How to play Estey Music Rolls
Compiled by: David Back September 2015.
Updated October 2015, January 2016.
This Document shows how to produce soundfonts for playing Estey Music Rolls.
It is assumed herein that you have a knowledge of music and organs. For a basic source of music you can download over 500 playable Estey Music Rolls from my estey e-roll archive. You can also download my players eplayestey and eplayesteyh which can play these rolls. Wurlitzer and Estey e-roll Players.
1.0 Requirements
In order to get an idea of what is required it is necessary first to consider the estey tracker bar which is explained in Estey Player Organ Tracker Bar Data. This includes general details of how the organs were instrumented. It is necessary to interpret this instrumentation data because no Estey Player Organ ever produced used instruments with these exact names. The most reliable information about instruments/pipes actually fitted is in the Estey "Shop Orders", some of which are available on line.You will see that the requirement for playing Estey Music Rolls is divided into Early Music and Stage 1 New Music which begins at roll 404. Each type of roll appears to need a different soundfont. I say "appears to" because many of the rolls produced after roll 404 do not use the extra capabilities of Stage 1 New Music. It is thus debatable which soundfont should be used to play these rolls. I have chosen to continue using the Early Music soundfont because most organ owners will not have updated their organs until much later (if ever).
It would make sense to make use of multiple banks in the font, however all my fonts use only Bank 0 because I was unable to make any other bank work reliably on the iMac. (This bug is probably due to "out of order execution" which is sometimes a problem with multiple core processors and very difficult to track down.)
2.0 Sound Font for Early Music
| Selected Combination | Font Preset | Solo Midi 36-93 | Font Preset | Great Midi 36-93 | Font Preset | Pedal Midi 36-68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 8' Gamba | 70 | 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 1+ | 11 | 8' Gamba | 71 | Harp | 3 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 2 | 20 | 8' Flute | 80 | 8' Gamba | 1 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 2+ | 21 | 8' Salicional 2' Piccolo | 81 | 8'Gamba 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 3 | 30 | 8' Vox Humana | 90 | 8' Gamba | 1 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 3+ | 31 | 8' Vox Humana 8' Flute | 91 | 8' Gamba Harp | 1 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 4 | 40 | 8' Flute | 100 | 8' Gamba | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 4+ | 41 | 8' Flute 16' Tuba | 101 | 8' Gamba | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 5 | 50 | 8' Oboe | 110 | 8' Gamba | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 5+ | 51 | Chimes | 111 | 8' Gamba | 3 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 6 | 60 | Plein-Jeu IV | 120 | Plein-Jeu IV | 2 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 6+ | 61 | Plein-Jeu V | 121 | Plein-Jeu V | 2 | 16' p-Subbass |
3.0 Sound Font for Stage 1 New Music
| Selected Combination | Font Preset | Solo Midi 36-93 | Font Preset | Great Midi 36-93 | Font Preset | Pedal Midi 36-68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 8' Gamba | 70 | 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 1+ | 11 | Silence | 71 | Harp | 3 | Silence |
| 1A | 12 | 8' Gamba | 72 | 8' Gamba | 3 | Silence |
| 1A+ | 13 | Silence | 73 | 8' Flute | 3 | Silence |
| 2 | 20 | 8' Flute | 80 | 8' Gamba | 1 | 16' p-Violon |
| 2+ | 21 | 8' Salicional 2' Piccolo | 81 | 8'Gamba 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 2A | 22 | 4' Flauto Traverso | 82 | 8' Gamba | 1 | 16' p-Violon |
| 2A+ | 23 | 4' Oktave 8' Oktave 16' Principal | 83 | 8' Principal | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 3 | 30 | 8' Vox Humana | 90 | 8' Gamba | 1 | 16' p-Violon |
| 3+ | 31 | 8' Vox Humana 8' Flute | 91 | 8' Gamba Harp | 1 | 16' p-Violon |
| 3A | 32 | 8' Clarinet | 92 | 8' Gamba | 1 | 16' p-Violon |
| 3A+ | 33 | 8' Clarion | 93 | 8' Gamba 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 4 | 40 | 8' Flute | 100 | 8' Gamba | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 4+ | 41 | 8' Flute 16' Tuba | 101 | 8' Gamba | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 4A | 42 | 8' Principal | 102 | 8'Gamba 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 4A+ | 43 | 8' Principal 8' Oboe | 103 | 8' Gamba 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 5 | 50 | 8' Oboe | 110 | 8' Gamba | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 5+ | 51 | Chimes | 111 | 8' Gamba | 3 | Silence |
| 5A | 52 | 8' Saxophone | 112 | 8' Flute | 0 | 16' p-Subbass |
| 5A+ | 53 | 8' Gamba 16' Violon | 113 | Silence | 3 | Silence |
| 6 | 60 | Plein-Jeu IV | 120 | Plein-Jeu IV | 2 | 16' p-Subbass 16' p-Violon |
| 6+ | 61 | Plein-Jeu V | 121 | Plein-Jeu V | 2 | 16' p-Subbass 16' p-Violon |
| 6A | 62 | Plein-Jeu VI | 122 | Plein-Jeu VI | 2 | 16' p-Subbass 16' p-Violon |
| 6A+ | 63 | 8' Flute 4' Flute | 123 | Silence | 3 | Silence |
4.0 Sound Font for Stage 2 New Music
Stage 2 New Music (Rolls 1100 and above) should require some additional Selected Combinations but as there is no known information as to what these combinations should be I have chosen to use the Stage 1 Soundfont as above to play them. Eplayestey also does not implement the extra pedal notes used by Stage 2 New Music, again no known information is available. However the soundfonts do contain these notes for future use.5.0 Future Development
The Estey Soundfonts I have produced are based upon sound samples from Stefans Cathedral Pipe Organ font plus a few from elsewhere. There are other public domain organ soundfonts available but Stefans is the best I have found for use as a starting point. I do not think the Gamba is the right choice for 8' Strings as the Viol would be better. However the Viol currently avaiable does not play high notes well. I have been through all of the instruments and checked the tuning of all notes. They are not perfect but are all adequately in tune.Eplayestey and the sound fonts above are now perfectly adequate for auditioning the Estey music rolls so I doubt if I will spend much more time on this approach. I have given enough information above for others to make their own sound fonts for use with eplayestey if they want to.
