Ocean Beach DB-1 User Manual - page 17
Configuring the DB-1 with other MIDI tonewheel organs and modules
The DB-1 was designed to be particularly easy to set up with Nord keyboards, but it can used with
other keyboards, organ modules, and virtual organ software as well. However:
! Not all keyboards with drawbar organ sounds respond to drawbar commands. Many keyboards and
modules just play an organ sample, with no ability to control the individual drawbar positions. So
adding drawbars to such an instrument will not magically give it the power to make drawbar
adjustments.
! There is no MIDI standard for drawbar events. Even among the various Nord models different
MIDI CC values are used, which is why the DB-1 has DIP Switches to select specific Nord
products. It’s unlikely that non-Nord keyboards will respond to Nord drawbar MIDI commands in
a useful way.
One exception to this is EVB3 which comes bundled with MainStage. In EVB3 parlance, keyboard
mappings are called “MIDI Modes” and there is a MIDI Mode which emulates the Nord Electro
mapping. Click on the MIDI Mode field and select NE. The DB-1’s DIP switches should be
configured for Single DB-1 controlling Nord Electro.
Another excellent and very popular virtual tonewheel system is GSi VB3. The DB-1’s default
MIDI CC mapping in User-Defined mode is set to the VB3 defaults, with the T
OP
B
UTTON
preconfigured to toggle rotary speaker speed. Thus the DB-1 is compatible with VB3 right out of
the box, with no programming necessary.
Most virtual organ software can be trained to “learn” MIDI CC values and assign those commands to
specific drawbars. That might be the easiest way to configure such a setup to work with the DB-1.
But you can also program the DB-1 directly. The DB-1’s drawbars and T
OP
B
UTTON
can be configured to
send MIDI CC on any MIDI Channel. To perform this programming, you need a standard USB-MIDI
cable (available at just about any shop where electronic keyboards are sold) and the DB-1 Configurator
app (a free download at www.oceanbeachdigital.com)
The Configurator also has drop-down menu selections for a number of popular keyboards made by
Korg, Roland, Hammond-Suzuki, Kurzweil, and others. Please check the Ocean Beach Digital website
for the latest list of supported instruments and the newest DB-1 firmware.
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