HX3 Board Installation

"Hammond on a Xilinx FPGA," HX3 single-board sound engine for connecting any keyboard, for installation into existing organs or MIDI control

Compact emulator module for OEM installation. Authentic reproduction of generator, tapering, key contacts, percussion and vibrato by FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

Features:

• Extremely low latency of 50 microseconds Key-to-Audio (not >20 ms as with other MIDI expanders and software emulation)
• Natural key click by "rattling" contacts
• Accurate Leslie simulation with separate outputs
• Drawbar connection by 9 to 24 analog control voltages
• Connection for switches (active low) or digital switch control voltages (Percussion ON, Soft / Normal, 2nd/3rd, vibrato, vibrato ON upper/lower, chorus / vibrato)
• MIDI-in/out (accepts different MIDI CC sets)
• Connection of any type of keyboards (key contact to ground or matrix) with separate adapter board possible

Jack Connections

The HX3 expander module has two "stereo" type 1/4" audio output jacks, one DC input jack and two accessory jacks.

• MAIN/BASS: Separate output for main organ manuals (plug tip) and pedal (plug ring) on jack if 3-pin jumper JP6 set to 2-CHANNEL. Use Y-cable or stereo cable to obtain all channels. Outut is mono (mix of manuals and bass) if JP6 set to MONO (only plug tip connected). Output level is approx. 150 mV at full swell.
• LESL/AMP: Leslie simulation (mono, plug tip) and leslie amp simulation (122 amp without speakers, but with overdrive capabilities, plug ring). Output level is 300 mV (full "Leslie Volume"). The separate AMP output (plug ring) may be used with transistor leslies to obtain the nice tube overdrive effect provided by HX3. On higher "Leslie Volume" levels, you will notice the tube overdrive/distortion of simulated 6550 output stage.
• SWELL: Expression pedal input is compatible with Yamaha FC-7 and similar expression pedals (direct connection preferred for speed/accuracy, but may also be remoted by MIDI CC 11).
• FOOTSW: Single or double Footswich controls simulated Leslie speed: SLOW/FAST on plug tip, RUN/STOP on plug ring. Please use latching foot switches; momentary (button type) switches are not supported. Detailed informantion on HX3 usage can be found on Bedienungshinweise page (sorry, german language - use Google translation service). If single footswitch used, Leslie is always on RUN (no plug ring, input grouded by plug sleeve).
• DC IN: Use stabilized DC wall wart 9 to 12V with at least 800mA current output, inner/outer plug diameter 2.1/5.5 mm on DC input jack. Regard jumper setting of JP12 (see below - must be removed for 9 to 12V voltages). Alternatively, use stabilized DC wall wart 5V/1A with jumper JP12 installed or use internal 5V power connector PL2.

Installation

HX3 should be installed by a qualified technician only. You should be familiar with ribbon cable mounting, crimp contact installation and soldering of delicate parts. Important: HX3 contains static sensitive components. Be shure to use anti-static tools and grounded soldering toolset.

Please refer to board placement diagrams in our Github repository, directories PLATINEN (PCBs) and DOCS_PDF. You should have received your board with proper firmware installed and configurated for your key scanning board or MIDI input only. If you ordered a kit from segor, follow soldering instructions on page Inbetriebnahme der Bausatz-Platine (sorry, german only).

First Test: Connect PL2 power connector to +5V stabilized DC supply, capable of at least 300mA. Be shure not to swap polarity; follow silk print on circuit board! You may alternatively use a wall wart type 5V supply with jumper JP12 (near DC jack) installed or 9 to 12V with jumper JP12 removed. Voltage regulator must be mounted to small heat sink for the latter case. PL2 must not be used with external power applied to DC jack. Overvoltage or interchanged polarity will destroy HX3 circuitry.

After connecting power, LED1 (red) should light up for a few seconds, subsequentially followed by LED2 (yellow) flickering. If LED1 (red) blinks fast for a while, FPGA image data in flash memory has been tampered or is corrupted. Please return HOAX to manufacturer for repair. Flickering or "breathing" LED2 (on HOAX2) shows that HOAX engine is working. Switch off before connecting anything else.

Only connect/disconnect cables or optional boards when power is off!

Please see Using HX3 with MIDI controllers for further details on MIDI implementation.

