Using GrandOrgue with a DAW

Let’s be clear up front: GrandOrgue is not a VST or AU plugin — it is a standalone program. But with a virtual MIDI cable you can still drive it from your DAW, record the performance, and mix it like any other track.

If you produce music in a DAW (Reaper, Cubase, Logic, Ableton, Ardmore …), you may want GrandOrgue’s pipe-organ sound inside a larger arrangement. Since there is no plugin version — and the developers have not announced one — the workflow is: DAW sends MIDI → GrandOrgue plays it → you record GrandOrgue’s audio → the WAV goes back into the DAW. It is two extra steps, but the sound is worth it.

Step 1: Install a virtual MIDI cable

• Windows: install loopMIDI (free) and create a virtual port, e.g. “GrandOrgue In”.
• macOS: no download needed — open Audio MIDI Setup, show the MIDI Studio window, and enable the IAC Driver, then create a bus (e.g. “IAC GrandOrgue”).
• Linux: JACK or ALSA virtual MIDI ports do the same job; most Linux DAWs can route to GrandOrgue directly through the JACK patchbay.

Step 2: Route MIDI from the DAW to GrandOrgue

1. In GrandOrgue, go to Settings > Audio/MIDI and enable the virtual MIDI port as an input. Assign it to the right manual (GrandOrgue lets you map MIDI channels to divisions).
2. In your DAW, set the organ track’s MIDI output to the same virtual port.
3. Press play in the DAW — GrandOrgue should now play the MIDI part live.

Mind the latency: keep GrandOrgue’s audio buffer small (128–256 samples) and, on Windows, use ASIO so the monitored sound stays tight. See audio interfaces for GrandOrgue for the full tuning guide.

Step 3: Record the audio and bring it back

Route GrandOrgue’s audio output into your DAW’s input (on macOS, an aggregate device or a tool like BlackHole works; on Windows, your interface’s loopback or a virtual audio cable). Record the organ part as audio, then import the resulting WAV onto a track in your project. From there it is a normal audio track: edit, EQ, add your DAW’s own reverb sends, mix.

Alternatively, record GrandOrgue’s output to a WAV file with any recorder and drag it into the DAW — simpler, and sample-accurate enough for most arrangements.

Tips for clean results

• Freeze the performance. Render the organ to audio early; live MIDI routing is great for tracking, but audio is what you mix.
• Watch polyphony. Huge registrations at high polyphony can glitch on modest machines — check system requirements if you hear dropouts.
• Use dry sets for mixing. If you plan to add your DAW’s reverb, start from a dry sample set so you control the space (see convolution reverb in GrandOrgue for the wet/dry distinction).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GrandOrgue a VST plugin?

No. GrandOrgue is a standalone application and does not ship VST, AU, or AAX versions. You integrate it with a DAW via virtual MIDI routing and audio recording, as described above.

How do I get MIDI from my DAW into GrandOrgue?

Use a virtual MIDI cable: loopMIDI on Windows, the built-in IAC Driver on macOS, or JACK/ALSA virtual ports on Linux. Set the DAW track’s MIDI output to the virtual port and enable that port as GrandOrgue’s MIDI input.

Can I record GrandOrgue directly into my DAW?

Yes — route GrandOrgue’s audio output into a DAW input (interface loopback, BlackHole on Mac, or a virtual audio cable on Windows) and record it as an audio track. Or record to WAV separately and import the file.

Will there be latency between the DAW and GrandOrgue?

Some, depending on buffer sizes. Keep GrandOrgue’s buffer at 128–256 samples with a proper low-latency driver (ASIO on Windows, CoreAudio on Mac, JACK on Linux) and monitor through the DAW to keep timing tight.