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MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

Building organ consoles for use with Hauptwerk, adding MIDI to existing consoles, obtaining parts, ...
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aboocher

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostThu Nov 08, 2018 6:58 pm

Thanks for the help! Ray, I like your suggestion. By chance, were these the connectors you bought? https://www.amazon.com/Pc-Accessories-C ... ctor&psc=1

So if I go this route, then it sounds like I'll just need a soldering iron, and I won't need a crimping tool (unless I want to hook up my swell shoe).
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RaymondList

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostThu Nov 08, 2018 7:11 pm

I think these were the ones I bought:

https://www.amazon.com/Uxcell-Connector ... bbon+Cable

Just need to be careful stripping the wires, as they are very fine. This worked well for me. Good luck with your conversion.
Ray
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organtechnology

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostFri Nov 09, 2018 2:10 am

RaymondList wrote:I think these were the ones I bought:

https://www.amazon.com/Uxcell-Connector ... bbon+Cable

Just need to be careful stripping the wires, as they are very fine. This worked well for me. Good luck with your conversion.


If you are going to do it that way, don't forget the shrink tubing to insulate the connections. :)
Tjg
Complete Hauptwerk™ systems using real wood consoles, PC Sound Engines, Dante Audio for Home or Church. info (at) organtechnology.com http://www.organtechnology.com
Authorized Hauptwerk; Milan Digital Audio and Lavender Audio reseller.
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engrssc

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostFri Nov 09, 2018 4:30 am

IMO, splicing fine wires would not be my first choice. Even tho I've had to do it on occasion, it isn't especially easy and I look for alternate ways.. (Something like an art form to do it correctly.) Agree with Thomas about using heat shrink tubing to insulate the splice itself. However, you end up with a fairly large bundle at that point unless you stagger the wires which isn't easy either. Plus if you happen to make a connecting mistake, it can be a problem to correct.

I use a small diameter wire stripper such as this one (below) which helps. You still need to be careful in doing this operation. Stripping esp fine wires using other methods can be a problem.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Engineers-wire-stripper-fine-line-for-PA-11/232984050981?epid=19012081310&hash=item363eee7d25:g:cH0AAOSwXolb1kGH:rk:7:pf:1&frcectupt=true

(Ignore the Japanese unless of course you know iJapanese)
Image

Hole diameter: 0.5mm, 1.2mm, 1.6mm, 2.0mm

Applicable wire AWG (stranded): 26,18,16,14

Applicable wire AWG (single line): 24,16,14,12

Applicable wire conductor cross-sectional area: 0.12mm ^ 2,0.75mm ^ 2,1.25mm ^ 2,2.0mm ^ 2

Possible alternative wire stripper might be:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Engineer-Universal-Mini-Micro-Wire-stripper-PA-30/273515400300?epid=1035860711&hash=item3faec9cc6c:g:OR0AAOSwdmlbyaa-:rk:5:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Image

There are professional thermal strippers, but they are expensive and for this project would be overkill.
Altho not necessary, a holding fixture similar to this one can be useful.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3rd-hand-Holding-stand-with-adjustable-alligator-clips/352509567391?hash=item521335219f:g:sU4AAOSw435bnWDW:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Don't misunderstand as splicing and soldering one or two wires is no big deal, but here you need to do many more..

Rgds,
Ed
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engrssc

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostFri Nov 09, 2018 6:12 am

Possibly even better than any of the above is to use a (professional) punch down block to make the splice(s). It doesn't require soldering or even a wire stripper. And it is very reliable, quite fast to use and cheap. 8) :)

BTW, 50 pair in telco terms means 100 terminals. You could use one for each manual or some other scheme like one manual on each side with 2 blocks inline and have many spares left over for other things.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/66-Punch-Down-50-Pair-Wiring-Terminal-Block-for-Telephone-Phone-Line-Systems-IDC/122514392445?epid=911600230&hash=item1c866d457d:g:rt8AAOSws5pZJgMG:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Image

