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A hardware source for midi pedalboard

RadogoR

New member
Hi everyone,

I searched through the entire forum, but couldn't find anything similar to my question, so posting it in a new thread.

Could someone give me a hint, what pedals can be used for creating a midi pedalboard to work with MyOrgue or Hauptwerk?
I live in Ukraine (you know, that small country somewhere south from Russia and nord from Turkey), so ordering this stuff from the US is ridiculously expensive for me.

AFAIK midifying the pedals is not a big deal, but where to get the pedals themselves?

I wanted to order two old hammond pedalboards (12 and 13 keys combined into one pedalboard could be just what I need) and the price was cool (about 50 USD for both), but shipping price killed me, since those hammond pedals are pretty heavy things.

Maybe someone knows any pedals from an old instrument that aren't rare in Europe and that could become a donor for a MIDI project?
 

masi

New member
You can get a 30-key pedal board from an old Böhm organ from me, but shipping is not easy. Do you know someone who drives Germany - Ukraine regularly and could do the transport?

Markus
 

RadogoR

New member
Well, I want to thank Markus (masi) for his generous offer, but the question of shipping from Germany still remains open due to the weight and size of his pedal board.

Meanwhile I got following offer from a local mercant - "Viscount 17 Notes Pedalboard". From what I can see it should be this one.

B35950B8355711DEB75D000393C807AC_0.jpg
Does someone know anything about it? Is it a MIDI controller or can it be used with Viscount organ only?

And the most impoprtant question - are 17 notes enough for a home organ? I'm not a professional, but I hesitate if I could play, for example, some pieces of Bach with this thing.

Could someone give me a hint? I'm totally confused.
 
Last edited:

L.Palo

New member
Hi!

If I remember correctly the viscount pedals like the one above have a custom connector that only works with their organs and have no MIDI on their own. And that type of pedal and it's compass is definitely not suitable for classical organ works that use the pedal to any greater extent. My advice - avoid.

The ready to use MIDI pedals offered by among others the viscount company (see for instance http://jerkerantoni.se/bilder/ViscountMidiStraightConcave30.jpg) that are suitable for serious organ pedal playing are somewhat expensive, so if money is an issue do stick to your original plan.

Kind regards

Lars P
 
wljmrbill

wljmrbill

Member
I would stick with your plan.. at least 27..but 32 best for most serious of classical works.Maybe put ad in some online sites ( not sure what you have there) like this one. craigslist, etc is always possible someone may have old organ and give you for little the instrument...then use what you need...I got a old conn for free for hauling it away.. full keyboard and pedal board. worth a try. then use a kit to turn it into midi pedal board.
 

CatOrg

New member
I know that building an organ pedal is the job that can be done from an aprentice, big pieces of wood (ask a friend with machines to prepare them), diferents designs permit to adapt your concept to your skills and machines. Use contacts for organ-building and Midibox for midifying (easy to understand and build, few components).
Design with parallel-flat like a German-barock pedal for the first time.
 

masi

New member
Here in Germany it is no problem to get the pedal board (or the complete console) of a church organ which is put out of order / replaced by a newer instrument, for free or for a symbolic price. I don't know if the situation in Ukraine is like this, but maybe there is a pipe organ builder in your proximity that you could ask for redundant parts.

Markus
 

Diode

New member
Hi RadogoR,

Have you considered building a pedal-board from scratch? It is not too difficult if you or a friend has some basic woodworking skills and if you can get suitable timber at a reasonable price. I built my own based on ideas from this link: http://www.fagerjord.org/index.php/organ-project/38-organ-related/69-building-a-pedal-board. I settled for a concave-radiating version with 30 keys. It took a few weeks of spare-time effort to make but it works really well.

Diode
 

CatOrg

New member
@ Diode, can you post some picts, this would help surely some to dig into this quite doable and rewardfull job.
 
Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret)
Just to give you another option :
and AFAIK with less money : Roland PK-5A 13 notes. I'm using it with CME M-key 49note USB KBD and Korg Nanokey for stop control (25 + MW for tremulant) as my second setup for Rennaisance music and old organs.
I also added a 25 note KBD controller, the old Evolution MK-125 and I'm having a setup similar to 1690 Fr.Jullien Roquemaure organ here ! How much good music can we play on a setup like this ?? LOL

Not expensive : 79euros for CME, 29euros for MK-125, 25euros for nanokey, 29 euros for EMU x-midi/usb cable (for MK125) and 400euros for Roland pedalboard. Ah, add a classic piano type sustain pedal attached to MK125 : works great as a Tira Ripieno foot lever !!!
PK-5A is a great pedalboard and ideal for starters or old medieval/rennaisance work. Frescobaldi, DeMaque, Palestrina, Bassano, Martini, but also, Couperin, Dandrieu and other Frenchmen, sound great on this setup !

The best setup for Bach is to get two M-Audio axiom pro 49ers and the Nord C27 pedalboard (1500euros....) ah, and a Silberman and/or Schnitger sample set ! LOL

Have fun !
 

MDDavies

New member
It's easy to make a pedalboard. I show you how on www.pdoa.co.uk and there is a cheap and cheerful option to do the midi encoding using the motherboard from a mini usb keyboard controller and switches you can easily make for yourself using light wire - paperclip technology, I call it. It may help. My design is for a parallel board with cambering.
It may help.
Mostyn
 
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