The Palm series of PDAs was very popular in its heyday, and lots of specialised software became available to run all sorts of functions on the devices.   One of these enabled MIDI files to be stored, and played back through the serial interface connector.   This interface is part of the cradle system that is used to charge the Vx, and to enable it to connect to a PC for up/down-loading the normal PDA data to an office computer.   The software that I use is called ‘ittyMIDI Player’, and was previously available from Micro Tools, but they have now closed their ittyMIDI website.   Please contact me for the latest information about obtaining a copy (e-mail address on my Home page). 

It is possible to connect to a USB port on the PC in place of the serial port, using a USB to serial cable adaptor - available on the Internet.   However, as the files are so small, I eventually went back to using the serial port even though it is slower than USB.

The ittyMIDI software is actually in two parts.   One is the ‘Loader’ which is installed on the PC where you manage/compose/edit your MIDI files, and the other is the ‘Player’.    The Loader program enables MIDI files to be selected and put into groups – or Books - for sending to the Vx when it is sitting in its cradle, and the button on the cradle is pressed to perform the ‘sync’ function.   Sending the data is automatically managed by HotSync Manager which controls how the PC communicates with the Vx cradle.   Hotsync Manager is part of ‘Palm Desktop 4.1.4’, a free download from Palm, if you don’t get the software CD with your Vx.   After installing Palm Desktop 4.1.4 on your PC, it can be ignored - only the Hotsync Manager is needed.

Loader Screen

Prior to sending the MIDI files to the Vx, the Player program is also sent from the PC to the Vx sitting in its cradle. This is done automatically by the ittyMIDI software the first time a ‘sync’ is initiated after the software is loaded onto the PC.   The Player program remains permanently on the Vx, and is quite comprehensive, enabling the touch–screen on the Vx to be used to select MIDI tunes by name from the Books of stored files that have been sent from the PC.   It can make changes to Pitch, Tempo, etc., and can be set to play a tune repeatedly, play a sequence of tunes, or even a selection of ‘measures’ within a tune.   You can also generate Playlists from the tunes stored in one or more Books, so that particular programs of music can be stored, and played as desired.  (Books cannot be edited on the Vx, but Playlists can)

Some of the Player Screens

To enable the Vx to communicate with the MIDI Interface Board in Topsy, a Serial/MIDI interface is required.   This is a very simple circuit, with just a few components and a serial connector on one side and a DIN connector on the other.   It can be made from the diagram at Elby Designs.    A pcb to make up the circuit may be had from Ian Jeffreries: e-mail to: greatwestern99 - at - aol.com (replace ' - at - ' with '@').   There are also Serial/MIDI converter cables available if you search the Internet.

What is needed

A Palm Vx, the ittyMIDI software, the Palm Desktop/Hotsync Manager software, the Serial/MIDI interface, and the Vx mounting cradle.   I actually have one Vx cradle permanently connected to the serial port on my PC, and another permanently mounted in Topsy.   I could have purchased the second cradle as a separate item, but the Vx’s are so cheap, I purchased TWO complete packages.  I got not only two cradles, but also a spare Vx in case one failed - or its battery ran out during a performance.  

I removed the base and its metal stabilising weight from one of the cradles, before mounting it inside Topsy, in a position where it is accessible through a window in the back of the organ.  The serial connector lead from the cradle is connected to the serial/MIDI interface - with its DIN connector connected in turn to the input of the MIDI Interface Board.    

After tunes have been loaded onto the Vx from the PC, the Vx is transferred to the cradle mounted in Topsy.  I try to remember to put it position before I switch on the 12V power in Topsy – but I don’t always remember (nothing nasty has happened as yet!)  Tunes can be picked using the Vx’s stylus.   I actually made the organ back from clear plastic sheet, as sold in B&Q, so people can see some of the inside working parts.    The window on the accompaniment windchest is also transparent for the same reason, so the pallets inside can be seen operating.   Using the Palm Vx is very easy, and tunes can be selected quickly and played without fuss.    I have not used other systems, but they would have to be very good for me to swap from the simplicity of use of the Vx.    With around 200 tunes stored, I have used 3.1M of an available 7.7M on the Palm, so I think I would have room for around 500 tunes in all.

Finding Tunes

I created a table in Word, which for each tune contained the full title, the Book in which it was stored, its number in the Book list, and the abbreviated tune title.   After sorting by the first column, I printed the table to give myself an alphabetical list the tunes, which would enable me to find a particular title quickly, and locate it on the Palm.  But this meant that I had to remember to keep the printed list handy.  I then had the startling revelation that I had a means of storing the list electronically, by using the Palm - Doh!   Obviously it would be rather time-consuming to try to enter all the tunes using Graffiti, but I still had the Palm Desktop Manager available on my PC to ease the entry of data.

