Nord User Forum

[nathansh]

I've got a Nord Electro 3 and have been getting seriously into playing B3 blues/jazz in the style of Jimmy Smith lately. Ultimately I'll need to get a C2D and Pedal Keys as I progress and start performing more, but at the moment I just don't have the money. I was thinking of starting with the Pedal Keys so I can at least start learning to play pedals, and then get the C2D later, but I'm not sure if I can use the Pedal Keys with my Electro 3. Does anybody have any information about this? Also, has anybody had any success using a secondary MIDI keyboard as a lower manual for the organ and gotten a nice feeling setup where the keyboards aren't too far apart?

Any info on this would be really appreciated.

Thanks,

Nathan

[Hanon_CTS]

I'm not sure if I can use the Pedal Keys with my Electro 3. Does anybody have any information about this? Also, has anybody had any success using a secondary MIDI keyboard as a lower manual for the organ and gotten a nice feeling setup where the keyboards aren't too far apart?

Hello nathansh,
Welcome to the forums.
The Pedal Keys will work with the Electro 3.
However, the NE3 doesn't have a separate section, or drawbuttons for the pedal manual voice.
The Pedal Keys will have to play the lower manual voice instead.

I've found the StudioLogic VMK-161 to be a good choice of lower manual keyboard controllers.

Cheers, Hanon

[Ian Hay]

Hanon, I've been looking at the VMK-161 Organ closely, hoping it would be a "best of both worlds" solution for both a high quality waterfall action controller for organ playing with my Electro 3 HP, and also as a general-purpose MIDI controller for software synths and use with A DAW like Logic. I've tried it unplugged in the store and I love the action. But how do you find it as a midi controller for other purposes? Useful? Reliable?

[nathansh]

Ian, how did you find the action in comparison to the Electro? As something to just 'do the trick' until I can afford the C2D I like the price.

Anyone have a good hint for positioning with keyboard stands to position them close enough together?

[Ian Hay]

I have the Electro HP so there's no real comparison. The electro HP is hammer action, suitable for acoustic and electric piano, but less than ideal for organ. I found the action on the VMK 161 Organ to be a very high quality semi weighted waterfall action comparable to any good organ-focused keyboard, eg the Nord C2 or the Hammond offerings, and better than the electro non-HP (in my opinion). Grain of salt, though, as this is only from a couple of visits to a store, and not from extended use.

[Hanon_CTS]

But how do you find it as a midi controller for other purposes? Useful? Reliable?

Hi Ian,
The VMK-161 is a very capable MIDI controller. It has pitchbend, modulation control, aftertouch, definable CC# control surfaces.
It even has preset control configurations for Logic.