In-depth guides: technique, configuration, and advanced GrandOrgue features.
What Is an ODF in GrandOrgue? ODF stands for Organ Definition File — the XML blueprint that tells GrandOrgue how to turn a folder of recorded pipe samples into a playable virtual organ. When you open a sample set in GrandOrgue (File > Open), you are not opening audio files directly — you are opening…
How to Voice Stops in GrandOrgue (Per-Pipe Volume & Tuning) One stop too loud, one pipe slightly sharp? GrandOrgue’s Organ Settings dialog lets you voice any stop — or any individual pipe — by adjusting its volume (Amplitude/Gain) and pitch (in cents). Here is where to find it and how to use it safely. In…
How to Split One Keyboard into Two Manuals in GrandOrgue Own a single 61-key MIDI controller but want to play a two-manual organ? GrandOrgue lets you divide one physical keyboard into two (or more) virtual manuals using per-manual key-range limits — no extra hardware required. How the Split Works Every manual in GrandOrgue has its…
How to Record Your Playing in GrandOrgue (Built-in Recorder) You do not need extra software to record yourself playing GrandOrgue. The program ships with a built-in Recorder / Player panel that captures your performance two ways: as an audio file (.wav) that sounds exactly like what you heard, and as MIDI data you can play…
How to Use Hauptwerk Sample Sets in GrandOrgue Every week, someone searching for free Hauptwerk sample sets discovers GrandOrgue and asks the obvious question: can I play those Hauptwerk sets in GrandOrgue? The official answer comes straight from the GrandOrgue project’s own FAQ on GitHub: GrandOrgue cannot load a Hauptwerk sample set directly — but…
How Does GrandOrgue Simulate the Swell Box? (Honest Answer) This is a fair technical question, and it deserves a straight answer rather than marketing. GrandOrgue simulates the swell box — the enclosure — mainly by scaling the amplitude (loudness) of the enclosed pipes as you move the swell control. It does not physically model what…
How to Use the Crescendo in GrandOrgue The crescendo is one of the most musical controls on a pipe organ — and one of the most misunderstood in GrandOrgue. It is not a volume pedal. It is an automatic registration assistant: as you push it forward, it adds stops in a pre-defined sequence, taking you…
Organ Registration for GrandOrgue: Practical Stop Recipes Registration — choosing which stops to draw — is where organ playing becomes an art. This guide gives you the stop families, three recipes that always work, and the mistakes beginners make, all demonstrated on a free sample set you can load today. The Four Stop Families in…
Historical Temperaments in GrandOrgue (Meantone, Werckmeister & More) GrandOrgue can retune your virtual organ to the tuning systems of the past — no pipework required. Here is what temperaments are, where to find them, and which one suits the music you play. What Is a Temperament? A temperament is a tuning system: the exact recipe…
Dry vs Wet Sample Sets: Which Should You Choose? One of the first decisions every GrandOrgue user faces is whether to load a dry or a wet sample set. The terms describe how much of the recording room you hear in the samples — and the right choice depends less on taste than on where…
