OAX 2.7 is here!
Full details here http://www.wersi.net/service.html in both English (EN) & German (DE).
Wersi has released an update — As of 07/20/20 version 2.70-01 is available.
Changes from version 2.70.00 include:
Software
- – Silbermann Organ -> Various bugs fixed
- – Yamaha style conversion -> loading of * .sty files fixed, deletion of the original file prevented
- – Custom sounds were not displayed correctly on the control panel button
- – Headphone -> With some instruments, the speakers were not switched off when using the headphone.
- – Effects -> Church Reverb 1 was no longer displayed and the assignment of the effect parameters was renewed
- – Various bugs fixed
Sounds
Sound “Natural Guitar 1” repaired.
Styles
“Basic Bossa +” expanded with STS 1 and 2
Curt
I upgraded to forScore Pro to try the facial gestures feature for turning pages. I am totally hooked now on forScore! That page turning feature is easy to setup and it works great. You can either choose to move your head right or left or move your lips right or left to turn the pages forwards or backwards. I chose the lips option. So I think it is safe now for Boys with their toys to upgrade to the new 12.9 inch IPad and get the forScore Pro app to solve the page turning issue 😀
Don
Don,
That sounds perfect! After the last post, I wondered about the gestures and thought if I still have to wave my hand in front of the iPad, it would be better than paper-based music but not 100% “hands-free.”
The facial gestures seal the deal for me. I just checked, and it will run on my current iPad (I’m locked into an older version of iOS). I’m going to jump in and give it a try.
I do have a birthday coming up, and the wife asks every year what I want- I’m thinking a new iPad Pro, Hint-Hint 🎂
Thanks for checking it out and sharing it with all of us.
To anyone following along and thinking about forScore and Face Gestures, I did a little more research and found the following:
If your device features Apple’s TrueDepth camera system, you can use facial gestures to turn pages—either by turning your head or by moving your lips to the left or right.
You need an iOS device that is Face ID capable. My iPad is too old. Guess that means I’ve found another reason to upgrade!
In the meantime, I’m going to load up some sheet music and try using it “as-is” by just swiping the screen on the iPad.
For even more fun, if you have the proper connections to your iPad, you can also communicate with MIDI. Need to check on what commands are required, but one thought would be to have that command as part of a preset on OAX so it would open up the correct music in forScore. I know some folks that have done that with Ketron devices and what they call a registration or what OAX calls a preset.
Hmm – I wonder if I order a new iPad today how quickly it can get here!
Hi Curt and members
Fourscore is an excellent versatile program for IPad I have been using it for years and it works extremely well without any hiccups.
For those have a Windows PC I use Mobile Sheets which is another fantastic program, they also have a version for Android Tablets which communicates with a PC so you can update your PDF music files between the two systems or you can load your files directly to your Android device from a USB flash drive.
All these programs are worth the small investment.
Ross
Thanks for the suggestion about Mobile Sheets. Sounds like a good option for Android based. I currently am using an Apple IPad Pro.
Don
Curt
Thanks for mentioning the forScore app. I downloaded it and it works well for scanning in sheet music to view on an IPad or tablet. The app has an Auto Scan feature that reminds me of when you scan a check for bank deposit. It is much easier for me than loading music into a Wersi preset. I also had some music in a book with small size pages. The forScore app enlarged the page so it is much easier to see the music. There are different ways to store the music such as by genre or composer. There are editing features which I have not tried yet.
The app cost $14.95. The feature that sounds fascinating to me is there is an optional Pro version that uses Facial Gestures to turn the pages forwards or backwards. I plan to try this out. It costs $9.99 per year, but may be worth it. It looks like you can use an Apple Pencil to notate the music.
Don
Don – I wasn’t aware of the Pro/Gesture option. That sounds like an excellent solution to the Bluetooth pedal dilemma. Might have to check that out. Pretty sure I would end up wanting a new iPad. I have an ancient iPad Air. I’m surprised that the battery still holds a decent charge. I use it daily for web browsing activities, but this might help me convince myself to step up to a shiny new Pro model with the 12.9 display.
