Nord User Forum

[wizzy]

Hello everyone!

I've recently got an iPad air 2 and was very curious of the different ways I could use it with my Nord Stage 2.
At this point it would be wise to remark that I have absolutely zero experience in working with MIDI and all that jazz and my research between all the different apps sadly only left me more confused...

So here are some questions:
1. What connectors/special equipment do I need to have in order to connect the iPad to the Stage?
2. Is it a must to use a computer in the process or can you get enough "juice" from just connecting the iPad straight to the Stage?
3. What apps would you recommend for live gigs and more importantly - using the iPad to switch between programs and alter all sorts of sound values on the nord? (if it is at all possible?)

I am aware that these questions might be very ignorant so I would much appreciate general wising up - if there are areas I need to firstly educate myself before going ahead with anything I would love to get some pointers on what to focus on
Also other recommendations for apps or physical gear that might be wise to consider from your experience (even if it's not for live gigging) will be accepted gladly!
I'm running on a tight budget so it's always a matter of really understanding what i'm getting in return, hope you could relate.

Thanks a bunch in advance for even reading this!
Haim.

[maxpiano]

Hi, this has been already discussed several times, use the Forum search and you will find all answers to your questions

[pablomastodon]

For purposes of transferring sounds onto and off of the instrument, and/or for organizing the sounds which are already in the instrument, your iPad will be completely useless. A real computer is needed for this task. Please note that this computer (Mac or PC) does NOT need to be the latest greatest, fastest, most expensive computer on the market. Running Nord Sound manager is not a demanding task for any computer made in the last ten years. You might find a used Win XP or Win7 (or older Mac equivalent) for small money which will handle these tasks very nicely.

Shalom,
Pablo

[Marlowes]

@Maxpiano: +1

@Wizzy:
1. I use this http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigmidi2/
2. No computer needed.
3, You have all the knobs on your NS2. Why complicate your rig with an iPad?

Now I only use the iPad for showing a gigs setlist and lyrics. So I remember what to play. I can put it on the mike stand.

ipad.jpg (10.08 KiB) Viewed 4681 times

/Vänligen
Michael in Scania

[NoDirection]

We use the UltimateGuitar app on the IPad - that's the best use I have found when it comes to playing. Great to have so much chords and lyrics nice formatted and perfect on the screen. I have also tried some drum-machine apps. If you got a NordDrum there is a nice app for that one.

But I haven't found much use of my MIDI interface for IPAD against my NordStage2 yet.

[pablomastodon]

Having bought Nord keyboards at least in part specifically for their interface, I cannot imagine a scenario where I'd prefer to remote-control any sound tweaking from an iPad controller.
For editing my OTHER synths though (the knobless ones, that is ), I use MIDI Designer, which is fantastic and has a plethora of really awesome templates available for various synths (I use it for my JX-8P, MKS-70 and JX-10), and TB MIDI Stuff for the Oberheim Matrix synths and the Yamaha TX7.

I do this via standard wifi MIDI session set up with the included Audio MIDI Setup utility on the Mac.

For actually saving and loading patches, you'll need a librarian application.
Coffeeshopped has Sysex Base and Patch Base available for that in the App Store, plus they make various editor/librarians for various synths, including the Nord Lead 2/2x, but none of the Stage series.

As Pablo says, Clavia has not yet made any supporting software available for iOS. I'm sure they will, eventually, but I assume it's pretty far down on their priority list at this point, so we'll probably be waiting quite a few years for that.

For live use, I use Set List Maker from Arlomedia all the time. I keep my repertoire of music and lead sheets sorted by project (some 300 songs), and have PDF lead sheets or chords as text attached to most of them. I also use it to change presets on my synths live, using the MIDI preset function.
I can heartily recommend this app - it works well, does almost everything I need (I'd love to be able to enter actual notation), and developer support is AMAZING. I've had a couple of issues and suggestions over the years, and Arlo has always responded within hours with feedback or a workaround suggestion.

I have the iPad integrated into my live setup using an iConnectMIDI interface, which also charges the iPad.

[pablomastodon]

For editing my OTHER synths though (the knobless ones, that is ), I use MIDI Designer, which is fantastic and has a plethora of really awesome templates available for various synths (I use it for my JX-8P, MKS-70 and JX-10), and TB MIDI Stuff for the Oberheim Matrix synths and the Yamaha TX7.

suh-weeet!

I do this via standard wifi MIDI session set up with the included Audio MIDI Setup utility on the Mac.

?? iConnect for live rig and wifi for home use ?? What are you using to receive this wifi midi and port it to the synths?

[maxpiano]

For editing my OTHER synths though (the knobless ones, that is ), I use MIDI Designer, which is fantastic and has a plethora of really awesome templates available for various synths (I use it for my JX-8P, MKS-70 and JX-10), and TB MIDI Stuff for the Oberheim Matrix synths and the Yamaha TX7.

suh-weeet!

I do this via standard wifi MIDI session set up with the included Audio MIDI Setup utility on the Mac.

?? iConnect for live rig and wifi for home use ?? What are you using to receive this wifi midi and port it to the synths?

IPad and Mac implement MIDI over WiFi natively (using Apple's Bonjour services ) but you can also do it on Windows using the rtpMIDI utility http://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/rtpmidi.html

A "WiFi MIDI port" (once configured) is seen as a normal MIDI port by any DAW (or SoundLibrarian or MIDI app in general)

[pablomastodon]

sorry if this is OT, but what I'm really wondering here is what device is used to RECEIVE this wifi'd midi signal from the computing device and feed it into and/or out of older hardware such as JX8P (my first synth), MKS-70, etc?

bless,

pablo

[dcraftfrombr]

I am also using Arlo Media's Set List Maker connected to my Nord Stage 2 via the Apple Camera Connection Kit which connects to the USB port on the Stage. Works well, but will not let me charge my iPad while it is connected to the CCK. I use the iPad to send patch changes to the Nord. The iPad is also used to display songlists and lyrics and charts that I send to a monitor for singers via an Apple TV. My question is to Analogika - You indicate that the iConnectMidi allows you to charge the iPad as well. Is there a specific model of the iConnectMidi that allows this? I have an older iPad, so it would need to connect to the 30 pin adapter. Does it connect to the USB port on the Nord or the Midi port? I'm already using the Midi port to connect to a second keyboard, so I need it to connect to the USB port.
Thanks,
Dale