It appeared that the 'Memo Pad'  would be the most suitable function, so I created some new 'Categories' - giving them the names of the Books in which the tunes were stored.  I played around with the layout of my Word table, and converted it into comma-separated text before saving it as a .txt file which could be imported into the Palm Desktop Manager 'Memo Pad' (I struggled with this a bit, so it would probably have taken less time if I had just typed the details straight in).   I ended up with Memo Pad entries where the title was the full tune name, the category was the Book name, and the memo text was the tune's number in the Book plus the actual tune file name.  A HotSync transferred this data to my Palm.

If I need to find a particular tune, even if I am running 'Player' on the Palm, I use the 'Search' function (magnifying glass icon on the touch screen) to look for a keyword in the tune title, and then tap on the appropriate entry that appears under Memo Pad.   I then see the Book details, so can return to 'Player' to select the tune - simple and extremely efficient!   I felt very pleased with myself - so immediately added the 'Finding Tunes' section to this page, so that others might share my system.    I have around 200 tunes, but the Memo Pad entries only take up 16K of memory on the Palm.   I understand that a facility like this is NOT available on SD Card Players - another good reason for using the Palm!

Addenda

Palm Vx Digitizer problem

On one of my Vx’s, I did have occasional problems with the touch screen digitizer going out of alignment.  To correct the problem requires the ‘Digitizer’ function to be called from the drop-down menu in ‘Prefs’.   However, if the digitizer setting is ‘off’ by a large amount, it is sometimes impossible to get to the ‘Digitizer’ function!    Catch 22!    Using the Reset function can solve the problem, but the Player software then has to be reloaded afterwards.

My solution to this problem is to program one of the physical buttons on the Vx to call the ‘Welcome’ function - which prompts the setting up of the digitizer.   Obviously this was set up when the digitizer was working correctly, by selecting ‘Buttons’ from the drop-down menu in ‘Prefs’.   The top right-hand button on the screen then shown is usually set to access ‘Notes’, but I changed this by scrolling the selection box down to ‘Welcome’.   Thus if I ever have digitizer problems, I click the physical right-hand button at the bottom of the Vx, and the digitizer set-up function runs as part of ‘Welcome’, and sanity is restored!

Vx  Battery

Since there is a possibility of the Vx battery running out, I added another item later to prevent this happening during a performance.   The Vx is normally charged when it is sitting in its cradle, from a mains adaptor that plugs into the serial connector connecting the cradle to the PC.  (It looks like a permanent connection on the serial connector, but is actually a small plastic connector plug).   However, there is normally no mains supply available when performing - but there is a 12V supply!   Therefore, I obtained a charger for L-ion batteries in digital cameras - a particular version which can be supplied from 12 / 24V as well as 230V ac mains, and which is for the same voltage battery as that fitted in the Vx.
 

This is the INOV8 LPE5 Charger, available from  Picstop and having a nominal output of 4.2V - which is suitable for the 3.7V battery in the Vx.    I chopped the Vx mains adaptor off the cable joined to the little plastic plug on the Serial connector, and reconnected the cable to the innards of the battery charger. (Red wire to OUTPUT +).   Opening the charger case requires some force to break internal glue joints - even after the case screw is removed!     I left off the 13A mains connector plug insert, and fitted the battery charger permanently inside Topsy.   (Some of these chargers don’t have inserts, they have a permanently-connected 13A plug on a mains lead – this lead should be disconnected inside the unit, and removed). 

The small 12V input socket on the charger accepts a 3.25mm od/1.3mm id connector plug, one of which was on the car lighter socket cable supplied with the charger.  I removed the big lighter connector, and connected the cable to Topsy’s 12V supply.   The LED that normally indicates charging does NOT illuminate under these conditions, but the Vx battery is being charged.   The current drain for charging the Vx is minimal, and will not affect Topsy’s 12V battery life.  This charger is perhaps a luxury, and probably not really required - so long as a Vx is fully charged before use in Topsy, but it is a comfort to know that the Vx will not die unexpectedly!

Replacing a Vx battery

It is true that some of the rechargeable L-ion batteries in Vx’s do not last for ever, but replacements are available on the Internet – search for ‘Palm Vx battery’.   Fitting them, however, seems to be impossible as there appears to be no way to open the case.   Actually, it can be done, using the instructions detailed at Directfix . (You will only need the instructions in steps 1 - 4, 13 and 14 for just replacing the battery)

At first sight, it all appears quite daunting, but only the back has to be removed to be able to swap the battery - removing the screen is not necessary.   However, it was with some trepidation that I approached the task myself.   However, by following the – very clear – instructions, I managed to complete the battery change without any major problems, apart from with my blood pressure.   Knowing I had the other Vx as a spare was my only comfort during the process, but afterwards I realised that I should not have been so worried.