How does that saying go about a “Boys and their Toys… or something like that! 🙂
Hi Paul,
Take a look at how sheet music is implemented on the Wersi HD Series in the third video (The Music Menu) of the Display System videos. I think that you will find that it will do everything that you require. As you say, none of the commercial packages will do just what you want them to, they are tied to a fixed design for a particular application.
http://www.wersiorganshowcase.com/relateditems.html
The great advantage of the HD Series approach is that the connection of a general purpose external processor, Mac or PC, enables you to design a system that exactly meets your requirements. The Mac has a package called Keynote which can be used for the music display, and since it’s bundled in with the operating system, there’s no additional cost.
Although my particular interest is in playing the high quality sounds available in modern sample libraries on the Wersi, any software can be installed on the external processor, including a DAW, which is on my “To Do” list for future software enhancements.
It’s worth pointing out that OAS owners have had the essential components of a DAW available on their instruments for years, a multitrack digital recorder and a 16 track MIDI recorder/editor/sequencer. These will do everything that you want to do. It’s astonishing that after more than 10 years in production, Wersi have still not included these features in the OAX range, and that owners are obliged to spend money on providing what should be an essential component of the instrument.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff
Looks like a good solution for Mac based users which will be useful if I commit down that route with the DAW software.
It is disappointing that OAX doesn’t have some of the core features which OAS offered. Developing the OAX Sheet Music software a little further to a more workable solution would seem the most sensible route for many owners.
Any comment form Wersi if they’re reading this on whether this is possible to address the points I listed below ?
It’s interesting to hear the various sheet music solutions. I already had a 12.9 “ IPad Pro and enjoy playing out of Fake Books and making my own arrangements. I bought many of “The Real Book” fakebooks that I downloaded from the Kindle and Apple bookstores. The downloads from Kindle are better than Apple because the music fills the whole page better. I also downloaded “The Real Book Songfinder” which is a master index of the thousands of songs available in the Real Books. I look up the song title to see which fake book the song is in and then open that music book in Apple or Kindle books on the IPad.
When I save a registration for a song, I then put the book number after the saved registration title (example: I Left My Heart in S.F. Book 15). Then in the future when I load the registration I see the book Number for the IPad. I use the IPad in Vertical mode so the music is larger, but you can use horizontal mode and see 2 pages of music.
If I have a sheet music arrangement that I especially like, then I load it into Wersi with the saved registration.
Hi Don
Hadn’t heard of Fake Books and “The Real Book” before so just been having a look for future reference – looks a great source for sheet music – so many thanks !
Good idea on using both iPad and the Wersi in conjunction.
Over the weekend, I experimented with using a Microsoft Surface Pro (a PC but also with detachable tablet capability – around 13″ screen) and loading pdf sheet music into the free Adobe Reader in 2 page / full screen mode and placing the tablet horizontally on the music stand – it works ! Slightly small but still readable with my glasses.
You swipe up / down to change pages so it’s not ideal but better than having upto 8 pages strewn over the Wersi console and waiting for a slight gust of wind to re-arrange them…..
I’ve also tried using it in conjunction with the OAX sheet music viewer (where I did encounter an error loading sheets so need to let Wersi know – Curt – which is the best way to do that as I have some screenshots of the error?) and saving specific pages with each Total Preset for a song so it would change the music and allow me to keep on playing and reading music until a convenient point to swipe and change page.
A couple of downsides of the OAX Sheet Music function are :-
1 – pdf files aren’t accepted and most downloaded / purchased / scanned music is pdf format. Some of the other file types (eg .tif) seemed very large compared to pdf sizes so would consume too much memory
2 – a whole page can’t be shown on the screen and swiping vertically generates scrolling which can be difficult to control especially when playing and using multiple pages – a slightly energetic swipe can result in moving forward a page or two ! Viewing a single whole page or preferably 2 pages and moving forward whole pages would be a better solution.