Connecting Drawbars

Drawbar and pot connection to PL9 and PL13 (click picture to enlarge)

At least connect 9 drawbars or slider pots and volume control pot to PL9 Analog upper. R value should be in the 10kOhm to 47kOhm range, taper B (audio). All inputs are DC controlled. Input voltage range is from 0V (off or minimal volume) to +3.3V (max. volume). Connect MAIN/BASS audio output to amplifier. Level is in the 300 mV range.

Loud noise may be heard on MAIN/BASS output if you ordered HOAX with Fatar scan board firmware driver, as no scan board is connected yet. Otherwise, connect a MIDI keyboard to MIDI in (PL18/PL20). HX3 accepts MIDI channel 1 for upper, channel 2 for lower (both 61 notes C-C) and channel 3 for bass (25 notes C-C). Plain organ sound should be heard when playing on channel 1. Check function of all drawbars. HX3 will accept MIDI controller messages conforming to MIDI CC setting (5 to choose from). Important: You may omit those switches/connections/drawbars/pots you don’t plan to use.

Vibrato rotary switch connection to PL5. First contact lug is not used!

Connection of buttons with LED indicators to PL7 and PL11

Alternative connection of tab swiches to PL8 and PL12, same function as buttons above

Connection of LED indicators to PL7/PL11, if tab switches used on PL8/PL12. Will also reflect preset setting of each function.

PL9 Analog Controller A (Upper Manual)
Pin - function
1: Drawbar 16
2: Drawbar 5 1/3
3: Drawbar 8
4: Drawbar 4
5: Drawbar 2 2/3
6: Drawbar 2
7: Drawbar 1 5/9
8: Drawbar 1 1/3
9: Drawbar 1
10: Tone Pot (by special order only)
11: Leslie Volume Pot (HOAX3 only)
12: Swell Pedal (no connect if jack used on HOAX3; may also be disabled by special order)
13, 14: Drawbar/Pot Gnd
15, 16: Drawbar/Pot End 3.3V+ (Reference)

PL13 Analog Controller B (Lower Manual)
Pin - function
1: Drawbar 16
2: Drawbar 5 1/3
3: Drawbar 8
4: Drawbar 4
5: Drawbar 2 2/3
6: Drawbar 2
7: Drawbar 1 5/9
8: Drawbar 1 1/3
9: Drawbar 1
10: Drawbar Bass 16
11: Drawbar Bass 8
12: Drawbar/Pot Bass Sustain
13, 14: Drawbar/Pot Gnd
15, 16: Drawbar/Pot End 3.3V+ (Reference)

DC swell/volume control is active also on pin 12 of PL9. Even with MIDI control, a swell pedal should be connected to SWELL jack. This overrides MIDI volume control. You may connect a swell pedal like Yamaha FC-7 or a simple volume pot to the SWELL jack.

HX3 may be ordered with tone/treble control input active. Tone pot center is connected to pin 10 of PL9. If digital Leslie emulation is licenced on HX3, pin 11 becomes the Leslie amp volume/drive control (mandatory). Both pots begin with Gnd and end with Ref 3.3V+.

Connecting Switches or Buttons

Vibrato/chorus V1 to C3 is selected by a rotary switch:

Pins PL5 Vibrato rotary switch
Pin Number - Function (active low – switch to Gnd)
nc: Vib1 (no connection)
1: Cho1
2: Vib2
3: Cho2
4: Vib3
5: Cho3
6: not used
7: not used
8: MEM LED- (optional)
9: MEM LED+ (optional)
10: Common Gnd

Pins PL7 buttons (momentary contact, optional LED) or PL8 tab switches
Pin Number - Function (active low – switch to Gnd)
1: Perc ON, like B3
2: Perc SOFT
3: Perc FAST
4: Perc THIRD
5: Vib ON upper
6: Vib ON lower
7: Leslie ON (connected LED blinks with Leslie speed)
8: Leslie FAST
9: (+5V, used only for button LEDs supply, e.g. on Panel16)
10: Common Gnd

Up to 16 buttons or tab switches may be connected to PL7, PL11 or PL11/PL12. You may either use a buttin or a tab switch for each function, also mixed, but not both on same function.