You would also need a punch down tool:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Adjustable-Impact-punch-down-tool-110-66-blade-network-wire-cat5e-cat6-RJ/172349403172?hash=item2820d33024:g:bKQAAOSwR2RaBACc:rk:8:pf:0

Image

Image

Requires a little practise, but once you get "the hang" of it, very easy (and fast). This tool will trim off the excess piece of wire as you punch it down (impact), so you have to be careful to orient the tool properly so it doesn't cutoff the wrong end of the wire you want to terminate. :shock:

This video gives an idea how to punch down wires but refers (color code wise) to a telco cable. You can get the idea tho. And you wouldn't do the jumper bit as shown in this video.. But this video shows the basics of how to punch down wires.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imomMDMYMZ4

Rgds,
Ed
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aboocher

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostFri Nov 09, 2018 8:58 pm

Thanks so much for your help. As someone who's never done anything like this, I really appreciate it. think Ed's solution sounds better - but I'm wondering the following: I need to attach groups of 16 to the keymux, so on this big board, how do I route this (presumably through a ribbon cable) to the IDC 16 pins on my keymux?
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engrssc

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostFri Nov 09, 2018 11:02 pm

Everything we posted above is a way to do the "job" in various ways.. I finally had a few minutes to think more about the situation and came up with this approach. Without trying to confuse, I would suggest looking at the following as perhaps a better way (system) considering all of the situation:esp being this is the first conversion.

These system boards come from Midi-Hardware https://www.midi-hardware.com
and are designed to be easy to install, esp using the .WIPLUG adapters. Together they will Midi-fy 2 -manuals, 1 pedal board and up to 3 expression pedals.

Would suggest you look over all of these suggestions, esp the user manuals. Everything listed is basic and straight forward. Total cost is listed in USD.

Future additions could be for controls such as stop control, thumb and/or toe pistons, touch screens, Launchpads etc,etc,etc. For now you may want to nual wiring using the majust concentrate on the basics.

There is, of course the computer, and audio system for later as well. Granted, there is quite a lot to "digest" but it is doable. Just don't get overwhelmed. As the saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day" and neither is a good Hauptwerk system. :wink:

2 - BBS-1K - Bus Bar Scanner - price: 54.00 USD (66.42 incl.VAT) each, X 2 needed - 1 for each manual

https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=prod_info&product=BBS-1K&R2=USD


4 - WIPLUG adapter -, price: 9.60 USD (11.81 incl.VAT) each X 4 needed - 2 for each manual

https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=prod_info&product=WIPLUG&R2=USD


1 - MRG2 - Master Controller - price: 57.60 USD (70.85 incl.VAT) 1 needed for the system

https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=prod_info&product=MRG2&R2=USD


1 - BBSP - pedal board control - price: 36.00 USD (44.28 incl.VAT) 1 needed for the pedal board
as well as up to 3 expression pedals

https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=prod_info&product=BBSP&R2=USD

Rgds,
Ed
Last edited by engrssc on Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:35 am, edited 4 times in total.
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aboocher

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostFri Nov 09, 2018 11:24 pm

I've already bought this bundle: https://www.midiboutique.com/hwce2-bundle1?search=hwce2 (but forgot to buy the BO16x4 adapter.) Looking at that option again, I think this might be all that I need now - https://www.midiboutique.com/accessories/bo16x4) It sounds like maybe if i get some of these plus some ribbon cable (https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-16-Pin-Fe ... B00Y20XQXM) then this might be easiest.
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engrssc

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostFri Nov 09, 2018 11:56 pm

For anyone else, the above system cost is $240 USD (not including shipping) and no ribbon cables are needed. 8)

There are many ways to do the same things of course.

Rgds,
Ed
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aboocher

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostTue Nov 13, 2018 10:34 am

In case someone later is reading this - I think you'd also need 2 half-wiplugs to attach the wires to the pedal scanner. (https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php ... LUG&R2=USD)

and also maybe a pots tail for attaching the expression pedal https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php ... ail&R2=USD
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engrssc

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostTue Nov 13, 2018 11:51 am

Good suggestions. Yes, we could have used 2 - half wi-plugs for the pedal board BBSP.. I used 2 (custom) breakout connectors instead that I had made up (several) before the half wi-plugs were available.

