Nord User Forum

[Normhart]

I’ve just recently come around to exploring my Stage 3’s extern function which I find one of the more useful features the the Stage 3. It literally makes anything hooked up to it part of the instrument. The more I learn of this thing the more I realize it was worth every cent. Interested in hearing of others’ experiences with this and issues (if any) to look out for.

[Normhart]

I did have a small issue where the leds went dark and I couldn’t get them re-lit. I was hitting a lot of buttons in quick succession and it was during a double tap trying to switch a split to another side of the keyboard. The other indicator lights were functioning normally (vol, cc etc). Everything else was fine elsewhere but the only way was to reset via a power on/off to get things back to normal. I guess when you have a single button assigned to multiple functions, the software might get confused every now and then.

As for the limited function as a MIDI controller, I never really expected much of the NS3 for that compared with other more dedicated controllers. What I like most about it is it’s integration with the NS3 itself. Things like saving as part of a normal program or having both panels transmit on independent midi channels. As far as I know, I’m not aware of many MIDI controller keyboards that transmit on more than one channel at a time with just one MIDI out.

[baekgaard]

Page 43 in the manual tells you what probably happened:

"NON-KEYBOARD EXTERN SETUP

In addition to the regular keyboard zones, there is an extra option - selected the same way as regular keyboard zones - that doesn’t assign
the Extern section to the internal keyboard at all, signified by all KB ZONE LEDs being off for the Extern section. However, all other Extern features are still active, such as the Pitch Stick and the Value encoder. This is useful when you want to control external equipment with no need for MIDI keyboard messages."

This is a very useful feature too. It can be activated by changing the zone assignment - shift or double clicking. Sounds like this is what you did?

Sent from my phone in brevity

[Normhart]

Page 43 in the manual tells you what probably happened:

"NON-KEYBOARD EXTERN SETUP

In addition to the regular keyboard zones, there is an extra option -
selected the same way as regular keyboard zones - that doesn’t assign
the Extern section to the internal keyboard at all, signified by all KB
ZONE LEDs being off for the Extern section. However, all other Extern
features are still active, such as the Pitch Stick and the Value encoder.
This is useful when you want to control external equipment with no
need for MIDI keyboard messages."

This is a very useful feature too. It can be activated by changing the zone assignment - shift or double clicking. Sounds like this is what you did?

Sent from my phone in brevity

Yes, most definitely and thanks so much for the assurance that it’s not a defect. A lot of ‘issues’ I have are most likely pilot error or just not being as familiar with this keyboard.