Nord User Forum

[wkrbee]

Hello all.I recently bought a "MIDIPLUS" GM module.Real tiny,so I thought it would be easy to add some pads and stuff to the Electro 2 for the live gigs.When I plug in the MIDI out of the E2 to the MIDI in of the module,the audio output of the E2 disappears,and there are loud clicks any time you press a key or rotate a knob sending CC.Disconnecting the audio out of the E2 brings back the module output,Disconnect the MIDI out and the E2 works.It looks like the module does not optically isolate the MIDI in per the MIDI spec,-my Roland 2080 works fin.-Is there some kind of a ground loop causing the E2 not to respond locally? I looked in the E2 manual about using the USB out as the MIDI source.I can't find anything in the manual about the USB port,other than using it to update the Firmware.The module can be used as a USB "host",so I'm tempted to try it,but want some opinions.There is also a USB to MIDI cord laying around somewhere here.Would that work?
If you see this Pablo-Hey from Jim @ Tascam.

[maxpiano]

No USB MIDI availabl on Nord Electro 2, sorry; nevertheless the fact that making a MIDI connection causes audio problems is pretty unusual, could be only related to faulty circuits on either side of the chain (NE2 or the module)

[pablomastodon]

Hey Jim! I brought your cable back to your booth (around 5:20 Sunday?), and was jealous as hell to see Tascam already packed and done. I got out around midnight! Anyway, there was one guy left over there -- I neglected to get his name -- and he started to take it from me, then apparently deciding it was more trouble than it was worth, told me to keep it. "We got a million of 'em." Nice extra long cable, too! Thanx again for that.

Max has it right, no midi-over-USB functionality on NE2, or NE3 for that matter. For reference purposes, NP was first model to introduce that and all models released since then will have that feature.

Having audio output fail when midi out connected and then resume normally when disconnected...?!?!? That ranks VERY high in the pantheon of weird behaviors that I have ever seen, on ANY instrument, Nord or otherwise. And you say no problems with your Roland unit? That must be some evil box you are using.

Or...do you have midi from the box connected back to the Nord? A midi feedback loop might overload audio and shut things down... I wouldn't think that you would have made that connection, but if you did, that might happen.

Let us know...

Bless, Pablo

[wkrbee]

Hey Pablo.I'm thinking as I said in my post that the unit probably does not opto isolate the MIDI in.It only has MIDI in-which is a TRS jack that breaks out to a MIDI connector.Not having schematics for the E 2 makes it tough to diagnose.It almost acts like the MIDI out is wired before the sound engine in the E 2-wild guess.I'm going to try a MIDI merger box I have to isolate the MIDIPlus.Got a refund for Ebay already-they didn't want it back.
You probably talked to William,( the show coordinator)-great guy.Hope you had a productive show.
See ya' next year.
Jim.

[wkrbee]

Errata: Found the service manual online. Looks like a ground loop issue.I was thinking in the analog world when I commented about placement of the MIDI out.I will follow up with my MIDI merger experiment.

[pablomastodon]

yes, Workhouse Poets posted NE2 service documentation a long time ago and apparently Nord has never bothered to try to get them to remove it.

[wkrbee]

With the merger,there is no difference.The MIDI light on the merger goes out as soon as I plug in the audio out.Oh well,back to the rack mount stuff...