MIDI Pedalboards for GrandOrgue

Hands on the manuals, feet on the pedals — that is when GrandOrgue starts feeling like a real organ. Here are the MIDI pedalboard options, from a portable foot controller to a full 17-note pedalboard.

The pedal division is what separates organ playing from keyboard playing, and GrandOrgue treats it like any other division: any MIDI pedalboard maps to the Pedal manual via MIDI Learn. You have two broad choices — a compact foot controller that fits in a gig bag, or a full-size pedalboard with real organ-style pedals.

Option 1: Keith McMillen 12 Step — The Portable Foot Controller

The 12 Step is not shaped like organ pedals at all: it is a slim, rugged bar with 13 velocity- and pressure-sensitive foot keys in a chromatic layout, built from carbon-fiber composite. Each key can trigger up to five notes at once, so a single toe-tap can play a full chord, and the keys sense pressure and tilt for expressive control.

  • Connection: USB to your computer. For 5-pin MIDI hardware, Keith McMillen sells a separate MIDI Expander.
  • Why organists like it: it weighs about half a kilogram, survives being stepped on night after night, and the backlit keys are visible on a dark stage or in a dim church loft.
  • The honest caveat: the keys are small pads, not long organ pedals — your feet learn a new technique rather than transferring existing pedal technique. Superb as a portable bass-pedal solution; not a substitute for practicing on real radiating pedals.

The 12 Step is sold through Keith McMillen Instruments and music retailers; prices vary by region and edition, so compare a few stores before buying. Official product page at keithmcmillen.com.

Availability note (Oct 2026): the current edition is sold as the 12 Step2 under the Muse Kinetics brand and was out of stock on the official site — check music retailers for availability.

Option 2: Studiologic MP-117 — The Real Pedalboard

The Studiologic MP-117 is the opposite approach: 17 full-size dynamic pedals in the traditional organ layout, with a top panel of function buttons for MIDI channel, program change, bank select and transpose. It speaks classic 5-pin MIDI, ships with its 9V power adapter, and feels like the pedalboard it is.

  • Connection: 5-pin MIDI OUT — connect it to your audio/MIDI interface’s MIDI input, or to any USB-MIDI interface, and GrandOrgue sees it as a MIDI device.
  • Why organists like it: real pedal technique transfers directly. Heel-and-toe playing, pedaling scales, proper footwork — all of it works exactly as on a pipe organ.
  • The honest caveat: it is a serious piece of furniture — heavy, not portable, and priced like the specialist instrument it is. This is a buy-once purchase for a permanent console.

The MP-117 is sold through Studiologic dealers and music retailers; check current pricing with a few stores. Official product page at studiologic-music.com.

Availability note: the MP-117 is an older model and stock varies — European buyers can check Thomann, others may find used units on Reverb.

How to Map Any Pedalboard in GrandOrgue

The process is identical for both options:

  1. Connect the pedalboard (USB directly, or 5-pin MIDI through an interface).
  2. In GrandOrgue’s audio/MIDI settings, enable it as a MIDI input device.
  3. Load an organ, right-click the Pedal division, choose MIDI Learn, and press a pedal.
  4. Play a pedal scale to confirm the full range maps correctly — check the lowest and highest pedals especially.

If your pedalboard and a keyboard both send on MIDI channel 1 (the MP-117 defaults to channel 1), GrandOrgue still tells them apart by device — but if you ever merge devices through one MIDI input, set the pedalboard to its own channel using its panel buttons.

Which One Should You Buy?

  • Choose the 12 Step if your rig travels, your space is tight, or you mainly need bass notes and chord stabs under your hands. It is the practical, modern answer.
  • Choose the MP-117 if you are building a permanent console and want your pedal technique to be real organ technique. Nothing else teaches your feet like full-size pedals.
  • Choose neither yet if you are still on your first manual — get comfortable with hands alone first, then add feet. The pedalboard will still be there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use pedals from a real organ console?

Yes, with a MIDI encoder — a small circuit board that converts pedal contacts into MIDI. It is a DIY-friendly project, but buying a ready-made MIDI pedalboard is simpler and usually cheaper than sourcing encoders and wiring.

Does the 12 Step work without a computer?

Not on its own — it sends MIDI over USB to a computer (or to 5-pin MIDI hardware via the optional MIDI Expander). GrandOrgue on a laptop is its natural partner.

How many pedals do I need?

A full organ pedalboard has 30 or 32 notes, but 13 (12 Step) or 17 (MP-117) cover the great majority of pedal parts in real repertoire. Very demanding pedal solos are the exception, not the rule.

Can I use an expression pedal with these?

The 12 Step has an expression pedal input (standard expression pedals only — volume pedals will not work). Map it to the Swell division’s expression control via MIDI Learn for real crescendo control under your foot.

Do I need a MIDI interface for the MP-117?

Only because it uses 5-pin MIDI. Any inexpensive USB-MIDI interface, or an audio interface with MIDI ports, bridges it to your computer.

See the complete picture in our virtual organ console building guide, or download GrandOrgue and map your first pedal today.