Topic by andrei

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Topic: A MIDI controller for Organteq

I have constructed a USB/MIDI controller for Organteq.

This is how it looks:

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/fr-f...4CBC940198

My device has:

(A) 14 buttons for easy/quick access to the stop combinations, namely

on the lower row:  10 buttons, a button for each stop combination.
on the upper row: buttons for previous/next stop combination and previous/next bank.

The buttons are positioned in the same way as the corresponding touch screen buttons in Organteq’s Jamb View

(B) A knob for easy access to volume control.

It works as follow: when one of the 14 buttons is pressed, a note on/note off MIDI message is sent and the nearby LED flashes for 200ms to confirm the MIDI action. No need to have the LED lit longer, because the organist can see the current (active) stop combination on the screen. Moreover, my MIDI controller is USB powered, so it is not reasonable to strain the USB port for a LED light  which nobody needs.

I attach a video showing how it works:

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/fr-f...B7FBBF654E

The front panel  has been made of PLA using a 3D printer.  For the electronics I used an Arduino Pro Micro PCB and WS2812B individually addressable LEDs.  The wiring has been designed by …  Claude (free version), who also wrote the firmware code and explained me how to upload it. The price of the materials is very low, but there is a lot of work, especially precision soldering.

Why did I build this?
Why was I not happy with MIDI controllers available on the market?

First of all, the positioning of the buttons on the front panel of the available MIDI controllers is not at all suited  for  the Organteq interface. Usually such MIDI controllers have a 4x4 or 5x3 button matrix.

I saw that a very popular choice is Elgato’s Stream Deck MK2.

I did not try this device, but studying the specifications, I think that it is not optimal for Organteq use.
The main reason: Elgato’s Stream Deck is not a MIDI controller. It can be converted into a MIDI controller by installing a MIDI plugin. But the device requires the application Stream Deck running in the background, taking processor power,  RAM and straining  the USB port.

A simple MIDI controller (as mine) does not take any meaningful computer power and is natively compatible with any computer platform without any driver or application running in the background.

Last edited by andrei (08-05-2026 21:42)

Reply by andrei

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

andrei wrote:

I have constructed a USB/MIDI controller for Organteq ...

I will be of course happy to help anybody who tries to build something similar. Here is a photo with the "brain" of the controller, an Arduino Pro Micro PCB (with the two PIN PCB connectors already soldered):

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/fr-f...00F657BF2A

It costs about 8€ on Amazon.

Andrei

Last edited by andrei (08-05-2026 23:05)

Reply by TimB3

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

Hello friends

I have come around an interesting possibility to gain full control over all parameters available in organteq. My solution is the MP1 controller, which is a multi touchscreen together with 32 encoders that can  be customized as per your wishes.

https://mpmidi.com/

I attach some photos in the link and will post as well a video in the next days.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1mJOFSVFGYXmFt

For any questions kindly let me know.

Last edited by TimB3 (21-06-2026 15:26)

Reply by andrei

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

TimB3 wrote:

Hello friends

I have come around an interesting possibility to gain full control over all parameters available in organteq. My solution is the MP1 controller, which is a multi touchscreen together with 32 encoders that can  be customized as per your wishes.

https://mpmidi.com/

I attach some photos in the link and will post as well a video in the next days.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1mJOFSVFGYXmFt

For any questions kindly let me know.

Thank you, Tim, for the post. For building a functional digital organ with Organteq: Organteq  can already be  easily and fully  controlled on a 16'' (or slightly larger) touch screen, which is already available in most Organteq configurations. 
An additional midi controller is useful to an organist who wants to quickly change the stop configuration when playing. But such a midi controller should be very simple. 
One only needs several buttons or pads for quickly  changing/selecting the stop configuration.
This additional midi controller should be positioned as close as possible to the lowest manual. 
One can choose to either buy an inexpensive commercial midi controller, for instance the M-VAVE SMC-PAD Pocket Pad https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005008344350321.html, or to manufacture oneself  such a controller, as I did myself (using components which cost less than 40€).   
As explained in my post,  the second choice offers many advantages, because one will have a device which is perfectly adapted to the Organteq interface and to the shape/dimensions of the console.

Last edited by andrei (23-06-2026 18:08)

Reply by TimB3

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

andrei wrote:
TimB3 wrote:

Hello friends

I have come around an interesting possibility to gain full control over all parameters available in organteq. My solution is the MP1 controller, which is a multi touchscreen together with 32 encoders that can  be customized as per your wishes.

https://mpmidi.com/

I attach some photos in the link and will post as well a video in the next days.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1mJOFSVFGYXmFt

For any questions kindly let me know.

