Nord User Forum

Hi,
Old Hammond player , thinking about buying an Electro 3. I want to know if i can connect a Ketron SD4 moduleThru midi to be able to use both the sounds of the ketron and the Electro 3(not at the same time) But if i just wanted to use the Ketron
for Brass and some strings,would i be able to just turn the volume down on one or the other? Hope this makes sense? Come from the turn it on and play era, really confused with todays technology

Thanks

If you only care about hearing one at a time, that's easy. Just MIDI them up (MIDI Out of the Nord into MIDI In of the module) and turn down the volume on the one you don't want to hear. You can even put guitar-style volume pedals on each of their outputs so you don't have to spare a hand to make the adjustments. And you're not restricted to playing one at a time... you could bring in the module's strings under the Nord's piano, for example. So "layering" sounds is fine, too.

The only thing about this that would be tricky is that, by default, changing to a different patch on the Nord will probably change you to a different patch on the module as well, which you might not want, but you can change a setting in the Nord to prevent that. (There may be a setting in the module also... but you'd only have to change one or the other, you wouldn't have to bother changing both. You either set the Nord to not send Program Change commands, or you set the module to not respond to them.)

Kind of funny referring to this as "today's technology," though. There are a lot of other things that have gotten more complicated over the years, but what you're talking about here is how MIDI has worked for almost 30 years.

They both have a master volume control. You could do as you descibe if you want it as simple as possible. Change the settings in the Nord so that it dosn't send or recieve program changes via midi.

Hey, Thanks For Info- Really appreciate. So midi is that old, so i guess that explains what those funny looking inputs are for on the back of synths Lol, told you i was old!!

Hello Hammondman,
Welcome to the forums!

Both of the previous posts are very fine answers, and don't require my endorsement to be such.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to welcome you to the forum "one old guy to another".

The Electro 3 is really an awesome choice of instruments. I think that if you make the leap, and buy one, you'll soon discover that the strings and brass sounds of the Nord library and user created samples of forum members, far exceeds the abilities of the Ketron.

One of the fundamental keys to success is having a good support network. I can think of none better than the folks at Clavia DMI AB (Nord) and all the members of this forum.

The answers to questions are always just a few key taps away.

Cheers, Hanon

This should be pretty straight forward
Connect
Power cords of both units
Connect
Cables to amp for each unit
Connect
midi out from keyboard to midi in on module (Ketron)

Warning !!
You may enjoy what you hear.

Hi Hammondman,

Another solution is to use a A/B box, which allows you to switch from a synth' to the other without having to turn on the volume on the first on turn off the volume of the second !

That's the way I do with my NE3 and my Vk8-m, and it's much easier to push a footswitch than to play with two volume knobs in the middle of a song.

Hey, Thanks to all, really appreciate all the Help!!!

Hammondman