NS4 AUX KB Mode

[SuperStage]

I currently own a NS3 Compact which I run exclusively in DUAL KB mode with an weighted 88 note controller below. I have ordered a NS4 Compact and have been reading through the manual to understand the new AUX KB mode, which replaces the DUAL KB mode on the NS3. Are there any NS4 owners out there using AUX KB mode who can confirm the following questions?

1. AUX KB (P.54 & 57) When AUX KB = ON, I understand that you can assign any any combination of the 2 x organ, 2 x piano and 3 x synth layers to the dual KB and that if a layer is assigned to a AUX KB it is not available on the local NS4 Keyboard.

Do the AUX KB assignments also work in the same way for LAYER SCENE II?

2. LAYER MIDI CONTROL (P.54) "A second option for controlling parts of the Stage 4 from a external device would be to use its per-Layer MIDI capabilities, allowing for addressing any Layer on a different MIDI channel. All Layers can still be controlled “locally” from the Nord Stage 4 keyboard if desired."

Does this refer to the individual organ/piano/synth layers or the entire LAYER SCENE (I or II) or is this referring to individual layers within each section?
i.e. Does this mean that LAYER SCENE I is played locally and LAYER SCENE II is played from the AUX KB so you could play 2 ORG/2 PNO/ 3 SYNTH on both the NS4 local and AUX KB?

I see many hours of programming in my future!

3. PEDAL CONTROL (P.42). The DUAL KB pedal functionality was limited on the NS3 and the local sustain and expression and morphs would only work on the NS3 locally.

Has this been fixed on the NS4? i.e Will the sustain pedal, expression pedal and morphs affect the performance from both the NS4 local keyboard and the AUX KB?

[SuperStage]

1. Yes, I use my AUX KB assignments as LAYER SCENE II, I assign the AUX parts and they make sure they are LAYER 2, although you don't HAVE to. I just do it to keep them physically separate in my mind, also makes it more easy to not make a mistake editing on my part.

2. LAYER SCENE II is NOT 7 more sets of sounds. It's the same set of 7 and only 7 you get to possibly play on SCENE I. All the Scenes are, are different combinations of the same and only 7 parts. you can assign any of the 7 parts to either or both layer, or assign any of the 7 to respond to different midi input channels. There are only 7 parts. There's also no upper and lower parts for the organ. on the NS3 you could have possibly 4 different organ drawbar combinations, there's only 2, on 2 different organ layers for the NS4. Each one is one sound. I used to play upper and lower drawbars for one organ sound from the DUAL controller, but now its 2 different sounds, sharing the same Leslie and effects btw. So no say double manual B3 and a Farfisa as you could on the NS3. It's a step backwards on the NS4.

3. I know the sustain pedal and pitchblende and mod work on the AUX KB sounds, not sure about a morph, also they have to be switched ON just like for the local keyboard.

[SuperStage]

1. Yes, I use my AUX KB assignments as LAYER SCENE II, I assign the AUX parts and they make sure they are LAYER 2, although you don't HAVE to. I just do it to keep them physically separate in my mind, also makes it more easy to not make a mistake editing on my part.

2. LAYER SCENE II is NOT 7 more sets of sounds. It's the same set of 7 and only 7 you get to possibly play on SCENE I. All the Scenes are, are different combinations of the same and only 7 parts. you can assign any of the 7 parts to either or both layer, or assign any of the 7 to respond to different midi input channels. There are only 7 parts. There's also no upper and lower parts for the organ. on the NS3 you could have possibly 4 different organ drawbar combinations, there's only 2, on 2 different organ layers for the NS4. Each one is one sound. I used to play upper and lower drawbars for one organ sound from the DUAL controller, but now its 2 different sounds, sharing the same Leslie and effects btw. So no say double manual B3 and a Farfisa as you could on the NS3. It's a step backwards on the NS4.

3. I know the sustain pedal and pitchblende and mod work on the AUX KB sounds, not sure about a morph, also they have to be switched ON just like for the local keyboard.

Thanks for the reply. Good to hear that they have enabled the sustain from an AUX KB. Would love to hear if the morph and the expression pedal work as well? The swell pedal works only for organ sounds on the AUX KB, but the expression pedal and morphs do not work.

[Valpurgis]

So no say double manual B3 and a Farfisa as you could on the NS3. It's a step backwards on the NS4.

I don’t follow you on this. NS3 used both panels (A and B) to realize a double manual B3 leaving no chance to also play any more organ models. No step backwards, or have I overlooked a feature for six years?

[SuperStage]

So no say double manual B3 and a Farfisa as you could on the NS3. It's a step backwards on the NS4.

