Another Ocean Beach drawbars question (external manual)

[dwagar]

After reading Ignatius' question on OB Drawbars, it made me wonder. First, let me put it out there that I know zero about MIDI. He has an NE5, I have a 4, so I probably don't have the options he does.

I have an NE4D (that I keep at our rehearsal space) and also an NE2-73 (at home - I use the OB drawbars with it). I have tried connecting them together to use the E2 as an external lower manual, but hated that I had to push the split buttons to adjust the lower manual, then push them again to get back to the upper. So I don't use it. But I would really like to, I think the E2 is great as a lower manual.

I assume this won't work, but, then again, I don't know how MIDI works.

Ocean Beach has a schematic to use two of their drawbars with 2 different keyboards, but I want to use the existing drawbars on the E4D and the OB drawbars on the E2. I do still want the 2 boards connected to use the sound engine, expression pedal, etc of the E4D. Also, I run it through an original ventilator. I don't use the Leslie or amps or overdrive on the E4D. Basically, I'd like to have a C2D but I can't afford one.

I'm wondering if there is a way to make use of the In-Out Main and In-Out Aux on the OB drawbars that would make this possible? Or because everything is being driven by the E4D maybe it won't work?

Thanks.

[dwagar]

In skimming the DB-1 manual, you can use it to control the lower manual of the NE4, so the internal NE4 drawbars could be your NE4 upper manual, while the DB-1 drawbars do the lower manual. Less clear to me, though it appears feasible, is having the NE2 serving also as the controller for the NE4 lower manual. Per the DB-1 manual, the aux MIDI in will merge signals with the drawbar unit. It seems you should be able to plug in your NE2 here and have both it AND the DB-1 controlling your NE4 lower manual. There may be some more complexities in how you set up the channels and such, though I think once configured, it would work.

I hope it works!

[dwagar]

Thanks Eric, once I figured out what the manual was telling me to do, it does work great. The DB1 has a dip switch to tell it that it's a lower manual, and requires a quick learn mode to set it.

E4D midi to Main on the DB1. E2 midi out to Aux in. Doesn't need a battery.

I really prefer having a separate set of drawbars for the lower manual.