Nord User Forum

[dkernohan]

Like a few on this forum I use the NE5D resting on top of the (utterly wonderful) Kawai VLC. Usually I use the MIDI Upper Split function, with a piano assigned to upper to control via the VLC and something else (organ, strings, synth bass) on the lower to control via the NE5D keyboard. As you can imagine this is particularly rewarding with an organ on the top and a piano below, as the waterfall keyboard on the Nord suits the organ perfectly, and the VLC suits the piano.

However, every now and again I want to use the set-up as a double manual organ. But with Bass+B3 the bass defaults to the lower partial - in my case the nord sitting on top of the kawai - and the main organ to the upper (the VLC). It would be several million times better to do this the other way round, as I could do all my fancy hammond techniques on the nord and play left-hand bass on the VLC.

But I can't see a way of doing that! Any suggestions?

I know one work around would be to use a synth bass, but I didn't buy one of the best clonewheels in the world to play a synth bass....

[ChuckB]

I assume you mean VPC, not VLC.

Copying from another post: in the shift->midi menu you need to set "channel upper split" to the midi channel of your choosing
only need to do that part once, it keeps that setting after shutdown and boot up. Then when you hold down the KB Split button you should be able to turn the knob all the way to the right to "upper receive"
the knob used is the Prog/Menu (also List/Value) knob.

Could you do this for the "channel lower split", and thus get the VPC to drive the lower sound engine? I've never tried this, but my gut says (a) it should work, and (b) you may be in an all or nothing situation, where you're committing to having the VPC always be driven by the lower part.

If you try this let us know the results! Hopefully I haven't sent you down a useless rabbit hole!

Chuck

[dkernohan]

@chuckb - yep, you'd think that, but there's no "lower split" option.

[dkernohan]

Okay, there *is* a work-around, sort of.

Set both upper and lower to B3 (*NOT* B3+bass). everything you have been told about not having upper and lower set the same is a lie!

The upper drawbar settings control what I am playing on the VPC, the lower drawbar settings control what I am playing on the NE5D. Which is counter-intuitive as the NE5D is sitting on top of the VPC.

Then set up a nice bass sound on the upper part (80800000?) and however you like it on the lower.