MIDI BASIC INFO FOR ELECTRO 4

[tsheehan]

I am willing to take some heat for posting a ridiculous ? but i have a nord 4 and can't figure how to turn on the midi ( 1st time user). I am hooked up to GarageBand through a focusrite interface but can't seem to get my nord to operate as a midi.Focusrite and GarageBand are working as I have tried it with a guitar. I have searched google and this forum and looked at that midi manual that is posted on the home pg of this forum. Is there a comprehensive midi pg/area you could direct me to for use with my electro 4? Ok to roll your eyes while you reluctantly answer my post! Very much appreciate your help!

[FZiegler]

After rolling my eyes, I'll start with a question. As MIDI isn't a service or a device, but a data exchange protocol, I would like first to find out what you mean by "operate as a midi"?

Would you like to play midi files from your computer on your Electro (which isn't as multitimbral as on your smart phone) or would you like to play the Electro keys with your software sounds (or rather the software sounds with your Electro keys - I mean the same)? In any case you need to set both the Electro and the software on the same MIDI channel - one as sending, the other as receiving.

Do you use a MIDI cable?

[maxpiano]

I am willing to take some heat for posting a ridiculous ? but i have a nord 4 and can't figure how to turn on the midi ( 1st time user). I am hooked up to GarageBand through a focusrite interface but can't seem to get my nord to operate as a midi.Focusrite and GarageBand are working as I have tried it with a guitar.

Hi...

I am afraid the problem is here: MIDI is not an audio transport protocol, it transports "execution" data (notes, pedals, controls...) while a guitar plugged into an Audio IN of your Focusrite sends audio.

As FZiegler say,s you need to clarify what exactly you want to do with your NE4 and GB:

1. record NE4 audio output into a GarageBand Audio track -> connect NE4 audio outs (L/L+R) to a (mono/stereo) Audio IN of the Focusrtite, just as you'd do with a guitar
2. use NE4 as a master keyboard to play Garage Band "Software Instruments" tracks -> connect the NE4 MIDI OUT to the Focusrite MIDI IN (or, alternatively, connect NE4 USB to the computer, directly) and set NE4 to transmit on MIDI Channel 1

[tsheehan]

Thanks in advance for responding. I would like to play the software sounds on garageband with my nord so I can play bass guitar, synth and other GarageBand sounds using the ne4 as the controller/master. I have a 5 pin midi adapter connected to midi out on nord and then connected to the focusrite. So to clarify I am trying to do on maxpiano reply. Totally confused with setting ne4 to transmit on midi channel 1. How do you do that. Doesn't the midi in the nord need to be "on"? i see a midi light under the red tiny screen but its off. I have probably graduated to the next level of ignorance which is "this guy is a lost cause". Please dumb it down for me- like 1st turn on the power on the Nord, what buttons to push, etc.

[alex78]

Have you read the manual? if you bought your instrument used and don't have one you can download it for free on nord's official site. On page 18 you will find what you need!

[FZiegler]

I don't know which Electro you have - there are two different ones for 4D and 4HP/SW: https://www.nordkeyboards.com/downloads ... -electro-4.

Of course you have to get your Electro to send MIDI data (MIDI-out socket) to your Focusrite (MIDI-in).

In the MIDI menu on the Electro, you can set
- Local Control (1) to off as you don't want to play the internal sounds,
- MIDI Interface (2) to P (DIN ports, not USB)
- MIDI Channel (3) to 1 (MIDI Channel 1)
- Control Change (CC) Mode (5) to Sr (send&receive) or S (send) to forward more than only the keys, but controller data, too: Expression Pedal, Sustain Pedal
- Program Change (PC) Mode (6) to Sr or S (or OFF, if you don't want to change programs from the Electro)
- MIDI Split Mode (7) better to OFF, so that your computer gets the full key range

You then have to look to get GarageBand receive on channel 1 (or all).

The MIDI LED won't blink as it shows incoming data, not sent data. But there should be some similar indicators in your software on the computer.