Nord User Forum

[analogika]

I'm afraid it's quite impossible for this function to be included in a firmware update, as it literally requires an additional set of engines if done properly.

What many cheaper keyboards do is to keep the sound going but with the parameters of the new program. The Yamaha mm6 for instance does this — you can switch the program, and the old sample will continue playing, but with the modulation effects and filter settings of the new program. Still a jump, but less jarring than cutting out entirely. Still unpredictable, though.

However, only two out of three engines on the Nord Stage are sample-based, so even a halfway compromise as described would come with additional caveats that probably make putting in the effort not worthwhile.

Mere conjecture on my part, though.

I wonder if something like the GameChanger Audio PLUS sustainer pedal would be a workable solution:

https://www.gamechangeraudio.com/pluspedal/

[ericL]

Also, switching programs immediately cuts off the previous sound.

Hi, I'm starting to use our church NS2ex a lot more now.

I use a fairly small number of my favorite customised patches/programs which I've grouped together in a (hopefully:)) little used corner of Bank D, Page 20.

My issue, as implied by the above quote, is that, when playing live and I want to switch programs, as soon as I make the switch (as analogika mentions) my current output gets stopped. This is obviously crippling as we often play continuously for 2 hours or more with songs flowing seamlessly - well they might if I can get round this issue!

I've been using a Roland DS-61 on the streets and this lets me twirl the program dial and politely waits for me to play a different note before seamlessly making the program transition.

I don't believe that it can't be done on a NORD, costing 7 times as much, but I haven't been able to find out how in the manual.

Any clues would be very much appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

I have a solution for this on the NS2 that I've written about (I'll search and see if I can find more detailed description). I used the NS2 live for nearly a decade and this was the best way to "fake" a seamless transition, with the limitation being the transition has to occur between the two panels in a program vs. two programs like is possible in the NS3.

My main use case was switching seamlessly between piano and organ, but works for other sound types as well.I would set up a piano sound on panel A and an organ sound on panel B. With panel A active, I would play piano, using sustain pedal etc. and could hold down the sustain while toggling to panel B for organ. That piano sound (or synth sound) would sustain as I toggled back and forth between the panels.

Another more nuanced solution that is similar in toggling between panel A and B is this. You can set up a pedal morph that raises the volume of one panel/sound while lowering the volume of the other (e.g. a "negative morph"). I made a number of sounds where sweeping the pedal forward would completely change the sound I was playing for example going from a layered synth sound across both panels, to a split organ/piano or anything like that. These are great ways to harness what is in the instrument.

In terms of Pending Load on the NS2, it's amazing and I really miss it now that I've moved mostly to NS3 for gigs. My use case for this was every gig with my '80s cover band when we'd change our setlist quite a bit each time. I'd put the NS2 into ABC sort mode with pending load enabled and then as I looked at the next song on the list, simply spin the knob to alphabetically locate it and it would sit there ready for me as I was finishing the prior song. The NS2 song/setlist feature solves for some of this with drag/drop/swap within the UI of the keyboard, but it still consumes time to do this before a show vs. just having all my programs there, sorted alphabetically and ready with pending load. I still hope pending load eventually makes it to the NS3.

[analogika]

Ah yes! Seamless switching IS possible between the two panels of a program, of course — as well as morphing between sounds/settings.

[RichardG]

@ericL : That's exactly why I use bandhelper (shameless plug, but I'm just a user).
Setting up a setlist right before a gig is a breeze and the added benefit is that it also sends the program changes.
(And there's a lot more it can do of course but this covers your main point wrt dynamic sets)