My new music making toy

Howdy David,

So I'm curious if you've had any time to get the bells and whistles going on this to match the lights?

ttfn,
Sherry

Hi, Sherry:

No advance thus far. It's a winter project, I think -- or rather two or three winters.

Actually, I've got as far as laying out what I intend to do, interface-wise. It involves about 1,000 wiring connections, just to connect to the "midi-brain". I'll be using a product called MidiBox.

When finished it will put out midi signals on 7 channels simultaneously (primary output for three manuals and pedals, second touch output on pedals, accompaniment and swell manuals. No second touch on the solo manual, as per genuine Wurlitzer TPO specs.

Second touch on a pipe organ, by the way, is different from aftertouch on a midi keyboard. A deeper press on a key will bring out a totally separate registration, meaning that (if you're much better than I) you could play four or five different voices at once.

I also intend that it should be connectable to any midi instrument or computer, for recording, playback and control.

No sound from it yet, then. The console lights, however, are very pretty to look at.

David

Hi David,

If your MIDI organ crosses the south over the border, the U.S. OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) will insist that you install seat belts on it.

Cheers
-- Mark

Hi, Mark:

My sister and her husband (who are both small people) say that when they visit they'll just bring hammocks and sleep in it.

Which I suppose means that we'll have to have the building inspector in to look at it.

Hi David. What a find. Here's an organ regret of mine, a 1980s Yamaha full 2 manual full pedalboard in full working order in multiple road boxes (for revivals tent services I suspect.) It was in Brisbane, two days drive away, for $100, fully operational (the $100 was a tyre-kicker deterrent). Two days drive from here. But I wasn't brave enough then. I'm reminded of it now because of your toy here (shows how long since I dropped into the forum) and because I'd just freelychosen to come home because of rain and floods from north of Innamincka, South Australia (google maps folks!) via the bitumen: Cunnamulla (Queensland), Bourke & Cobar & Broken Hill(New South Wales). An extra 900km on an already 1300km journey. Sigh. I should've jumped into the car back then too, he would've held the organ for me for a few weeks!

Of course, it wouldn't have fitted in the then car, but still...could've hired a trailer...