Topic by Pat

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  • Pat
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Topic: iPad as MIDI Controller for Organteq2

Since I don't (yet) have a suitable hardware MIDI controller for Organteq and my laptop doesn't have a touch-sensitive display, I designed a virtual MIDI controller for my iPad as an interim solution. I use the iOs app Mididesigner Pro 2
https://mididesigner.com/
for this (and also for controlling other hardware).

The design (arrangement of controls and colors) is based on Organteq's Jamb View.
For MIDI control I only use the Sysex commands, which are not officially documented but can also be found in this forum.
In this way the control is independent of the presets and MIDI mapping in Organteq.

If anyone owns the Mididesigner Pro 2 app and is interested in the Organteq layout, they can download it here:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjWYlPblAbtDh_1b5dn...A?e=00kid4

Here is a screenshot:
https://www2.pic-upload.de/img/37309696/MDP2_Organteq2_Romantic_Cathedral.png

I labeled the buttons to match the preset "Romantiq: Cathedral".
Of course, the controller layout also works with other Organteq presets, so you shouldn't be bothered by the incorrect labeling.
I will soon expand the layout for a few more presets for my own purposes.

I connect the iPad to the laptop (MacBook Pro Intel) via Bluetooth LE, but I'm sure it can also be done via cable or Wi-Fi.

Reply by Mike Philcox

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  • Mike Philcox
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  • Registered: 04-10-2023
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Re: iPad as MIDI Controller for Organteq2

Pat wrote:

Since I don't (yet) have a suitable hardware MIDI controller for Organteq and my laptop doesn't have a touch-sensitive display, I designed a virtual MIDI controller for my iPad as an interim solution. I use the iOs app Mididesigner Pro 2
https://mididesigner.com/
for this (and also for controlling other hardware).

The design (arrangement of controls and colors) is based on Organteq's Jamb View.
For MIDI control I only use the Sysex commands, which are not officially documented but can also be found in this forum.
In this way the control is independent of the presets and MIDI mapping in Organteq.

If anyone owns the Mididesigner Pro 2 app and is interested in the Organteq layout, they can download it here:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjWYlPblAbtDh_1b5dn...A?e=00kid4

Here is a screenshot:
https://www2.pic-upload.de/img/37309696/MDP2_Organteq2_Romantic_Cathedral.png

I labeled the buttons to match the preset "Romantiq: Cathedral".
Of course, the controller layout also works with other Organteq presets, so you shouldn't be bothered by the incorrect labeling.
I will soon expand the layout for a few more presets for my own purposes.

I connect the iPad to the laptop (MacBook Pro Intel) via Bluetooth LE, but I'm sure it can also be done via cable or Wi-Fi.

This looks very interesting but Mididesigner Pro 2 is priced at $80 in Canada I don't want to spend the money unless I am confident I will find it useful. I don't have a lot of software expertise and would hope for something that is easily useable once uploaded. If Pat or another user of his Midi Controller software can comment on how readily useable it is, it will be much appreciated. Also, the provided "screenshot" takes me to a webpage in German (that I was unable to use even with a translation app) rather than a screenshot and I'm wondering if there is something I can do to actually see a screenshot. Thank you.

Mike Philcox

Last edited by Mike Philcox (15-12-2023 04:29)

Reply by Pat

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Re: iPad as MIDI Controller for Organteq2

Mike Philcox wrote:

This looks very interesting but Mididesigner Pro 2 is priced at $80 in Canada I don't want to spend the money unless I am confident I will find it useful. I don't have a lot of software expertise and would hope for something that is easily useable once uploaded. If Pat or another user of his Midi Controller software can comment on how readily useable it is, it will be much appreciated. Also, the provided "screenshot" takes me to a webpage in German (that I was unable to use even with a translation app) rather than a screenshot and I'm wondering if there is something I can do to actually see a screenshot. Thank you.

Mike Philcox

Hi Mike,
here you can see a screnshot of my MIDI Designer Layout:
https://mididesigner.com/qa/9762/layout...pipe-organ

There is currently still a problem with Organteq's MIDI control via external controllers (whether hardware or software controllers):
Organteq cannot report the status of the stops, couplers, swell pedals, etc. back to the MIDI controller because there is no MIDI out.
I hope that changes soon.
As soon as I call a combination, Organteq's entire setting changes, but the external controller cannot reflect this changes.

That's why the MIDI Designer Pro Layout can send all the commands that exist on the OTQ interface (using Sysex messages), but the visual feedback is only correct until a new combination is called.


For my own purposes, I have now developed a significantly expanded MIDI Designer layout for a specific Organteq preset that can also handle the combinations.
It also visually matches the actual Organteq status exactly, as long as I only use the Combis 01-10 and don't change them anymore.
You have to specifically adjust the settings in the MIDI Designer layout for each Organteq preset, which is quite time-consuming.


BTW: I bought MIDI Designer Pro almost 10 years ago (version 1) for around €12...

Reply by Mike Philcox

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  • Mike Philcox
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Re: iPad as MIDI Controller for Organteq2

Pat wrote:
Mike Philcox wrote:

This looks very interesting but Mididesigner Pro 2 is priced at $80 in Canada I don't want to spend the money unless I am confident I will find it useful. I don't have a lot of software expertise and would hope for something that is easily useable once uploaded. If Pat or another user of his Midi Controller software can comment on how readily useable it is, it will be much appreciated. Also, the provided "screenshot" takes me to a webpage in German (that I was unable to use even with a translation app) rather than a screenshot and I'm wondering if there is something I can do to actually see a screenshot. Thank you.

Mike Philcox

Hi Mike,
here you can see a screnshot of my MIDI Designer Layout:
https://mididesigner.com/qa/9762/layout...pipe-organ

There is currently still a problem with Organteq's MIDI control via external controllers (whether hardware or software controllers):
Organteq cannot report the status of the stops, couplers, swell pedals, etc. back to the MIDI controller because there is no MIDI out.
I hope that changes soon.
As soon as I call a combination, Organteq's entire setting changes, but the external controller cannot reflect this changes.

That's why the MIDI Designer Pro Layout can send all the commands that exist on the OTQ interface (using Sysex messages), but the visual feedback is only correct until a new combination is called.


For my own purposes, I have now developed a significantly expanded MIDI Designer layout for a specific Organteq preset that can also handle the combinations.
It also visually matches the actual Organteq status exactly, as long as I only use the Combis 01-10 and don't change them anymore.
You have to specifically adjust the settings in the MIDI Designer layout for each Organteq preset, which is quite time-consuming.


BTW: I bought MIDI Designer Pro almost 10 years ago (version 1) for around €12...

Hi Pat and thank you for your response! The screen shot looks wonderful and I would be thrilled if I could have a control surface like that on my iPad and was able to communicate back and forth with Organteq2 on my M1 Mac mini. That would make the comparatively high cost of MDP2 more than worth it. However, I am a hobbyist/pianist who adores organ music rather than a real organist and have a limited amount of expertise with midi so think it would be best to wait until Organteq does include midi out before diving into this world. Thankfully, Modartt seems committed to improving the software and I hope midi out is something it is contemplating. Thanks again for sharing and best of luck with your music!