Another Stage EX MIDI question

[shim99]

Hi,

This is my first post on these forums so apologies if I am covering ground already covered, I have spent a number of hours searching forums but can’t seem to find an answer.
I have a StageEX and a neewer MIDI to USB cable and I can’t for the life of me get it to work with GarageBand. The MacBook recognises the MIDI controller but nothing happens when playing the keyboard.

I purchased the EX second hand a year ago and am trying the MIDI for the first time and have some extremely basic questions. I have downloaded the very useful manual from this site and have even reset the EX (as I wasn’t sure whether lack of it working was some setting the original owner had changed) as I can’t seem to get it operating as a Master for GarageBand. So my question is, should MIDI work straight out of the box after a factory reset or are some setting changes required? I have been through the menus but all I want to do at this stage is use it as a MIDI input controller for the standard garage band instruments as my son needs to record a piece of music. I need nothing flash, but I appear to be beaten by the EX so far.

For example, fresh install what changes need to be made to get it working? I know it’s not a software issue on the Mac as my novation launchpad works.

Do you have any suggestions? If it should just work then I’m guessing it’s a cable issue or a hardware fault.

Thanks in advance.

[shim99]

Hi and welcome to NUF

The answer is in the NS EX manual look at page 87 "USING NORD STAGE EX WITH A SEQUENCER" (a DAW is the same).

PS: probably using the Extern section is the fastest way to accomplish what you are after, check about that in the manual too.
The other option is to use the Panel MIDI channel(s).

PS2: sometimes USB MIDI interfaces have an incorrect IN and OUT text on the DIN connectors, try to swap them if after setting the MIDI channels (Extern and/or Panel) it still doesn't work

[shim99]

MIDI is a protocol that allows for multiple connections at the same time (through one cable or not). That for you need to set the right channel on both sender and receiver (out of 16). That's probably the most basic thing you need to know about MIDI. Usually, ch 1 is the basic setting for a lot of gear, sometimes even fixed (but not in your case, I think). Ch 10 is sometimes automatically meant to be the drums channel.

[shim99]

Thanks @maxpiano and @FZiegler for you replies and suggestions (randomly I had tried swapping the lead ends to see if that was the problem, but doesn’t seem to be the case). I think what I'm trying to figure out what the most basic setting changes are needed from a factory reset to actually being able to play a software instrument on GarageBand. Eg. Factory reset -> turn on -> programme 1:1 loads (some piano on panel A) -> plug in midi cables -> (adjust some setting ?? ) -> play software instrument on GarageBand. I feel like I’m missing something incredibly basic here but having read page 87 and set local to off ( with all other settings as described on p69 set as the default) but still can’t get anything from the keyboard.

[maxpiano]

I corrected my previous post, probably the easiest way is to use the Extern section (manual page 63): activate Extern A on any Program (even 1:1 is OK) and configure it (from Extern menu of the NS) to use MIDI CH1.

To check the MIDI data is arriving on the Mac you can use this app https://www.snoize.com/midimonitor/

[shim99]

Thanks, I’ll give that a try and report back.

[FZiegler]

Sorry, I forgot that most DAWs are listening on all MIDI channels by default. So, the channels shouldn't be an issue at all.

The monitor software is what I'd recommend next, too.

And did you verify if Garageband recognised the MIDI converter as a MIDI connection? (your Stage EX won't show up - only the neewer converter will) GarageBand > Preferences > Audio/MIDI. Unfortunately, I can't help more with that part as I don't have a Mac.

[shim99]

Thanks All, that has worked. I did as you suggested @macpiano and once I had gone through the menus it still didn't work. I reversed the cables again so that out was in and in was out. Not sure what the secret sauce was but it seems to be working now.

[FZiegler]

I now understand what you mean by reversing the cables. You have 1 USB (remains in the computer) and 2 DIN-MIDI. The printed In and Out are ambiguous: As for MIDI, one OUT port (master side) will always be connected with the next IN port (client), this may be exactly what you needed to do - connect the OUT labeled end to the IN socket and vice versa. Anyway, this is not what you expect to have to do in the first place.

Just note that a standard MIDI cable (DIN > DIN) will not have two different sides (as USB has) -- it's symmetrical.

[maxpiano]

Thanks All, that has worked. I did as you suggested @macpiano and once I had gone through the menus it still didn't work. I reversed the cables again so that out was in and in was out. Not sure what the secret sauce was but it seems to be working now.

All's Well That Ends Well

PS: I'd suggest to mark/label the MIDI connectors to ensure you will remember which one is IN/OUT the next time