GSi VB3 question

[AdmiralQuality]

"I wouldn't take this rig into church though for fear of offending God with the tangle of snakelike patch cables. Also, it's got no backboard like a C3 so the congregation can see up my skirt. Wink"

"Thank you, thank you, I'm here all week (try the veal)!"

Seriously though, that's what the Hammond C3 was for. It was meant to be less fancy looking than the B3, and hide the organist's legs.

"The difference between the B-3 and the C-3 is purely cosmetic. The B-3 stands on four turned wooden legs, so the organist's legs and feet are visible from all sides of the organ. The C-3 is covered on the front and sides by "modesty" panels to allow for modesty while playing in a skirt, often a consideration when a church organ was placed in front of the congregation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammond_or ... ole_organs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modesty_panel

I'd rather have a C3 because that's what they had in Abbey Road studio for Pink Floyd's Dark Side. AND to hide my legs.

[MikeCL]

wow

I have 1 buffer X 64 samples and it's playable at 1ms

Sweet! Reaper FTW!

Enjoy!

hey one question I'm thinking about building a midi switch to control the Leslie speed but if I remember right anything under 50 is slow and anything above that is fast and 50 is off?

If the velocity is just 1 & 127 then I would just have slow and fast right?

You're confusing your terms.

MIDI "control change" (CC) messages always range between 0 and 127.

Velocity is the speed you hit a key (with a range of 1 to 127) and is per-note, not used to control the Leslie speed.

VB3 has a 3 different modes for the Leslie speed control.

1. You can set it to toggle between fast and slow any time the value goes above 0 (as would work with an instantaneous button like the mod switch on Rolands, or a switch pedal like a damper pedal),

2. Or you can set it to follow the setting of the controller (as you would for a mod wheel that stays where you leave it). In this case any value below the 1/3 position (42?) would be slow, between 42 and 84 would be stop, and above 84 would be fast.

3. You can set it to use two controllers, one for stop and one for slow/fast. (Which is how I'm using it with my CX-3).

Read the addendum pdf for version 1.4 for more details on that third mode. You need to edit the .ini file if you want to change the CC#s of the two controllers.

Ahh got it, looks like that stuff I would have to program in a sysex message, it's crazy how expensive a used or new switch is.. Upwards of like $80..

A SWITCH!!! I have at least 4 months to work on stuff (plus buying more gear) so at least it's not like the last time where I only had a few weeks.

Not "sysex". (That means arbitrary vendor specific messages sent through MIDI. Devices from different manufacturers don't typically understand the same sysex messages, though you can often record them and play them back with a sequencer to dump/restore settings from many devices.)

So your controller probably has a sustain pedal input on the back. You can map that to the Leslie speed in VB3. But yes, you still need a pedal. (Which, yes, is just a switch inside. Though in a robust package that can take lots of pounding with a foot.)

Damper pedals aren't THAT much... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... mper-pedal

This is what I'm looking at here

http://store.highlyliquid.com/products/midi-cpu

most of the info is in the firmware pdf.

[MikeCL]

something cool here using the same product

http://highlyliquid.com/hl2012/blog/887

[AdmiralQuality]

Right, but then you're going to need a second MIDI input on your DAW. And I THINK you can merge different MIDI controllers in most hosts, but I'd verify it first if I were you.

Why wouldn't you just use the sustain/damper pedal input on your controller? You don't need sustain for authentic organ.

Also, watch out for that Roland pedal I linked to above. It might not be a switch as it has a TRS plug (implying its actually a variable control, which some modern digital pianos use for "half-pedaling"... which isn't even what half-pedaling means, but this is what happens when engineers who can't play design our instruments.

There's even cheaper ones with TS (two contact) 1/4" plugs on them...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... tain-pedal

[AdmiralQuality]

something cool here using the same product

http://highlyliquid.com/hl2012/blog/887

That's only possible because the VK-7, like the CX-3, can take a MIDI input and merge it with its own keyboard. Non-organ controllers typically don't have a MIDI input at all. (And synths that do only use the input for playing the internal sounds, they don't merge it with their own keyboard and send both to the MIDI out.)

There are MIDI merge boxes you can get. I can't recommend any though.

