Nord User Forum

[Beaker]

Hey,

I currently change patches on my nord stage 2 using the awesome setlist maker/band helper app for IOS, connected via USB and the apple camera connector, works like a charm.

I now want to add Ableton LIVE into my rig running from a macbook pro.

Can I simply connect ipad via usb to Nord and then MIDI out to my soundcard so that I can map cc changes in Ableton?

[Berretje]

Can I simply connect ipad via usb to Nord and then MIDI out to my soundcard so that I can map cc changes in Ableton?

Yes! If you by "map cc changes" mean that you want the Nord to control Ableton. The nice thing about Stage 2 is that USB MIDI and traditional DIN MIDI are separate from each other, so for all MIDI in parts, and the two Extern MIDI out parts, you can select either USB MIDI ch 1-16, or DIN MIDI 1-16 - very handy in more complicated setups.

The only caveat is that this "great thing" will probably be a problem for you.... Set List Maker would need to send program changes on the Global MIDI channel of the Stage 2 - and the only part that sends CC-information for all controllers, is also the Global Channel (Panel A and Panel B parts only receives MIDI, but doesn't transmit anything). IIRC you can't assign both USB and DIN MIDI to the same part in Stage 2... so that will be a problem, if you want to be able to record all knobs and buttons on the Nord into Ableton...
It would work with the Stage 3, since it (at the moment) makes no difference between USB and DIN MIDI - your chosen channel will transmit and receive over both the USB and the DIN MIDI ports at the same time, but I'm pretty sure this isn't the case for the Stage 2... hmm...

One other way of doing it is to have the Nord connected via USB to the computer running Ableton, and then just need one simple USB to MIDI-cable, and connect the USB end of that to the Apple CCK in your iPad. The other end of the cable, the DIN MIDI connector, you connect to the MIDI in of your soundcard (and the cables MIDI out to the MIDI in. Then you do the routing in Ableton (I'm sure it's possible - every DAW I know has this ability), so the MIDI in of your soundcard get's routed directly into the USB MIDI in of the Stage 2. Then Set List maker not only can send MIDI messages to the Nord, but also to ableton, if you like. This would at least be the cheapest way of doing it - you can probably find a USB to 2x DIN MIDI, for 20-30$.

Good luck!

If you you feel like diving deeper, and do more advanced MIDI processing and routing with the iPad,computer and the Nord (and more gear if you like), I can warmly recommend the iConnectMidi 4+.
This little unit can process, route and transform an insane amount of MIDI channels, in most ways thinkable. You can connect MIDI gear via USB, DIN MIDI or even Ethernet. Plus - it let's you connect two iOS devices and one computer, or two computers and one iOS device at the same time. Connect up to eight USB MIDI devices (via a USB HUB), plus the four traditional MIDI in/out ports, and even more devices via Ethernet - which adds up to more than 64 x 16 ( = 1024) MIDI channels, according to the manufacturer...
And finally as a bonus - besides MIDI it also lets you open a low latency, 2-way stream between a computer and one iOS-device, so then you can control and record all of your virtual synths and audio apps in your iPad into the DAW in your computer, without any loss from A/D and D/A conversione - a pretty nice feature!

In your case though, all it would take to connect your three devices, would be:

1x USB between the Stage 2 and iConnectMidi 4+ (or 2x MIDI DIN if you prefer that)
1x special USB to lightning cable (included with the iCM 4+) for your iPad (the Camera Connection Kit is no longer needed)
1x USB from the computer to the iCM 4+

That would be it, and all the routing and necessary filtering is done by the iCM4+. There is an editor for the iCM4+ available for iOS, MacOS and Windows.
When connecting three or more MIDI devices together, the iCM4+ is a wonderful tool, since you often come to a point where you need to filter out some control messages or block a couple of channels in one synth, to have your rig work as you want it too. I've had mine since they first were released, I think. The only negative I can say about it is that it takes some time to get used to the editor and it has a quite steep learning curve.It can also be hard to have a good overview of how everything is routed, but once you get used to the workflow, it's pretty straight forward.

[Beaker]

What a great reply....!!!

Thank you so much, that is really informative.

I have some decisions to make here then, my soundcard doesn't have midi (yeah, it's a cheap one), so i'd either need to upgrade my soundcard or buy the midi device you mentioned.

It feels like for my use, some routing is needed and I like the idea of running this through a box

Thank you.

[MrTobbe]

I have some decisions to make here then, my soundcard doesn't have midi (yeah, it's a cheap one), so i'd either need to upgrade my soundcard or buy the midi device you mentioned.

