Hammond SK Pro 73: 3-Part Organ MIDI setup (draft)

[Old No7]

Thanks to those who chimed in on a recent posting asking about a keyboard with "MIDI merge" for adding pedals and lower to my SK Pro 73.  Some good options were made, but the cost of a controller with MIDI-merge or MIDI-through was more than I want to spend.  Besides the costs, I also don't need a keyboard controller with a plethora of pads, sliders, knobs, or all the DAW controls, as they'll all be covered by the SK Pro's case to get the two manuals close together.

 

That limitation will also help keep the weight and bulk down too, I think.  I haven't pulled the trigger on this setup yet, but unless someone sees an issue that I haven't caught in all my online research -- for < $300 out-of-pocket, this is a draft of what I'm planning for a 3-part organ MIDI setup:

...* Crumar Mojo pedals -- MIDI out to merge box

...* M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3 -- MIDI out to merge box    Cost = $199

...* MIDI Solutions MultiVoltage Merger 2-in 2-out MIDI Merge Box    Cost = $89

...* Hammond SK Pro 73 -- receives MIDI in from merge box

 

This is a mock-up of how it would look and be merged:

[img][/img]

 

With any luck -- and some time and a few more $$$ invested -- I hope to fit it all into a B3-like case like this one, which I'll make on my own:

[img][/img]

 

Old No7

 

[stoken6]

Do the Mojo pedals talk "standard" MIDI? Or is there some funny non-standard protocol and phantom power like the Mojo lower manual?

 

Otherwise great project, good luck. Personally I'd pick a lower controller with built-in merge capability (Roland A800 springs to mind) - can you get one for $300?

 

Cheers, Mike.

[Old No7]

1 hour ago, stoken6 said:

Do the Mojo pedals talk "standard" MIDI? Or is there some funny non-standard protocol and phantom power like the Mojo lower manual?

Thanks, Mike.

Yes, they've already been connected to my SK Pro on channel 3.  It was plug & play and works really well.

 

 

1 hour ago, stoken6 said:

Personally I'd pick a lower controller with built-in merge capability (Roland A800 springs to mind) - can you get one for $300?

It looks like I can, albeit used, but that might be the way to get a MIDI controller with both the 5-pin IN & OUT and the MERGE option.

 

I just saw a Roland Juno-1 that has MIDI IN, OUT and THRU -- I'm not sure of the age of those boards, but it makes me wonder if I'm potentially missing out on a wider range of options by looking at synths instead of just basic controllers???

 

I'm "new" to MIDI too -- being an old-school rocker, so I have lots to learn...

 

 

1 hour ago, stoken6 said:

Otherwise great project, good luck.

 

I think so too -- and I'll need it!

 

Old No7

[Delaware Dave]

9 hours ago, Old No7 said:

Thanks to those who chimed in on a recent posting asking about a keyboard with "MIDI merge" for adding pedals and lower to my SK Pro 73.  Some good options were made, but the cost of a controller with MIDI-merge or MIDI-through was more than I want to spend.  Besides the costs, I also don't need a keyboard controller with a plethora of pads, sliders, knobs, or all the DAW controls, as they'll all be covered by the SK Pro's case to get the two manuals close together.

 

That limitation will also help keep the weight and bulk down too, I think.  I haven't pulled the trigger on this setup yet, but unless someone sees an issue that I haven't caught in all my online research -- for < $300 out-of-pocket, this is a draft of what I'm planning for a 3-part organ MIDI setup:

...* Crumar Mojo pedals -- MIDI out to merge box

...* M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3 -- MIDI out to merge box    Cost = $199

...* MIDI Solutions MultiVoltage Merger 2-in 2-out MIDI Merge Box    Cost = $89

...* Hammond SK Pro 73 -- receives MIDI in from merge box

 

This is a mock-up of how it would look and be merged:

[img][/img]

 

With any luck -- and some time and a few more $$$ invested -- I hope to fit it all into a B3-like case like this one, which I'll make on my own:

[img][/img]

 

Old No7

 

 

If you get a keyboard that does midi merge then you can forego the midi merge box and save $89. Also, the midi merge box needs to be powered. In the case of both my Kurzweils plugging in the midi merge box to either Kurz midi out supplies power to the midi merge box, my M-Audio nor my GEM keyboards do NOT supply power to the midi merge box.  The M-Audio keystation does NOT supply power to the midi merge box (nor does the mojo pedals midi out) so you will also need to purchase the Midi Solutions power adapter in order for the midi merge box to work. That's another $65.  Look for a used one on ebay in order to reduce the $65 to something much less.  Since you might have to spend $155 for both the merge box and the power supply, plus the 9v hookup and additional midi cords it probably makes sense to condense the setup and wires by relooking for a keyboard that does midi merge, like the roland a800 pro.

 

https://midisolutions.com/prodpwr.htm