Re: MIDI to Pianocorder
By John Grant
Dave Clark wrote:
>> Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 07:21:58 -0400
>> From: ClarkDC251@aol.com
>> To: automatic-music@foxtail.com
>> Subject: Attaching a midi to my organ.
>>
>> Hi, I while go there was a post that mentioned something to the effect <you
>> can hook a MIDI to anything>. Well I would like to talk to anyone that can
>> help me attach a MIDI to an small organ I am building.
>>
>>
>> Has anyone done something like this? Can someone send me info on businesses
>> that have stuff like this? Any kits available? Building something is not
>> a problem!!
>>
>> Dave Clark
Will Dahlgren responded:
> I have done some work in the area of MIDI to solenoid actuation. Last year I
> designed a very simple MIDI to "power stuff" interface I call the WIMP. From
> your letter, it sounds like it would do the trick. It is made by:
>
> Bob Baker
> Electric Orchestras, Inc.
> 29962 N. Terre Drive
> Libertyville, IL 60048
> (708) 367-7996
> The "computer" board is $325. If your system only requires a low current
> logic level input, this is all you need to control up to 64 notes. If you
> require some "power", then additional driver boards are needed. Each one
> "powers" eight solenoids, etc, and they cost $30. You will also need a
> separate (up to 24 VDC) power supply for your solenoids, relays, etc.
> Will Dahlgren (WillWiz@aol.com)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Dave,
My original response to your original inquiry was via private e-mail, but given Will's recent response [Hi Will, remember we talked on the phone several months ago on this topic?] my sense is that others in the group might have some interest in the information I gave you, so am reposting below. If this seems a blatant adversisement, rest assured it is not! My production techniques on these valves are such that I really am not very interested in building more than I need for my own use, but if they are useful to others I suppose I can have my arm twisted!
Reposted message follows:
From: jrgrant@dc.infi.net
Subject: Organ/MIDI Interface
To: CLARK_D@VNET.IBM.COM
X-Mailer: AIR Mail 3.X (SPRY, Inc.)
Hello Dave,
I read your post in the newsgroup and I think I may be of some assistance to you, at least on the hardware side. If you will look on page 237 of the July/August 1994 issue of the Amica Bulletin you will see an ad I placed offering for sale, solenoid valves of my own design which are suitable for use as MIDI-to-pneumatic interfaces for applications such as yours. Actually, I have two different designs, one targeted toward player and reproducing pianos using nominal 1/8" ID trackerbar tubing, and a somewhat more powerful solenoid which can be adapted to operate larger pallet valves as might be required for band organs and the like. I can also obtain and integrate suitable electronic circuitry for taking MIDI signals and use them to pulse the solenoid valves.
At present I don't have, or anticipate developing, the means to convert existing book music into MIDI form. I CAN convert 9-to-the-inch music rolls into quasi-MIDI data, meaning all paper holes are translated as specific MIDI note numbers. If a particular hole in the paper has a function other than a note (i.e., pedal, expression, control, etc.) it is translated and recorded none-the-less as a MIDI note. On playback these "notes" are mapped to operate solenoids which perform the same non-note function as the original hole. But as for software, you may or may not know that the list administrator, Jody Kravitz (kravitz@foxtail.com) and his friend Dave Wasson have developed a lot of band organ/book music-to-MIDI/synthesizer applications and could probably be quite helpful to you in the project.
Although the ad indicates a price of $8 each for the valves, the solenoids I would anticipate using for your application are somewhat less expensive and could probably be built up for about $6 per valve. If you will let me know some other particulars about your organ, I can get a lot more specific about the interface. Primarily I need to know how many trackerbar holes you have (I assume 28) and what size the holes are. Also useful to know would be the ID of the trackerbar hoses, the dimensions of the space where the interface would have to be mounted, and what power source (battery or AC, desired voltage) it needs to operate from. If you'd like to chat by phone, by all means feel free to call at (301) 249-3639. Best times to catch me here are Monday and Thursday evenings after 8:00 PM.
Good Luck. -John Grant |
(Message sent Tue 6 Jun 1995, 11:40:11 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.) |
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