Nord User Forum

[Tbone]

Hi,

I would like to play some sound from Korg with NE3. For example, I want to play string sound on Korg and brass sound (from Korg) with NE3 at the same time. Is it possible? Is it possible to save brass on program bank, lets say 1A, so every time I connect Korg and Nord, brass sound is on bank 1A? Hope I was clear... I would appreciate if someone could explain the steps to do it. (including where to put midi cable )

Thanks!

[anotherscott]

You can do it, but it will work much better if you do it the other way around, i.e. play a Nord sound from the Korg keyboard. You can create the same layer either way, but you have much more flexibility if you use the Korg as the master, because it is a very capable MIDI controller, and the Nord is not. For example, on the Korg, using Combis, you can set up, say, patch 1, so that it calls up any of the 128 Nord sounds. But on the Nord, patch 1 can't call up any sound on the Korg except Korg's patch #1. Also, the Korg's touchscreen with full patch names can be used as a handy way to switch sounds on the Nord that gives you instant one-button access to Nord sounds that would otherwise involve multiple button presses or scrolling on the Nord itself.

[Tbone]

For example, on the Korg, using Combis, you can set up, say, patch 1, so that it calls up any of the 128 Nord sounds. But on the Nord, patch 1 can't call up any sound on the Korg except Korg's patch #1.

Did't really get this...

I don't have a need to play nord sounds on both keys... but in some songs I do want to play only sounds from korg, e.g. use nord as controler. How to do that? Does it have to do something with the midi channels? Can I program for example brass sound on korg to midi channel 2 and patch 1A on nord to receive channel 2? does it work in that way?

[anotherscott]

I don't have a need to play nord sounds on both keys... but in some songs I do want to play only sounds from korg, e.g. use nord as controler. How to do that? Does it have to do something with the midi channels?

Ah, yes, I see now.

Assuming that both boards are currently set as they came from the factory, here's what you need to do:

* connect MIDI cable from Nord MIDI OUT to Korg MIDI IN

* Set Nord "Program Change" MIDI parameter to OFF

* Set Nord MIDI Channel to 2

* Create a COMBI on the Korg that includes whatever sound (program) you want to play on the Korg itself as you normally would, but then find the Korg sound (program) you want triggered by the Nord, and put that in the same combi, but assigned to MIDI Channel 2. Then that second sound won't trigger from the Korg's own keyboard, but only from input received over MIDI channel 2, i.e. the Nord.

[Tbone]

aaa...ok ..that is the answer... thank you very much!

Could you please explain one more thing - what happens with this step - "Set Nord "Program Change" MIDI parameter to OFF" ?

And, is it possible just to change midi on one program (i.e. 1A) so it doesnt change midi on all programs on Nord?

[anotherscott]

Could you please explain one more thing - what happens with this step - "Set Nord "Program Change" MIDI parameter to OFF" ?

That stops the Nord from sending Program Change commands to the Korg. Otherwise, every time you changed to a new sound on the Nord, it would change the patch in your Korg as well. And actually, now that you mention it, you want to set the Nord's "Control Change (CC) Mode" to OFF as well. Otherwise things like changing drawbars and hitting various knobs and buttons on the Nord could alter various parameters on the sound you're playing on the Korg.

And, is it possible just to change midi on one program (i.e. 1A) so it doesnt change midi on all programs on Nord?

That's two more things. Unfortunately, I'm nots sure I can answer that one because I may not understand the question. Maybe instead of the word "change," you meant "transmit"? The answer then would be no. If the Nord has MIDI transmission enabled, it is global, you can't have it transmit MIDI on some presets and not others (though you can do that on the Nord Stage series). BUT as long as the Combi you're playing on the Korg has no sound assigned to MIDI Channel 2, you won't hear anything out of the Korg by playing the Nord. So the answer is, you have to do it from the other side, i.e. you don't limit this function to specific Nord presets, rather you limit this function to specific Korg presets. When you want the Nord to trigger Korg sounds, you call up Korg combis that have the desired sounds assigned to Channel 2, and when you don't want the Nord triggering the Korg, you call up Korg sounds that don't have anything assigned to channel 2. I hope that answers your question...

[Tbone]

Yes... everything is clear now... you were very hellpfull... thanks once again!

[Tbone]

For example, on the Korg, using Combis, you can set up, say, patch 1, so that it calls up any of the 128 Nord sounds. But on the Nord, patch 1 can't call up any sound on the Korg except Korg's patch #1. Also, the Korg's touchscreen with full patch names can be used as a handy way to switch sounds on the Nord that gives you instant one-button access to Nord sounds that would otherwise involve multiple button presses or scrolling on the Nord itself.

