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How to control Technics drawbars with DAW or midi controller

Does any one know the structure of either control or program change numbers for use with external midi controller. Or maybe they do it only with sysex control. I am trying to build a template using Midi Designer Pro (Ipad app) that would allow control of…

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How to control Technics drawbars with DAW or midi controller

Stevehdj

Stevehdj
United States

Total Posts: 14
Joined: October 26, 2014

Does any one know the structure of either control or program change numbers for use with external midi controller. Or maybe they do it only with sysex control. I am trying to build a template using Midi Designer Pro (Ipad app) that would allow control of drawbars and other functions. Even though trying to do this for a GA3 organ I would expect there to be similarities among the various Technic models. Any help in finding this info is greatly appreciated.

THanks

Stevehdj

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Posted on February 4, 2017 at 2:23 AM
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5 Replies

jd5live

jd5live
United Kingdom

Total Posts: 360
Joined: June 8, 2014

Re: How to control Technics drawbars with DAW or midi controller

Hi Steve, The information you are after is in the Reference Guide (known as the Blue Book ) it is in the members area to download. The main things with the different product ranges, there is quite a few things that stop software just swapping from say organ to keyboard is that the assigned memory of the files are different in size. The memories in the KN7000 are interchangeable with the PR804, unfortunately the organ range stopped production in 1996 ish where the keyboards and digital ensembles carried on till 2002 with a few models added lower down the ranges until production ended in 2004.
One of the files in the organs that is a lot different is the Tone Memory(.tm ) this is because the KN7000 has 40 slots, some of the organs have 30/40 slots for the upper and lower manuals each,plus a section of 20 for the bass. This causes problems as you can imagine trying to fit a gallon into a pint jug !! . This is why Mike and I can take some time to convert/develop new styles etc. I only I could transfer sound edits one by one but its as the say " It ain't that easy". One thing I am looking at is creating the basic drawbar settings for KN7 but this is a little down the line.
Regards John.

Posted on February 6, 2017 at 12:04 AM

Stevehdj

Stevehdj
United States

Total Posts: 14
Joined: October 26, 2014

Re: How to control Technics drawbars with DAW or midi controller

Hi John

Thanks for reply. While I am somewhat a novice to the deeper realms of midi control I did some research and as you say different models as well as instrument types can be very different. It appears that if looking at the KN7000 product, drawbar control can be accomplished using NPRN CC# 98/99 (page 37/38 of ref manual). If I look in the GA3 ref manual there does not seem to be any provision for NPRN control, only PRN control 100/101. Also there is no specific info in the GA ref manual with regard to drawibar change control as there is in the KN7000, So I am not sure that there is even the ability to control drawbar through midi message on the GA3. Or perhaps it is done through Sysex messages. Also looking at ref manual for KN5000 there is no NPRN mention either so control of drawbars may not have come until later models.

I guess my next step will be to use the midi input monitor found in the Midiox program and see if any CC or PC information is being transmitted while the physical drawbar buttons are pressed. I wil let you know what if find.

Steve

Posted on February 6, 2017 at 3:39 PM

jd5live

jd5live
United Kingdom

Total Posts: 360
Joined: June 8, 2014

Re: How to control Technics drawbars with DAW or midi controller

Hi Steve, The reason you have found the difference is down to the change of system used by Technics. in the KN5000 and GA organs the technology is 3rd level PCM. however the technology with the introduction of NX sound this was never introduced to the organ range as far as I know, and was introduced into the KN6000 onwards plus some of the latter PR Digital Ensembles, that can also use KN software. One other thing about NX sound units is that they use a system of compression when saving to floppy or SD cad. This is Technics own system. I look forward to the results of you findings. one other thing about the KN7000 is that being designed around the year 2000 the USB spec. is limited but good for 2002 when it was launched and to think SD cards cost a fortune for just 64 Mb now its hard to find 1 Gb cards and the size of 16/32 Gb is normal.
Regards John.

Posted on February 6, 2017 at 4:43 PM

Stevehdj

Stevehdj
United States

Total Posts: 14
Joined: October 26, 2014

Re: How to control Technics drawbars with DAW or midi controller

Hi John

At this point I am not seeing any midi control or program change messages that would allow remote drawbar control on the GA3. Nothing is being registered at the organ midi out signal using the Midi ox monitor when adjusting the drawbar setting on the panel. In building my app I have been able to control the on/off of reverb, sustain, DSP,n and digital effect, tremolo and adjust volume. But have not yet found the means for making adjusts to reverb depth and tremolo speed yet. I have been successful in starting to build pages for selecting panel voices and GM voices. So I will probably focus on voice selection for now, very tedious as each button needs to be programmed. Once I have most of the work done I will post a message with some screen shots. Thanks for the help
Steve

Posted on February 7, 2017 at 8:31 PM

jd5live

jd5live
United Kingdom

Total Posts: 360
Joined: June 8, 2014

Re: How to control Technics drawbars with DAW or midi controller

Hi Steve, Nice to see you are making progress I know from working on the use of Tones to build Sounds with the PCM models although NX sound follows almost 1 for 1 and quite easy. I must admit most of my MIDI training was in the early days before anybody had had the idea of GM. I was in Frankfurt at the international music fair in 1990 when GM was born. I remember the pre- GM days when the only way to store settings was with sys exe. at this time I took a break from the music game and being fair I have had to try and catchup, not easy but I have lots of spare time on my hands.
Look forward to see you app. and seeing the results
Best of luck Regards John.

Posted on February 7, 2017 at 9:16 PM