"Gamma files" for Use With MIDIBoek and Noteur Software

CAUTION

I have identified a problem with downloading Gamma (.GAM) files. It is NOT a problem with the files I have created, but with the ways Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox download text files. If you open a text (.TXT) file in IE and then use "Save As" IE inserts header material which results in a non-functional .GAM file. If you open a text (.TXT) file in FireFox and then use "Save As" Firefox changes the "Enter" characters to a value which results in a non-functional .GAM file.

The safest way to save .TXT and .GAM files in their original form with a Windows browser is to Right-Click on the file name and use Save As when the choice is offered.

Gamma files may be viewed and edited in the Windows utility program Notepad.

If you are working with .GAM and .TXT files, Windows Explorer should be set to display files extensions in your directories.

 The files below are provided as .GAM files. For use in MIDIBoek and Noteur they must be placed in the midigam directory on Drive C. The MIDIBoek and Noteur programs work only in the Windows operating system.


Files for the 20 note Carl Frei Scale:

It is important to understand that there are a variety of implementations of the Carl Frei 20 note scale. At its heart, the Frei 20er scale is simply a set of note intervals above a starting note.

John Smith Busker organs and most Raffin organs use an F (MIDI No. 53) as the starting point in tuning.

It is not clear to me what Frei's original choice was, but I have chosen the actual notes played as my personal arranging scale. With this choice, most tunes are played in B flat (Bb), with a few in F.

A good many smaller organs are tuned starting with MIDI 54 G. From the organ building standpoint this has the advantage of shortening all of the pipes by about 11%. It also results in a primary key of C when playing. Some arrangers chose to work in this scale since they consider C easier to work in than Bb. In particular, Mel Wright and Alan Pell have chosen this implementation.

Other small organs may be tuned even higher. There is a "Raffin 20" file on the MIDIBoek site which starts about 10 semi-tones higher, and there are certainly others on the INTERNET. These files are not "wrong," they just don't match my arranging scale. They can be used with my arrangement .MID files if a proper translation value is selected. Similarly, you can use other arranger's .MID files with my .GAM files if you find the proper translation value.

Regardless of the starting note chosen in arranging, a "standard" 20er paper roll will play on organs with many different tunings.

The files below are set up using my personal choice - starting with MIDI No. 53 F. They match the 20 note arrangements found on my web pages.

Files for editing 26 and 31 note MIDI Files:

I created these files to help me visualize the various voices - bass, accompaniment, melody, and what I think of as the high ornamentation lines - while editing MIDI files for the Alderman/Wright/Jager&Brommer 26 and Raffin 31 note organs. The voices as shown as bars in different colors. They are best viewed with the "filled notes" option selected. They were created for use in analysis, not punching.

Files for Wurlitzer band organ scales:

At this time, the Gamma files below are intended for checking MIDI files, not for printing. I have been trying to find someone punching one-off Wurlitzer rolls from MIDI files, but currently no one seems to be providing such service. The first two Gamma files are constructed to match the note assignments in the large collection of MIDI files on Terry Smythe's collection of 153 Wurlitzer 150 band organ tunes and 30 Wurlitzer 125 band organ tunes on his site at
http://members.shaw.ca/Talia122/batch26.htm 
The 165 Gamma includes some information on Stinson extensions to the Wurlitzer scan. These differences are annotated.


Files for other scales: