Connecting midi pedalboard to Rodgers i577 console?

[smaci92]

Hi, I am purchasing a Rodgers Insignia 577 organ. The seller doesn't have a pedalboard for this instrument, and apparently, after talking to several organ technicians, it's going to be near impossible to find a pedalboard match for this particular organ. So I was thinking that perhaps I could get a midi pedalboard, connect it to the console, and possibly play the pedal stops with it. Does anyone know if this would be possible? According to the user manual on pg.43, it says:

When controlling the i557/577 from an external MIDI keyboard, sending note information from the keyboard to the organ on a Master Channel will cause the respective keyboard or pedalboard to play. For example, sending notes on channel 12 will cause the same effect as playing those identical notes on the Great keyboard.

I assume it would be possible then. If so, would some be able to let me know how to properly set this up? I know I would use a midi cable to go from MIDI-OUT of the pedalboard into MIDI-IN of the organ console. But after this, I would probably have to go into the settings and somehow connect it to the Pedal Master Channel (Channel 14) in order to have the pedalboard play the selected pedal stops on the organ, right? If someone could guide me through the steps in connecting a a midi pedalboard to this organ, that would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[jbird604]

That should work, provided you can find a MIDI pedal board that will fit into the space available. Set the MIDI pedals to transmit on the appropriate master channel for the pedals, which is 14, as specified in the owner's manual. Once you have that set and the new pedals connected to MIDI IN of the organ, the MIDI pedal board should function exactly like the original. No other setup is required.

It's a shame the pedals are lost. You have to wonder how they got separated from the organ! If you weren't so far away, I could give you a surplus Rodgers pedal board, but it's from an older Rodgers and doesn't have the switches built in, as the 577 pedal board requires. But you could get a used pedal board and install the switches yourself. In fact, if you are handy with circuitry, you can wire up a switch matrix identical to the one in the missing pedals, then connect it directly to the existing pedal cable and not have to fool with MIDI. But that may be a stretch if you aren't a technician.

[smaci92]

Hi John, thanks so much for the quick reply. I'm not a technician, so I'd rather not mess around with anything. I'm thinking of getting this instead — I hope this would fit in the space available...is there any way I can make sure? Or if you know off the top of your head, could you let me know?

Also, this may be a stupid question, but when you say to “set the MIDI pedals to transmit on the appropriate master channel for the pedals, which is 14”: Is this something I set on the midi pedalboard or the organ console settings? Or both? How would I do that? That's what I'm just slightly confused about as I've never done anything like this before. Also, I'm thinking of connecting a cheap little 32note midi keyboard that I already have, to see if I can play the pedal stops with that first before I get the expensive pedalboard — that would be a good test to see if it works right? Many thanks again for your input!

[toodles]

MIDI has channels, just like a TV, but only 16. The console, in this case, is like the TV set--but like 3 TV sets in one (one for each division), and the pedals are acting like a broadcast station. Setting the pedals to broadcast on the right channel is done at the MIDI pedalboard--the way to do this depends on how the pedal manufacturer has it arranged. Refer to the instructions for the pedals.

At the console, you don't usually have to change anything as long as you use the default channels. The pedal channel will just go ahead and receive the info the pedalboard sends and act accordingly (i.e., play the notes).

Certainly you should try connecting your keyboard to the MIDI in on the organ--you'll find that it is easy to do, But you will need to know what channel your keyboard sends its data on. Sometimes they send on all channels (called OMNI in MIDI terms), in which case it would send data on all channels at the same time, and all divisions would play those notes.

It might be worth it to contact Rodgers directly to see if they can still supply a pedalboard, though it might be expensive if they can. Often times manufacturers don't change the design of such things even though models change.

[myorgan]

I've occasionally found pedal boards on eBay or CraigsList. I'm only 2 hours from Canada, but I'm not sure Customs would let us make a trade across the border.:-(

You'll find MIDI to be fairly simple to work with-especially following Toodles' expert advice. The only possible issue I can think of is possible latency, but with as little MIDI implementation as you'll be doing, it shouldn't be a problem at all.

Best with the coming work! Please reach out as you need assistance.

Michael

[Larason2]

The Classic Midi works pedalboard comes well recommended, but it is one of the more expensive options out there. The manual has detailed instructions on how to change the channel on it. The instructions are on page 8. Briefly, you push the set button near the MIDI connectors, then press C#1 (Channel select mode), then press G#2 (channels 9-16), then A1 (Channel 14), then A#2 (enter/confirm). As for the space occupied, the manual says the back end of the pedalboard is 53.5 inches (135.9 cm). I would measure the space in your console and compare to these values before ordering. If it is a bit big, you can always cut off the corners, sand, and refinish.

[jbird604]

The pedal unit from Classic MIDI Works looks perfect, and that price is probably less than Rodgers would want for a pedal unit, if they could even get you one.. It says it's 53.5" wide, so just measure the inside width of your console down where the pedals will be placed, to make sure there is room. There should be, as the AGO pedal board width is standardized.

If it doesn't fit perfectly, you can probably trim away some of the console wood if it's in the way down there. I believe the console is hollow down at the level of the pedal board. So if you needed to, you could probably drill a hole or two or chisel away a bit of wood to make the pedals fit in neatly.

I see that the Classic board can have its MIDI output channel set to any number from 1 to 16. so you'll just need to set it to "14" so it will communicate properly with the Rodgers organ. There may be some DIP switches for setting the channel, or perhaps a knob or switch of some kind, but it should be easy. Once you do that there isn't anything you have to do to the organ's settings. The organ will receive the keying data from the pedals just as if the data were coming from its own pedal board.

[jbird604]

Looks like Larason2 was typing at the same time as me, and he gives you specific instructions for setting that MIDI channel. So that looks like a thumbs up from both of us!

[smaci92]

Thanks so much all — 1st day on here and such a useful forum! Questions all answered :)