MAG C Series User manual

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MAG Organs C-Series User Manual
Dear MAG Organs client, thanks for having chosen one of our organs. We hope you will enjoy playing
it as much as we liked building it for you!
According to the options you specified in your order, your instrument might not include all of the
controls/features described below, and/or it might have some additional interfaces with multipin
connectors for specific Leslie™ speaker models.
If you have any questions or needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: [phone]
Skype: massimo.ghirardi1

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CONTENTS
1. GENERAL INFORMATION...................................................................................................................3
2. FRONT PANEL CONTROLS..................................................................................................................4
3. BACK PANEL CONNECTORS ...............................................................................................................8
4. PROGRAMMER UNIT (OPTIONAL) ...................................................................................................10
5. mini VENT........................................................................................................................................11
6. SOFTWARE UPDATING PROCEDURE................................................................................................13
7. APPENDIX 1: EXTRA SOUNDS CHART...............................................................................................14

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1. GENERAL INFORMATION
MAG Custom Organs use the HX3 sound engine, which offers an incredibly accurate reproduction of
the sound generated by the vintage tonewheel consoles. Besides the few typical controls of the
consoles, some knobs and buttons offer real-time control of the most frequently adjusted
parameters, and “hidden”parameters like key contact flexibility and damping for key click response,
amount of percussion, vibrato texture and many, many others can be fine-tuned through the
optional external Programmer Unit and/or through a computer connected to the USB port on the
back panel of the organ running the free Editor software. The Editor software is also used to upload
software/firmware releases.

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2. FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
The following controls are located on the front panel, from left to right.
•REV: This knob continuously adjusts the intensity of the organ reverb effect. This reverb is
completely independent of the one associated with the REV I and REV II buttons as described
below, and is available for the organ tones only. The length of the reverb can be adjusted with a
control knob located inside the organ.
•VENT PRESET A-B (small black unlabeled rocker above the VOLUME NORMAL/SOFT tab): This
toggles between the two presets (A & B) of the mini VENT. Each of the two presets can store
different values of five parameters (see the “mini VENT Programming” section).
•VOLUME NORMAL/SOFT: This tab reduces the volume of the organ, enabling a lower minimum
volume. On the Soft setting, the signal is properly equalized for a perfect simulation of the original
effect. The swell (expression) pedal does not completely reduce the organ volume to silence,
replicating the typical behavior of the vintage consoles, and the VOLUME NORMAL/SOFT tab
allows for the usual techniques by making use of the associated equalization, but if a more
modern “Volume to 0”behavior is preferred, it can be obtained by adjusting the corresponding
parameter to 0 through the external Programmer Unit or the free Editor software.
•VIBRATO SWELL: This tab adds the vibrato/chorus effect to the upper manual according to the
position of the VIBRATO AND CHORUS selector.
•VIBRATO GREAT: This tab adds the vibrato/chorus effect to the lower manual according to the
position of the VIBRATO AND CHORUS selector.
•VIBRATO AND CHORUS: This rotary selector selects the type of vibrato or chorus effect, which can
be applied to both manuals independently.

