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VPO....Stops..........
- Thread starter tittualex
- Start date
As a beginner in this field, I have to say that I use only my mouse. But then, my software is not as sophisticated as I want it to be (Hauptwerk...) so there aren't may stops to work with. Of course a touch screen monitor would do the job perfectly but I can't afford it right now.
As for my other software, all the features I use regulary are assigned to the knobs and sliders on my keyboard.
As for my other software, all the features I use regulary are assigned to the knobs and sliders on my keyboard.
ggoode.sa
New member
Hi Alex,
We use a touch screen (but we've only had it for about 4 months, for the 1 1/2 years before that we used mouse and computer keyboard shortcuts. I did MIDIfy a couple of church electronic organ consoles last year for some friends, and then we MIDIfied the stop tabs. That worked really well for the single VPO disposition that they wanted.
We use multiple different VPOs, so touch screen is best for us.
GrahamG
We use a touch screen (but we've only had it for about 4 months, for the 1 1/2 years before that we used mouse and computer keyboard shortcuts. I did MIDIfy a couple of church electronic organ consoles last year for some friends, and then we MIDIfied the stop tabs. That worked really well for the single VPO disposition that they wanted.
We use multiple different VPOs, so touch screen is best for us.
GrahamG
musicalis
Member
method
The method I use is not easy and has requested hours of work.
In fact I use midi program change message from mycomputer. That is very easy with a sequencer and some music editing softwares. But i do it with a french software called Harmony-assistant. It is a very good and powerfull software, but you cannot insert and send a program change message at the time or the place you want. Like with a sequencer, you can have hundreds of tracks (staves exactly), but each staff is initialized with an instrument and send the prg-change of this instrument when you click on the play button.
To change the stops where i want, I use a very sophisticated trick. The trick consist in writting 127 "rules" which trigger when the music matches a criteria.
The criteria is the note-velocity, because it is unused in organ music. I add a 4th staff (invisible when printed) to place a note or a chord when I whan a registration change. the velocity of the notes triggs the relative rule whose effect is to change the instrument of the staff. So a new program change message is sent. You can do it for stops independently, but I prefer using general combinations to change the whole registration at a time.
I hope you have understood, it is not easy for me to explain in english.
The method I use is not easy and has requested hours of work.
In fact I use midi program change message from mycomputer. That is very easy with a sequencer and some music editing softwares. But i do it with a french software called Harmony-assistant. It is a very good and powerfull software, but you cannot insert and send a program change message at the time or the place you want. Like with a sequencer, you can have hundreds of tracks (staves exactly), but each staff is initialized with an instrument and send the prg-change of this instrument when you click on the play button.
To change the stops where i want, I use a very sophisticated trick. The trick consist in writting 127 "rules" which trigger when the music matches a criteria.
The criteria is the note-velocity, because it is unused in organ music. I add a 4th staff (invisible when printed) to place a note or a chord when I whan a registration change. the velocity of the notes triggs the relative rule whose effect is to change the instrument of the staff. So a new program change message is sent. You can do it for stops independently, but I prefer using general combinations to change the whole registration at a time.
I hope you have understood, it is not easy for me to explain in english.
greatcyber
New member
I concur with Mat above. A touch screen would be the easiest, however in these days of electronic/midi keyboards it is so easy to program knobs/sliders/touch pads to accomplish what you want to do. The option of using keyboards and unused keys on extended musical keyboards is fine for those with good memories and/or those who will only be using one or two different organ definitions. But if you are like me and have like a couple dozen organs you like to play...that's where the buttons come in handy.
You still need to remember which you programmed where, but I use a Behringer FCB1010 which has 2 swell shoes and 10 foot switches. These are good for organ definitions, etc. and you can cycle through with just the press of your foot. But since I don't use it every day, I have some trouble remembering which switch is for a particular organ/instrument. I'm sure once I am at it every day it will all be much easier to remember. And once I find my favourites, I'll dump the others and then it won't be an issue anyway.
But I do not find using a computer keyboard very conducive to use as I would have to keep turning around to click the mouse. But it's whatever you have to work with and what you are comfortable with using. The way you have all of your equipment set up in your work area is definitely a big consideration. You need to make it comfortable and practical for use/play. It is different for everyone, I'm sure.
It's just nice that we have all these options.
