Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:55 pm
Hello Gertjan
I midi-fied an old analogue electronic organ using the existing key contacts and wiring, in much the same way as you are considering.
I used separate encoders (MidiBoutique mpc64) for each of the manual keyboards and the stop rail, and MidiBoutique mpc40 (now superseded) for the Pedals. Later I added a third manual and some pistons, which required two more encoders. So altogether I have six encoders connected to my computer. Actually, two of them are daisy-chained, but that still necessitates five MIDI inputs to my computer - for which I use a Motu Microlite MIDI-to-USB interface.
I am not 100% happy with this arrangement because the Motu interface is not 100% reliable with Windows Vista 64-bit. Most of the time it works fine, but every so often it fails to operate when I boot up the computer. To fix this, I have to open up my console, and remove and re-insert the USB plug - after which it works perfectly again, for a week or two. It's no "big deal", but it IS inconvenient - and if I were starting again, I would give serious consideration to the "all-in-one" HWce type of encoder, which would connect directly to my computer (soundcard's) MIDI port and eliminate the need for a separate MIDI interface.
In fact, I am still considering the possibility of re-doing my console using the new HWce board, and would appreciate comment from others who have done their own MIDI setups.
Best wishes
Graham