It would be good if Wersi could address this in a future release as it would enable so much better use of the Sheet Music function which is a great tool but currently limited by the above issues.
Anyone else any thoughts on the above / other sheet music solutions?
Curt – I’m not sure how to start a thread on a new topic so apologies if the comments are over-lapping between threads.
Paul – Contact Wersi directly at oax@wersi.net. Sadly, our current blog implementation doesn’t allow you to start a new thread. Probably something I should “fix.” You can start a new thread over in our Facebook Group if that helps – https://www.facebook.com/groups/WersiClubUSA
OK thanks Curt – Will drop Wersi an email.
Unfortunately, I’m not on Facebook – is there much more content there than here that I’m missing?
Paul – not more content, at times, we do post different content. Also, another Wersi group on FB that has some exciting stuff – https://www.facebook.com/groups/656271358216822
Won’t help you, but others might enjoy it.
Hi Don for your surface pro, download a program called Mobile Sheets. It is specifically designed for sheet music and it is an amazing program with great flexibility. It allows you to sort your music into any category you want to set up. It is the best.
Curt, I will try tonight. The only thing I did not check was save in total preset. It sounds like the view has to be saved in the total preset to save the coupler setting. I am using 2.70.01, still had the same ini error when upgrading.
OK Rich, Please post your results to help others understand this process.
Is it possible to save a Silbermann upper, lower or pedal sound with one of the couplers in the on position and saved with the sound? I have tried both in a preset and in an idividual sound and the coupler in not available to turn on.
Interesting question. – We have played the Silbermann a few times but never tried to save preset / settings, etc. I did see something similar posted in a FB group. I’ll give it a try today and report back.
Rich – I just tried it and worked here. Which version are you running? The reason I ask – The README for 2.70-01 mentions “various bug fixes for Silbermann.”
Basic Steps:
1 – Started with Silbermann Factory Preset 2.
2 – Changed a few things, including turning on “Koppel Manual.”
3 – I left the “Save in Total Preset” checked.
4 – Touched “Back”
5 – Now I’m back at the main screen (although you no longer see the coupler option.)
6 – At this point, followed the standard “Save Preset” steps.
7 – Repeated the above steps but turned off the coupler and saved as a second preset.
I went back and selected each preset, one at a time, and the coupler shows up and is on in the first preset and off in the second.
Curt,
My goal is to get rid of the word oberwerk in the sound name for the upper manual and call it Silbermann Upper. I created a new sound from Silbermann Oberwerk and called it up in a preset. To get to the coupler I selected the Church Live button and selected Silbermann and was able to select the coupler button and checked save view in preset. Then selected the back button and the selector sound changed from Silbermann Upper back to Silbermann Oberwerk. So if I create a new sound I can no longer select the coupler on or off or have the 8 Silbermann upper sounds available to turn off or on.
Rich,
The Wersi support team saw your post and sent me the following comment in regards to working with the couplers.
“This only works in a total preset and not in a sound.”
I suspect not want you would like to hear. 🤨
Put together a short video on how to do this – http://wersiclubusa.com/sonic/saving-a-silbermann-organ-preset-with-couplers/
Here is a new tune and this time I didn’t use a style but the backing I created by myself. https://youtu.be/G7VL0pmGr1I
Thanks, Peter – Nicely Done!
Great recording Peter ! Like your web channel.
I’d like to explore sheet music display software and saw you had a separate screen – what software are you using and do you like it?
I’ve tried using the OAX pdf music viewer but it’s a bit limited and clunky when trying to change pages by scrolling, especially when there are more than a couple of pages and currently I spread 7 page pieces over the music stand and resting on the volume controls / drawbars which isn’t ideal !!
It would be good if Wersi could update the OAX software to show whole pages and change pages by assigning footswitches / console buttons.
Peter / Curt / Anyone else – any thoughts on the best options?
