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GrandOrgue 0.2 Beta released for testing...

Dorsetmike

Member
Not sure if this is of use to anybody, PCs need to be networked.

http://www.inputdirector.com/downloads.html

Free software app to allow one K/B and mouse to control 2 PCs (ideally with monitors close or even next to each other. Saves having to skate your chair between desks and wearing out the carpet!!

Once set up it's as easy as pie to operate, one machine designated as master, other as slave; move cursor to edge of master screen nearest to slave, press key(s), you define in set up, and continue moving mouse, cursor appears on slave screen and master K/B is in control of slave.

When master is not in control the slave mouse and K/B can function.
 
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tittualex

New member
Dear Graham,

I have a doubt..... why is the software named "Grand Orgue" , that name gives it a French touch..... does it have any French origin?????? I know its a very trivial question , but curious to know :p .....

regards,
Alex.
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Alex,
Bit of history here - At the time that the MyOrgan trademark and copyright were given to Milan Digital Audio by the orignal author, there were only three people using the MyOrgan sourcecode (that I could find). We decided to continue with the sourcecode, but under a new project. At first we called it OurOrgan (but SPAM filters didn't like this) so we then looked around for other names, Toccata, Positif, Hauptwerk, Church Organ, and a few others were already taken, so as two out the three people using the code were from France, 'GrandOrgue' was suggested, and then chosen. We now have more people working on the Code, so hopefully more features (and maybe even a new audio engine) will be added to the project in the years to come...

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Doesn't look like I can operate the push button triggers by note on on a separate channel, that would appear to be only useable for individual stops, if you right click a trigger its channel is tied to the associated keyboard/pedals and Cx is the only option. So it looks like my only option is with a 4th staff and note on to operate stops.

Is it worth investigating how to amend the programme so that the set up of push button triggers is simlar or same as the stops in terms of options?

Today's cock up, thought I'd be clever and add 2 bars rest at start of the piece so I have time to set triggers on screen, that part worked, but it screwed all the repeats by 2 bars, but that's a Finalé Notepad problem.
 

Dorsetmike

Member
First offering

A transcription from a 4 part motet, "Weep o Mine Eyes" by John Benet, I chose this as being a fairly straight forward "learning vehicle" (I sang the counter tenor/alto line a few years back, always liked it)

Stiehr Mockers set, "driven" from Finalé Notepad

Soprano and alto lines to Positiv, Hautbois 8', Bordun 8', Prestant 4' and Nazard 2 2/3'

Tenor line to GO Bordun 8', Trompete 8' Bass, Montre 8' Octav 4'

Bass to pedals Soubasse 32' & 16' Floete 8'

Think maybe the tenor line overpowers the others at times, maybe I should drop the trompete and maybe add the Salicional?

I'm still working on a Rameau harpsichord Gavotte.

Am I wasting my time or is this starting to sound as though I'm getting somewhere?
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,
This is lovely! I don't know the composer, but the Stiehr Mockers organ set is sounding great with the tune :)

You're definetly getting somewhere. I would like to hear what it sounds like with the Salicional on the G.O. Did you have both the Trompette 8 Bass and Trompette 8 Disc?

Thanks for sharing!
GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
No, just the Tpt 8' bass. I'm now playing at changing stops from a separate staff.

Composer John Bennet/Benett, a bit before our time 1578-1614 ish. score with lyrics attached. Got a track of King's singers performing it somewhere.
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Another query, I've just gone through listing the stops and the associated data numbers, quite a few are duplicated, is there any problem changing the numbers? Or am I going to have to either avoid the duplicates or find 2 or 3 ranks being selected together?
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,

You can change them! The duplicates are merely there because I didn't double check all of them (and because I use a touch screen and not real MIDI stops).

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
That's OK then, however I see a possible problem, if files should get exchanged, then we would have to remember to list our stop setting values.

I have found by experiment that if one uses a separate staff for stop setting then we need to use tied notes/chords for as long as we want the stop held, else when we release the "note" we get a note off command and lose the stop!

That may be obvious to some, but not others (like me). I'm now making a list of stops and couplers, the data number and note, is it worth posting, in case anyone wants to standardise?
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,
Yes, I think it is worth posting your list of Stop data number and note configuration for the Stiehr Mockers so that there is an updated standard.

