Introduction

The organ console contains the stop action, the key action, and may contain a combination action.

The stop action is the means of selecting sets (ranks) of pipes from which an individual pipe will be sounded whenever a key is depressed.

The key action is the means of connecting the key with the valve underneath the pipes. Whether the key action is mechanical, electric, or electro-pneumatic can have some influence over the manner in which the pipe speaks. Pipes make sound by producing vibration in one of two ways: either a column of air vibrates (as in a toy whistle), or a reed vibrates (as in a clarinet).

Combinations of stops may be pulled by hand, or may be set into memory and recalled through the use of the combination action (including the thumb pistons, toe studs, set button, and multi-level memory).