I don’t follow you on this. NS3 used both panels (A and B) to realize a double manual B3 leaving no chance to also play any more organ models. No step backwards, or have I overlooked a feature for six years?

I just received my NS4 and the organ is a step backwards. In the above example, you on the NS3, you could run a double manual B3 on preset I and a double manual Farfisa on Preset II.
I never used B3 with other organs, but I did use a double manual B3 with different drawbar settings for upper and lower keyboard using Preset I and could easily switch to a different B3 sound on the top or bottom using Preset II. The NS4 only has 1 preset + live.

[SuperStage]

1. Yes, I use my AUX KB assignments as LAYER SCENE II, I assign the AUX parts and they make sure they are LAYER 2, although you don't HAVE to. I just do it to keep them physically separate in my mind, also makes it more easy to not make a mistake editing on my part.

This makes sense to help keep track of which sounds are on which keyboard. I just received my NS4 COMPACT and can't figure out how are you managing to play both LAYER SCENE I (top keyboard ) and LAYER SCENE II (bottom keyboard) at the same time?

2. LAYER SCENE II is NOT 7 more sets of sounds. It's the same set of 7 and only 7 you get to possibly play on SCENE I. All the Scenes are, are different combinations of the same and only 7 parts. you can assign any of the 7 parts to either or both layer, or assign any of the 7 to respond to different midi input channels. There are only 7 parts. There's also no upper and lower parts for the organ. on the NS3 you could have possibly 4 different organ drawbar combinations, there's only 2, on 2 different organ layers for the NS4. Each one is one sound. I used to play upper and lower drawbars for one organ sound from the DUAL controller, but now its 2 different sounds, sharing the same Leslie and effects btw. So no say double manual B3 and a Farfisa as you could on the NS3. It's a step backwards on the NS4.

I just set up my NS4 in AUX KB mode and easily created my default Dual Keyboard Multi Program with Organ A on top and B on bottom, both Piano A + B on bottom, Synth A+B on top and Synth C on bottom. This allows me to easily switch between Organ + 2 Synths on Top and Piano + B3 + E. Piano + Pad on bottom. The organ is definitely a step backward without the NS3 PRESET I and PRESET II as there is only PRESET and LIVE on the NS4

3. I know the sustain pedal and pitchbend and mod work on the AUX KB sounds, not sure about a morph, also they have to be switched ON just like for the local keyboard.

I confirmed that the Sustain Pedal, Pitch Bend and Morphs (Mod Wheel, AT and Exp Pedal) all work on both the local and AUX KB which is a huge improvement.

[Jim Roseberry]

I just set up my NS4 in AUX KB mode and easily created my default Dual Keyboard Multi Program with Organ A on top and B on bottom, both Piano A + B on bottom, Synth A+B on top and Synth C on bottom. This allows me to easily switch between Organ + 2 Synths on Top and Piano + B3 + E. Piano + Pad on bottom. The organ is definitely a step backward without the NS3 PRESET I and PRESET II as there is only PRESET and LIVE on the NS4

Would the Layer Scene 1/2 button work for allowing you to switch between two Organ sounds?

[SuperStage]

I just set up my NS4 in AUX KB mode and easily created my default Dual Keyboard Multi Program with Organ A on top and B on bottom, both Piano A + B on bottom, Synth A+B on top and Synth C on bottom. This allows me to easily switch between Organ + 2 Synths on Top and Piano + B3 + E. Piano + Pad on bottom. The organ is definitely a step backward without the NS3 PRESET I and PRESET II as there is only PRESET and LIVE on the NS4

Would the Layer Scene 1/2 button work for allowing you to switch between two Organ sounds?

Unfortunately not. The Layer Scene 1/2 button only save different scenes made up of the same 7 sounds (2 organs, 2 pianos and 3 synths/samples). So you can only have 2 organs (A + B) on the NS4 compared to 4 (A + B PRESET I and A + B PRESET II) in the NS3. It is not a huge issue with the live drawbars and the new lights as my 2nd setting was typically full stops, but is definitely a downgrade.

[Valpurgis]

Would the Layer Scene 1/2 button work for allowing you to switch between two Organ sounds?

Yes it will. If your program include two different organ sounds on layer A and layer B you can let one of the layers inactive in Scene 1 and the other in Scene 2.

[SuperStage]

Would the Layer Scene 1/2 button work for allowing you to switch between two Organ sounds?

Yes it will. If your program include two different organ sounds on layer A and layer B you can let one of the layers inactive in Scene 1 and the other in Scene 2.

This is true if you are playing both sounds from the NS4 keyboard, but if you are playing one of the organ sounds from an AUX KB and one locally, you have 2 less organ sounds than you did on the NS3 as they removed the ORGAN PRESET II option.