Thanks
Paul
I use the sheet music display that OAX offers. As I use a second monitor with touch, I’m able to slide to the next page by touch. Turning pages by footswitches Wersi once promised, but didn’t so far. Unfortunately the display quality will lower the more sheet you load (I didn’t report that issue to Wersi). I use Sibelius to setup the sheet music (possible with different colors and also text) and I setup the printout to a format, that I have 2 pages side by side on the screen with the landscape format and save it as png. When changing presets I assign another sheet music to the preset and the page will then load. So I dont need turning pages. I hope you could understand my explanations. Otherwise feel free to ask again.
Slick solution Peter. I like the way you mounted the display behind the organ. We need something like that.
Paul, since you mentioned working with an iPad in one of your other comments, we have considered using an app called forScore. We have that app installed on an iPad, although we have not used it in ages.
A couple of things to consider – One is screen size and how much you can display. We have an older iPad. Perhaps one of the new Pro models with a 12.9 in. display. Not sure I’m ready to sign up to that $$$ solution. The other is turning the pages. Many apps do support a Bluetooth “page-turner”— something like https://www.pageflip.com. Where to place that pedal is an issue. You could set it on the bench next to you, but then it’s not hands-free. We have not found a good place to place a Bluetooth switch on the organ. The combination of the expression pedal and the foot pistons doesn’t leave much room. I would love to see OAX offer an option to enable something via the footswitches on the expression pedal or the foot pistons.
Any other options out there?
Thanks Peter – great idea. How do you connect the monitor to the Wersi to output the screen? I do have a wall bracket for a TV behind the organ but not sure if the display would output to a TV rather than a monitor? I also tried saving different pages with the registrations but if you have more than 1 page per registration you still have to swipe the pages up and down. Is your monitor touch sensitive then or do you still touch the Wersi screen display to change pages?
Thanks Curt – I looked at forScore earlier this week and it looked good but my larger screen ipad is older and won’t go upto the required Apple IOS version unfortunately. Screen size is also an issue given I now have to wear glasses so a larger iPad screen would be better but seems an expensive option as you say. I already have a spare large TV screen as well as a large screen monitor so would like to see if I could use one of those as a starting point?
If either of those could work with the Wersi display, it would just leave the page turning problem which can be partially reduced by Peter’s solution of saving the different pages with the registration. The only downside is that I sometimes setup registrations with a few options (to save memory) and where I need to touch the screen to swap between sounds etc which conflicts with sheet music viewing – but given it’s Windows 10, I wonder if you can extend the Wersi screen to a monitor and have a sheet music view on the monitor compared to the main Wersi display to overcome this ? You’re right about the Bluetooth page-turner pedal – I’d looked at some but placement is an issue as you say – I’m not keen to drill intro the organ frame to secure it and using by hand defeats the object so an integrated solution from Wersi would be much more elegant.
Interested to hear how anyone else has conquered the challenges of ageing eyesight and poor musical memory !
Paul – We did connect up a second display awhile back. Although we didn’t attempt to display any music on it, we did have Kontakt loaded on the organ at the time and show that on the second screen and the touch screen on the organ functions as you would expect – http://wersiclubusa.com/btscenes/dual-monitors-on-your-sonic-take-2/
Wersi OAX V2.70-01 now available for download http://www.wersi.net/service.html details are in the OAX Development PDF, however it’s mainly bug fixes.
Thanks, Bill – Man, you are fast! I read your comment and received an e-mail from Uli at about the same time! 😀
See above for info on the 2.70-01 improvements.
I just installed 2.70-01 and I got the same “ini” file error. Pressing NO as before allows the install to complete.
Geoff,
Same here. Wersi is replacing the *.exe file sometime today. This won’t be a new version (still 2.70-01) but it will no longer attempt to make a copy of that file. Again, that issue is due to changing the Windows config. In my case, I changed to a US time/date vs. European format. Any chance you did something similar?
Hi Curt. No I don’t recall changing anything in the Windows config.
Hi Curt
I loaded the latest 2.70-01 version and I also got a couple of error screens with InstrumentSettings.ini and UserActivations.ini file errors. I chose “No” and 2.70-01 seemed to install OK.