6.0 An alternative approach, using Hauptwerk Organs
A more professional approach to playing Estey Music Rolls is to make use of the professional high quality organ samples available in the Hauptwerk organs. Doing this is relatively easy as the organs have provision to accept and play a real time midi stream supplied via one or more midi ports. Eplayestey already does nearly all of the work necessary to produce a real time midi stream which would include operating the organ's stops and/or pistons.A further advantage of this approach is that the Hauptwerk organs have the ability to provide output signals which can operate real organ pipes. This would make eplayestey/Hauptwerk a good choice for renovating the many decrepit pipe organs currently lying around in an unplayable state.
I have now completed eplayWin32 which can play Estey e-rolls on a Hauptwerk organ. You can download it from Wurlitzer and Estey e-roll Players.
6.1 Stop settings for Hauptwerk St. Annes Moseley organ
These are the stop settings used by eplayesteyh which plays Estey e-rolls on a Hauptwerk organ. All stops are set using NRPN's.
| Selected Combination | NRPN | Swell | NRPN | Great | NRPN | Pedal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2207 | Viola di Gamba 8 | 2106 | Lieblich Gedakt 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 1+ | 2206 | Geig Principal 8 | 2107 | Flute 4 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 1A | 2207 | Viola di Gamba 8 | 2101 | Op Diapason Lg 8 | Silence | Silence |
| 1A+ | Silence | Silence | 2106 | Lieblich Gedakt 8 | Silence | Silence |
| 2 | 2202 | Rohr Flute 8 | 2102 | Op Diapason Sm 8 | 2001 | Open Diapason 16 |
| 2+ | 2202 2204 | Rohr Flute 8 Piccolo 2 | 2102 2107 | Op Diapason Sm 8 Flute 4 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 2A | 2203 | Flauto Magico 4 | 2102 | Op Diapason Sm 8 | 2001 | Open Diapason 16 |
| 2A+ | 2205 2210 | Mixture III Contra Fagotto 16 | 2101 | Op Diapason Lg 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 3 | 2208 | Voix Celestes 8 | 2102 | Op Diapason Sm 8 | 2001 | Open Diapason 16 |
| 3+ | 2202 2208 | Rohr Flute 8 Voix Celestes 8 | 2102 2109 | Op Diapason Sm 8 Trumpet 8 | 2001 | Open Diapason 16 |
| 3A | 2212 | Clarinet 8 | 2102 | Op Diapason Sm 8 | 2001 | Open Diapason 16 |
| 3A+ | 2211 | Trumpet 8 | 2107 2108 | Flute 4 Dulciana 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 4 | 2202 | Rohr Flute 8 | 2102 | Op Diapason Sm 8 | 2001 | Open Diapason 16 |
| 4+ | 2202 2211 | Rohr Flute 8 Trumpet 8 | 2101 | Op Diapason Lg 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 4A | 2206 | Geig Principal 8 | 2107 2108 | Flute 4 Dulciana 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 4A+ | 2206 2213 | Geig Principal 8 Oboe 8 | 2107 2108 | Flute 4 Dulciana 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 5 | 2213 | Oboe 8 | 2102 | Op Diapason Sm 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 5+ | 2203 | Flauto Magico 4 | 2108 | Dulciana 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 5A | 2211 | Trumpet 8 | 2107 | Dulciana 8 | 2004 | Subbass 16 |
| 5A+ | 2201 2207 | Lieb Bourdon 16 Viola di Gamba 8 | Silence | Silence | Silence | Silence |
| 6 | 2204 2206 2209 | Piccolo 2 Geig Principal 8 Salicet 4 |
2102 2103 | Op Diapason Sm 8 Principal 4 |
2001 2004 | Open Diapason 16 Subbass 16 |
| 6+ | 2201 2202 2203 2204 2205 2206 2209 | Lieb Bourdon 16 Rohr Flute 8 Flauto Magico 4 Piccolo 2 Mixture III Geig Principal 8 Salicet 4 |
2101 2102 2103 2104 2105 | Op Diapason Lg 8 Op Diapason Sm 8 Principal 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture IV |
2001 2004 | Open Diapason 16 Subbass 16 |
| 6A | 2201 2204 2205 2206 2209 2210 2213 | Lieb Bourdon 16 Piccolo 2 Mixture III Geig Principal 8 Salicet 4 Contra Fagotto 16 Oboe 8 |
2101 2102 2103 2104 2105 2109 | Op Diapason Lg 8 Op Diapason Sm 8 Principal 4 Fifteenth 2 Mixture IV Trumpet 8 |
2001 2004 | Open Diapason 16 Subbass 16 |
| 6A+ | 2202 2203 | Rohr Flute 8 Flauto Magico 4 | 2109 (Not Silence) | Trumpet 8 (Not Silence) | Silence | Silence |