Nord User Forum

[catizone]

Hi there,

I'm aiming to record a track using my Nord 3 piano and Garage Band - hooked up via USB cable. All works fine except I'm not getting the program that I'm using on the Nord piano (C33, split bass, piano) in Garage Band. Is that because I need to use a intermediate box to interpret the signal from the Nord piano or am I doing something else wrong?

Many thanks for help.
Best wishes,
catizone

[FZiegler]

Hi Catizone,

what is your idea?
1. Do you want to record the NP3-sound? Then connect your audio out to the computer (no audio via USB)
2. Do you want to record MIDI signals so that you can drive a Garage Band sound with the NP3 keys? Then establish a USB-MIDI (if available on the NP3 - I'm not sure) or any other MIDI connection.

What you call "signal", can be either analogue audio or digital MIDI, but nothing else.

[maxpiano]

Hi, afaik Garage Band can only handle MIDI for Software Instruments tracks (Virtual Instruments), not for External Instruments like the NP (you need Logic or another DAW for that). In other words, with GarageBand your NP just acts as a master keyboard for its AU plugins.

[FZiegler]

You can't record audio with Garage Band?

[maxpiano]

You can't record audio with Garage Band?

Sure, but not via USB MIDI as the OP is doing (and no Program changes management in audio)

I was explaining just what you can/cannot do as MIDI in GB.

Maybe the missing point here is that NP does not support USB Audio... (?)

[FZiegler]

According to the manual, the NP3 would support MIDI as well as USB-MIDI simultaneously. So still the question is, what you want to record as "track" - you can record a MIDI track, but there is no audio data via USB: You'd need an audio cable to record an audio track.

[analogika]

Nord Keyboards do not transmit audio via USB.

If you wish to record the actual sound coming from a Nord, you need to connect an audio cable from the Nord to an audio interface in order to get it into the Mac/iPad.

[Berretje]

Hi Cat,

As several users have mentioned, you can't record audio over USB with the NP.

As far as I understand your request "I'm not getting the program that I'm using on the Nord piano (C33, split bass, piano) in Garage Band.", I'm assuming that you mean to record that specific sound/program into Garageband. Then yes, you'll be better of installing recording software (Audacity, Audition - search the forum for recording software) or a DAW. You will need an audio interface (external sound card) connected to your computer where you connect your NP to (using jack cables).

For your reference: please read the chapter "How can I record my Nord into any/a daw?" from the FAQ section to understand these concepts.

[catizone]

Many thanks all for helpful replies! I suspected that might be the case and you've now confirmed it. I have ordered an audio cable, so let's hope that will do the trick.

Best wishes,
catizone

[FZiegler]

Hi catizone,

sounds as if you are a beginner in recording projects. Depending on what your project is about, you will soon see the limits of your approach: Directly recording audio means the simple way of getting music as long as you are playing in an accurate rhythm and don't make mistakes.

But it will be hard to correct mistakes, so simple way doesn't really mean easy way. If you are advancing a bit, you would probably want to first record only MIDI data (notes, velocity and the like you are playing) via USB, then edit the recorded "music" (only data) in your computer and then transform the MIDI track into a sound track with a) a software instrument in your computer (which means you can't use the piano samples from the Nord, but software samples in GB) or b) send the MIDI data back to the Nord (via USB) and record the sound the Nord is producing via audio cable (if your Mac has a good audio-in module).

In version b) the warning from maxpiano applies that maybe Garageband isn't capable of controlling the external NP3 via MIDI, so you would need another DAW.

Enjoy your first steps!