Midi accordions and midi in acoustic accordions

[Ganza]

What are the different ways in which accordions can produce non-acoustic sounds? So far, I know of:
1) midi accordions e.g. roland fx, cavagnolo digit etc
2) acoustic accordions with midi retrofitted plus expanders (on that note, what actually is an expander?)
3) old electronic accordions
4) and what system is Galliano using in this clip? How does it work? listen from about 2.00mins

Thank you! I might be Gen Y but Im pretty hopeless with this stuff haha

 

[Glenn]

I think he is using a retro-fitted midi system in his Victoria and a tone-bar organ synthesiser on the little table.
All pretty standard stuff I guess.

 

[JIM D.]

A midi equipped box with a combo of -- http://www.rolandus.com/products/bk-7m/ -- will give the same results. These tone wheel sounds can also be selected on the V accordion models FR-7x and FR-8x without an expander.

 

[Ganza]

Thanks.
If Galliano retrofitted midi, why doesnt he have this thing on the front of his accordion? How does he manage to avoid having that plastic console on the front?:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p...A3Rro7sRgOn6W3jO4quyl-hO-jBdWnrw=w414-h355-nc

 

[JIM D.]

That plastic thing you refer to is a musitech expander that is installed on the grill. Accordions can have midi systems installed internally with the just switches with a sending mounted inside and an external expander of your choice is used.

 

[Ganza]

Ok, but what modifications has Galliano made inside his accordion? I can see the two boxes on the floor next to him, but how does the sound get from his accordion to those boxes?
Thank you!

 

[rbs]

Hello Ganza,

When you're using MIDI, no sound comes from the accordion. You can play MIDI with the bellows shut, and I've sometimes done so. What comes from the accordion is a stream of electronic signals, that indicate (among other things) which note has been opened, and which note has been closed. The sound is generated in the MIDI expander - you can chose which type of sound you can get using the controls on the expander.

Incidentally, if you do release the bellows, you'll get MIDI and the acoustic sound together

To get this MIDI output requires fitting sensors throughout the instrument, along with some clever electronics, and is usually done by a specialist. I doubt if Mr Galliano did it himself.

The above is a simplified account - if you want to know more, I suggest that you have a look at the article on MIDI on Wikipedia.

 

[Ganza]

Hi thanks for the info.

So, if Galliano has all the contact points etc, fitted in to his accordion, where is the plastic midi console? Is it one of those boxes next to him?

I guess what I am asking as well is: why do people have that plastic midi console attached to their accordion - which means you cant take the front grill off because its attached to cables etc

But Galliano can take his front grill off, so where are the cables and midi console in his accordion?

Thanks!

 

[Glenn]

I guess it is also a design thing.
Over the years electronics has become obviously smaller but also more modular.
In the past when the builder would use a set of discrete components to make the MIDI interface one can probably now buy a single component with much of he needed hardware encapsulated.
I can imagine one maker wanting to have a MIDI system with a few manual switches on the front considering a mounted control panel better than another that has a cabled system.
Ultimately they all have to go to either a computer or a sound module.
I'm sure they even have WiFi enables MIDI systems these days thus obviating the need for cables.
I know my Roland can have a WiFi dongle fitted and used to send MIDI data.
Isn't technology wonderful?