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•VENT: This button inserts or removes the mini VENT from the signal path. When the LED is lit, the
mini VENT is inserted in the signal path; when the LED is off, the unprocessed signal is assigned to
both L and R/Mono outputs via a true bypass circuit.
•REV I and REV II: These buttons select the three available reverb algorithms (I + II = III) for the
Extra Sounds only. The intensity of each algorithm can be set through the external Programmer
Unit or the free Editor software.
•PED DIR: This button removes the pedal tones from the ROTARY (BAL) R/MONO + L outputs (and
from the Leslie™ interfaces if installed). The pedal tones remain available on the SUSTAIN/PEDALS
dedicated output if it has been set for this function through an internal jumper. When the LED is
off, the pedal tones are routed to the ROTARY R + L outputs; when the LED is lit, the pedal tones
are removed from the ROTARY R + L outputs.
•KYBD SPLIT: This button activates the keyboard split function.
In the C-1 model, the keyboard split function divides the keyboard into two parts at notes 25 and
26, allowing the lower manual tones to be played from the left part of the keyboard; or it can be
set through the external Programmer Unit or the free Editor software to allow the pedal tones to
be played from the left part of the keyboard.
In the C-2 model, the keyboard split function divides the lower keyboard into two parts at notes
25 and 26, allowing the pedal tones to be played from the left part of the lower keyboard. A
different split point can be selected by pressing a key on the lower keyboard while pressing the
KYBD SPLIT button.
•VENT SPEED (2 LEDs unlabeled): This button is mainly used for programming the mini VENT (see
the relevant section); the two LEDs flash to indicate the speed of the virtual rotors, with the
amber LED indicating the speed of the low-frequency drum rotor, and the red LED indicating the
speed of the mid/high-frequency horn rotor.
The speed of the mini VENT is ideally controlled by a footswitch plugged into the ROTARY SPEED
socket on the back panel, and it is fully synchronized with the speed of the Leslie™ interfaces if
installed. As noted above, this button is installed primarily for programming the mini VENT
presets, but if a footswitch is not available, then it is possible to control the speed of the mini
VENT with this button, although the speed changes will not be received by the Leslie™ interfaces
if installed.
Pressing this button will toggle between Fast and Slow, and pressing it together with the VENT
button will stop the rotors, which will always stop in the front position; pressing one of these two
buttons again returns the mini VENT to the previously selected speed.
Controlling the speed of the mini VENT directly with these buttons will not do any harm to the
organ or the mini VENT, but it will temporarily break the synchronization between the speed of

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the mini VENT and the Leslie™ interfaces, which will be re-established as soon as a properly wired
footswitch plugged into the ROTARY SPEED socket on the back panel is operated again.
•PRES 1-4: Each of these buttons activates a memorized preset. Besides the four presets that can
be recalled by pressing a single button, up to 11 additional presets (for a total of 15 presets) can
be recalled by simultaneously pressing two, three, or all four preset buttons in any possible
combination. The factory setting initially has the presets associated with 15 Extra Sounds (see
Appendix 1), but each preset can be easily programmed to recall the current configuration of the
organ settings including drawbars, tabs, buttons (excluding the mini VENT controls) and knobs
(excluding ORG and REV) by pressing and holding the relevant button(s) for about 3 seconds, until
all the LEDs in the buttons briefly flash three times to confirm that the preset has been saved.
•DRAWBARS LEFT SET (x9): These control the tone of the upper manual.
•DRAWBARS CENTRAL SET (x2): These control the tone of the pedals.
•DRAWBARS RIGHT SET (x9): These control the tone of the lower manual.
•VOL: This knob adjusts the overall volume of the organ including the Extra Sounds section.
•TONE: This knob simulates the tone control on the AO-28 preamplifier in the vintage consoles,
with a wider range of adjustment: the position of the control at around 10:00 corresponds to the
tone control on the AO-28 rotated fully clockwise; the remaining range adds more brightness.
•DRIVE: This knob simulates the typical saturation response of an overdriven 122 amplifier.
•ORG: This knob adjusts the overall volume of the Organ section only, enabling it to be balanced
with the volume of the Extra Sounds section.

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•PERCUSSION ON/OFF: This tab activates the harmonic percussion tone. As in the vintage consoles,
when this tab is ON, the 1’drawbar of the upper manual is not active; this setting can be changed
through the external Programmer Unit or the free Editor software.
•PERCUSSION VOLUME NORMAL/SOFT: This tab sets the volume of the percussion tone. When this
tab is on NORMAL, the volume of non-percussion tones is reduced. The level of both the NORMAL
and SOFT percussion volumes, and the volume reduction of the non-percussion tones, can be
changed through the external Programmer Unit or the free Editor software.
•PERCUSSION DECAY SLOW/FAST: This tab toggles between two decay lengths of the percussion
tone. The length of both the SLOW and FAST percussion decays can be changed through the
external Programmer Unit or the free Editor software
•PERCUSSION HARMONIC SELECTOR SECOND/THIRD: This tab assigns the second or third harmonic
to the percussion tone.

