Nord User Forum

Hello Geniuses, I have been stumped for a bit. I have a Nord Stage 3. My current trouble is in regards to using my Stage as a Midi Controller within a DAW and have the ability to go down an octave or up an octave so that I may trigger keyswitches within a Virtual Library in my DAW. Some of my software has keyswitches to change performances and or articulations. I am a newbie to Nord. My old Controller had a very easy octave up and down button. I am not trying to transpose. I am trying to have access to keyswitches within a virtual library when using a Stage with a DAW. If there is a way to do this, that would be wonderful. Just knowing the terminology for this would be helpful. Thank you very much for your time reading this.

Nord keyboards are not designed as master midi controllers. There are no programmable buttons. Get yourself a small programmable MIDI keypad and add the performance and articulations there. You can put the controller next to or on top of the stage or even on the floor.

here is a list of some controllers
Elgato stream deck with the midi plugin - they have a number of controllers with just buttons or buttons and knobs
https://apps.elgato.com/discover

PreSonus ATOM 16-pad Performance Controller
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... controller

Akai Professional LPD8 mk2 Mini 8-pad USB Controller
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... controller

Korg nanoPAD2 16-pad USB Controller- White
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... pad2-white

IK Multimedia iRig PADS Portable MIDI Groove Controller
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... controller

Nektar Pacer MIDI Foot Controller
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... controller

Keith McMillen Instruments SoftStep 2 MIDI Foot Controller
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... controller

Behringer MIDI Foot Controller FCB1010
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... er-fcb1010

Not sure what you are trying to achieve. Do you have a 76 or 73-keys board and need some notes at the ends of the board?

Haven't you tried the octave up/down buttons? Of course, they only work in combination with an active engine. And they will probably only help you if MIDI Transpose is set to ON SEND.

So, cgrafx' idea isn't bad.

The Extern section has its own Octave setting/switch: use the Extern, not Global, to play the Virtual Instruments in the DAW and control the Octave up/down from there.

For added flexibility, you may also use the 2 A/B Extern sections, create a 2 Zones split and use one Extern in the lower part of the split,with Octave shifted down to reach that lower octave with articulation controls, while keeping the other Extern on Upper part of the split with no Octave shift.

PS: recommended reading The Nord Stage MIDI Tutorial