by hector space » 12 Apr 2014, 13:13
Hi, Thanks for your input. I hadn't thought about the language barrier, English being my first and only language, I suppose I'm a little arrogant ( or even English!) about it. So I'm sorry not to be making my self clear.
Midi as a standard has been around since 1983 and I've been playing keyboards professionally since 1977. In the last 35 years I've had the great pleasure of owning and playing almost all the classic keyboards there have been. My latest acquisition of the NS 2 HA 88 is just a happy part of that. Multi timbal synths are nothing new. They were something to wow about in the 80’s. Back then the standard set of midi messages needed to work in a multitimbral environment was firmly established. It has be a core 'given' on synths and sequencers ever since. Individual manufacturers may add features through system exclusive messages or undefined controller codes, but by and large you can expect them to follow the convention. Especially top flight products. It is now 2014. Do we need a new wheel invented?
Nord have chosen an idiosyncratic route with the NS2. Their midi implementation is patchy and flawed. Yes you can use cc 112 to adjust the volume on a synth instrument section. And the NS 2 will obey cc112 volume messages received on the instrument specific channel. But, this isn't convention and it doesn't integrate easily with any other manufacturer's midi systems.
I should also point out that cc112 is an absolute volume control. Really for proper stage performance you need cc11 (expression), which does not change the maximum volume set but adjusts the volume within that range. This allows swell within a premixed range, which exactly what you want for strings, synth pads and other un dynamic sounds. Since 1978 my rule has been organ, strings, brass and synth parts need swell, piano, electric piano and clavs don't. That's what foot pedals are for!!! You need two assignable foot controllers because you can play at least two parts at once!
Really if Nord want to join the global midi party they should implement both volume cc07 and expression cc11 for each instrument.
If Nord had made the Swell pedal properly assignable to individual parts it would have mitigated this situation but they haven't, so instead you need an external midi foot pedal.. Assigned to what!! And since the midi configuration isn't dynamically stored with each program, you need a midi foot pedal that will change its configuration from one song/program to the next!!
Further to this I have found that when the NS 2 is being sent midi on a channel assigned uniquely to synth b slot 2, the NS2 will not only receive and respond to controllers defined for the synth section (eg cc112) but I can also change the organ volume by sending cc100 (on the same midi channel!). It suggests that any of Nord's midi controllers defined on page 62 of the manual will work across the whole slot panel regardless of the fact that you are sending messages only to one instrument. That isn't a good thing and it means the NS at heart really hasn't embraced multitimbrality in its midi processing.
All this might seem confusing and unnecessary, both the truth is that if you are using the NS 2 fully in a gigging situation, ie with both hands playing different parts and both feet using control pedals, you need the flexibility of full and individual control.
Indeed the flexibility provided by being able to control each instrument independently become even more important when your realise that the NS2's midi configuration is not dynamic. That is you cannot change the midi configuration from one song to the next without digging into the midi menus. Really just like the section signal routing, the NS2 should provide the user the option of storing the whole midi configuration along with the program.
Not everyone drives the Stage this hard, but to me it's a work horse that has the potential of replacing my current three keyboard rig with two. With its reduced weight and excellent organ simulation there is nothing to beat it. But it's midi implementation is poor and confused and its control and swell pedal assignment is weak. These failures do not warrant describing it as a master controller or a fully multi timbral synth. Certainly when compared to my RD700SX c2005, the NS2 is barely on the map!
Last edited by
hector space on 12 Apr 2014, 13:16, edited 1 time in total.