Help with midi connection on Iorio H series

[DebraRodgers]

My husband has an Iorio Accorgan H series. It is a non midi accordian. He had purchased this accordion to replace one he had bought new but was lost in a house fire last year. He also had a Keytron XD3 that was added to his system. We were able to get another accordion like his original and another XD3 but the unit that goes in the generator we don’t have or know what it was. I do know that without it it won’t communicate with the accordion’s system. Do you have any idea what he needs to get to connect it? Any help would be appreciated. The man who did the original install passed away so I have no where to turn.
Thanks in advance,
Debra Rodgers

 

[Ben-jammin]

First of all I hope you find a solution to make your husband happy. There might be something floating around if you keep on reverb and let some shops know what you’re looking for.

To be honest though a midi through a sound generator puts a lot of obsolete finicky and ultimately unnecessary electrical components (including the old problematic spring contacts) between his fingers and a midi system. If it were me I would sell the Iorio and get an equally (or better) acoustic accordion and have a modern Hall effect midi system fitted. It will be lighter and more reliable and serviceable for the foreseeable future.

 

[Ben-jammin]

I just realized the H series is the same as the Elka 83 and there were a lot of these that were setup to have midi output. They turn up occasionally. On reverb.com eBay and at Liberty bellows. Search for Iorio H series and elka 83 to maximize chance of finding one.

 

[JerryPH]

The early Iorios/Elkavox accordions used a small MIDI board that was used inside the tone generators. That part is no longer available and hasn't been made in many decades. Your ONLY hope would be to have installed a complete MIDI kit on the accordion itself as an extra. Sadly, not a very cheap alternative and as a heads up, will not add any extra value to the accordion.

I also googled this:

ElkaVox 83 MIDI conversion - MidiRig.com

ElkaVox 83 MIDI conversion

midirig.com

 

[Ben-jammin]

Elkavox ‘83 MIDI Accordion w/Elkavox Generator Must See L@@K@!! | Reverb

You are looking at a very nice Elkavox ‘83 MIDI Accordion with matching Elkavox Generator. This accordion is in very good playing/cosmetic condition. This model does not feature the tone chamber, but still sounds fantastic. The sound cannot be beat!! This accordion was owned by a musician from So...

reverb.com

I think occasionally the generators show up by themselves, but less frequently than whole packages. Of course at the age of these electronics they may finicky and possibly dead on arrival.

 

[DebraRodgers]

And quick search found this

ElkaVox 83 MIDI conversion - MidiRig.com

ElkaVox 83 MIDI conversion

midirig.com

Thank you! I’m trying everything, he loves his Iorio. He has played since he was about 8 and has played about every type and make of accordion. He bought his from a man in St Petersburg Fl and Iorio’s grandson was at our home to deliver it. Quite an experience! We lost our entire home last year and the first thing we did was look for a replacement for him. We found one that was barely ever played. Matter of fact he thought something was wrong with it as the touch on the base buttons was off. He took it apart and found shipping packaging inside! After that it was perfect. Still hoping somewhere I can find a solution to the midi issue.

 

[DebraRodgers]

The early Iorios/Elkavox accordions used a small MIDI board that was used inside the tone generators. That part is no longer available and hasn't been made in many decades. Your ONLY hope would be to have installed a complete MIDI kit on the accordion itself as an extra. Sadly, not a very cheap alternative and as a heads up, will not add any extra value to the accordion.

I also googled this:

ElkaVox 83 MIDI conversion - MidiRig.com

ElkaVox 83 MIDI conversion

midirig.com

Thank you!

 

[Ben-jammin]

earlier this year I had an opportunity to buy an elka 83/Iorio H that was supposed to have an adapter to bypass the sound generator when going to midi. I ended up missing out but I’m trying to get a hold of the previous owner to see what it was.

 

[Ben-jammin]

Looks like I spoke too soon. I was able to connect with the original owner and I was misinformed that there was unit to eliminate the sound generator for midi.

 

[DebraRodgers]

Looks like I spoke too soon. I was able to connect with the original owner and I was misinformed that there was unit to eliminate the sound generator for midi.

