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Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby ACCORDIONMAN » 29 Aug 2017, 00:01

Hi Everyone,
Sorry if this has been asked somewhere, but I couldn't see it on the forums.

I would like to add a very small midi controller keyboard to my Electro 5D. This would be just to use on gigs where I need extra brass/ strings sound. I would play these from the extra keyboard triggering the sounds via midi. The sounds themselves would be samples in the NE5D. I want the midi controller to be small enough to sit on the end on my NE5D 61. So something with a couple of octaves of mini keys would be good.


I think know how to set this up in terms of sounds and getting an external keyboard to trigger the right part, etc. Is anyone already doing this successfully with a VERY small mini midi controller that would work and fit in the space? What keyboard are you using? Also, Is it possible to power from the USB on the keyboard.

Thanks in advance for any advice on any of these question:)
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Adding small midi controller to NE5D


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Re: Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby cgrafx » 29 Aug 2017, 02:53

Can't speak to any of your questions except the Power over USB. The USB port on the NE5D is not a host, it does not supply power.
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Re: Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby maxpiano » 29 Aug 2017, 10:09

You cannot connect 2 USB Devices withouth a computer/tablet (Host) in between and Devices do not provide power.

The only option, to avoid using the computer, would be a self-powered controller having at least a MIDI DIN output, like the Arturia Beatstep or Keystep (for example).
Last edited by maxpiano on 29 Aug 2017, 17:14, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby anotherscott » 29 Aug 2017, 16:43

ACCORDIONMAN wrote:I would like to add a very small midi controller keyboard to my Electro 5D. This would be just to use on gigs where I need extra brass/ strings sound. I would play these from the extra keyboard triggering the sounds via midi. The sounds themselves would be samples in the NE5D. I want the midi controller to be small enough to sit on the end on my NE5D 61. So something with a couple of octaves of mini keys would be good.

The important criteria here is that you want it to have a standard (5-pin DIN) MIDI Out jack. Maybe a Korg Monologue with some velcro? You'd get the bonus of having a pretty cool synth, too. The Alesis Q25 would work but is wider because the keys are full size. The CME XKey is pretty cool, but unfortunately you can only get the MIDI connectors on the 37, not the 25-key version, and even velcro'd down, I'd be wary of hitting keys far off their Nord support. Though maybe you could use that and just know not to hit the top octave...?

Just remember that the extra keyboard doesn't change how many (and which) sounds the NE5D can produce simultaneously. While you are triggering a brass/string sound from the controller, the Nord's own keys can only be used for one sound, which must be either an organ or piano sound.
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Re: Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby ACCORDIONMAN » 29 Aug 2017, 23:33

Thankyou for your advice everyone. So just to be clear, you dont think there is anyway I could get something like this to work?

https://www.studiospares.com/Studio-Gear/MIDI-Controllers/Alesis-V-Mini-USB-MIDI-Keyboard_395420.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpO2-rH91QIVDZEbCh04UAYXEAQYASABEgLXvPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
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Re: Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby anotherscott » 29 Aug 2017, 23:55

ACCORDIONMAN wrote:Thankyou for your advice everyone. So just to be clear, you dont think there is anyway I could get something like this to work?

https://www.studiospares.com/Studio-Gear/MIDI-Controllers/Alesis-V-Mini-USB-MIDI-Keyboard_395420.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpO2-rH91QIVDZEbCh04UAYXEAQYASABEgLXvPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


It would probably work if you used it with this:

http://www.kentonuk.com/products/items/ ... host.shtml

but I think it would be better to get something that had a true MIDI port, rather than needing to buy an adapter that costs more than the keyboard, and having to worry about any possible compatibility issues.

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Re: Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby maxpiano » 30 Aug 2017, 04:37

ACCORDIONMAN wrote:Thankyou for your advice everyone. So just to be clear, you dont think there is anyway I could get something like this to work?

https://www.studiospares.com/Studio-Gear/MIDI-Controllers/Alesis-V-Mini-USB-MIDI-Keyboard_395420.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpO2-rH91QIVDZEbCh04UAYXEAQYASABEgLXvPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


As anotherscott said, it will not work if not via a USB Host (converting it to standard MIDI DIN) or a PC/tablet (as the USB host routing MIDI data between the 2 USB devices = NE and Controller); you cannot connect 2 USB devices without a Host, that's how USB works

The design architecture of USB is asymmetrical in its topology, consisting of a host, a multitude of downstream USB ports, and multiple peripheral devices connected in a tiered-star topology.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
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Re: Adding small midi controller to NE5D

Postby ACCORDIONMAN » 30 Aug 2017, 17:18

Ok, thankyou everyone. Good useful knowledge there.
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