I am Looking for a New Project

[bnelson218]

With the Stay-at-Home directives and self distancing, I find myself planted in my recliner a lot more than usual. So, I'm looking for a new project. Maybe an add-on for a Hammond; perhaps some electronic doo-dad you've wondered about. I've had several ideas I the past and have run them by the group and have either pursued or dropped them, depending on the feedback. One such idea was a one-button starting system to replace the Start and Run switches. I thought it'd be cool but the feedback was grim so I shelved it. Another was to replace the mechanical Vibrato/Chorus switch and cam-driven contacts with an electronic equivalent--probably Arduino, Raspberry or Teensy based. Or maybe an add-on to select more percussion footages, or maybe add Lenny Dee style echo using digital pots and Arduino (in fact, the pots could also be utilized to add sustain and/or repeat (reiteration) percussion. I'm just brainstorming here and would like to hear any ideas you might have. Anybody? Anybody? :)

[Tonewheel]

Not sure if this would be of interest, but wiring in a pot across the percussion resistor on an A, B or C, with the knob installed out of sight near your right knee is useful to me. There are times when I want more of a ping to the percussion, and other times when I want that dialled down to a more woody, marimba tone. As you fiddle, the noise may make your wife insist that you self-isolate in the garage...

[Sweet Pete]

enor built a 'remote' volume control for the AO28 with an Arduino? Would allow for better control of the AO28 more convenient on Hammond chops than a cycle brake cable?
He also fit an M3 perc panel onto an E100? Amazing stuff!
I am pre-building this R100/M100 mashup.Ergonomics of the M3 are so much friendlier to me than tombstone tabs?
Maybe an M3/R100 is more streamlined in every way? Love the old style controls and amp circuits? M3 control panel,AO28,R100 manuals,genny?
Also here,these H100 manuals and genny,but the R100 manuals fit in an M100 spinet cab?
The R100 pedals will hang off this spinet case too! A 61/61/25 M100 'ish type might be a nice combo?

Wes Garland and I talked this one through a few years ago,now I have the time to mock it up,maybe finish it!

[enor]

Didn't actually use an Arduino for the swell control, just an off-the-shelf servo controller and an RC servo. The hardest bit was the linkage (which I 3D printed using Nylon filament). The M-3 perc panel fits like a glove in the upper left cheekblock of the E-100!

[tiredoldgeezer]

First off, don't think I overlooked your conundrum. You NEED another project? I kinda hate you right off.:->

FX loop. Something you can plug guitar pedals through. Done right takes a few components and a bit of a solder dance.

But the payoff is pretty sweet. Phaser. Chorus. Flanger. Slapback. Overdrive. Etc.

[enor]

I am currently in the midst of an Arduino project, making a switch-controlled user interface for the TREK2 percussion unit. As I've said many times before - I like the way the TREK2 percussion connects and sounds, but I hate the slider-based user interface. So my Arduino project utilizes four switches, a bunch of digital potentiometers, and some code.

[tpappano]

Speaking of micro controllers, I had this idea lately:
"PR40/6BQ5 Cathode Current Monitor/Alarm/Shutdown System". I have rebuilt three PR40 type amps, every one was blown up because failing tubes destroyed their cathode resistors and bypass capacitors. This seems to be something 6BQ5s like to do when they tire of working. The "CCM-ASS" unit would monitor the all six tube's cathode voltages and if one starts going off the rails a 'blink code' from a led would identify the offending channel/tubes. Should these warnings be ignored and a 'trip level' reached, the high voltage to the tubes would be shut down. This could also be used on other power amps as well, large radio and television broadcast transmitters have had this for over 100 years, why not Hammonds and Leslies 8)

[bnelson218]

I am currently in the midst of an Arduino project, making a switch-controlled user interface for the TREK2 percussion unit. As I've said many times before - I like the way the TREK2 percussion connects and sounds, but I hate the slider-based user interface. So my Arduino project utilizes four switches, a bunch of digital potentiometers, and some code.