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
I've done a quick listing of stops and couplers numbers in Excel, MIMF won't accept XLS files so I've zipped it

It's for the Stierh Mockers set; as downloaded there weree some duplicate numbers so Graham suggested I generate a list we may be able to standardise on. As I've mentioned I'm working from scores at the moment using Finalé Notepad which does have some limitations, hence the work rounds.

I've tried the method Graham suggested for operating stops from a 4th staff using note on/off commands on a separate channel (I'm working from scores mostly, not a K/B) see earlier post.

Because of this the operating values for each stop and coupler fall nicely on a bass staff, using 2 leger lines below and 3 above gives enough for the Stiehr Mockers with a few spare, a larger organ would probably need a treble staff as well.

If using the note on/off method it looks just like a continual load of tied chords on the staff with notes changing within the chord as stops change. Crude maybe, but effective, and a darned sight quicker than doing it manually, you could probably go from a single stop to full organ in milliseconds.
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Thanks Mike, this is very useful for others who want to use Noteworthy Composer/Finale Notepad or whatever other MIDI editing software they have. I'm also glad that my suggestion to use the NoteOn/Off on a separate channel is working for you :)

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
I see you have just upgraded Stiehr Mockers, so I suppose I need to do some additions already, good job I left a\ few spares!!
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,
Yes, we've been working on the update for a while. As you can see, the Clairon 4' has been added to the Pedal and the Trompette 8 Bass and Disc are now one Stop on the G.O. in the Extended version.

GrahamG
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Now got the stops controlled by note on/off, I'll try and write it up as a tutorial if wanted.

I'm working with Finalé Notepad but I suspect Notewrthy could use the same method.

Stops and couplers are controlled from 2 additional staffs on the score allocated to Midi channel 4, I have the Organ treble staff on channel 1 fed to positiv, 2 fed to great, and 3 to Pedal.

I've renumbered the stops and couplers to match natural note numbers from C0 (24) to A4 (81) had to leave out sharps and flats cos notation software doesn't seem to like a note and its sharp or flat in the same chord!

I've now tested it and it works, the Rameau harpsichord gavotte and variations I've been using to learn on (in addition to the motet I posted yesterday) I've recorded as a .wav using the grandorgue facility then converted to MP3 in Audacity, I've also saved to Midi.

One or two bass notes need changing, not quite the harmony I was after, some registration changes too. In the pic you may notice some untied notes in the bass the lack of a tie causes the stop illumination to blink as it's note is released, must redo the ties there.

I'll attach the midi, MP3 files and a screen shot of part of the score to this post, MIMF wont accept Finalé .mus files. nor Excel .xls so I'll attach those as .zip files The first zip is the Finalé .mus file, the second is the Excel list of stops.

Click the pic for larger view, the bottom two staffs control the stops and couplers.
 
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ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Mike,

Those fast notes at the beginning of the piece are fun! It is a great tune that shows off the organ sample set nicely too, so thanks for posting the mp3 and all the associated files.
I'm sure that others will want to try this, so if you do have time to write a tutorial on this please do :)
GrahamG
 
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Dorsetmike

Member
It occurred to me that some might wonder why I'm working this way, main reason is I only took piano lessons for a couple of years nearly 70 years ago so my keyboard skills are somewhat lacking; I know where the notes are on the K/B, I can read music, so I'm working with scores "driving" GrandOrgue. I do have a couple of midi keyboards which I use to check out chords, not having perfect pitch I can't just hear a chord and say, that needs a D in the bass so I play a few notes until I find what sounds right (most of the time)

Another use for my keyboard is to check out registration, hold a note and click stops on screen on and off to compare the sounds of various combinations. A drawback of the main keyboard I have is lack of facilities for generating midi commands, to generate a Cx command requires 4 key strokes, one to select the sound bank and 3 on a numeric pad to define the command, which is a bit limiting to say the least and another reason to work from a score.

A further reason I can think of to play GrandOrgue from a score is the ability to try tweaks to registrations or harmonies without having access to a keyboard, maybe working on a laptop when travelling or laid up in bed.

I've been working with Finalé Notepad, what other composer/player applications are others out there using?
 

Dorsetmike

Member
Graham, what are the chances of providing options for operating the push button triggers, currently restricted to Cx prog change on the same channel as its associated manual/pedal, ideal would be same as the options for stops and couplers. The only way I can generate Cx commands from a score is changing the instrument Only usually possible at the start of a piece. From the keyboard 4 key strokes per change! (OK the Farfisa K/B is not really an ideal instrument anyway for this sort of work)
 
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