In thinking about design of a modern band organ, consider the following:

Control of a newly constructed modern band organ with MIDI offers a
unique opportunity to change the way wind is supplied to the ranks and
individual pipes.  Since each pipe in the organ will have a unique MIDI
address, stops are not necessary.

Stops and couplers and their physical manifestations are an essential
feature in keyboard controlled organs (only 10 fingers and two feet).
If one looks at an organ design with, for example, each rank covering 16
foot to 2 foot pitch with a 61 note keyboard, we have a total of 61 plus
3 extra octaves for a total of 97 pipes per rank.  With a standard 61
note organ keyboard some combination of four stops or three couplers
would be required.  With MIDI control driving individual pipe valves
(direct electric is my preference) one needs no stops and no couplers
since actuation of each pipe is controlled by computer software.

This means also, that all ranks can be plugged into a common wind
chamber.  Air supply rate and rate modulation to fit individual pipe
speaking requirements can be built into each pipe foot.

These concepts simplify the mechanics of organ construction.  One visual-
izes all pipe feet -- regardless of pitch or rank membership -- plugged
into a common wind distribution chamber, with wind pressure held constant
by the usual "bellows" (or modern equivalent) and organ blower.

In practice, for space compaction and to prevent modulation of the short
pipes by the very long pipes, several "common" wind chambers may be re-
quired, but with the divisions being based on pipe size and location and
not on rank membership.

In this scheme, each pipe in each rank would be supplied with a MIDI note
assignment.  Each rank would be assigned a MIDI channel.

One could play such an organ with a (or several) MIDI keyboard controller
and Cakewalk-like software.  The intent, however, is to play band organ
or fairground organ transcriptions scanned from old rolls or books.
Cakewalk (or equivalent) would be required for channel and note
assignments to a MIDI file.  The files would be played back by "MIDI
jukebox" software.  A simple computer and MIDI driver, and MIDI to TTL
driver is required to actuate the pipe valves.

The only moving parts in this design are the pipe valves and the blower.
There are no relays or mechanical or electrical switches.  Everything
else is solid state electronics.  Wind chest design can incorporate an
access plate to repair individual pipe valves (although I have never seen
an electric valve break).

So argue with me.

Bill Finch