Nord User Forum

Hello,
I have mentioned a similar issue in another thread, but now I felt I need to open up a dedicated one, as this issue is driving me NUTS.
In general, I am so happy about switching from NS2 to NS3, Nord really put some efforts in to improve an already very advanced keyboard further.
But:
I do not know what Nord thought when the implemented the Dual Keyboard Mode they way they did it. First, great idea to be able to choose if you only want to control one part (say: Piano) from an external keyboard, or the whole panel. Check.
The problem is the following: when you use Dual Keyboard Mode, you cannot control anything with your "usual" control pedals, mod wheel or whatever. Say, you choose to put a Piano with a nice synth pad on Slot B and switch on Dual KB mode -> now you cannot control for example the loudness of your pad with your control pedal. The sustain pedal does not work, any morph action is void. Now why would you cut of that functionality?? I suppose that 90% of the people that use this (otherwise great!) Dual KB Mode have an external - e.g. 88-key piano - keyboard, and just want to play the notes on the keyboard while having your general controller setup be able to manage your performance.

At least it would be simple to have this option software-wise. I believe this would not require much programming effort.

Any thoughts?

It has always been like that with Dual KB mode, also on NS2… alternative it to not use Dual KB mode but assign a MIDI Channel at Panel level

Concerning the morph, everything you say is true. Pedals is different: While you can use the internal pedals with single-engine DualKB mode, you can't with full-panel-B DualKB mode. That's why I first tried to achieve everything with a single engine from extern, but I've given up and put some more pedals under my keyboards:

(from left to right:) swell/NS3 (FC7), control/extern (FC7), control/NS3 (EP3), sustain/extern (continuous), sustain/NS3 (switch)

Swell is for organ sounds only (on the NS3C internally played), the external control pedal may add pads/strings to the piano sound, the internal control pedal is for wah on the clavinet (played on the NS3C - therefor not an FC7). The internal sustain pedal is a bit apart, as I rarely need it. Other morphs are done via MW or AT. We'll see if I don't get mad some day.

I'd never recommend that approach, but it seems doable to me.

I run my NS3 73 exclusively in dual keyboard mode with a Yamaha 88 note weighted P series on the bottom for piano/Rhodes/clay. I use a Boss Fv500 expression pedal which controls both keyboards and modified my sustain pedal so that it has two 1/4” jacks to control sustain on both keyboards. Still no morph/pitch/mod on bottom keyboard but other that it works well. I assigned the organ to output 3 and run it through a hall of fame reverb and then into a Vent II and then back into the Nord via the aux input so all sounds go to the stereo output 1/2 which works great. I’ve posted some of my dual keyboard patches for download here.
nord-stage-3-programs-ns3p-ns3pb-files- ... 20keyboard

I might be wrong but I think this could solve atleast some of your issues, Look at this video from 9:15-11:40, It's Jack at Andertons UK.



As I understand it you can send booth sustain and pitchstick
Hope it helps.

Often, you are controlling a Stage 3 from an extern keyboard. That's exactly the other way round than what Jack Duxberry was explaining. It doesn't help for DualKB mode.

My dual keyboard setup,is very seldom used.When I do? It's a pair of Stage3's. One Compact and one HA88.Amount of times I've used both? Maybe ten in four years.This Stage2EX is still better built than either Stage3 period!
With two 'Stages' I never have controller or pedal issues! A midi cable and I'm good to go! Sometimes four 'panels' is what it takes.Solution? Operate TWO Stages!
The whole point of a Stage is to have LESS gear hanging around,old habits are hard to break? Not willing to schlepp a '90's style rig around in 2022.The bigger and more complicated the rig gets? The less interested I am.
Big busy keyboard rigs get a YAWN from me.Emerson and Wakeman were a half century ago,didn't catch on BIG in the first place.Eddie Van Halen did it the best,had very LITTLE visible.Oberheim was all you saw,just one.
One he started playing,it was easy to forget the size of the rig!

Fake B3 cases,fake EP cases are too much work,all this to look like a keener.It says 'look at me',to which I YAWN every time.Want me to pay attention? Play something GOOD and I will watch you.Pose like you are really something?
I laugh out loud AT you, not with you! People who know me and enjoy my playing get a show from ME,not my keys rig! Setup/strike is ten minutes or less,more time to socialize and be 'part of the gang'.
Players that rely on massive setups? Are all setup for major disappointment in my opinion.
Even less impressive are the people who insist on including a Wurly or Rhodes 'real deal' to PROVE they were NOT around for those days.Or heaven forbid POSE at a B3 for the obligatory 'money shot',YAWN.
Roland,Korg,Yamaha all bore me with big touchscreens and deep menus."My Kronos has better strings"......"my Montage has better horns",etc.As good as the section in the soul band I play in? Good luck with that.
Total BS in my opinion.I'll take the Behringer Model D,and Neutron thanks! No one has complained yet that my Roland XV3080 sounds dated? Built in 2001.

Apologies to real players,if any,that have more than two keyboards onstage.Wix with Paul McCartney gets a pass.That guys roadies earn every dime they are paid!
Lately I have been using a C2D and a NS388 for my 'massive rig'.Adds five minutes to my roadie duties.Production pays better than performing.......so I adjust for that!
There is a Blue Frog Live TV video out today June 5,2022 of the new Mud Bay 'Best Laid Plans' CD done May 19/2022 at the studio, on which I perform with the 'massive' rig! Please indulge me and watch if you like!
The sax player Jerry Cook? He is the real deal! Plays regular in the Colin James band,would be embarrased to play ANY sax samples with him around!

You may be right but it’s just a complete different topic, we’re speaking about Dual KB more and - in contrary - the goal to use our equipment more effectively and even save heavy gear. Speaking of superfluous equipment, I believe not everyone here agrees with you to shell out massive $$ for two NS3 when all we ask for is a useful way to have two keybeds (one piano action, one synth/organ action) in coexistence to share the sounds of the NS3. THAT is weight and cost efficient and believe me, operating o NS3 compact with an efficient piano controller (e.g. studiologic SL73 or whatever) is lighter and cheaper than your gear.
This post is not about defending keyboard fortresses of the 80s, and I think most agree that especially today it is possible that with less you achieve more. Anyway no one can afford Roadies any more that are just in for the fun and are satisfied with the little $$ this back-breaking job earns.
However, it is just about the fact that the DualKB philosophy of Nord makes it hard to achieve exactly that, as you are forced to think of additional pedals when doing so, still not being able to make perfect use of the morph functions.
Sorry to respond like this, even more as your post is quite some months old, but readers usually don’t pay much attention to how much time has passed between posts.
Greetings to Vancouver anyway, and enjoy your awesomeness !