Hi Anotherscott! I have tried to do this but with no success, I got confused . I did not manage to call sounds from Nord with my M50. I put the Nord to run on MIDI channel 2 and write it on combination on Korg so it plays that sound from Nord but when I want to change the sound I have to do it on Nord by swiching the programs button. How can I manage to for example play nord piano on nord and play nord organ on korg? and how can I change nord sounds on korg so that all the time i have piano sound played from the nord and alter between other nord sounds on korg? is it possible? Hope I was clear

[anotherscott]

For example, on the Korg, using Combis, you can set up, say, patch 1, so that it calls up any of the 128 Nord sounds. But on the Nord, patch 1 can't call up any sound on the Korg except Korg's patch #1. Also, the Korg's touchscreen with full patch names can be used as a handy way to switch sounds on the Nord that gives you instant one-button access to Nord sounds that would otherwise involve multiple button presses or scrolling on the Nord itself.

Hi Anotherscott! I have tried to do this but with no success, I got confused .

The message of mine you quoted there was from way earlier in the thread, and described an advantage of using the Korg as the controller, but my subsequent understanding was that you only wanted to use the Nord as the controller, so what I said in that quote does not apply, and will not work in the setup I described in the later messages.

when I want to change the sound I have to do it on Nord by swiching the programs button.

Correct. That's how it would work, you'd need to use the Nord's buttons to change the Nord's sound. That's also why I said you had to set the Nord's Program Change setting to Off... so that when you did use the Nord's buttons to change the Nord's sound, it wouldn't also change the sound on the Korg.

How can I manage to for example play nord piano on nord and play nord organ on korg?

This sounds entirely different from what you were asking to do before. Did you change your mind about what you wanted to do, or did I misunderstand what you wanted to do all along?

My previous instructions were for playing Nord sounds only from the Nord (since you said, ""I don't have a need to play nord sounds on both keys"), while also letting you play a pair of Korg sounds ("only sounds from korg") from both the Korg and the Nord keyboards at the same time (i.e. to just "use nord as a controller"). This would allow you to play, to use what I think your example was in the first post, a Korg string sound from the Korg's own keyboard, while playing a Korg brass sound from the Nord's keyboard at the same time. But now, instead of wanting to play some Korg sounds with the NE3 keyboard as I think you said at the very start, you want the opposite, to play some NE3 sounds (i.e. organ) from the Korg keyboard, yes? This would require different cabling and different settings.

Before I take this any further, is this definitely what you want to do? I am concerned also because of what you wrote next...

how can I change nord sounds on korg so that all the time i have piano sound played from the nord and alter between other nord sounds on korg? is it possible?

I want to make sure you realize that, unlike the Korg, the Nord is not multitimbral... when it is set for piano, there is no way to get an organ sound out of it (even if you hook up another keyboard), and vice versa. It strictly plays only one sound at a time, and it needs a patch change to switch from piano to organ. So even if you set the M50 up to play the Nord's organ sound, if you happen to strike a key on the Nord, you will also hear it play organ. You will not be able to hear piano out of it until you switch it back to a piano sound, at which point the Korg will no longer be able to trigger its organ. I hope this is clear.

Is your NE3 an HP model, and you want to use its weighted action when playing a piano sound, but want to use your Korg's unweighted action when playing the Nord's organ and other sounds? I'm just trying to make sure I really understand the goal here, and then maybe I can come up with an answer for you.

[Tbone]

Hi Anotherscott! Thanks for reply.

You were correct and understood everything right. I know now how to play two voices from Korg (one on Nord and one on Korg) but now I wanted to try the opposite thing now because I was intrigued with your post that M50 is better controller and that you can, as you said, set up, say, patch 1, so that it calls up any of the 128 Nord sounds and that the Korg's touchscreen with full patch names can be used as a handy way to switch sounds on the Nord.

So, first I tried to play the sounds only from Nord - to play nord piano on nord and nord organ on korg but,as you answered me, that that is not posssible (your quote:"I want to make sure you realize that, unlike the Korg, the Nord is not multitimbral... when it is set for piano, there is no way to get an organ sound out of it (even if you hook up another keyboard))"
I wanted to try that because I wanted nice smooth organ from Nord (which I can not find something similar on Korg) along with the Nord piano.

So the only question now is how to create that patch list on Korg so it calls up any of the of the Nord sounds?