Allen ADC Midi board questions

[michaelhoddy]

I'm trying to figure out how the ADC midi interface board works on the ADC-8000, because the temptation of connecting a VPO to my luscious collection of 30 speakers is getting the best of me. My questions:

1. does anyone have the original installation instructions from Allen for this board?

2. I know it sits in line on the keying bus, whose in and out are on the bottom. I see the power input on the attached picture, and the remaining connector goes back to the USCM-2 board to pick up the rockers on the coupler rail to control MIDI on/off per division. However, I only have rockers for swell, great, choir, not pedal. Can the board handle four divisions?

3. If so, how would I go about getting the pedal division working on MIDI?

4. if I wanted to, can I bypass the rockers so MIDI is always on?

I think that's all for now. Will worry about stop and piston integration once we cross this bridge!

[AllenAnalog]

1) PM me with your email and I can help.

2/3) Yes, the board handles four divisions. It intercepts the key and stop information between the console multiplexer (USCM-x) and the cage(s). It does not need to connect to the USCM board for MIDI control - important for those who do not have spare console controls.

The four divisional control inputs are simple connections to ground to activate the OUTPUT of MIDI from each divisional MIDI channel. MIDI input is always active on all channels with this adapter. I have all four control inputs tied to one REM output on my 5300. You can break it up any way you want ,so for instance the pedal and great could be combined on one switch or REM output with the swell and choir signals controlled separately.

4) Just ground those four control inputs and MIDI OUT on all channels will always be on.

Remember, you need to run the +5VDC and ground up from the console multiplexer 5 Volt power supply to power this board so that is where you can get a direct ground to activate the MIDI input control lines. Allen sold a 4-switch accessory panel for that purpose.

[John Vanderlee]

On an Allen ADC4500 I did just that. I installed 4 additional stop tab assemblies on the back rail where there were 3 blank spaces and got rid of "chorus" control, I believe, for the 4th and now I have MIDI on all divisions independently.

[AllenAnalog]

Having never worked on a multi-cage organ I must amend my initial hookup comments after reading over all of the documentation. The MIDI board does NOT connect between the console multiplexer and the cages in a multi-cage organ since each cage has a separate data connection to the console multiplexer board.

There is a special connection diagram for multi-cage organs which shows the MIDI translator board connecting directly to two of the long upper connectors (P233 and P235) on the console multiplexer board. That requires wire-wrap (or soldered) connections rather than just a simple cable swap and power connection. Those five retro-fit wires can be seen in the middle photo that Michael posted.

[myorgan]

Michael,

1. Yes. It's on another computer, so I'll have to send it via PM tomorrow.
2. Yes.
3. Yes, and
4. Yes.

Michael