Nektar SE61 with GrandOrgue: Setup Guide
The Nektar SE61 is a lightweight 61-key USB-MIDI controller that works with GrandOrgue out of the box — no drivers, no fuss. Here is how to connect it and map it to a manual.
Short answer: yes, the Nektar SE61 works with GrandOrgue. It is a USB class-compliant MIDI controller, which means Windows, macOS and Linux all recognize it without any driver installation. Plug it in, tell GrandOrgue which manual it should play, and you are making sound in under five minutes.
What You Get in the Box
- The SE61 keyboard itself — 61 full-size, velocity-sensitive, synth-action keys
- A USB cable (USB to the keyboard, standard USB-A to your computer)
- A printed user guide and a Bitwig 8-Track license card (optional — you do not need the DAW software for GrandOrgue)
The SE61 draws its power from the USB port, so there is no power supply to hunt for. It also has a 1/4″ footswitch input on the back for a sustain pedal, and a set of performance controls to the left of the keys: pitch bend and modulation wheels, octave up/down buttons, transpose buttons, and one MIDI-assignable fader.
Step-by-Step: Connecting the SE61 to GrandOrgue
1. Connect the USB cable
Plug the included USB cable into the SE61 and into a free USB port on your computer. The keyboard powers on automatically — there is no power switch to forget. Your operating system should recognize it within a few seconds as a MIDI device named something like “SE61” or “USB MIDI”.
2. Enable the MIDI device in GrandOrgue
Open GrandOrgue and go to the audio/MIDI settings. Make sure the SE61 is enabled as a MIDI input device. If you plugged the keyboard in after starting GrandOrgue, restart the program so it picks up the new device.
3. Map it to a manual with MIDI Learn
Load any organ (start with one of the free sample sets). Right-click on the manual you want the SE61 to play — Great, Swell, or whichever division — and choose the MIDI Learn option. GrandOrgue will wait for input: press any key on the SE61. The manual is now bound to the keyboard. Play a few notes to confirm sound comes out of the right division.
4. Add more manuals later
When you add a second keyboard, repeat step 3 on a different on-screen manual. GrandOrgue stores the mapping per device, so your SE61 keeps its assignment even after you unplug everything and set up again.
Velocity Curves: Pick One and Forget It
The SE61 offers four velocity curves plus three fixed-velocity settings, selectable from the keyboard. For organ playing, this matters less than it does for piano — most organ stops do not respond to velocity at all — but sample sets with velocity-sensitive reeds or percussion stops will sound more natural with a medium, even curve. Set it once from the SE61’s controls and leave it.
Using the Footswitch Input
The 1/4″ jack on the back accepts a standard sustain footswitch. In GrandOrgue, map it like any other control: right-click the on-screen element you want it to drive and use MIDI Learn. Note that a simple on/off footswitch sends a switch message, not a continuous expression signal — for a real swell-pedal feel you want a MIDI expression pedal that sends continuous CC values instead.
The Fader and Wheels
The 30 mm fader and the octave/transpose buttons all send MIDI and can be mapped in GrandOrgue the same way — handy for a crescendo control or for shifting the keyboard range without touching the mouse. The pitch bend and modulation wheels are less useful for organ playing (pipe organs do not bend pitch), so most players simply leave them unmapped.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Nektar SE61 need drivers?
No. It is USB class-compliant, so Windows, macOS and Linux recognize it automatically with no driver download.
Can I use two SE61 keyboards for two manuals?
Yes. Connect both, then MIDI-Learn each one to a different on-screen manual. GrandOrgue distinguishes the two devices, so each keeps its own mapping.
Will the SE61 work on Linux?
Yes — class-compliant USB-MIDI devices work on Linux out of the box, and GrandOrgue has native Linux builds.
Can the footswitch act as a swell pedal?
Not really. The footswitch input is on/off only. For continuous swell control, use a MIDI expression pedal connected through a controller or audio interface that sends MIDI CC.
Is the SE61 good for organ playing specifically?
Its synth-action keys are light and fast, which suits organ technique well, and at around 3 kg it is easy to carry to rehearsals. See our MIDI keyboards overview to compare it with other options.
New to the software? Download GrandOrgue and follow this guide to be playing in minutes. Thinking bigger? Our console building guide shows how a single SE61 grows into a full multi-manual rig.