It feels like for my use, some routing is needed and I like the idea of running this through a box

Well, if you also need a new audio interface, this might be a better choice, it's from the same company:

https://www.iconnectivity.com/products/ ... udio4plus/

It has the sam MIDI functionality as the iConnectMidi 4+, but no ethernet MIDI, 2 computers/ios-devices instead of 3, 1x DIN MIDI in/out, instead of 4, but it also can support up to 8 USB MIDI Devices, so it will still be more than enough to help with you're problem - and here's the good part:

4 audio inputs with mic preamps, and 4 balanced outputs.

I've had this interface on my wish list for quite a while now... someday I will get one.

[Beaker]

That looks like an awesome bit of kit.

For my purposes, the https://www.iconnectivity.com/products/ ... udio2plus/ 2 plus would work??

Thanks again, massive respect

[stringtapper]

If you’re using a Mac to run Live and your mac and IPad both support Bluetooth MIDI then that’s the setup I would recommend.

I do this now with my rig: Roland FC-300 pedal sends CC messages to MainStage that are then sent from a “dummy” channel strip assigned to the MIdI channel that the iPad is set to receive. The Mac and iPad are connected over Bluetooth at the system preference level and then I have OnSong on the iPad receiving MIDI messages for page turns. I do the same thing with patch changes on the NS3.

[Beaker]

Do you use the bluetooth setup for gigging live?

I've had lots of issues with bluetooth just giving up and disconnecting, which isn't workable at a gig

[stringtapper]

I use it live every single week and it’s been rock solid every time for me. Never had the Mac and iPad disconnect even once.

[MrTobbe]

That looks like an awesome bit of kit.

For my purposes, the https://www.iconnectivity.com/products/ ... udio2plus/ 2 plus would work??

Yes it would, but you would need to connect the Nord with traditional DIN MIDI-cables, since the iConnectAudio2+ doesn't have the USB MIDI Host port. And here's more reasons to choose the iConnectAudio4+ instead:


1. You will want the USB MIDI Host port, since it not only let's you connect your Nord with just a USB-cable (you have to use regular MIDI instead, and well, that can be perfectly fine), but it also to lets you connect up to a total of eight USB MIDI devices, so then you can connect any device that only has USB MIDI and not the traditional DIN MIDI connectors, and there's a lot of them on the market today.
   Now, there you can of course connect them directly to your computer, but the point is that with an iCM4+/iCA4+ you can connect up 7-8 USB MIDI devices, to your Nord without needing the computer. And with the host port you can even connect another MIDI interface, with up to 8 MIDI i/o, just as long the interface i Class Compliant.
2. The iCA2+ comes without a power supply - it's meant to be driven on USB power from your computer. So, without a computer you will need the power supply, and that will cost you another €35...
3. The price difference between the iCA2+ with the optional power supply, and the iCA4+, which has a power supply included in the price, is only €66. Yes, the iCA2+ is cheaper, but those extra €66 gives you a lot more functionality, IMHO

[Beaker]

That looks like an awesome bit of kit.

For my purposes, the https://www.iconnectivity.com/products/ ... udio2plus/ 2 plus would work??

Yes it would, but you would need to connect the Nord with traditional DIN MIDI-cables, since the iConnectAudio2+ doesn't have the USB MIDI Host port. And here's more reasons to choose the iConnectAudio4+ instead:


1. You will want the USB MIDI Host port, since it not only let's you connect your Nord with just a USB-cable (you have to use regular MIDI instead, and well, that can be perfectly fine), but it also to lets you connect up to a total of eight USB MIDI devices, so then you can connect any device that only has USB MIDI and not the traditional DIN MIDI connectors, and there's a lot of them on the market today.
   Now, there you can of course connect them directly to your computer, but the point is that with an iCM4+/iCA4+ you can connect up 7-8 USB MIDI devices, to your Nord without needing the computer. And with the host port you can even connect another MIDI interface, with up to 8 MIDI i/o, just as long the interface i Class Compliant.
2. The iCA2+ comes without a power supply - it's meant to be driven on USB power from your computer. So, without a computer you will the
3. The price difference between the iCA2+ with the optional power supply, and the iCA4+, which has a power supply included in the price, is only €66. Yes, the iCA2+ is cheaper, but those extra €66 gives you a lot more functionality, IMHO

Point 1 above is an absolute game changer, I hadn't realised that.

Thanks again for the advice..!!