I had previously changed Windows timezone to London UK format.
Paul, you are not alone. Several folks have mentioned the same thing. Agreed, skipping the back-up steps (by responding “No”) does get around the issue.
I just received an email from OAXSupport and the said the the 2.70-01 update will be released next Monday or Tuesday.
Dear Curt thank you !
Dear all
there is a new Version at wersi Hochrhein (2.70 (Stand: 5.Juni 2020) available. I did the update without any Issues. https://www.wersi-hochrhein.com/downloads_1.html
And I have the feeling that the drawbars B3 are much more powerful than before. Very nice changes. Do you have the same impression?.
Best regards Kai
I do not think there have been any changes to the drawbars in V2.70 these changes were made on the previous update.
Wersi Hochrhein has a note on their download page indicating 2.70 files as of 6/5/20. I wonder if this has the fix implemented in them?
Rich
Rich,
Far as I know they will be releasing 2.70-01. Unfortunately, I don’t have a timeline for that.🙁
I understand update 2.71 will be available this or next week.
I understand update 2.70-01 will be available this or next week.
I downloaded 2.7 yesterday and installed. I got the same error, but just ignored and everything else went just fine. I then shutdown completely and switched on again, and no issues whatsoever.
Really like the Silberman organ, and the other new features.
I have just recorded and posted a new tune using 2.7, and a new Wersi Spectra sample – mixed with the existing KWDrawbars3 Preset. I think the 2 mixed together give quite a nice original “Wersi” drawbar sound.
For folks that might be looking for the link –> https://youtu.be/vpzsvZ3P8gI
Nice job Mark. Did you decide on a sample editor yet? I was thinking about messing with that later this week.
Hi Curt,
I think AWAVE is the one I prefer, however still having some struggles with velocity levels, so also playing with a tool called Polyphone to cut them around a bit. Struggling with time again at the moment, so possible I may not complete this until the Autumn when it gets dark earlier, as currently taking advantage of the time of year and the light nights.
Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark, it sounds very good. Would you share the preset or the names of the Mixes Samples with us?
Best regards, Kai
Hi Kai,
I have just sent Curt a photo of the preset I created for this – hope that helps. Any questions, please just ask.
Thanks
Mark
Screenshot and more info from Mark – http://wersiclubusa.com/sonic/black-velvet/
Downloads were difficult over a three day period. The install, however, went off perfectly. Now I am into the new V2.70 Manual reviewing the changes.
Good to hear Spike – Some nice changes. I’m still exploring some of them myself.
Dear all, should i wait with installing 2.70 ???
Regards Kai
Hi Kai,
A few folks have run into an issue that relates to missing activation files. I didn’t get the message. The other problem is a failure to back up one of the *.ini files during the install.
I can’t speak to the first issue, but if you respond “No” to the message about the *.ini file (if you even get the message), the install will complete.
I can also pass along that the “Natural Guitar 1 ” voice has an odd sound in it that wasn’t there before.
Wersi is aware of all of the above, and we already tested a fix for them for the *.ini file issue.
We hope to post a short video showing the install process later today for new owners that have not been through an update before.
Hi Curt, thank you. I will wait until 2.70.0x will be available.
Regards, Kai
Wersi sent us a new Guitar sample and it does correct the issue noted above. Expect to see it in the next update.
Hi Kai
Read the Operation Manual New Features V 2.70 and also the Documentation of the OAX development (EN) here http://www.wersi.net/service.html then decide whether you want to upgrade now or wait until all the bugs have been fixed.
Hi Bill, thank you. I know about the Manual, but want to avoid the bugs. So i will wait.
Thanks. Kai
I have just got an email from OAX Support advising they made an error when it came to installing the V2.70, please download all four files below and save them to the USB stick.
I guess this will sort out my extract all problem!