For the expression pedals, they were connected to the 5 wire connector on the right of the BBSP board. I had the connector for this, a pig tailed 5 female connector used for Arduino Shield PCB Boards.

Image

Rgds,
Ed
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organtechnology

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostTue Nov 13, 2018 7:16 pm

aboocher wrote:I've already bought this bundle: https://www.midiboutique.com/hwce2-bundle1?search=hwce2 (but forgot to buy the BO16x4 adapter.) Looking at that option again, I think this might be all that I need now - https://www.midiboutique.com/accessories/bo16x4) It sounds like maybe if i get some of these plus some ribbon cable (https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-16-Pin-Fe ... B00Y20XQXM) then this might be easiest.


If you need any help with the MIDI Boutique stuff I use it frequently and would be glad to offer support if you need it.
My email is in the signature.

Thomas
Complete Hauptwerk™ systems using real wood consoles, PC Sound Engines, Dante Audio for Home or Church. info (at) organtechnology.com http://www.organtechnology.com
Authorized Hauptwerk; Milan Digital Audio and Lavender Audio reseller.
USA and Canada shipments only.
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engrssc

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostTue Nov 13, 2018 8:12 pm

aboocher wrote:I've just acquired a 32 note AGO pedalboard as well as 2 manuals out of an old Rodgers instrument.


aboocher wrote:I've already bought this bundle: https://www.midiboutique.com/hwce2-bundle1?search=hwce2


I thought the hwce2-bundle was for 4 manuals, yes?? :o

Rgds,
Ed
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jkinkennon

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostWed Nov 14, 2018 11:03 am

engrssc wrote: I thought the hwce2-bundle was for 4 manuals, yes??


Two manuals, one pedalboard and room for pistons and stop tabs if desired.
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aboocher

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Re: MIDI hardware necessary for wiring old Rodgers parts

PostWed Dec 12, 2018 11:16 pm

Thanks to everyone for their help - especially to Thomas from organtechnology.com who spent over an hour on the phone with me before I first plugged everything in! Here's a brief summary in case it's useful to anyone

I had forgotten to order the bo16x4 boards to connect the wires from the keyboards. Once those arrived I wired up "one wire per key" into slots 1 - 61 and then did my best to connect the right wires to the hwce2 and keymux boards. What was slightly strange to me was that the power terminal has two separate sides and I think both of them need to be connected to the appropriate parts of the keymux boards. The hardest part for me was what to do with the common wires - i just looped them through the ground and then back to the minus/common on the main board. I was slightly worried I'd fry a circuit, but with Thomas on facetime he gave me the thumbs up to plug it in, and sure enough everything worked (except one note whose wire had pulled out of the board). Hauptwerk was reading everything and it was great! It took me a week or so to connect the pedal board, but now everything is up and running. I don't know if I'll bother setting up the swell pedal I have, as I think it would be a pain trying to mount it, but I wanted to share some embarrassing photos of the finished product.

https://ibb.co/gyMdC6c
https://ibb.co/xztWkQq

Still to do:
- Find a more permanent way to attach the wooden board with the reed switches to the pedalboard. It seems as if the alignments has to be *just right* and I achieved this with lots of duct tape to get everything in place, and even now a few notes get "stuck" sometimes. Does anyone has any advice? The best solution I think would be to mount the board with the switches in a totally adjustable way to that is fixed and then just slide the pedals close to them. I wonder if velcro would be strong enough? At the moment duct table is working well.
- Clean up the wiring so that it's not such a mess
- Find some wood to prop the table up on so the keyboards are closer to the right height.
- Set up the music stand (it has wires coming out of it, but I tried powering it off of the power terminal on the hwce2 and couldn't get anything to work. I might just buy some LED lights and just rig that separately.) Also set it up so that it's actually at eye level, as opposed to leaning slightly against a box fan that's propped against the wall.
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