What changes have been included in the latest version?
Why is
setting the Division and Equivalent so important?
How do I select the Division for a keyboard?
How do I know if I have set up the organ layout correctly?
What can I do if I get
this wrong?
Can I import MIDI files?
Why can't I play back exported MIDI files?
How do I select a different language?
What changes have been included in the latest version?
The latest version of OrganAssist is 2.4.3. You can either download the full install (6.3MB) or the just patch (1.3MB).
The most important new feature is that OrganAssist will now update existing tracks if you make a change to the configuration of the organ. This is important as, if you have made a mistake in setting the Division or Equivalents, any music recorded with this configuration includes the wrong data. With this new version of OrganAssist, when you make a change to the configuration of an organ, OrganAssist scans the library for any tracks that were recorded or edited using this configuration (as the name of the organ is stored in the track) and updates them automatically.
Due to the kind contribution of an OrganAssist user, the latest version includes French language support. Just go to Tools, User Options and select the language.
This version now includes support for Solid State organ systems and a TEST setup for Allen organs (but not supporting combinations and alternate voices). Any contributions from Allen owners would be welcome.
There are a number of cosmetic changes, including a progress bar on the splash screen.
When editing a track, the screen is now updated to show new notes and stop changes when you press Pause. Tempo changes are still only applied when you press Stop.
When setting the MIDI for a new organ, the prompt display now includes a Cancel button (or you can press Escape). This is useful when Setting ALL Midi and OrganAssist tries to configure a volume controller when there is no controller on the instrument.
Outstanding Bugs
There is an intermittent problem with volume controls that, when you change the volume by dragging the slider on the screen, it can be "sticky". Volume changes from the organ work fine.
There can be reliability problems with Playlists. These sometimes affect the creation of new Playlists and the insertion/deletion of items.
Why is setting the Division and Equivalent so important?
There are two major problems with MIDI. Firstly the codes for each manufacturer (and sometimes for each model) are different. This means that you cannot exchange of music between instruments. Secondly, when editing music it is useful to be able to rewind or skip forward. These features are not possible with MIDI as to rewind the codes required are the opposite of those when playing forward. To meet these challenges OrganAssist stores your performance without any reference to MIDI.
To identify uniquely each action involved in playing a piece of music, OrganAssist requires you (when you set up a layout for the organ) to assign which Division a particular item belongs to. For each stop it is also necessary to identify it using the list of stops provided as an "Equivalent". This information is used to structure the information that is recorded in each track.
Although the terms Division and Equivalent are used widely, and are the method provided for setting up a new layout, the actual information that is stored within OrganAssist is entirely different. Just selecting a stop from a list is no solution to translating pieces between instruments. However this seemed the easiest method to provide for other people to customise OrganAssist to match their particular instrument.
So, how do I select the Division for a keyboard?
Because the names and MIDI channels for keyboards can vary between instruments it is important to indicate a keyboard's function. In the UK, on a 3-manual instrument, they may be named (from top to bottom)
Swell
Great
Choir
In France they may be named:
Recit
Grand-Orgue
Positif
Regardless of the name you enter that appears on the screen, the Division should be set (via the option buttons) to ensure that pieces will use the correct manual if played on other instruments.
How do I know if I have set up the organ layout correctly?
The easiest way to check is to load your organ layout, then select Tools, Load Second Organ. Choose one of the organ layouts provided with OrganAssist. Your organ will appear at the top of the screen, the second organ at the bottom. Click on notes and stops on your organ layout and you will see which ones they activate on the second organ. Please not that if the keyboard is correct - the linked volume is automatically correct. (There is a bug in OrganAssist that causes volume controls to be very "sticky" when a second organ is loaded.)
What can I do if I get
this wrong?
OrganAssist Version 2.4.3 contains a major new feature. Whenever you make a change to the configuration of an organ, OrganAssist searches the library for all tracks that were recorded or edited using this layout. OrganAssist then scans the track and updates any reference to the items you have changed. This ensures that existing music continues to play identically on your configuration as well as playing correctly on other instruments.
Yes. However, the way the channels are assigned by different people may mean it will take a little investigation to get the right results. Whenever you import a file OrganAssist needs to know which channels in the file should be directed to which manual. You can set this via the menus on the Library form ( General Midi Channels). If you do not know what the channel settings in the file are, import it anyway and OrganAssist will report at the end the total number of notes on each channel number. This may give a good idea of which channels are being used and then you can change the settings and try importing the file again. These channel settings are only used for Import/Export of MIDI files and are totally independent from the channels that are used by the instrument itself.
Why can't I play back exported MIDI files?
OrganAssist is designed for the purpose of easy recording, editing and playback on multiple instruments. Once a file is exported to MIDI this is no longer possible. However, the editing features of OrganAssist may not meet all needs (particularly notation) and so an Export MIDI function is provided for this purpose. As many instruments use SYSEX codes (and these can cause difficulties in some sequencing and notation software), OrganAssist exports the track in a "neutral" format with stop changes stored a Control Changes with a sequential number to identify the stop. This means that the track can be edited and, if required, imported back to OrganAssist (provided you use the same organ layout and General MIDI Settings).
Obviously you can, if you wish, record the output from OrganAssist using any other MIDI sequencing software.
How do I select a different language?
OrganAssist currently includes text files for both English and French. These languages can be selected for the Tools, User Options menu. (If anyone cares to provide translations into other languages these would be welcome. Just read the instructions included at the top of the text files)