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3. BACK PANEL CONNECTORS
All MAG organs share the same basic connector layout, but depending on the options installed, some
additional connectors may be installed besides the common ones. The following connectors are
located on the back panel, from left to right (viewed from the back). The connectors are in a single
row but are presented in two groups here for convenience.
•SWELL PEDAL: This socket is for connecting a swell (expression) pedal, which will control the
overall volume of the organ. The typically non-linear behavior (in terms of loudness and
equalization) of the swell control in the vintage consoles is replicated, and with the factory
settings, the volume will not be reduced completely to silence when the pedal is fully backed off.
The minimum volume at this position can be set through the external Programmer Unit or the
free Editor software. As in the vintage consoles, the volume can be further reduced using the
VOLUME NORMAL/SOFT tab, which introduces a certain kind of equalization enabling the bass
tones to be heard at low volume. As an alternative to our MAG expression pedals, other
commonly available pedals with the following specifications can be used: 1/4”TRS plug, 10K to
50K Ohms total resistance, with the wiper of the pot connected to the ring of the TRS plug. For
example, the Yamaha FC-7 is electrically compatible, although it has a more limited travel.
•ROTARY SPEED: This socket is for connecting a single or double footswitch (latching type) with a
¼” TRS (stereo) plug, like the MAG FS-1S, FS-1D or the halfmoon HM-1, which will control the
speed of the emulated rotary effect and the speed of a Leslie™ if a proper interface is installed. If
the connected Leslie™ does not support the Stop function, when the Rotary Speed control is set
on Stop, the Leslie™ rotors will keep rotating at the Slow speed.
STOP is obtained when there is no connection between Tip, Ring and Sleeve. (If no plug is in the
socket, the rotary effect is on Stop.)
RUN is obtained by shorting Ring to Sleeve. (If a ¼”TS (mono) plug is in the socket, the rotary
effect is always on Run).
FAST is obtained by shorting Tip AND Ring to Sleeve.
•SERIAL: This DB9 serial port socket is for connecting the optional Programmer Unit.
•MIDI IN P: This socket is for connecting a MIDI pedalboard. If a MAG pedalboard is used, the
needed voltage for the pedalboard is carried by the wires not used for MIDI signals in a 5-wire DIN
cable.
•MIDI IN K: This socket is for connecting a MIDI keyboard, which is particularly useful for single-
manual organs.
SPEED

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•EXTRA SOUNDS R + L: These sockets are stereo audio outputs from the Extra Sounds section.
•ORGAN DIR.: This socket is a mono audio output from the Organ section. This is the same signal
sent to the mini VENT and the Leslie™ interfaces.
•SUSTAIN/PEDALS: Depending on the position of an internal jumper, this connector can work as an
input for a sustain pedal for the extra sounds or as an output for the pedal tones unprocessed by
the mini VENT.
•USB: This socket is for connecting a PC using a printer style cable to run the free Editor software
and to perform software/firmware updates.
•MIDI OUT: This socket transmits all MIDI CC controller data according to the configuration
selected (default NI B4).
•HEADPHONES: This socket is a stereo audio output for any mid/high-impedance headphones.
•EFFECT LOOP SEND: This socket is for sending the audio signal to an outboard effect unit.
•EFFECT LOOP RETURN: This socket is for re-injecting the signal treated by an outboard effect unit
into the audio path of the organ.
•ROTARY (BAL) R/MONO + L: These 1/4” TRS sockets are balanced stereo audio outputs from the
mini VENT.

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4. PROGRAMMER UNIT (OPTIONAL)
The PU-1 Programmer Unit is an optional compact unit equipped with a display, a rotary encoder and
two buttons that provide a very practical way to adjust all of the parameters affecting the sound
generation and modifications (carried on inside the AO-28 preamplifier in the vintage consoles) and
some more parameters related to the setup of the organ. The PU-1 is connected to the organ
through the SERIAL socket on the back panel.
IMPORTANT WARNING: The connection and disconnection of the PU-1 Programmer Unit
ABSOLUTELY MUST be made with the organ switched OFF!!! Failing to observe this precaution can
severely harm the Programmer Unit itself and/or the sound engine board inside the organ, and any
consequent damage will not be covered by the warranty.
The operation of the Programmer Unit is fairly intuitive.
•The display will show the information relevant to the active parameter: mainly description and
value on the right part of the display.
•Pressing the two buttons will scroll through the different parameters.
•Rotating the encoder will modify the value of the parameter shown in the display.
The fact that a parameter has been modified is indicated by an asterisk (“ * “) appearing at the upper
right end of the display. Modifications are volatile; i.e., they will be lost when the organ is powered
off. In order to make them permanent (i.e., to save them so that they are recalled every time the
organ is powered on), the rotary encoder must be pressed for 2 seconds until the “Saved to Defaults”
message appears in the display.