Nord User Forum

[gibmini]

Perhaps a weird one, not sure....

I play in various bands and sessions. One of them is a jazz funk trio doing jazz clubs etc. Normally I use my stage 2ex as my go-to gigging board for obvious reasons. But sometimes I add a korg Kronos 2 to fill in the gaps in the stage's capabilities. Now for this trio I have been using just the Kronos. I play uncomplicated splits and layers based around expression pedals and splits, and covering bass and keys sounds. I use the Kronos as sometimes I need drum tracks.

The Kronos has nearly died and I need to cover my trio gigs with my stage 2ex until I work out what to replace the Kronos with. I can do most things, but not the drum tracks. Any ideas on how? I guess I could sample them and get them looping some how, but it might be a pain to bring the in and out with a switch pedal.

Alternatively, is there a hardware drum machine that is still available new that I could use with my stage? Don't need electronic sounds(808 etc), need acoustic and ideally with effects so I can mash them up as I do with the Kronos.

Help greatly appreciated! Gig coming soon....

[Quai34]

If you have an ipad, you have what you need. If no, transfer your files in nsmp format and read them in the Stage 2. For the rest, I don't know, maybe an old Rompler that can read wave files?

[kbrkr]

Why don't you get a Motif XS Rack and trigger drums through that? I know it's not a Kronos, but It will give you what you need.

[danrv]

Why don't you get a Motif XS Rack and trigger drums through that?

Still would need a sequencer though.

What's wrong with the Kronos? I thought the 2 was fairly new.
Not sure if this is suitable. Drum machine and footswitch in one:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/singular_sound_beatbuddy.htm

[gibmini]

@danrv: the Kronos is the best work station and arguably the most powerful hardware synth in the world right now, but mine is dieing. The audio outs are distorting badly and the board itself does weird things in the middle of gigs like going silent until I change a program, randomly changing the levels of a part/s of a combi. General madness and I don't trust it for gigs with my jazz funk trio anymore. Plus I just like the stage more.

@kbrkr: drum sounds are not the problem, but triggering the loops is. Danrv is right, I need a drum machine or sequencer (hardware or software) to program my loops into.

[pablomastodon]

your early suggestion of sampling was a good one; I have used this with success in several different scenarios

doing this will require the use of one synth section, A or B. sample the loop(s) and create .nsmp file using Nord Sample Editor to load to Nord; I map them across 3-4 notes so that I can control tempo, engage mono mode so that you can't trigger more than one at a time, max out Amp Env Decay and engage Hold button. If you like you can even engage KBGate and mute/unmute the drum track on the fly with foot pedal.

you can use what you already have on hand or you can spend more money on more stuff and further complicate your performing rig and load-in/setup/teardown/load-out
looks like a no-brainer to me!

[mididiot]

Check out the app Drumgenius for your iPad or iPhone . Great sampled loops, all genres.
Handy to have around.