This looks like an advertisement for the very sophisticated and expensive 780€ MP controller.
In fact "all parameters available in Organteq"  can already be  easily and fully  controlled on a 16'' (or slightly larger) touch screen, which is already available in most Organteq configurations. 
An additional midi controller is useful to an organist who wants to quickly change the stop configuration when playing. But such a midi controller should be very simple. 
One only needs several buttons or pads for quickly  changing/selecting the stop configuration.
This additional midi controller should be positioned as close as possible to the lowest manual. 
One can choose to buy an inexpensive commercial midi controller, for instance the M-VAVE SMC-PAD Pocket Pad https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005008344350321.html, or to manufacture oneself  such a controller, as I did myself (using components which cost less than 40€).   
As explained in my post,  the second choice offers many advantages, because one will have a device which is perfectly adapted to the Organteq interface and to the shape/dimensions of the console.

Andrei

Your work is absolutely great and you’ve built a unique and specialized controller for organteq - for a real bargain.

My post was not intended to sound commercial and I am not attached to the manufacturer in any way.

The software behind allows as well to make use of any vst/au plugins, fx, mixing, eq

Any parameter of any DAW is just at your hands. Zero programming.

I do play various instruments and switch between them. I go from organteq to pianoteq and so on….

I think both of those controllers have their advantages and drawbacks and serve different needs.

The organ doesn’t sound different of course

Reply by andrei

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

TimB3 wrote:
andrei wrote:
TimB3 wrote:

Hello friends

I have come around an interesting possibility to gain full control over all parameters available in organteq. My solution is the MP1 controller, which is a multi touchscreen together with 32 encoders that can  be customized as per your wishes.

https://mpmidi.com/

I attach some photos in the link and will post as well a video in the next days.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1mJOFSVFGYXmFt

For any questions kindly let me know.

This looks like an advertisement for the very sophisticated and expensive 780€ MP controller.
In fact "all parameters available in Organteq"  can already be  easily and fully  controlled on a 16'' (or slightly larger) touch screen, which is already available in most Organteq configurations. 
An additional midi controller is useful to an organist who wants to quickly change the stop configuration when playing. But such a midi controller should be very simple. 
One only needs several buttons or pads for quickly  changing/selecting the stop configuration.
This additional midi controller should be positioned as close as possible to the lowest manual. 
One can choose to buy an inexpensive commercial midi controller, for instance the M-VAVE SMC-PAD Pocket Pad https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005008344350321.html, or to manufacture oneself  such a controller, as I did myself (using components which cost less than 40€).   
As explained in my post,  the second choice offers many advantages, because one will have a device which is perfectly adapted to the Organteq interface and to the shape/dimensions of the console.

Andrei

Your work is absolutely great and you’ve built a unique and specialized controller for organteq - for a real bargain.

My post was not intended to sound commercial and I am not attached to the manufacturer in any way.

The software behind allows as well to make use of any vst/au plugins, fx, mixing, eq

Any parameter of any DAW is just at your hands. Zero programming.

I do play various instruments and switch between them. I go from organteq to pianoteq and so on….

I think both of those controllers have their advantages and drawbacks and serve different needs.

The organ doesn’t sound different of course

Dear Tim, I apologise for the misunderstanding. I modified my latest post by removing the comment about the advertisement. Now I understand that, in fact, we just have different needs. For me it's only important to have a functional organ, which sounds and looks as close as possible to a pipe organ. Or even better.  Best regards, Andrei

Last edited by andrei (23-06-2026 20:27)

Reply by TimB3

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

Bonjour Andrei

No problem - apologize accepted. No need to take something back.
I like people who directly speak out what they think rather those who agree to anything.

In your video I noticed few details….your organ resides inside a church, correct ? The Screen of your monitors mirrors some church windows ? Which church is it ? I think I saw another post from you somewhere……very interesting and I imagine the organ sounds fantastic. How many speakers ? 4 ? I would love to hear organteq in a bigger environment with multiple (8) speakers.
If mine would be in a church it should look as well like a pipe organ….of course. :-)

I am in a studio which needs to be functional first…..looking good is optional :-)

Greetings to Marseille.

Tim

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

TimB3 wrote:

Bonjour Andrei

No problem - apologize accepted. No need to take something back.
I like people who directly speak out what they think rather those who agree to anything.

In your video I noticed few details….your organ resides inside a church, correct ? The Screen of your monitors mirrors some church windows ? Which church is it ? I think I saw another post from you somewhere……very interesting and I imagine the organ sounds fantastic. How many speakers ? 4 ? I would love to hear organteq in a bigger environment with multiple (8) speakers.
If mine would be in a church it should look as well like a pipe organ….of course. :-)

I am in a studio which needs to be functional first…..looking good is optional :-)

Greetings to Marseille.

Tim

Dear Tim,

Thank you very much for your kind post. My ignorant comments about advertising have already been deleted.
Answers to your questions (thank you for your interest):

I built an Organteq based digital organ for the Anglican Church All Saints' in Marseille.

