Hammonds and MIDI

[Orgrinder010]

If someone were to take on the task of "MIDIizing" their tonewheel hammond, would controlling the Tone-Generator directly be the easiest way?

This speaking in terms of one who just wants to hear their organ play itself.

[g3]

A great thread! I've spent lots of time researching this topic and haven't even heard or considered such a thing.

So far, I'm trying to study schematics on an X-77 and see if I can use the brush and cymbal contacts for transmitting midi. What kind of electronics would it require? Receiving midi would be awesome. Let's keep this going.

[Orgrinder010]

I guess if they can wire up a pipe organ and control all of the magnets under the pipes, then controlling the Tone-generator shouldn't be that difficult. After-all, your then only working with 91 notes.
I don't know how you would be able to change the intensity of each note (1-8), but having it fire notes away would be a start.

[zjokka]

hi there,

I'm by no means into MIDI, so hard to understanding what you guys exactly want to do. I guess you must have seen the below page, but it's only about having the Hammond output midi data, not read and play them. Is the latter what you're after?

zj

http://www.keyboardpartner.de/hammond/t-midivice.htm

[Orgrinder010]

Yes, I have seen that page. However, we would like to find a way to do the exact opposite; have the hammond input data and thus "Play itself".

I have no records of this ever being done before. I have never even actually heard of a successful attempt.

I have heard a few people say that the easiest way is to modify the old Aeolian Player Hammond, but honestly how many of those are still around willing to be destroyed.

[g3]

zj,

I've looked at that web site and am not sure that I want to build all those boards by hand. This web site has PCBs pre-made and they've been working with me to midi the pedals on my X-77.

http://www.midiworks.ca/products/index.asp

G3

[zjokka]

[quote user="Orgrinder010"]Yes, I have seen that page. However, we would like to find a way to do the exact opposite; have the hammond input data and thus "Play itself". I have no records of this ever being done before. I have never even actually heard of a successful attempt. I have heard a few people say that the easiest way is to modify the old Aeolian Player Hammond, but honestly how many of those are still around willing to be destroyed.[/quote]

Thought so: who would want to use the hammond as a midi keyboard and lug all that weight without having it contribute to the sound?

Daring project. Electronics make way for mechanics. Even less my cup of tea....

G3, thanks for the link,

[andyg]

Getting a tonewheel organ to transmit MIDI is easy enough. Getting it to receive is another question entirely. How are you going to get the incoming note on/off data [velocity is irrelevant] to switch all the contacts? If it were easy I'm sure Hammond would have put MIDI in on the new B3. They didn't, for the reason I just gave.

Andy G

[g3]

Andy G,
You said: Getting a tonewheel organ to trasmit MIDI is easy enough. From everything I've read and studied, it doesn't sound like it's easy to me. Can you enlighten me. I "really" want to do this.

G3

[Orgrinder010]

[quote user="andyg"]

Getting a tonewheel organ to transmit MIDI is easy enough. Getting it to receive is another question entirely. How are you going to get the incoming note on/off data [velocity is irrelevant] to switch all the contacts? If it were easy I'm sure Hammond would have put MIDI in on the new B3. They didn't, for the reason I just gave.

Andy G

*

[/quote]


I was thinking more a simple route, where you wouldn't need the organ at all -just the Tone Generator. Instead of completing the circuit with key-contacts, you would control via midi transmitter.
Think of the TG as a rank of pipes. You can unitize them into each drawbar pitch, or even cooler, any pitch you please. Without limitations you will be able to make resultant 32' pitches, or 64's if you so please.
You wouldn't need 9 contacts because each 'rank' would be controlled digitally. If you wanted to get really technical, then you could incorporate velocity into the data and have each 'contact' close in order. It wouldn't be a true 9 contacts, however it behaves somewhat realistically, if setup correctly.
I'd have to research a little bit further, but I have gotten notes to fire from my computer using parts from a junk Casio board that I had broken open a few years ago.