Top 10 jOrgan Features You Should Know

jOrgan: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting StartedjOrgan is a free, open-source virtual organ and MIDI processing application written in Java. It allows hobbyists, students, and professional musicians to build customizable virtual pipe organs, control hardware MIDI consoles, connect to sound modules, and experiment with MIDI routing and processing. This guide walks you through what jOrgan does, how to install it, basic configuration, common workflows, troubleshooting, and next steps for learning more.

What jOrgan Does (and what it doesn’t)

jOrgan’s core capabilities:

• Virtual organ console creation: build one or more organ consoles with keyboards, pedalboards, stops, couplers, and pistons.
• MIDI routing and processing: map incoming MIDI events from keyboards or hardware controllers to organ actions, transforms, and outgoing MIDI messages.
• Sound module integration: connect to external MIDI-compatible sound generators (software or hardware) and route stops to specific MIDI channels or programs.
• Custom scripting and extensions: extend behavior using Java-based plugins or custom MIDI processors.
• Recorder and playback: record MIDI performances and play them back through your configured organ.

What jOrgan doesn’t provide out of the box:

• Built-in high-quality sampled pipe organ sounds (you’ll typically pair jOrgan with external sound libraries or modules).
• A drag-and-drop graphical sample editor — sound creation is handled elsewhere.
• Native support for non-MIDI audio formats; jOrgan focuses on MIDI control.

System Requirements

• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) — jOrgan runs on Java 8 and later (check the current jOrgan docs for exact version compatibility).
• A computer with sufficient RAM for Java and any sound modules you plan to run.
• MIDI-capable hardware (optional): USB-MIDI keyboards, pedalboards, MIDI interfaces, and sound modules. Virtual MIDI drivers (e.g., loopMIDI on Windows, IAC Driver on macOS, or a2j on Linux) can connect software components.
• Operating systems supported: Windows, macOS, Linux (Java-based portability).

Installing jOrgan

1. Download jOrgan:
   • Get the latest jOrgan package from the official project site or repository (look for the distribution that matches your OS).
2. Install Java:
   • If you don’t have Java installed, install a current JRE compatible with jOrgan (OpenJDK builds are fine).
3. Unpack and run:
   • Unzip the jOrgan distribution and run the provided launcher script or jar file. On many systems you can start it with:

     
     java -jar jorgan.jar 

     (Use the actual filename from your download.)

4. First run:
   • On first launch, jOrgan may create a configuration directory in your user profile where consoles, kits, and settings are stored.

jOrgan Interface Overview

Key parts of the interface:

• Console view: a WYSIWYG representation of keyboards, stops, drawstops, pedals, and pistons.
• Tree or list of MIDI devices: shows connected MIDI inputs and outputs.
• Stops and ranks configuration: assign stops to MIDI channels/programs and configure patch changes.
• Action and routing panels: define how incoming MIDI messages map to organ events and how organ events generate outgoing MIDI.
• Recorder and player controls: record, save, and play MIDI files.

Creating Your First Console

1. Create a new console:
   • From the main menu choose New Console. Give it a name (e.g., “Practice Organ”).
2. Add manuals and pedalboard:
   • Add one or more manuals (keyboards) and a pedalboard. Set ranges (NUMBER of keys) and MIDI channels if desired.
3. Add stops:
   • Create stops and assign them to ranks or MIDI destinations. For each stop, specify MIDI channel, program change (patch), and velocity or CC behavior if needed.
4. Map physical MIDI inputs:
   • In the MIDI devices section, enable your MIDI keyboard as an input and the sound module as an output. Map the keyboard’s MIDI channel to the corresponding manual.
5. Assign pistons and couplers:
   • Program pistons to recall combinations of stops. Set couplers to link manuals or pedalboard to manuals.
6. Save your console configuration.

Connecting to Sound

• Software sound modules:
  • Use a virtual MIDI driver to route jOrgan output to a software synth (e.g., a sampled organ library in a DAW or standalone player). Assign stops to different MIDI channels or program changes as your library requires.
• Hardware sound modules:
  • Connect via MIDI DIN or USB-MIDI. Set jOrgan’s MIDI outputs to the device and configure channels/programs accordingly.
• Multi-channel setups:
  • jOrgan supports routing ranks/stops to different channels so you can use multiple sound modules simultaneously (e.g., principals on one module, reeds on another).

Common Workflows

• Practice with headphones: Connect a USB-MIDI keyboard to jOrgan, route output to a virtual instrument on your computer, and play silently through headphones.
• Worship or performance rig: Use a dedicated sound module for main loudspeakers and a second module for monitoring; configure pistons to quickly change registrations during service.
• Recording: Record performances as MIDI files in jOrgan, then import into a DAW to replace sounds, edit, or mix.
• Hybrid setups: Combine physical drawstops (via MIDI controllers) with software ranks for a tactile console experience.

Tips and Best Practices

• Start simple: build one manual and a few stops, confirm MIDI routing works, then expand.
• Label MIDI channels consistently between jOrgan and your sound sources to avoid mismatches.
• Save incremental backups of console files—jOrgan configuration is file-based and easy to back up.
• Use virtual MIDI ports for software-only setups to keep devices organized.
• If using multiple sound modules, keep a chart of which ranks map to which module and channel.

Troubleshooting

• No sound: confirm jOrgan’s MIDI output is connected to a sound module or virtual instrument and that the module is listening on the assigned MIDI channel.
• Keys not responding: check that MIDI input device is enabled in jOrgan and that channels match the manual’s mapping.
• Latency: reduce audio buffer size in your sound module/ASIO driver; for MIDI latency, ensure drivers are up to date and use low-latency hardware if possible.
• Patch/program mismatches: verify program change numbers and bank selects; some modules use different numbering schemes (0-based vs 1-based).

Advanced Topics & Extensions

• Plugins: explore community plugins for additional MIDI processing or custom behaviors.
• Custom MIDI processors: write Java-based processors to transform messages (transposition, multi-trigger, conditional routing).
• Integration with DAWs: use virtual MIDI to route jOrgan into a DAW for multi-track recording and sample playback.
• Network MIDI: use RTP-MIDI or other network MIDI protocols to distribute organ control across machines.

Resources for Learning More

• Official jOrgan documentation and user manual (project site).
• Community forums and mailing lists for questions, shared consoles, and plugins.
• Tutorials on MIDI routing, virtual MIDI buses, and sampled organ libraries for practical sound setup.

jOrgan is powerful once you understand MIDI basics and your sound sources. Start modestly, verify routing and channel mappings, and expand as you gain confidence.