I have recorded and posted on YouTube two playlists with music played on this organ. You can watch the videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P...r1y3XehiSX

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P...kb0GhpfxrZ

In the first (more recent) playlist, the organist used the Arnstadt preset (Bach's organ).
In the second playlist the organist used  the Arnstadt preset for playing Bach, a French organ preset for playing Clérambault, and a German Baroque preset for playing Haendel. 

Note that I built the MIDI controller after these recording, at the suggestion of the organist Stéphane Rigat. He played again the same pieces using the new MIDI controller and he was very happy.

The sound in the recording is good, but, in my opinion,  it was even better (ampler, more immersive)  in the church.

Concerning the speakers:

The sound system of the church is a stereo (2-channel) system consisting of

(1) The front subsystem: A pair of active Edifier S3000 Pro speakers,

(2) The rear subsystem:
- A Behringer 1004 bundle consisting of 4 satellites (2 satellites per channel) and an active subwoofer which powers the whole system
        +
- An active Avcom 10'' subwoofer.
All 6 rear speakers (4 satellites and 2 subwoofers) are mounted on the roof of the small entrance hall, at about 2,5 m height.

The distance between the front and the rear system is about 12m.
The right (left) front Edifier speaker is synchronised with the two Behringer right  (respectively left) rear satellites.
The signal is split between the front and the rear subsystems using a simple Y jack cable.  The rear system is connected to one of the branches of this cable using 2 Muxlab baluns (which convert unbalanced to balanced signal  and vice-versa) and a 20m long ethernet cable (which goes to the back along a wall in a very thin 2,5 m heigh cable duct). Therefore there is no lost (in quality or strength) of the signal on the way to the back subsystem.

Speaker specifications:
Edifier system:
RMS power : high 8W+8W, middle and bass 120W+120W, total RMS: 256W.
Frequency response: 38Hz - 40 kHz.

Behringer :
RMS  power: 200W.
Maximal peak power : 600W.
Subwoofer frequency response : 30Hz-145Hz.
Satellites  frequency response: 110 Hz - 20 kHz.

Avcom subwoofer:
RMS  power: 300W
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 200 Hz
(surprising for a subwoofer  which costs 120€).

The price of the whole system (including all accessories) was under 2000€.
If you visit Marseille in near future, we will be very happy to have you in the church.  With this opportunity you will see and listen to our new handmade  organ. You can find the church using its website:  https://www.anglican-marseille.org

Es Grüessli us Marseille,
Andrei

Last edited by andrei (24-06-2026 07:50)

Reply by TimB3

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

Andrei

Yes…..thats the video I saw. I love it. Really great.

My sophisticated super hi tech controller had a break down today….overpowered…..hahaha…..the screen just was black after I returned from the bathroom…….hmmm…..just dead. I guess it needs to be returned to sender :-))))

Maybe I should get a working horse…..Andrei…..I’d like to purchase one of your controllers !!! :-)))

Since your machine is so price attractive I’ll take 2… in case one breaks down i have a replacement

Last edited by TimB3 (Yesterday 19:10)

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Re: A MIDI controller for Organteq

TimB3 wrote:

Andrei

Yes…..thats the video I saw. I love it. Really great.

My sophisticated super hi tech controller had a break down today….overpowered…..hahaha…..the screen just was black after I returned from the bathroom…….hmmm…..just dead. I guess it needs to be returned to sender :-))))

Maybe I should get a working horse…..Andrei…..I’d like to purchase one of your controllers !!! :-)))

Since your machine is so price attractive I’ll take 2… in case one breaks down i have a replacement

Dear Tim, thank you very much for your kind post, but, in fact, I do not manufacture midi controllers for selling. In fact I am mathematician. I built an Organteq based digital organ (with all accessories, including furniture, pedalboard, pedals, sound system and midi controller) in order to help the church, not for making money.  But, if you wish, I can help you for free in the following ways:

(1) I can send you for free a brand new M-VAVE SMC-PAD Pocket Pad with 16 pads.
(2) I can help you for free to build a MIDI controller which corresponds perfectly to your needs.
If you are happy with the features of the MIDI controller I built (see the photos and the video I shared), I can help more: I can send you for free an Arduino Pro Micro PCB (the brain of the controller) with the necessary firmware already installed. 
(3)  If you want exactly the same device (the same size and positioning of the buttons/LEDs) I can also send you for free the stl file which will allow you to "print" the front panel of your controller with a 3D printer.

Note that my ambition to have LEDs (which confirm the actions of the buttons) complicated substantially the project. If you  think that the LEDs are not important for you, the project becomes much (!) easier. But then the firmware of the  Arduino Pro Micro PCB should be modified accordingly.

Best regards,
Andrei

Last edited by andrei (Today 18:19)