MIDI issues recording Nord in DAW (Cubase)

[Coconut_Lady19]

Hey everyone!
First of all, I apologize if this has already been asked before. I am a complete newbie to everything related to music production, synths, DAWs, MIDI... Still learning the very very basics and I still don't fully understand most of the posts here, so basically I think I need someone to explain this to me in a REALLY basic way.

So, I connected my Nord Stage 3 directly to my laptop using the USB cable and I'm trying to record it in a DAW (Cubase Pro 9.5). I have managed to record it as audio and now I'm trying to record it in a MIDI format.
So far I've encountered 2 issues:

1) I want to use the Nord synth sounds and record it as MIDI in Cubase, so I can have the notes appearing in the Key Editor. How do I do that?
I did the following: "add track" (MIDI track), but when I play I hear not only the Nord sound, but also some sounds from other Instrument tracks mixed in it. For example: I had an instrument track (Retrologue with drum sounds) and I created a MIDI track for Nord (organ sound). When I play the Nord I hear the organ mixed with drums What am I doing wrong?

2) I also want to use the Nord as a MIDI controller, just to play notes but using the synth sounds from Retrologue, Kontakt, and other VST instruments. I had no idea how to do it, but just now I tried using an empty Nord program with no sounds in an VST instrument track, and I think it worked for now (the only sound I hear is the VST). Is this the correct way?

Thanks so much in advance for whomever can find the time to explain this to me like I'm a 5-year old!

Cat

[Klondyke77]

Hi and welcome to Nord User Forum and to Music Production!

First: I think you need to have a look on Midi Basics
And for clarification: Nord S3 can only send and receive MIDI via USB. For recording audio you need an audio interface and go from S3 Out1/2 to the inputs of the audio interface.

1) Be aware that Midi is only information what notes plays (and some controls). If you send a midi signal to S3 it will play the sounds that are actually enabled. All enabled sections (Organ, Piano, Synth) will play if enabled. More advanced you can separate Panel A and B on different Midi channels (needs to be setup in S3 Midi Settings).
2) If you have multiple tracks in your DAW that send Midi signals you have to be careful. You either need to mute/solo tracks or better control what midi output is used per track. Mean: configure only the "Nord" Track to send midi to your S3.
3) To switch off all internal sounds you can set "Local Control" to Off in S3 MIDI Settings (Shift/MIDI(Program 3) - first page). Your way is also possible: Use an empty program with all engines disabled.

Hope this helps a bit.

[FZiegler]

As Klondyke77 pointed out, it is not possible that you hear the Nord sounds, if you only connected your computer to the Nord via USB. There is no audio transfer via USB. If we should talk basics, you should start by explaining your basic setup, too.

Whereas the Stage 3 is a product that is not very complicated to go with, Cubase is. And unfortunately, the Cubase manual is not easy to read, too - there is no part that would explain all the basics needed for the beginning. Which will lead you to watch some basic videos about how to deal with Cubase.

Let's talk Cubase: A MIDI track is not in all cases the right thing for what you intend to do. If you want to record MIDI signals and play them back on your Nord, use a MIDI track. If you want to record MIDI to get a VSTi sound in Cubase (software synth etc.), you need to use an instrument track and assign the software instrument directly. It can be switched later on.

MIDI and instrument tracks record MIDI, but listen only to the MIDI channels you configured. So have a look at which channel your Nord sends MIDI or set your Cubase track to listen to all MIDI channels.

If you have a project with multiple tracks, it's absolutely fine that you hear all the tracks at the same time. There's always the main mixer active in Cubase that blends all the tracks together to one output. And somehow, you managed to organise that output to get it somewhere in your ears - which is great already for an absolute beginner! If ever you want to hear only one track playing, you can use the olo button in the tracks overview or in the mixer to get only that one track. Have you ever been working with a table mixer? - The Cubase mixer has a lot in common with those.