[MikeCL]

something cool here using the same product

http://highlyliquid.com/hl2012/blog/887

That's only possible because the VK-7, like the CX-3, can take a MIDI input and merge it with its own keyboard. Non-organ controllers typically don't have a MIDI input at all. (And synths that do only use the input for playing the internal sounds, they don't merge it with their own keyboard and send both to the MIDI out.)

There are MIDI merge boxes you can get. I can't recommend any though.

Here is the back of the controller I'm looking to get

http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/qualit ... 513154.jpg

reason why I'm not really looking at the sustain pedal is I plan on using one for another controller so having two would be a bit cluttered.

On the impulse I plan on using the usb connection, which I'm sure disables the midi connections?

I did just think of something.. instead of needing a merge box since the controller has a usb port I can uses that and use my usb to midi on the midi-cpu unit and set it to channel one to do changes without having to merge.

[AdmiralQuality]

something cool here using the same product

http://highlyliquid.com/hl2012/blog/887

That's only possible because the VK-7, like the CX-3, can take a MIDI input and merge it with its own keyboard. Non-organ controllers typically don't have a MIDI input at all. (And synths that do only use the input for playing the internal sounds, they don't merge it with their own keyboard and send both to the MIDI out.)

There are MIDI merge boxes you can get. I can't recommend any though.

Here is the back of the controller I'm looking to get

http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/qualit ... 513154.jpg

reason why I'm not really looking at the sustain pedal is I plan on using one for another controller so having two would be a bit cluttered.

I used to do it. You always have your right foot on the swell pedal so the damper can go in the middle and the Leslie on the far left. (You're not planning on adding bass pedals too, are you?)

I used to play through a real Leslie 145 that had a pre-amp pedal with the Leslie switch on it, so when I was playing without it, it helped me to get used to using my left foot for Leslie rather than left hand. Also nice to not have to take your left hand off the keyboard to switch it.

If you really want a "half moon" style switch you could probably just buy one and wire it to the damper pedal input. Just make it closed when on and open when off (most controllers let you change pedal polarity as well, but that's the most common setup).

On the impulse I plan on using the usb connection, which I'm sure disables the midi connections?

Probably not. Take a look at the manual. (A lot of controllers with USB and MIDI connectors become MIDI interfaces when plugged in by USB. In fact I'd guess that's what this does, because it has a MIDI input on it, which obviously a pure controller doesn't need.)

Why not just use the mod wheel for Leslie switch? That's what VB3 defaults to as it's the obvious choice. And it's roughly in the same position as a half moon switch, though a different direction.

I did just think of something.. instead of needing a merge box since the controller has a usb port I can uses that and use my usb to midi on the midi-cpu unit and set it to channel one to do changes without having to merge.

Yes. But again, there's already mod wheel and a switch-pedal input (the sustain pedal) on this so why add anything?

[MikeCL]

I like a challenge

As far as wiring the switch direct to the expression pedal input I think the expression pedals are a variable resistor?

At least I think my FC7 is

[AdmiralQuality]

I like a challenge

As far as wiring the switch direct to the expression pedal input I think the expression pedals are a variable resistor?

At least I think my FC7 is

No no no... wire it to the SUSTAIN pedal input. MIDI CC# 64.

You could even wire a sustain pedal in on the same jack in parallel. It'll short to whichever switch is closed. So you can use it like a pedal when controlling piano sounds and like a hand switch when controlling organ.

But again, again... this is what the mod wheel is for. VB3 even defaults to mod wheel for Leslie speed.

And yes, FC7's have a pot inside them. That's why there's 3 contacts for expression pedals (TRS plug, tip/ring/sleeve) instead of just 2 as on sustain pedals. One is ground, the other is the return wiper, and the 3rd is the supply voltage.

[MikeCL]

Well sometimes I like to go the extra mile, I found another midi controller to do the switch and it has a usb out so that can be used instead of midi cables, the part I'm not too sure about is the sysex messages but I mean when sysex sends a message it comes from the device sending it right? As you said the mod wheel works to control the leslie switch on all keyboards so something must be common with all of them as far as sending the same set of messages.

[AdmiralQuality]

Well sometimes I like to go the extra mile, I found another midi controller to do the switch and it has a usb out so that can be used instead of midi cables, the part I'm not too sure about is the sysex messages but I mean when sysex sends a message it comes from the device sending it right? As you said the mod wheel works to control the leslie switch on all keyboards so something must be common with all of them as far as sending the same set of messages.

