Jim at the console
The MiditzerTM
Console Up!...
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The Miditzer
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THE MIDITZER
Introduction
what is the Miditzer
Get Started
download the Miditzer
and set up your PC
 Console Up!
setup and use of the Miditzer
The Console
find out what all the controls do
Tech Session
make the Miditzer do more
Recording Studio
record your performances

RECORDINGS
Joe Barron's Miditzer recordings
Virtual Organ mp3 downloads
Bone Doc's Miditzer recordings
Walnut Hill recording studios

DOWNLOADS
Miditzes 243K zip
from VirtualOrgan.com
Cinema Organ SF
choose the corg_r version
SFpack 192K zip

ELSEWHERE
Bruce Miles
cinema organ soundfont creator
Virtual Organ.com
Miditzer user site with MP3s
 

ZipGenius 

Console Up! was the cue the projectionist gave the organist when it was time for the organ to rise from the pit into the spotlight.  With the Miditzer open on your screen it is time for Console Up!

But a few things must be attended to before you begin your ascent.  Click on the Yellow M in the upper left corner.  A menu will drop down.

menu

You can select About MidiTzer Style 216... to open a screen that includes my email  address if you have comments or questions.

Select MIDI Devices... to open a screen that allows you to select your input and output devices and configure the Miditzer.

MIDI Devices...

For MIDI In Device, select the MIDI port to which your keyboard is connected, if any.  For MIDI Out Device, select the MIDI synthesizer you wish to use.  Click OK.  The Miditzer will remember your selections so you only need to return to this screen if you want to change devices.  We'll discuss the other settings later.

Now you should be ready to play.  An organ keyboard won't make any sound until a stop is selected.  On  a Wurlitzer theatre organ with 2 keyboards and pedals, a 2 manual instrument, the uppermost keyboard is called the Solo and the lower keyboard is the Accompaniment.  The large keyboard that is played with the feet is the Pedal.  The stops are grouped and labeled to indicate the keyboard that they control.  Click on a stop with your mouse to turn it on.  For example, this shows the Solo Viol d'Orchestre stop turned on.

Solo Viol Stop

Press one of the keys on the upper keyboard.  I'd suggest doing this with the mouse on the screen to confirm that your output device is working correctly  before you try using a MIDI keyboard if you have one.  If all is well you will hear a vaugely violin like sound.

If you have a MIDI keyboard, try playing it now.  Most likely it will cause the Solo keyboard to play.  (The Solo keyboard uses MIDI channel 1 for input; if you don't know what that means then it probably doesn't matter.)

If you don't have a MIDI keyboard, you can play notes using the bottom two rows of keys on the computer keyboard, Z through / are the white keys.  1 through 5 on the numeric key pad control the range of the computer keys with 3 making Z equal to middle C, the default setting.  Do be aware that you can create a cipher (stuck note) if you are playing with the computer keyboard and you change stops close to the same time as changing notes.  If that happens just close the Miditzer and restart it.

If you have the ability to use sound fonts and you have loaded the Cinema Organ sound font into Bank 25, you can obtain a much better  imitation of the theatre organ sound.  Open the MIDI Devices window and check "Use sound fonts".  Click OK.  Exit the Miditzer and the restart the Miditzer.  You should now hear a much more realistic sound of a theatre organ.

Sound font settings

Feel free to poke around and see what you can discover about the Miditzer.  The Miditzer works very much like a real Wurlitzer theatre organ.  So most of what you know about real organs is useful here and things you learn here will be helpful if you have the chance to sit down at a real organ.  When you are ready to learn more go to The Console.

ATOS 2005 Convention
Last update 10/20/2004
© 2004 Jim Henry All Rights Reserved

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