That was my thought also; using an Uno or Mega board and some digital pots. My H-324's percussion is OOS due to problems with the busbar inside the manual, so I was thinking of designing a new perc system, giving me the standard footages (2 2/3 and 4) and maybe a few more (cause I like the Glock). Then it occurred to me that other effects such as sustain or reiteration or echo could also be added. And then I thought why not use one or more digital pots to achieve these effects. I mean, sustain is nothing more than a gradual drop in volume, reit' is just turn the signal off and on, and echo is reit' and sustain combined. Actual pots can vary the 'sustain' length, reit rate and echo length and rate. I then started looking for digital pots and studied the MCP4131, but being pretty new to Arduino I came up with a few questions, for example, can more than one 4131 be addressed by an Uno board? I also wanted to create a 'Burst' effect for the percussion wherein upon playing a note, there'd be a millisecond or 2 emphasis in volume. I suppose keying a note would be simple: make a variable and declare it as an input and wait for it to be grounded...? Maybe? haha, like I said, I'm new to the Arduino IDE. Anyway, those are my thoughts. Now back to The Expanse. :)

[bnelson218]

First off, don't think I overlooked your conundrum. You NEED another project? I kinda hate you right off.:->

FX loop. Something you can plug guitar pedals through. Done right takes a few components and a bit of a solder dance.

But the payoff is pretty sweet. Phaser. Chorus. Flanger. Slapback. Overdrive. Etc.

I'm not looking to mirror any existing items. In regards to an effects loop, the best in the business (IMO) is still Trek II's ELB-1A. I just put one in a buddy's C3 and currently have a Behringer HellBabe Wah pedal attached. The pedal is mounted just to the right of the exp pedal and I chose this because there's no toe switch that has to be pushed to bring the pedal in or out of the circuit. Just placing your foot on the pedal activates it and removing your foot deactivates it. A very cool feature using optical sensors. There's no potentiometer to wear out. It also has a frequency range control, an adjustable treble boost feature (that really makes the percussion pop). Anyway, my buddy loves it.

[bnelson218]

Sorry about the billboard-size pic. I didn't know it'd appear so frigging big.

[Admin]

When you add a picture using the editor, either by dragging and dropping it in the editor window or by clicking the image icon in the tool bar, you are presented witn several size option choices ranging from a thumbnail to the full size image. You can also resize images that have been added by clicking on them in the editor and using the resizing handles.

[bnelson218]

Speaking of micro controllers, I had this idea lately:
"PR40/6BQ5 Cathode Current Monitor/Alarm/Shutdown System". I have rebuilt three PR40 type amps, every one was blown up because failing tubes destroyed their cathode resistors and bypass capacitors. This seems to be something 6BQ5s like to do when they tire of working. The "CCM-ASS" unit would monitor the all six tube's cathode voltages and if one starts going off the rails a 'blink code' from a led would identify the offending channel/tubes. Should these warnings be ignored and a 'trip level' reached, the high voltage to the tubes would be shut down. This could also be used on other power amps as well, large radio and television broadcast transmitters have had this for over 100 years, why not Hammonds and Leslies 8)

I like it! Although your acronym might need work. Like Tony Stark's BARF. :) Enor might have some ideas on this too. I know an Arduino Uno sketch could be written and implemented to monitor these voltages. I honestly love PR40s and have always had one on stage. I think it's more common to find them with guys who actually play the pedals, especially if they use a string bass unit because Pr40s have such great bass response. Your CCM-ASS could also watch over the 6550s in a Leslie amp for that red core burn when the bias goes hinky. Enor...any thoughts on this?

[tpappano]

I'm going to go ahead and cobble up a couple, one for the PR40 and one for the 147. I have an assortment of 'bad' 6BQ5s and a bad 'no-name' 6550 to test with. I sorted through a dozen of old Soviet 6BQ5s that came with the D152, 2/3 checked out to be 'safe', 1/3 are now branded as "runners". Some would go nuts almost immediately, a couple would take 5-10 minutes to derail.

