Best complementary keyboard

[eugenechen]

With my Microkorg XL on its last legs, I went on a long search and ended up with a Hydrasynth Explorer. This board is known for extreme flexibility and potentially direct knob control -- if you program it. I've had some good sessions, but not really close to full bonding yet...

Then just last week it dawned on me to try hooking my NE5D to an iPad. The iPad sits perfectly on the right side of NE5D. Can't beat portability and extremely affordable if you already have the tablet. It was incredibly easy to connect with a single USB to Lightning cable and an 1/8" audio cable into the Aux input of my amp. Midi control of apps from the Nord was a breeze. With this you have the vast supply of iPad apps from creative and tactile like Animoog, emulations like Model D, and apps packed with presets like Audiokit Synth One. You can also run beats from Beatmaker 3, iMPC or iTunes.

That said, I haven't yet tried using this rig in a real band rehearsal or gig situation. I'd love to hear if anyone else has experience using tablet as a second board.

[Tasten-Bert]

I use my iPad mini for that and don‘t even connect it to a seperate mixer input but put a 3.5 mm aux cable into my NE5D‘s monitor input. The apps I use more or less frequently:
- Model D and iMini
- JustPiano with a 4GB 274-D loaded
- Heavy Brass
and a bit of this and that such as GarageBand, Numa Player, Galileo 2

I love the „portability“ and ease plus the opportunity to play a bit at home, even in bed.

Cheers from Germany

[eugenechen]

Didn't even realize my NE5D had a Monitor In before! Thanks for that.

Surprised to see JustPiano and Galileo Organ on your list -- do they beat the Nord's in some way?

[Tasten-Bert]

… Surprised to see JustPiano and Galileo Organ on your list -- do they beat the Nord's in some way?

Galileo is to my ears very close to the NE5. There is another app available - VB3m - which is as far as the Hammond basic sound is concerned better than my nord, whereas distorted sounds like Jon Lord style are still better on the nord, at least to my taste. What I like at these apps is that I can look at various presets to understand the nuances in sound.

Regarding JustPiano I think I‘m still in the experimenting phase, but a 4GB piano file has a far more naturally sustaining sound than our 200MB files.

Cheers from Germany

Edit: I was about to forget that I use my iPad in summer months with my portable Casio CT-S1 which also has a 3.5 mm audio input. Here the organ app comes to almost excessive usage. Camping season is coming, I can‘t await it.

[anotherscott]

I want to create synth sounds

Can I load samples? Like real e. bass, strings...?

If you want a real pseudo-analog synthesizer that also has the ability to work with real samples, short of a Nord Wave 2, take a look at the Studiologic Sledge.