Hi having problems extracting the Wersi zip files using Windows 10, the “extract all” will not appear by clicking the right mouse button on the zip files. Have tried this on 3 different Windows 10 PC’s, but they all have the same problem, so something must have changed with Win10 updates. I Have never had this problem with any previous downloads. There is no problem opening standard zip files, only with .7zip files. I Have downloaded 2 other Zip software packages which work but they load the update into folders, not the correct format for Wersi to recognise. PLEASE HELP any one else got this problem or can solve this issue?
Hi Ross,
Why are you trying to extract them – I don’t recall having to do that before, as you normally just copy the 4 files to a USB, insert and go.
Hi Ross. No need to unzip the files. Just copy the downloaded files onto a usb and the wersi installer will unzip them as it does the install.
Hi Ross
As mentioned in previous posts, unlike OAS you do not need to unzip the files first, as the OAX software will do it for you during the update.
If you are still not sure, the install instructions (In English and German) are on the Wersi download site.
Wow! Learn something new every day. Interesting on OAS that you had to unzip the files before doing the install. Didn’t know that.
Ross – Were you able to complete the update?
Hi Curt no, when loading the software with the new update I got an error that I have copied and sent back to Wersi support.
Is it about a *.ini file? If so, you can respond “No” to the prompt, and the install will complete. The issue ties to the Windows time/date/region settings. I tested a new update from Wersi yesterday, and that issue has is corrected. Not sure how Wersi will inform all owners about that and what they need to do.
They attempt to make a backup of the *.ini file as part of the install, and it fails resulting in the error message. You can manually make a backup of the file is you are concerned about losing it.
Hi Bill, Mark and Geoff, well I’ll be blowed, you learn something every day. since day one I have always used the Windows “extract” all feature to un-zip the files. I downloaded the updated software but it errored when loading to the OAX. I have copied and sent the error to Wersi Support
My big concern was the flashing screen which went off completely a couple of times after about 30 mins. At Bill’s suggestion I checked the windows sleep time which was set at never. I then left the screen at windows desktop which seemed to be ok, so I booted up OAX and this time after about 15 mins it threw up a ‘windows has detected an error’ message. Finally I reinstalled OAX2.7 and am waiting to see what happens now.
The re install seems to have fixed the problem. No more screen blackouts.
I carried out the upgrade today …..with a couple of issues!
After verifying the update files, an error message indicated “Couldn’t find file C:/wersi/settings/instrument settings.ini” However when I checked, the file was there. It then asked if I wanted to retry with yes or no options. Selecting yes gave the same result.
After a few attempts, I selected no and the update seemed to complete successfully.
During the update, the screen seemed to flicker several times but seemed to be ok at the end. I had a quick browse of the updated features and everything seemed to be ok. However I then left it powered on for about 30 minutes and when I returned, the screen had gone completely blank!
The only way out of it seemed to be by holding the power button for a few seconds after which it shut down as normal.
Rebooted ok. Just waiting now to see if the screen goes off again.
Hi Geoff
Go into Windows Settings, System, Power & Sleep and make sure screen is set to never turn off, just in case something got changed during the update.
Geoff,
I also received the same message regarding the “settings.ini” file. I recorded the whole install process and will send that section to Wersi support so they can see it as it happened.
I haven’t spent much time with it yet, but like what I found so far. I plan on doing some new videos on the new features in the coming weeks.
I’m still connected to the organ with Teamview, which keeps the screen alive, so no comment on your screen going blank. As Bill mentioned, I went into the Windows settings a long time ago and configured my screen to go to sleep after 20-minutes or something like that as sometimes I leave the organ on for extended periods of time.
I sent a screenshot of the error to Wersi, and it appears the issue may be tied to settings at the Windows level for Country/Region and possibly time. The install process attempts to make copies of some files before the upgrade and is not able to based on the settings. When comparing my settings to settings on another instrument, they are different.
I am waiting for more info from Wersi on the next steps and will share what I learn.
I’m testing a fix that Wersi just sent regarding the *.ini file message. I will update the group as we learn more.
I can report the fix we tested with Wersi does correct the *.ini file message during the install. Not 100% sure how Wersi will distribute the fix just yet.