Thank you for continuing to help!

 

[JerryPH]

Looks like I spoke too soon. I was able to connect with the original owner and I was misinformed that there was unit to eliminate the sound generator for midi.

The MIDI board was installed in the tone generator, so it was always needed and had to be powered up for the MIDI to work.

 

[Ben-jammin]

The MIDI board was installed in the tone generator, so it was always needed and had to be powered up for the MIDI to work.

I understand that. The confusion came when the owner had another accordionist sell the accordion for him. I had contacted the accordionist selling it specifically asking about the tone generator and he described a third party or custom made power supply/midi breakout box that powered the unit through the original firing cable and was more compact than a whole sound generator. It appears he had been mistaken or confused with another instrument.

 

[fjsys]

There were actually two "retro fit" midi systems that did just what @Ben-jammin described.
One was a little silver box from Asimov Electronics (out of business) called UM83X
the other was a bigger box from Logic System (disappeared/assumed out of business) with a EK200 label. When looking for this one make sure it is for the proper accordion as it has a chip that is unique to the H or 83 but was used for others as well (petosa and others).

So essentially there were 3 ways to midi an H or 83 series. One issue is that the MIDI in the generator was a later addition and had to be special ordered, so not many of the original generators have them.

 

[JerryPH]

Not sure how much later, mine was bought weeks after the 83 came out according to Frank Romano when he was located here in Montreal at the time. It was a whole $40cad option for the MIDI output, but it was the most basic of MIDI, since that was all that was available at the time.

 

[Giovanni]

when I bought my Elkavox 83 I ordered it with the option of the midi socket fitted in1987 it performed perfectly it was brilliant .I used it with the technics Smac 1200 arranger module awesome sound for many years great times and lots of gigs .it never let me down very reliable..good luck in your search.....Happy Days

 

[Ben-jammin]

Logic System EK 2000 III MIDI Convertor | Reverb

EK-2000-III Midi interface converter for Petosa Accordion/Organ Series III; Elka 83, Iorio H models. Includes interface, main & power cable, volume pedal.Please call or message with any questions before ordering. petosa accordions is a 4 generation brick and mortar company ...

reverb.com

 

[John]

My husband has an Iorio Accorgan H series. It is a non midi accordian. He had purchased this accordion to replace one he had bought new but was lost in a house fire last year. He also had a Keytron XD3 that was added to his system. We were able to get another accordion like his original and another XD3 but the unit that goes in the generator we don’t have or know what it was. I do know that without it it won’t communicate with the accordion’s system. Do you have any idea what he needs to get to connect it? Any help would be appreciated. The man who did the original install passed away so I have no where to turn.
Thanks in advance,
Debra Rodgers

I might be able to help you. I own an Iorio accordion with all the bells and whistles. If you send me an email (jlj46@live.com) I can send you some pics. I am interested in selling it.

 

[DebraRodgers]

Thank you for reaching out. He bought another Iorio midi accordion and is trying to figure it out. We also bought another tone generator that has a midi board installed but the darn thing won’t power on. We are going to get it put in the other unit and pray!

 

[jdam01]

Thank you! I’m trying everything, he loves his Iorio. He has played since he was about 8 and has played about every type and make of accordion. He bought his from a man in St Petersburg Fl and Iorio’s grandson was at our home to deliver it. Quite an experience! We lost our entire home last year and the first thing we did was look for a replacement for him. We found one that was barely ever played. Matter of fact he thought something was wrong with it as the touch on the base buttons was off. He took it apart and found shipping packaging inside! After that it was perfect. Still hoping somewhere I can find a solution to the midi issue.

I have a tone generator with working midi module if you are interested?

 

[JerryPH]

Logic System EK 2000 III MIDI Convertor | Reverb

EK-2000-III Midi interface converter for Petosa Accordion/Organ Series III; Elka 83, Iorio H models. Includes interface, main & power cable, volume pedal.Please call or message with any questions before ordering. petosa accordions is a 4 generation brick and mortar company ...

reverb.com

I hope that's not you selling this... $560CDN for something that was a $30 option when new on an Elka seems like a lot.