Again, sysex is for proprietary vendor and product specific messages. MIDI just says "sysex is starting now so don't expect to understand any of the following stuff unless you're a so-and-so device by so-and-so manufacturer", then a stream of opaque garbage follows, then a message saying "sysex message is over, we now return you to regular MIDI content that you are actually expected to understand".

So we don't use sysex for communicating between different manufacturers' devices (which is what MIDI is for, after all). We use note on and note off messages, control change (CC) messages, channel and/or polyphonic key pressure, program change, and pitch bend messages. That's pretty much it. (See "Channel voice messages", here. http://www.midi.org/techspecs/midimessages.php )

I think most hosts can take MIDI from different interfaces and merge all their incoming MIDI and send it to a single plug-in all at the same time. I think. But you might want to verify that in whichever host you want to use.

The mod wheel (CC# 1) is only the default Leslie speed controller in VB3. You can of course change it to any of the 128 MIDI CCs. (Or even use 2 MIDI CC numbers for fast/slow and stop/run mode.)

And I didn't say "all keyboards", I said VB3. But CC #1 is the standard for modulation, and Leslie can be considered modulation, so it just makes natural sense for the product to come set up that way. You're free to change it though. Like I suggested, toggling Leslie from a damper pedal makes a lot of sense too. Etc...

[hibidy]

I know this thread ISN'T about this, but has anyone heard anything about x64 with this plug?

[AnalogGuy1]

We're all waiting for that, hibidy!

[MikeCL]

Well sometimes I like to go the extra mile, I found another midi controller to do the switch and it has a usb out so that can be used instead of midi cables, the part I'm not too sure about is the sysex messages but I mean when sysex sends a message it comes from the device sending it right? As you said the mod wheel works to control the leslie switch on all keyboards so something must be common with all of them as far as sending the same set of messages.

Again, sysex is for proprietary vendor and product specific messages. MIDI just says "sysex is starting now so don't expect to understand any of the following stuff unless you're a so-and-so device by so-and-so manufacturer", then a stream of opaque garbage follows, then a message saying "sysex message is over, we now return you to regular MIDI content that you are actually expected to understand".

So we don't use sysex for communicating between different manufacturers' devices (which is what MIDI is for, after all). We use note on and note off messages, control change (CC) messages, channel and/or polyphonic key pressure, program change, and pitch bend messages. That's pretty much it. (See "Channel voice messages", here. http://www.midi.org/techspecs/midimessages.php )

I think most hosts can take MIDI from different interfaces and merge all their incoming MIDI and send it to a single plug-in all at the same time. I think. But you might want to verify that in whichever host you want to use.

The mod wheel (CC# 1) is only the default Leslie speed controller in VB3. You can of course change it to any of the 128 MIDI CCs. (Or even use 2 MIDI CC numbers for fast/slow and stop/run mode.)

And I didn't say "all keyboards", I said VB3. But CC #1 is the standard for modulation, and Leslie can be considered modulation, so it just makes natural sense for the product to come set up that way. You're free to change it though. Like I suggested, toggling Leslie from a damper pedal makes a lot of sense too. Etc...

Well then at the very basic it should respond to basic midi commands

So let me get this right lets take CC#1 when you move the mod wheel it changes the value of CC#1 right? Between 0 and 127 but it's not based on key pressure but a change in the wheel so what would that be called?

[AdmiralQuality]

Well then at the very basic it should respond to basic midi commands

So let me get this right lets take CC#1 when you move the mod wheel it changes the value of CC#1 right? Between 0 and 127 but it's not based on key pressure but a change in the wheel so what would that be called?

"Moving a control"? Remember, CC means "control change".

No different than moving a slider or a knob, or an expression pedal, or pushing a button. MIDI reports any changes to their value as they're made as a CC message with whatever CC# is assigned to the control (there are 128 on a channel) and whatever the position of the control is (0 to 127). (MIDI is "stateless" so messages only go out when controls move. This is why you often have to touch a control and move it a bit before the instrument you're controlling will sync up.)

And obviously notes and key pressure have nothing to do with mod wheels, sliders, knobs, switches buttons and pedals. Those all use CC messages and they make controllers with knobs, sliders and switches but no keyboard at all. Note velocity and pressure have their own, dedicated MIDI messages. (See the MIDI message chart I posted above.)