Nord User Forum

Trying to use MIDI on my Nord Stage 2 HA 76 Extern section to change banks & programs on my Korg LE 61 (on NS2 program load) without sending note data from NS2 to the Korg. I also want my Korg LE to fire the Organ B on my NS2 through dual KB (or equivalent) for playing speedy Nord organ licks on my unweighted Korg. I can't seem to get the NS2 MIDI send data to select the Combi/Prog/A,B,C,D,G bank along with the program number. I can get the Extern Parameter knob to change the program number using the 'Program' parameter selection within a bank but can't seem to change the bank.I would love to see detailed specific MIDI settings for both instruments to accomplish this? Any experts out there?

You need to set the Bank MSB and LSB in the Extern menu.

In general, to get a grasp on NS2 MIDI, I recommend you to download and read the "NS2 MIDI Tutorial" which you can find listec in the NUF home page

Thanks maxpiano. I did read Henrik Larsson's MIDI Tutorial but am still confused.
My Korg LE Parameter Guide Bank Map says:
Specifies the mapping of programs and combinations relative to Bank Select control change messages (CC#0 upper byte and CC#32 lower byte).
The bank select messages shown in the following table can be received (R) or transmitted (T), corresponding to Program banks A...D, banks G, g(d) and Combination banks
A...C.
Bank Bank Map: KORG Bank Map: GM
Bank A 00. 00 R/T 63. 00 R/T
Bank B 00. 01 R/T 63. 01 R/T
Bank C 00. 02 R/T 63. 02 R/T
Bank D 00. 03 R/T 63. 03 R/T
Bank G 121. 00, 121. 01…09 R/T 121. 00, 121. 01…09 R/T

Now, how do I set the NS2 Extern section to transmit this CC and program data when I load a specific NS2 program that has my NS2 sounds already saved?

As I wrote, you need to go into the Extern menu and set the Bank MSB (CC0) and LSB (CC32) to the desired values (e.g. MSB=0 and LSB=1 to select Bank B) and set also the desired ProgramChange, then set the Extern parameter "SendOnLoad" to "Yes". Then, of course, save (Store) also the NS2 Program which uses the Extern with these settings

Take a look at the Extern section chapter on the NS2 manual too, to learn more on the related parameters and how they work.

Thanks again, maxpiano. I will try again this afternoon. One last question, I hope. I would also like to send Extern MIDI data to select the 'Combi' or 'Program' modes on the Korg LE because I use some patches from each. The Korg forum tells me:
Here are some of the sysex commands used for changing modes (all numbers are hex, and messages assume Global Channel = 1) :
Combi mode : F0 F2 30 70 4E 00 F7
Global mode : F0 F2 30 70 4E 07 F7
Program mode : F0 F2 30 70 4E 02 F7
Disk mode : F0 F2 30 70 4E 08 F7
Seq mode : F0 F2 30 70 4E 04 F7
Sampling mode : F0 F2 30 70 4E 06 F7
Can the Nord Extern section transmit this Sysex info?

I do not think so. Those are SysEx messages (starting with F0 and ending in F7). Only the receiving end knows how to interpret it.
You need a sequencer or a program like MIDI-OX (for win) or sysexxer for linux to send such messages (sorry not sure for macs, but there must be many).
Perhaps some of those 'song list' programs also support sending SysEx messages.
I would have expected the 2nd byte to be 42 for a Korg instrument...

My experience is you would probably want to use Bome Midi Translator Software to take simple messages from your Nord and translate them into the more complex messages (including Sysex as above) to send to your Korg.

I use this software pretty extensively to control my various midi enabled devices.

I'm not saying in cannot be done with the Nord, I find just more flexibility in using the SW. In might be a bit of a learning curve to get started however, but they have a very nice forum with lots of tips and the owner of the company often helps people with their midi projects.