[Sweet Pete]

My Behringer 'wah' is a Neutron synth LFO chained to a Boog Model D VCF to get 'skwak'. Duophonic right hand and monophonic left hand at various velocities
will interact and randomly produce non predictable FX! You may ask how a non midi keyboard like this Hammond A102 figures into this? The analog synths have audio inputs.....
If I route an aux to the Neutron and have the Model D 'share' the VCF for 'everything'; a very Lordish ring mod,among many other things can be easily created.
Guess who makes the chips for Curtis that Moog and DSI use? Right....Behringer OWNS the Curtis chips.And Midas.....and others.Get over it!
FX loops are very handy indeed.Midi is a powerful tool,this A102 basks in glorious tone crunching not found on a 'stompbox'.
Not only can I match this Nord Stage 3 Compact 'B3' sim to the A102 for tone and play some wild 'midi' stiff simultaneous,the standalone A102 does some great wah FX among others.
All without an expression pedal,which by the way,can also be incorporated!
I laughingly refer to my A102 as the 'Nord/Synth' stand....and basically get a studio quality mix going over 5" nearfields 'boom box' style right in my face that to my ears,sound every bit as good or better than when I had room for a Leslie.I actually prefer it.
Overdrive is simple.Keep turning mic trims and EQ's until the expression pedal lights up -6DB yellow LED's.This analog inexpensive Behringer MX802A is an ancient device that sounds
really good with no issues,mixes all my synths and XLR DI's at home.
At a gig? Never! I use a Radial Key Largo for that ;>)

[bnelson218]

Really cool setup. I'd love to hear some audio clips.

[Logan]

what i like about adding organ into a semi-modular synthesizer setup is the volume of totally unique sounds that go beyond stompboxes. step sequencers can do amazing fx with filter mods, ring mods' carrier oscillator can sweep all the way from tremolo to spaceship warbles. the organ signal can be a gated control for drones or synth texture. my latest toy is a sherman filterbank, it's got a pair of filters that are continuously variable between low pass, hi pass, and notch. and don't get me started on stuff that's only possible with digital processing like bitcrushers and sample mangling

[Jyvoipabo]

Hello,

I have always had the idea of simplifying the wiring between the organ and the Leslie by using a wireless remote control.
I think that is possible by installing an arduino in the organ and a receiver in the Leslie.
To dig..

JP.

[Jaim]

There is a pretty wide range of wireless remote power controls available. I used one on my 21H before I converted it to 2 speed operation.

Jim

[Organfella]

I'm just brainstorming here and would like to hear any ideas you might have. Anybody? Anybody? :)

OK, you said brainstorming. I find myself doing lots of things: Fixing air rifles, fit new hinges to the doors (old ones are rusty and squeeky), barbecue more often, cooking, painting and generally doing anything that I have not tried before. Then there are all those projects sitting their having been accumulated over the years. Oh, yes, none of them invlove organs so the very change of scenery makes it all interesting.

Sorry if I have detracted some but well, you said brainstorming - and mine is in active mode right now...:P

Nico

[Logan]

this is something of a pipe dream and i don't know if it'd be desirable to anyone else; i always wanted a function that engaged the leslie's fast setting whenever full drawbars were pulled out. this is because the only time i use a full drawbar setting is for an exaggerated glissando and the ramp up time would match just right with starting while both hands are occupied

[Sweet Pete]

This is a reality on a Nord Stage3.Aftertouch enabled drawbar AND speed changes!Converted the LSB/MSB for the NeoVent tremelo with MidiSolutions.Could have routed the changes back into a single Midi channel,using thru/in though.
With a single midi cable the external midi functions of a Nord Stage can be used 'internally'!Best external controller available IMO.
Deciding which Hammond to install Midi into,likely the one at home?
Route a Nord Stage3 organ output to the RCA input of a Hammond 'doghouse'(A100/B2 etc') and tweak a little.It becomes a virtual third manual.
Seamless transition. Easiest third manual for an M3 too,for those that long for a 61 or 73 key manual on one....virtual B3.
I have an Electro2-61 that rides an M3 all the time!

[bnelson218]

this is something of a pipe dream and i don't know if it'd be desirable to anyone else; i always wanted a function that engaged the leslie's fast setting whenever full drawbars were pulled out. this is because the only time i use a full drawbar setting is for an exaggerated glissando and the ramp up time would match just right with starting while both hands are occupied

A switch on the side of your exp pedal would be a lot easier to implement. I have momentary switches om both sides of mine. The right side alters the Leslie's motor mode anytime it's pressed. The left switch is used for several different functions such as a sustain pedal or rhythm unit trigger. You can often find expression pedals on E-bay that have switches that can be mounted onto the metal exp pedals. I got mine off an Elegante.

[Logan]

that's true. it's one of those "wouldn't it be cool" ideas that's not really feasible. i hadn't heard of a sustain pedal on the exp, that sounds really cool!