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nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby drongoloid » 17 Aug 2018, 13:35

Hi. I have the Nord Drum 3p which sounds great but my use of the pads doesn't! I would like to use the Drum 3 as a sound module triggered by a hardware/ software step sequencer. Not being very good on midi I'm not sure what kind of step sequencer I need. As the Drum 3 has 6 pads I guess I need something with 6 channels/ tracks?

I know the Beat Step Pro has been mentioned but I dont grasp how this controls 6 pads.

many thanks in advance.

Andrew
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nord drum 3p as sound module


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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby AfterFuture » 19 Aug 2018, 18:08

There is a free Nord Drum sequencer app for Apple Ipad that does just that, but any sequencer will work. Just use a midi cable and "midi out" from your preferred DAW/sequencer/computer to the "midi in" of the Nord Drum then use the piano roll to draw in your steps (set up your midi channel in the Daw first). I personally use it with an Akai MPC and it works perfectly. Yes, there are six midi channels each corresponding to a pad or you can use channel 10 which is a global channel and allows you to program all six pads on one channel. Hope that helps.
Last edited by AfterFuture on 19 Aug 2018, 18:13, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby drongoloid » 20 Aug 2018, 11:51

many thanks for that AfterFuture. As I mentioned in the first post I am as knowledgable about MIDI as your average trout is about embroidery. Especially channels. So I can select individual channels for the 6 pads from a vst step sequencer or use channel 10; this is where I lose it. How does using one channel (ie 10) distinguish what signal is meant to go to which pad? I use reaper so I'm going to give the MegaBaby sequencer a go.

thanks again.
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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby wartaler » 22 Aug 2018, 22:56

Hi drongoloid,

You can use the global MIDI channel to trigger sounds on your 3p by sending the MIDI notes as set in the MIDI settings on the 3p. The default factory settings are: Global MIDI channel = 10, MIDI note 60 (central C) is coupled to channel1 (I do not mean MIDI channel1, but the sound or pad on the 3p), note 62 is coupled to channel2, note 64 to 3, note 65 to 4, note 67 to 5, note 69 to 6. That’s 6 white keys of a keyboard, C3 and up (or C4 depending on if you’re on the Roland or Yamaha standard). On the 3p these notes can be set in the MIDI settings, looks something like this: [n.60]. So if there is a bass drum sound on channel1, and you send a central C on MIDI channel 10, you will hear a bass drum. Make a drum pattern using these 6 notes. If you send any other notes to the 3p, nothing will happen, no sound. The pitch of the sounds will exactly be as you programmed them, and as can be heard when playing the pads themselves.

The individual MIDI channels can be used to control all sound parameters with MIDI CC messages, if you send MIDI notes on an individual MIDI channel, the MIDI note number will here control the pitch of the Tone section. In that way you can play melodies using one channel, handy for tuned percussion sounds eg marimba, only with one channel! Sending note 60 will result in the original pitch (of the Tone sectionj, notes above or below will result in a higher or lower pitch. Remember that each channel of the 3p is monophonic. To avoid problems, never use the MIDI channel that is already used as global MIDI channel. For example if the global MIDI channel = 10 [GL.10] use MIDI channel1 through 6 for the individual MIDI channels: [Ch. 1], [Ch. 2] etc

Hope this helps..
Albert
Last edited by wartaler on 13 Sep 2018, 08:29, edited 7 times in total.
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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby drongoloid » 23 Aug 2018, 19:38

thank you very much for this comprehensive answer. It works!
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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby sanchezvivi » 11 Oct 2018, 03:18

Hello, everyone,

I currently use the iPad app to play live with the Nord Drum 3P, but I'm thinking about getting a Beatstep Pro because it has more programming possibilities.
But there are still some things I'm trying to figure out.
Since I can't change programs in the middle of a song without it being noticed (like you can on the Nord Stage 3) my fastest choice would be to mute/stop playing the channel and select a new stored user sound from the drum select menu.

I haven’t tested yet, but from the manual it seems that MIDI CC 0 and 32 - Bank Select would work, but i’m not sure if it’s to select the drum kit bank or the drum bank. Or it’s it a continuous sequence for both banks?

Thanks!
Last edited by sanchezvivi on 11 Oct 2018, 18:03, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby wartaler » 11 Oct 2018, 19:23

Hi sanchezvivi,

The drumkit can be selected using those CCs, with the Beatstep Pro you can assign LSB MSB combinations to pads, in that way you should be able to quickly select different drum kits.

Cheers,
Albert
Last edited by wartaler on 11 Oct 2018, 19:23, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby -CALC- » 12 Oct 2018, 18:04

Hello Folks,

Just received my new 3P today and I'm really enjoying it.

I have found a strange behaviour though and I wonder if anyone might be able to help out.

I'm using the ND3P as a tone module and have it connected to my hardware sequencer, my Global channel is set to 10 as is my sequencer so I can play all 6 parts (internal ch) from my Sequencer also set to channel 10 on note numbers. All the individual parts MIDI channels are set to off so I'm exclusively using the drums on channel 10. I have a mapping in my hardware sequencer (I'm using an SL MKIII from Novation) for the Nord drum again this is set to MIDI channel 10 so I can automate and control the sound engine with the mapping and change sounds to edit them with ch select switches this is all working fine. However......

I'm finding that all CC messages regardless of MIDI channel are controlling the ND3P's first part (maybe I should call it drum 1 from now on.... basically the one that is usually a kick in the kits). Again this is even after making sure that drum 1 has it's own MIDI channel set to off.
It's basically like there is a bleed through of MIDI CC data onto drum 1 regardless of the MIDI channel I'm using.

Eg i set global MIDI channel to 10 and individual MIDI channels for all 6 drums to off, then move a CC on say MIDI channel 1 or 2.... or indeed any channel and it affects the 1st drum part.
I would have expected that CC sent only on MIDI channlel 10 would affect drum 1 when set up this way.
Is this usual behaviour? it certainly seems a bit strange. The other drums behave as I would expect, ie they only react when selected and CC's are sent on MID Channel 10 so this problem seems only to be on the first drum part.

I hope my description makes sense and thanks in advance of any help that might be around.
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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby -CALC- » 12 Oct 2018, 19:01

Well following my last (and first ever ;o) post.

I went back to try the ND3P and all is now working as expected.. it was all a little strange and I'm sure I hadn't done a thing since to the set up to make it work again. It's been a long week so it could feasibly be me going slightly mad.
If the behaviour comes back I may repost but for now the Drum is behaving like the perfect module... and sounding like a beast!!!!!

Cheers

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Re: nord drum 3p as sound module

Postby wartaler » 12 Oct 2018, 20:56

Hi CALC!
Sending CC messages on the Global MIDI channel will control sound parameters of the channel (drum sound) which is in focus, you can change the focus with the channel select buttons.

If a MIDI channel is not used as Individual or Global MIDI channel, the 3p should not respond to these CC messages, very strange! If it happens again, perhaps you can feed the MIDI that is sent from the sequencer to a computer or tablet with MIDI monitoring software to see what is actually sent to the 3p.

Albert
Last edited by wartaler on 12 Oct 2018, 21:07, edited 2 times in total.
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