USB to iPhone

Everything about the Nord Stage series; features, specifications, how to operate, and questions about technical issues.
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Ricoflex
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USB to iPhone

Post by Ricoflex »

Hi everybody,
I would like to connect my NS2ex to iPhone 6s via OTG cable to use it with GarageBand, will it work ?
Thanx for yr Help
Rgds
Riccardo
Last edited by Ricoflex on 13 Dec 2017, 03:01, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by derrellpiper »

I'm not sure what an OTG cable is, but you'll need a MIDI interface like this one: (note that there's a newer version of this but many people don't like it for various reasons). iConnectMIDI4+ is another higher end MIDI interface for iPads and iPhones.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by PScooter63 »

Yamaha sells a Bluetooth MIDI adapter that works just fine between my iPad and my NE4. No cable needed.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by derrellpiper »

@PScooter63, very cool, what's it called? Speaking of wireless, I've also had good luck with these: http://pandamidi.com/midibeam/. I have one on my Lead 3.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by maxpiano »

Ricoflex wrote:Hi everybody,
I would like to connect my NS2ex to iPhone 6s via OTG cable to use it with GarageBand, will it work ?
Thanx for yr Help
Rgds
Riccardo
You need a Apple Lightning to USB adapter (Camera connection kit) like this one here or the USB3 with charging port version here

@derrellpiper: the model of the MIDI Bluetooth adapter is Yamaha MD-BT01
Last edited by maxpiano on 13 Dec 2017, 04:15, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by MrTobbe »

If you only need a MIDI Connection, to control the synths and sounds in Garage Band, I believe the both cheapest and simplest solution is to get a Apple camera connection kit, lightning to USB adapter:

https://www.apple.com/it/shop/product/M ... ning-a-usb

This converts the Lightning connecter to a standard USB 2.0 port (the Lightning charging/sync cable that came with the iPhone won't work for this). Then you simply connect the Nord with the iPhone w Apple CCK, and a normal USB type A to type B cable, and you should have a 2-way MIDI connection between the Nord and the IPhone. Also be sure that the Stage 2 is set to a USB MIDI channel for the Global MIDI, external MIDI, and/or the other MIDI Parts you want to use.

If you OTOH want to record the audio out of the Nord Stage into GarageBad, you will need an iPhone-compatible audio interface.
I am using a Roland DUO Capture EX, which is very practical for iOS units, and it can run on three AA-batteries for portable recording, BUT it seems to have been discontinued. If you can find on, though, I highly recommend it. This interface still require the CCK Lightning adapter above, to worl with an iOS unit.

https://www.roland.com/global/products/duo-capture_ex/

The Nord audio outs of the Nord is then connected to the audio inputs of the Duo Capture EX, and if you still need MIDI connection with GaragBand, you also connect the Nord to the Duo Capture EX with standard Midi cables.

Then the most sophisticated solution, I think, would be to use an iConnectivity audio interfaces:

https://www.thomann.de/it/iconnectivity ... audio4.htm

It is one of the few audio interfaces that is made for iOS-units. It requires no Apple CCK adapter, and maybe more importantly - it also charges the iPhone when in use, if you use the supplied, special USB to lightning cable.

Then you connect the Nord to the iConnectAudio4+ with audio cables, and if you also want MIDI - standard MIDI cables, or a USB A-B cable between the Nord and the USB host port of the iConnectAudio4+
If you also connect a computer with the iCA4+, it can share both MIDI and Audio connection with the iPhone/iPad you use, so you can actually stream digital audio to and from the computer and iOS-unit - super cool! :) I don't know of any other device (than ofther iConnectivty units), that can achive this.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by derrellpiper »

They're probably right, by the way, I forgot about the camera connection cable. I wanted MIDI for other reasons.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by PScooter63 »

derrellpiper wrote:@PScooter63, very cool, what's it called?
MD-BT01, for standard 5-pin DIN MIDI jacks.
Yamaha also makes the UD-BT01, for USB-jacks.

Note, however, that Yamaha's native apps are not sufficient to "awaken" the bluetooth connection to non-Yamaha equipment (such as the Nord). For that, an app like MIDI Wrench (free), running in the background on your iDevice, does the trick (and includes some handy diagnostics that I tend to check anyway).
Last edited by PScooter63 on 13 Dec 2017, 09:02, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by Ricoflex »

Thank you very much to everybody
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Re: USB to iPhone

Post by Ricoflex »

MrTobbe, I've found this one is it the same?

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_ ... 74184.html
Last edited by Ricoflex on 18 Dec 2017, 01:59, edited 1 time in total.
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