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RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

Are you trying to control the stops already on the organ, or the stops of a Hauptwerk sample set?

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

I can already control the stops on the sample set using the tabs on my organ, but I want to be able to step through generals using another button. For some reason, I can't set a tab to do this.

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

The stepper set up information starts on page 90 in the Hauptwerk User Guide for Version 4.2.1. It would be best to follow it and use the 'Registration' at the top of the menu for whichever organ you are trying to put the stepper system on. Once you have the buttons shown at the bottom of the screen working, then you will have to find a technician who works on your console and get them to add the hardware buttons you need. You could also try using a couple of the pistons already on the console, if you don't need them for other purposes. Use the 'Midi Learn (settings auto-detection) information on page 42 of the User Guide to assign a piston on you console to work the stepper buttons on the Hauptwerk organ screen.

Buying hardware is expensive if you get it new from a retail company. E-bay sometimes has parts of organs that have been dismantled. You could also check with companies in your area that sell organs, they often have an old trade-in they use for parts and might be happy to sell you a couple of buttons.

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

Agree with the points made here - but if I look at images of the Johannus Studio 170 I can see a LONG ROW of thumb pistons under your lower keyboard. You'll find if you start mastering the art of "midi-learn" for the Hauptwerk crescendo stepper buttons on your computer screen, that ALL your Johannus thumb pistons can be "programmed" to listen to the Hauptwerk midi commands as long as the Hauptwerk program is active.

If I'm right you don't need to spend a single cent. If I'm wrong, and if you have the money, then here's a good buying option for a piston rail for any organ (but you'll also need the 'electronics' gadgets that work as MIDI add-ons):

http://arnoldorgans.com/category/piston_rails

Jack

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

Thanks for the help. I used midi-learn for recognising the manuals/pedals but unfortunately midi signals are not transmitted with the pistons! How frustrating. That is why I need a cost effective solution for stepping through generals :) I don't mind if it looks ugly, just needs to be accessible for quick changes. Something like this https://djcity.com.au/product/korg-nanopad2-white-midi-pad-controller/ but it's a bit too high.

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

WOW - that's new to me. There are a lot of folks here who use Johannus organs with Hauptwerk. Perhaps a more precise and pointed Forum topic question will get their response. Something like "HW4 - Johannus Thumb Pistons Not Working???".

There are several piston pads around the place. There's also one like the Korg, to use under the play-table with your feet. I think that's a Behringer.

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

Thanks Jacko. I'll do a bit more investigation! Appreciate all the help thus far.

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

Hi James,

Here's the Behringer product I mentioned.

https://www.storedj.com.au/behringer-fcb1010-midi-foot-controller

Also - I just checked your website. It's pretty impressive - and good to have another "Aussie" on CB. I'm in Western Australia: not many of us here!

Jack

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

The sponsor of contrabombard (classic midiworks of Canada) offers a pad of 8 rockers that can be set into the sides of the consoles or over a keyboard in the $200 CA$ range. Think left to right 100+, 100-, 10+, 10-, 1+, 1-, 000, Next on that set of eight and you could easily control a 999 presets on hauptwerk. https://www.midiworks.ca/index.php?option=com_opencart&Itemid=104&route=product/product&path=59&product_id=258 For as small fee, they'll customize them with engraving or labels (they're clear, so I'm betting you could just print labels on a lighter weight paper and cut them and insert them in the rockers between the light and the protective plastic touch cover. The bad news is that they were on sale last month but the sale expired.

I control my reversible combination stepper from a (actually 2, because I do most of my controlling from these) Novation Launchpad Pro pad(s), Each pad gives you 64 controls in color for about $100 US more than the just 8 rockers above. I do most of my controls in white and my stops in green (prestant,primary), Yellow (String, vox humane/celestes) Blue (Flutes), Orange (reeds) and Red (Brass). I print on a clear acetate sheet all the labels for a pad with the organ name on top and just swich out the cover sheets when I change organs. If they smear or wear, I save the form and just reprint as needed. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LaunchpadPro--novation-launchpad-pro-grid-controller-for-ableton-live?&mrkgcl=28&mrkgadid=3325657941&product_id=LaunchpadPro&campaigntype=shopping&campaign=aaShopping%2520-%2520SKU%2520-%2520Keyboards%2520%26%2520Synthesizers&adgroup=MIDI%2520Controllers%2520-%2520Novation%2520-%2520launchpadpro&placement=google&creative=324206639653&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKCAiA58fvBRAzEiwAQW-hzUnQK6XYGnKxf43jg8InHYoWrheXZl9rmBcVQ76D47CxYh9IFtQ0xxoCFmwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'm adding 2 Boss duel footpedal switches to my expression row above the pedalboard. I'm going to use one as a stepper (A = advance, B= Back) and the other as Tutti/GenCan (as in A=All and B=Blank). A 1/4" stereo mic chord will allow you to plug each set into an emply jack on the back of a keyboard (so if your swell pedal for that keyboard is taking up one space and the keyboard has 3 ports for pedal jacks, you could use sostenuto for on pair of switches and Sustain for another set. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FS6--boss-fs-6-dual-foot-switch?&mrkgcl=28&mrkgadid=3311540130&product_id=FS6&campaigntype=shopping&campaign=aaShopping%2520-%2520SKU%2520-%2520Bass&adgroup=Bass%2520Guitars%2520-%2520Squier%2520-%2520fs6&placement=google&creative=295706325585&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKCAiA58fvBRAzEiwAQW-hzUiVAzNsiuINeGOCv-tmTcg1OjHwQ9Z4Wmulxr563x6bz9tLoULz2BoCc3wQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds These are each about $60 at sweetwater.

So the option you were considering and 2 cheaper (and I think better) alternatives.
kb

RE: Recommendation for simple USB midi piston buttons

Hey thanks for all the information! That's really helpful.

I think I will start up a new thread as someone suggested here to see if a Johannus user has managed to get the pistons working in hauptwerk.