Topic by andrei

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  • andrei
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Topic: Midi files with stops encoding for Organteq

A question for Organteq experts.

Each preconfigured Organteq preset comes with a wonderful demo file playing the Toccata in D minor Dorian  and also with a preset demo file.

I tried to play several midi files for organ found on the internet. They sound fine, but I noticed that these files don't contain any information about the stops. They play using the stops chosen by the user,  and this initial stop combination remains static (does not change during playing).

My questions:

(1) Can one find on the internent midi files for organ which also encode (and play in real time) the stop configurations used by the organist during the recording?

If yes, I imagine that such a file will sound correctly only when played with certain presets (which contain all the stops used during recording).

(2) Does the midi file obtained by recording a piece played in Organteq contain the stop combination encoding ? 

Thank you in advance.

With best regards, Andrei

Reply by Pat

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Re: Midi files with stops encoding for Organteq

andrei wrote:

My questions:

(1) Can one find on the internent midi files for organ which also encode (and play in real time) the stop configurations used by the organist during the recording?

If yes, I imagine that such a file will sound correctly only when played with certain presets (which contain all the stops used during recording).

(2) Does the midi file obtained by recording a piece played in Organteq contain the stop combination encoding ?

Hi Andrei,
I'll start with question 2:

Yes, the MIDI files recorded with the standalone version of Organteq contain all the essential information about the stops used and the other controls accessible via the (main) GUI. All changes made during playing are recorded.
This information is stored in the MIDI file as short SysEx commands.
You can find the meaning of the SysEx commands used here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nrla1jgk...k&dl=0

However, the MIDI files with the contained information will only sound correct (as they did when recorded) if the same Organteq preset is selected during playback, because the SysEx commands do not contain information about the pipe type, tuning, etc., but only about the position of the respective control on the GUI.


That brings me to your first question:

I don't know if there are MIDI files with information about stop configuration available online.
The MIDI specification doesn't include specific commands for organs.
Each manufacturer defines these mappings themselves, or the user creates them according to their own preferences.
This also works with Organteq, since you can link the stops to Note-, CC-, or PrgChg commands and save and share the corresponding MIDI mappings.

Universally playable MIDI files that are equally applicable to Organteq and, for example, Hauptwerk or the VSL Rieger organ, do not exist.

Reply by andrei

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Re: Midi files with stops encoding for Organteq

Pat wrote:
andrei wrote:

My questions:

(1) Can one find on the internent midi files for organ which also encode (and play in real time) the stop configurations used by the organist during the recording?

If yes, I imagine that such a file will sound correctly only when played with certain presets (which contain all the stops used during recording).

(2) Does the midi file obtained by recording a piece played in Organteq contain the stop combination encoding ?

Hi Andrei,
I'll start with question 2:

Yes, the MIDI files recorded with the standalone version of Organteq contain all the essential information about the stops used and the other controls accessible via the (main) GUI. All changes made during playing are recorded.
This information is stored in the MIDI file as short SysEx commands.
You can find the meaning of the SysEx commands used here:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nrla1jgk...k&dl=0

However, the MIDI files with the contained information will only sound correct (as they did when recorded) if the same Organteq preset is selected during playback, because the SysEx commands do not contain information about the pipe type, tuning, etc., but only about the position of the respective control on the GUI.


That brings me to your first question:

I don't know if there are MIDI files with information about stop configuration available online.
The MIDI specification doesn't include specific commands for organs.
Each manufacturer defines these mappings themselves, or the user creates them according to their own preferences.
This also works with Organteq, since you can link the stops to Note-, CC-, or PrgChg commands and save and share the corresponding MIDI mappings.

Universally playable MIDI files that are equally applicable to Organteq and, for example, Hauptwerk or the VSL Rieger organ, do not exist.

Thank you very, very much!

So now I know what we should do (for our church) in order to have optimal midi files for Organteq: record with Organteq very good interpretations of the hymns we use frequently. Then we will be able to play the recordings when the organist is absent using the same preset! Wonderful!
Best regards, Andrei

Last edited by andrei (Yesterday 20:04)

Reply by tmyoung

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  • tmyoung
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Re: Midi files with stops encoding for Organteq

I agree that's probably your best bet.  You can look for (or create) MIDI files that have the crescendo pedal programmed in the file, which will create a "lazy registration" of the organ--it won't be as subtle (or controllable between presets) as using specific stops or the combination system; however, if you can commission your primary organist to create the MIDI files for you within OTQ, that will win you a far better, more custom final product than anything else we could recommend.

I know at least one church that that has a small side chapel and waiting area with a small choir organ console that just runs on an infinite loop of random MIDI files they created specifically for the purpose out of their hymnal when the organist isn't there but the church is open.  They seem to have had great success with it, it sounds like you're headed towards a similar solution which should work well for you.  What you're thinking might also give you the ability to use the MIDI files as a teaching tool, so that beginner/student organists play along with the MIDI file and learn basic playback and improvisation techniques.  I work with several churches that don't always have access to professional musicians for services, and any tool like that which helps get younger people interested in experimenting with the organ is invaluable in those situations.

Good luck!  Let us know if we can help you with anything else.

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