Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS3

General Discussion of the Nord Stage (EX), Nord Stage 2 (EX), Nord Stage 3, and Nord Stage 4 Synths, FAQ, Troubleshooting etc.
Fallboard
Posts: 166
Joined: 11 Nov 2015, 05:37
8
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 5
Has thanked: 12 times
Been thanked: 46 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by Fallboard »

It's still a problem for me on 1.32

NS3C's internal velocity handling still needs some tweaks. I'd LOVE if there were assignable curves that you could assign to the "0-1-2-3" parameters on the front button by menu-diving, making them presets instead of just coarse gradations.
Nord Stage 3 Compact
2012 Steinway Model B
Kawai MP11
Sequential Prophet 10 Rev4
ASM Hydrasynth 49
Moog Matriarch
Yamaha MODx
dfresh25
Posts: 32
Joined: 25 Jan 2015, 01:27
9
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 3
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by dfresh25 »

I'm coming from the Nord Electro 3, and have too noticed the velocity issue with external controllers. My weighted board played nicely with the Electro 3, but now there is little dynamics to be had using MIDI into the Nord stage 3.

Can we get a status update on this? Thanks
gg2212

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by gg2212 »

More than a year since the first post and still not fixed?
R_Cole
Posts: 4
Joined: 26 Mar 2019, 01:01
5
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 4
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 6
Has thanked: 3 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by R_Cole »

Using mp11 as controller for NE6D 61 and I'm also struggling with velocity curves for the past 2 weeks until I came upon this thread today. I'm Using Heavy+ On the mp11 and can get soft but not loud sounds from Nord Electro - the dynamic range is just hobbled compared to playing straight on either the Electro or my Nord Piano 4 (the NP at another studio). If I purchased the mentioned midisolutions module - how could I go about setting/creating a velocity curve that would make the mp11 play like my Nord piano 4 - or get to what we're looking for (through the Electro). Has anyone done this yet? Thank you for any help or advice you can provide.
Valpurgis
Posts: 256
Joined: 17 Sep 2011, 18:24
12
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 4
Has thanked: 12 times
Been thanked: 60 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by Valpurgis »

The Kawai mp11 has external midi zones with independent (from the curve selected for mp11 internal sounds) velocity curves per zone, in addition you could make your own user velocity curves. You have tried all these options?
These users thanked the author Valpurgis for the post:
R_Cole
R_Cole
Posts: 4
Joined: 26 Mar 2019, 01:01
5
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 4
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 6
Has thanked: 3 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by R_Cole »

Thank you! Yes - I was aware. I've tried all the mp11 curves - and even tried to create my own user curves with the mp11's built in software (playing soft to loud while it monitors you) - I find the setting "Heavy+" is best for my Zone 1 into the Electro - but it still prevents occasional loud notes - you can't hit a velocity hard enough with the Hard+ setting to get loud notes out of the Electro. I have purchased the MidiSolutions Velocity Curve device and downloaded it's software TODAY - will receive the unit tomorrow - I am hoping to place it between the mp11 and the Electro to improve dynamic control over the Electro's voices - but I just don't know enough about creating velocity curves. I guess I would like to know what the internal Nord keyboard's velocity curve looks like. Will have to trial and error. Really hope this works. Thank you for your help.
Valpurgis
Posts: 256
Joined: 17 Sep 2011, 18:24
12
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 4
Has thanked: 12 times
Been thanked: 60 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by Valpurgis »

Please keep us informed how it works out with the MidiSolutions box. I use the NS3 Compact with a couple of different external 88 keyboards and also have problems with the dynamic response of the Nord, would be nice to find a workaround.
User avatar
Quai34
Posts: 1874
Joined: 01 Jan 2012, 23:02
12
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Lead 1/2/2x
Location: CANADA WINNIPEG
Has thanked: 114 times
Been thanked: 305 times
Contact:

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by Quai34 »

Is stage 2 controlling stage 3 compact is good? Is Nord Piano 4 controlling Stage 3 compact is good? I was sold with the MP11SE but now that the Nord PAINO 4 is close to it, if it solve my issue with velocity curve, I might go the stage 2 to Stage 3 compact forst and then with the Pinao 4...Maybe this is what Nord didn't fix it....it pushes people to stay with Nord for their second controller...
Stage 2/C2/NL2X+TC Pedals, 2XMatrix, EMU P2K, TX802, DSI P8/Tetra+H9, P12+TC HoF, D50+PG1000, XV5080,AX keytar, Streichfett, Drumbrute.Ibanez SR1200 & 2605 basses, Artstar AS153,G&L L2000,Legacy HSS,Asat Blueboys,Asat Deluxe Savanna.genelec 8040A.
23skidoo
Posts: 507
Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 18:58
5
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Lead 3
Has thanked: 60 times
Been thanked: 190 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by 23skidoo »

It's not Nord's problem to fix. It's the velocity from the other controllers. Every manufacturer has their own force-velocity mapping - if you push a certain "hardness" or "fastness" with one brand it will translate to a different MIDI number spit out the port. Nord maps those numbers to volume in a manner consistent with their dynamics curves on their keyboards, just like every other manufacturer does. If you send a Nord 127, you'll get the max velocity layer and dynamics, if you send a 1, you'll get the minimum, and everything in between, like you should. The issue you are all having is that the mapping of force to that velocity does not occur the same on the external keyboard. But to prove the point, if you record the MIDI output of a Nord and play it back to the same Nord, it will sound the same as if you'd just played that on the keybed the same way. Thus, Nord's mapping and interpretation of incoming external MIDI is consistent. Ergo, not their problem to solve - it's the MIDI velocity curves from the other keyboards that you don't like.
R_Cole
Posts: 4
Joined: 26 Mar 2019, 01:01
5
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 4
Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 6
Has thanked: 3 times

Re: Velocity problems using external 88 keyboard with the NS

Post by R_Cole »

After spending days with the MidiSolutions Velocity Curve device, my mp11, Nord Electro 6, and NP4 - I've concluded that while the midisolutions device does what it says it does - it does not solve the velocity sensitivity discrepancy between the mp11 and the Nord keyboards. No matter what setting I had on the devices - you just can't get that same sort of expression when using the mp11 as the controller. My opinion is that it is the velocity output of the mp11 (a combination of the mp11's sensitivity and midi velocity curves output) that is the problem. The lowest velocity I can play on my mp11 is 1 but this generates no sound from the mp - and the next highest velocity I can generate is 20. All velocities between 20 and 30 generate the same sample and volume of output from the mp. The hardest velocity output I can generate is 122. Of the 40 different velocity curves I've tried to apply between the mp11 and the Nord Electro (with the midisolutions device) - none create a significant improvement in being able to control playing softly and loudly - like you can directly on the Nords. Might be my mp11 needs servicing? Not sure. Would like to hear from others who have tried this or similar. Thank you.
Post Reply