How to install MIDI jacks the proper way

Introduction

When retrofitting midi to old gear using our kits, often holes for the midi sockets need to be drilled. This guide is how we do it and shows a clean, easy way using a hole punch.

Stuff you need:

  • Drill Aid
  • Center Punch
  • 2mm drill
  • 3.2mm drill
  • 4mm drill
  • 6mm drill
  • 8mm drill
  • Screw hole-punch 15.2mm
  • Box wrench 13mm
  • Electric drill

 

  1. Attach drill aid
  2. Punch the center holes

3. Remove drill aid

4. Drill 2mm pilot holes

5. Use 3.2mm drill

6. Use 4mm drill

7. Use 6mm drill

8. Use 8mm drill

9. Insert screw and skirt of the screw hole-punch

10.Attach the cutting part of the screw hole-punch

11.Use the box wrench, clockwise

12. Result

13. Install MIDI jack

That’s all. Have fun.

 

Midi for Siel Orchestra

Overview

The Siel Orchestra version of OrganDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 49 notes
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel and keyboard offset

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)
By default, the channel is midi channel 1

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the Siel Orchestra config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file

Midi for Korg Lambda using organDonor

Overview

The Korg Lambda version of OrganDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 48 notes
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel and keyboard offset

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)
By default, this is midi channel 1.

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the Korg Lambda config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file

Midi for Roland RS-505 with organDonor

Overview

The Roland RS-505 version of OrganDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 49 synthesizer notes and 24 bass notes
  • Bass section on a separate midi channel
  • Optionally control the register switches of the synthesizer section
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel and keyboard offset

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)
By default, the synthesizer section is on midi channel 1, the bass section on channel 2.

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the Roland RS-505 config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file

Midi for Roland RS-09 with OrganDonor

Overview

The Roland RS-09 version of OrganDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 44 Notes
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel and keyboard offset

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the Roland RS-09 config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file

Midi for Crumar Performer with OrganDonor

Overview

The Crumar Performer version of OrganDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 49 Notes
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel and keyboard offset

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the Crumar Performer config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file

Midi for Roland RS-101 with OrganDonor

We have not had the chance yet to build our OrganDonor midi interface into a RS-101. However, we did install one in a RS-202 and – according to the schematics and a single picture found on the web – they seem to be identical when it comes to the tone generator/gate board.

This means it should be relatively straight forward to use the RS-202 installation manual and apply it to the RS-101.

If you want to try, we will of course assist. You can also contact us and send some pictures of the inside of your RS-101. We’ll be happy to help.

Midi for Yamaha SS-30 with OrganDonor

Overview

The Yamaha SS-30 version of organDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 49 Notes
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel and keyboard offset

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the Yamaha SS-30 config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file

Eminent / ARP Solina String Ensemble

Overview

The Solina String Ensemble version of organDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 49 Notes
  • Optional independent control of the 20 “Bass notes”
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel and keyboard offset

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

By default the “normal” notes are playing on midi channel 1 and the “bass” notes on midi channel 2. Setting the “normal” midi channel to channel 2 as well (using the learn button), will result in the original behaviour – as if playing on the keyboard.
Instead of using the learn button, the midi channels can also be configured via the configurator (see below).

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the Solina String Ensemble config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file

Midi for Yamaha SK-10

Overview

The Yamaha SK version of organDonor offers the following features:

  • Fully polyphonic midi input for all 49 notes
  • Optional learn button to set midi channel.

Installation

The installation is relatively simple, but does require basic soldering skills. You will need to drill a hole for the midi socket.
Installation instructions can be found in this PDF.

User guide

Setting midi channel

If the optional learn button is installed, it can be used to quickly change the midi receive channel of organDonor.

Connect midi out of a computer or keyboard to midi in of organDonor. Make sure not to send any notes.
Press the learn button and while it is pressed send a midi note on any midi channel. organDonor will set this note as the lowest note of the synthesizer and use its midi channel. These settings are saved.

Playing notes

Send midi notes on the configured midi channel (see above)

More configuration

Alternatively you may configure a lot of parameters using our organDonor configurator.
We recommend using the SK-10 config file as starting point
1.) Save the file on your hard drive via right click -> save as
2.) in the configurator press “Load configuration” and select the file