Pins PL11 buttons (momentary contact, optional LED) or PL12 tab switches
Pin Number - function (active low – switch to Gnd)
1: Common Preset 1 (only button with LED indicator on PL11 - do not use pin 1 of PL12!)
2: Common Preset 2 (only button with LED indicator on PL11 - do not use pin 1 of PL12!)
3: Common Preset 3 (only button with LED indicator on PL11 - do not use pin 1 of PL12!)
4: Common Preset 4 (only button with LED indicator on PL11 - do not use pin 1 of PL12!)
5: EFX 1 / Reverb 1
6: EFX 2 / Reverb 2
7: Bass on Leslie (routes pedal bass also to Leslie simulation if ON)
8: Split ON
9: (+5V, used only for button LEDs supply, e.g. on Panel16)
10: Common Gnd

Every function may be activated by a button on PL7/PL11 or a switch on PL8/PL12. Pin functions are equivalent, but PL7/PL11 toggle status on every push and drive indicator LEDs (see schematic). You may omit those switches you don’t plan to use or connect corresponding pins of PL8 and PL12 permanently to Gnd if function should be ON as default.

A button panel named Panel16 with 16 LED buttons is available if you want to have a hassle-free compact solution. It connects directly to PL7 and PL11. It also contains the 4 common preset buttons.

Connecting Preset Switches

HX3 may be extended to 2x8, 2x12 or 2x16 presets with optional boards Preset12 (obsolete), Preset16 (one or two) or Preset24. All connect to HX3 PL4 via 10-wire flat ribbon cable. See description of each product for details.

Optional Boards

Connecting MenuPanel

HX3 MenuPanel, fitted with optional LEDs

Connect optional HX3 MenuPanel to HX3 PL4 using a 10-wire flat ribbon cable. HX3 firmware from version 3.41 and up will recognize the MenuPanel and act accordingly. HX3 MenuPanel may be used in parallel/simultaneously with Preset12 (obsolete), Preset16 and Preset24 boards connected to HX3 PL4. Extend a flat ribbon with additional connector to your cable on HX3 PL4 or use unoccupied 10-pin header on (last) Preset16 board which also carries the PL4 signal.

Connecting OrganScan61 board set

Connection diagram of OrganScan61 (click picture to enlarge)

OrganScan61 board

A set of up to 3 "daisy-chained" OrganScan61 boards are connected to PL14 if HOAX was ordered with OrganScan61 firmware driver. Refer to picture. Be shure not to twist connectors (red marked ribbon lead must match with pin 1 of all ribbon cable connectors, indicated by a triangle marking). Total cable length should not exceed 1,5m. First board in row is upper manual, second is lower manual and third (rightmost in picture) is bass pedal (not completely populated since only 25 keys are present). Bass25 board may be used as an alternative to last OrganScan61 board; it has the same functionality (but different key connectors).

Inputs are active low (switch to ground), so connecting them to Gnd pins 13 to 16 of PL33 (PL31 on bass) on OrganScan61 board should yield the appropriate note. See OrganScan61 schematic for connector pinout.

If unconfigured, OrganScan61 boards are activated by serial command:

wen=1
519=0

Refer to serial interface command description (syntax table), Excel sheet in our Github repository, directory DOCS_PDF.

Connecting FatarScan2 board

FatarScan2 connection diagram

Fatar keybed with MicroMatch connectors

A single FatarScan2 board is connected to HX3 PL14 if Fatar firmware is installed on HOAX board. One or two Fatar 61 key manuals (type TP/8O or similar) may be connected to one FatarScan2 board using a special cable set (MicroMatch connectors to keyboard scanning strips).

Bass pedals may be connected to an additional OrganScan61, OrganScan16 or Bass25 board wired to HX3 PL15 (!).

FatarScan2 board is are activated by serial command:

wen=1
519=2

Refer to serial interface command description (syntax table), Excel sheet in our Github repository, directory DOCS_PDF.

Connecting Serial USB cable

HOAX may be configured by parameters by use of a serial interface on PL26. Connect FTDI TTL-232 5V cable header to PL26 so black cable sits on GND pin and red cable sits on +5V pin. Plug in PL26 cable first, then connect to USB.

Use terminal software like TeraTerm (free) to communicate with HOAX board. Parameters are 57600/8n1, send CR, receive CR+LF. As +5V is supplied by USB, external power supply may be disconnected. Do not use unpowered USB hubs as HOAX needs 250mA to run.

HOAX will restart on command

9999

and output some status messages. Restart every time you change scan routine setting like above. For example, MIDI only mode is invoked by serial command:

wen=1
519=1

Please see Using HX3 with MIDI controllers for further details on MIDI.