You still need to remember which you programmed where, but I use a Behringer FCB1010 which has 2 swell shoes and 10 foot switches. These are good for organ definitions, etc. and you can cycle through with just the press of your foot. But since I don't use it every day, I have some trouble remembering which switch is for a particular organ/instrument. I'm sure once I am at it every day it will all be much easier to remember. And once I find my favourites, I'll dump the others and then it won't be an issue anyway.
But I do not find using a computer keyboard very conducive to use as I would have to keep turning around to click the mouse. But it's whatever you have to work with and what you are comfortable with using. The way you have all of your equipment set up in your work area is definitely a big consideration. You need to make it comfortable and practical for use/play. It is different for everyone, I'm sure.
It's just nice that we have all these options.
greatcyber
New member
Depending upon which programme one is using as a VPO the controller changes method is working for me as mentioned above. For different organs I save the definitions and combinations in each programme so that I can load them for a particular organ. That way it makes it easier to remember. So using whatever is available on a particular keyboard, such as unused keys, pads, knobs, sliders, mod wheels, etc. is much preferable to using the mouse for me.
I read yesterday that you can now purchase touch screen "overlays" for LCD monitors and it is way cheaper than touch screen monitors.
Since I have also finally gotten the free version of Hauptwerk to recognize my swell shoes and pistons, I can save combinations settings and assign them to available switches. As for individual stop pistons, I still have to resort to using the mouse. I guess I'll be making the plunge to a bona fide copy of Hauptwerk now that I can actualy get the pistons/couplers to work. Of course, after the initial investment for the software comes the even more expensive proposition of purchasing 3rd party samples for Hauptwerk. I'm toying with the idea of getting a part-time job in order to save for the samples I would like to have...they are all so expensive. But with using the GigaStudio Orchestra programme with the oran programmes, I'm starting to have a nice collection of organs thanks to Ebay.
So, for me it's Hauptwerk, Miditzer, GSO, Kontakt, MyOrgan, Reason, Toccata and Native Instruments. I've only played around with the stand alone versions until now. Next will be to start using my sequencer progs and see how that goes.
I read yesterday that you can now purchase touch screen "overlays" for LCD monitors and it is way cheaper than touch screen monitors.
Since I have also finally gotten the free version of Hauptwerk to recognize my swell shoes and pistons, I can save combinations settings and assign them to available switches. As for individual stop pistons, I still have to resort to using the mouse. I guess I'll be making the plunge to a bona fide copy of Hauptwerk now that I can actualy get the pistons/couplers to work. Of course, after the initial investment for the software comes the even more expensive proposition of purchasing 3rd party samples for Hauptwerk. I'm toying with the idea of getting a part-time job in order to save for the samples I would like to have...they are all so expensive. But with using the GigaStudio Orchestra programme with the oran programmes, I'm starting to have a nice collection of organs thanks to Ebay.
So, for me it's Hauptwerk, Miditzer, GSO, Kontakt, MyOrgan, Reason, Toccata and Native Instruments. I've only played around with the stand alone versions until now. Next will be to start using my sequencer progs and see how that goes.
el_supremo
New member
I'm also hoping to eventually buy one or more of those expensive sets (I'm using HW Basic edition). In the meantime, I'm using some of the free or cheap sets. I particularly like the Pipeloops Madeleine one which is only 50 euros (about $85 Can). It only has 5 stops but still gives you the ability to produce a room shaking sound with the tutti
http://www.pipeloops.com//product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=29
Pete
greatcyber
New member
That sounds like a winner. I have to admit that I am rather pleased with the samples I picked up on Ebay...Peter Ewers for GigaStudio which is 4 discs worth. It also has a great tutti sound. Now that I have finally gotten to the point where I have 5.1 sound by changing my audio output on the delta 1010lt from 1/2 to 3/4, even though all output so far is analogue, the sound is coming from different areas in the room to mimic the different chambers. It's been a frustrating go but when success is achieved it IS rewarding.
I fire up my music computer to play midi recordings and watch the keys and pedals move even while I am on my laptop using the net. Obviously many people use their VPO in conjunction with a sequencer...unless they have four hands and 3 feet.
I guess that will be my next "adventure" but not just yet.
I fire up my music computer to play midi recordings and watch the keys and pedals move even while I am on my laptop using the net. Obviously many people use their VPO in conjunction with a sequencer...unless they have four hands and 3 feet.
I guess that will be my next "adventure" but not just yet.