NI B4 Controller

[khatru]

Have seen a fews posts tonight whilst looking around and didn't think anyone had got the bright light thought about using an old Midi Yamaha as a controller, how wrong I was.</p>

Currently looking at Yamaha HE8W for about £100 on Ebay. Was going to use this as a controller for NI B4II. From the spec sheet it transmits ch1 top man, ch2 bottom man, ch3 pedals.</p>

Have already downloaded demo of B4 and had a play. Installed on a Mac output to and old Carlsbro combo and triggered by my trusty Yamaha Portasound something or other that just don't die.</p>

So I love the sound it makes which means I don't have to fire my old B3 up when I need to play (B3 is plywood cased chopped and too big and ugly for "in house" use)</p>

Thing is does anyone know what else the HE8 would transmit "out" to control the B4, such as expression and maybe something that would switch the Leslie control.</p>

Have tried reading the Midi spec but get lost after ch1 2 and 3</p>

Any help would be fine</p>

Cheers</p>

Paul</p>

[andyg]

Re: NI B4 Controller



We've discussed this subject plenty of times on here. I got an HC4 (or was it HE4?) for free some years ago, to use as a small 'driver' console for not only B4, but things like Miditzer, Hauptwerk, VB3 and Organ 3. I even routed the audio back into the organ's amp. The organ is now long gone, replaced by a real Hammond and Leslie, but it was great fun to use.
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Yes, the channels are fixed, but that's fine. It works as advertised, and the Yammie should send out CC11 from its volume pedal to operate the virtual pedal on B4-II. You can also use the presets on the organ to operate the first few presets on B4-II, but there's no way for the Yamaha to send out the CC1 to change B4's rotary FX speed. Your audio system will have to have a low latency for live playing of course. My system was quite happy at just a few milliseconds.
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For heaven's sake, don't pay that much for an old Yamaha, though. Divide that £100 by 10 and start gently upwards from there. Like I said, mine was free, and there are plenty of giveaways to be found.</p>

Andy G
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[toasterDude]

Re: NI B4 Controller



Hi Paul, the same brain wave hit me like a ton of bricks too, last year (for me, probably more of a duh! moment!) But yes, absolutely, the Yamahas from about the mid-1980s to mid-1990s can be had for next to nothing or indeed nothing; and they make great MIDI controllers. They're of course limited in utility to serving as organ controllers because of the lack of velocity sensitivity and aftertouch, etc., but at the going prices anyone can indulge in one as a single-use luxury, unless space is a concern.</P>


A couple quick points to add to Andy's remarks. 1) Be aware that not all MIDI-ed Yamahas will generate a CC message from the expression pedal. I learned this the hard way by picking up a cheap ME-10: the pedal on these only controls the level to the internal audio. So I'm afraid it does require a look through the MIDI implementation chart to ascertain whether a given model sends a MIDI expression message or not. (not to quibble with Andy's advice - just trying to spare you making the same mistake I did!) 2) I'm currently looking into options for using a standard halfmoon switch to control rotary speed on my Voce Leslie module. Midi Solutions makes any number of little special-application boxes for issues like this, and I've found they have one that will do a switch-to-MIDI conversion. A little steep at US $130, but when you've picked up the organ for free or $50, no problem. Lots of modular B3 or Leslie units will respond to a momentary switch for speed control, but I racked my brain and couldn't figure out how to make this happen in a halfmoon-type configuration. (anyone else got any ideas? [:)] )</P>


Anyway hope this helps - good luck finding your Yamaha B3!</P>


Scott</P>

[andyg]

Re: NI B4 Controller



Quite true, TD. Not all Yammies are the same! MIDI Solutions also do a box that have an input socket for a standard volume pedal for a keyboard (Yamaha FC7 or roland equivalent, say) and will turn its movements into any CC message.</p>

And of course, it's probably true to say that many of the MIDI equipped home organs of that era can be picked up free or low cost. Most have the 'standard' channels 1,2,3 for upper, lower and pedals, but it's worth checking the implementation chart for how they deal with CC11 and programme changes.</p>

There were some organs with mod wheels that might just kick out CC1.Yamaha's HS8 springs to mind.
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Andy
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