The pipe organ console is the part of a pipe organ where the organist plays and manage all the features of the instrument. Here a general description and photos of a typical modern pipe organ console.
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ruffatti1-1.jpg)
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/keyboards.jpg)
One or more KEYBOARDS (or MANUALS), that the organist plays
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pedalboard.jpg)
The PEDALBOARD, that the organist plays with their feet
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/rocker.jpg)
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/knobs.jpg)
The STOPS COMMANDS (ROCKER, KNOB or LEVEL), to select which ranks of pipes (STOP) will sound when a particular manual or the pedalboard is played. They are used also to activate particular organ functions
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/thumb.jpg)
The THUMB BUTTONS to activate particolar organ functions
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/foot_pistons.jpg)
The TOE PISTONS to activate particolar organ functions
![](https://www.openpipes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/crescendo_volume.jpg)
One SWEEL PEDAL (Crescendo), usually the first on the right, to increase the numbers of playing stops.
One or more VOLUME PEDALS, to tune the audio level of a particular manual