be setup in much the same maner as Stops (right click on the pedal and select 'listen...' then send the Control Change messages (i.e. move the volume controller on the MIDI keyboards).

Then, in regard to changing one of the ranks, you will need to edit the .organ file. The wave files for Ranks are usually contained within their own subfolders, so you should be able to copy a subfolder of another organ in, and then change the references in the .organ file to that new subfolder.

If you need more help with this please just let us know :)

A data offset of 12 should transpose up by an octave.

GrahamG
 
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