Adding MIDI to an Allen ADC-8000

[FSUguy06]

Hey guys,

Well I'm about to purchase an Allen ADC-8000 (drawknob console)and the first thing I know I'm doing to it once it gets here is adding midi. Problem is, i have no idea as to what to do. Any ideas? Or any comments about the actual organ (I'm not familiar with this particular family)

[Clavier]

Is it broken? I really can't fathom why such an organ would even really need MIDI. []

This console might already have a form of MIDI, you might want to check for that. During the ADC era.

If you want to go MIDI, that's fine, but I should probably point out that you will likely, unless you are real good with electronics, lose the function of your capture action, all your pistons, and all those beautiful white moving drawknobs, in addition to any of the other functions that make this console such an exception instrument. You see, unless you have an intimate knowledge electronics and can make most of this stuff from scratch, you are going to have a very hard time getting all the stuff to send a MIDI signal in a cost effective manner. It make no sense to me that someone would have a beautiful three manual drawknob console with the works, but be willing use a mouse to make registration changes! [+o(]

I you are going to do it, do it right I say. Here are a few places that can help you with that:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group...-Organ-Owners/

http://www.virtualorgan.com/forum/

http://www.harrisonorganworks.com/

http://www.aljco.com/midi.htm

I highly recommend that, if you don't think this is something you want do completely by yourself, you find a good tech who knows his Allens. You should insist that the organ maintains full functionality in addition to having MIDI. If you can't do it yourself, then I think it safe to say that with each additional function you have midified, the increases exponentially. It would probably be more effective, (and cheap), in the long run to find a much smaller, simpler organ to do that with, as you lose fewer functions this way.

-Joe.

[Clavier]

Before I forget, you might even want to try Allen themselves. They might have a MIDI retrofit kit designed for that organ. While your there be sure to sign up for the Allen owners club, there are several good resources there.

http://www.allenorgan.com/www/company/contact.html

Owners club

[jbird604]

FSU Guy:

Congrats on getting such a wonderful organ. Though 25 years have passed since its introduction, it is still one of the most awesome digital organs ever built and the sound holds up very well next to today's organs. ADC technology doesn't use the long samples or multiple sets of today's organs, but they did some incredible work with the technology they had. There is a lot of voicing that can be done, so I hope you'll get it properly adjusted for your location. I was selling and installing Allens back then, so if you need any help just let me know.

MIDI can be added to any ADC Allen by simply installing the MIDI "translator" board that is inserted in series between the console multiplexer board and the computer cage. This may be, however, what Allen consides a "dealer only" item, and you'll have to find a freindly dealer who'll order it for you. It costs a few hundred dollars, but is far cheaper and better than soldering in some kind of rigged-up system onto the key contacts! Please don't do something like that to such a fine organ!

Keying info from the manuals and pedals is passed out in the MIDI stream, but no expression data and no stop or piston datais sent. Allen simply wasn't into MIDI muchat that time, and the translator was just a sop thrown to those organists who wanted to be able to key their favorite synthesizer from the organ.

The good news is that this MIDI data is properly segmented by manual, with the Swell going out on ch 1, Great on 2, choir on 3, pedals on 4. So you can use one of the modern virtual organs and haveit respond correctly. For expression, there are several options. You may need to talk to a very creative technician. I'm sure it's possible to tap into the audio processor board and feed in some external audio ahead of the expression stage. This board is inside the cage, though, and one needs to proceed with great caution. Another option is to add one or more expression cells to the expression shoes, but that also requires some creativity in matching impedances, etc.

Good luck.

John

[Clavier]

I should point out that the ADC 8000 is pretty much everything I could ever hope for in an organ. Well, at least one I could see myself actually getting at some point. Also, I totally agree with John on what he said.

You will be a lucky fellow to have such a treasure.

[FSUguy06]

does anybody have any sound clips of an ADC organ? I still have yet to hear one before. I've heard mixed things about them.