About Organnery

The software part of Organnery is a customised Debian GNU/Linux image for ARM processors, including the Aeolus synthesiser and the applications it requires to run as a dedicated system.

Aeolus is open source software created by Fons Andriaensen. It was first presented at the Second Linux Audio Developers Conference in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2004.

Aeolus is not fixed on the definition of any particular pipe organ instrument. Instead, Aeolus is used with an instrument definition file referencing a collection of stops, which are saved to a USB memory stick for each organist. These binary files contain parameters for additive synthesis, one for each rank of pipes.

Organists can use the Aeolus synthesis editor to modify their individual set of stops for their exact requirements, so that the same organ console can accommodate many personalised styles. Personalised stops and presets for them can be used on multiple Organnery installations, for example a main instrument and a home practice console, simply by inserting the organist's own USB memory stick.

Aeolus can also support 'virtual divisions' which do not relate to a specific keyboard or row of stops in the interface, but can be defined as part of one or more other divisions and be mapped to keyboards there. A virtual division can have a separate MIDI channel for swell, tremulant speed and depth.

What hardware will I need?

The Raspberry Pi board has been chosen as the initial CPU because of its great development community, affordable price and worldwide availability. Should a Raspberry Pi fail, it is easy to obtain a replacement, and by the time that happens there is likely to be an improved model available.

Organnery can use any class-compliant USB sound card. Specialised I2S sound cards designed for the Raspberry Pi can also be used.

Learn more

A standard HDMI monitor and mouse, or a touchscreen, can be used to control stops and presets while playing the instrument, or the physical buttons and switches of an existing console can be upgraded to send and receive MIDI by our field technicians.

More information

Contributors

Kerry Beaumont

Organ Voicing

Former musical director of Coventry Cathedral, recently retired, organist with over 30 years of experience in musical direction roles, both as a performer and as a conductor, I will take care of the voicing of your new organ.

Chris Obbard

MIDI and audio developer for hardware and open-source software

https://64studio.com/

Martin Russell

As a local organist and managing director of Eminent Organs UK, I have worked in the church organ industry for 20 years and am therefore perfectly able to understand your musical needs, whether you are an organist or a parishioner.

https://theorganrebuildcompany.com/

Daniel James

GNU/Linux Distribution