Nord User Forum

[davidstvz]

I don't know much about MIDI or keyboards yet. Is it correct that I can connect a separate keyboard with MIDI output to the Nord Stage 2 and play the external keyboard and have the NS2 produce sounds as if I was playing it directly?

If this is correct, then I can get the NS2-SW73 for stage use and connect my Yamaha portable grand at home if I want 88 keys on the NS2. Is there any noticeable lag when controlling the Nord externally in this way (assuming I understand it right to begin with).

Thanks,
-Dave

[-Toro-]

hi Dave and welcome to this forum.

yes, the NS supports both MIDI IN and MIDI OUT which means it can serve both as MASTER and SLAVE.
you can use another keyb to master the NS without lag.

if your Yamaha piano has a MIDI OUT connector you can use it to playback the Nord Stage.

hope this helps.

[bertpeeters]

Hi David,

You've understood it perfectly. The NS2 is "multitimbral", which means that the sound engines (piano, synth and organ) can be used indepently at the same time. You can do so by layering them or splitting the keyboard, but you can also use any external MIDI-enabled keyboard.

The NS2 is six-part multitimbral: you can use 2 piano's, 2 organs and 2 synth at the same time. And you can control any or all of them from the external keyboard. You can even have different MIDI settings for each program, so you'll be able to switch external control on or off for different songs, for instance.

There will be no noticeable lag at all; the MIDI data are sent and processed so fast that you won't be able to hear it.

[davidstvz]

Aaaaah. So I could hook up a much cheaper second keyboard to the nord and have it play sounds from the nord at the same time as I play directly on the nord. Niiiice! Almost like having two nord's instead of one :)

[-Toro-]

yepp, almost! :-)
it's like having a nord with two manuals.
you still have to share global the effects (reverb and compressor) and rotor settings and organ type for both manuals.

but if you're looking for this solution i strongly recommend you to buy a good MASTER keyboard. with many programmable controllers. and with a keyboard action you like.