Recommended 2nd Keyboard for Organ Playing

[Alaskanulu]

I came across the same issue and needed up getting a Nord Wave 2 and use it as a MIDI for the stage 3. Worked in my favor because the wave is an AWESOME synth and I love the keybed for playing organ. I use Dual KB mode.

[MartinJ2EX]

I came across the same issue and needed up getting a Nord Wave 2 and use it as a MIDI for the stage 3. Worked in my favor because the wave is an AWESOME synth and I love the keybed for playing organ. I use Dual KB mode.

I actually already thought about the same thing, because the Wave 2 has the 61 waterfall keys (different playing feel though because of different springs probably as far as I’ve read by users).^^
I might be getting a Wave 2 instead of my controller and keeping my Stage 2 EX 88 instead of upgrading to a Stage 3 or 4


In any case... AWESOME setup - Wave 2 + Stage 3

[MartinJ2EX]

You could also look for something like a used Viscount DB-3 (here in Austria I just found one for 500€)
Great waterfall keybed, drawbars and nice wooden look chassis

[anotherscott]

Or just create a patch on the DX7 that plays no sound.

Yes, that would also be a quick way to have the DX7 not sound when you only want it to be a controller, albeit at the expense of one of the 32 available patch buttons.

Also, I realized there's no need for a MIDI Kill switch to stop it from triggering the Nord, because you should be able to just toggle the Nord's front panel Dual KB button to enable/disable that.

The D3M is interesting and I did look into it when I was choosing which controller to buy for organ. What I was puzzled about though is why they didn't implement drawbars on it. If it's meant as a controller specific for organ, wouldn't that be the first thing to put in?

I think their idea was that you would pair up one or two D3Ms with their D3C. Though the D3M could probably be fine by itself without drawbars if you're using it as a lower manual on a board that already has two sets of drawbars (i.e. Viscount Legend Solo, Hammond XK5/XK3/XK3C, Korg CX3, Tokai TX5).

As an aside, adding drawbars to a very basic controller like the D3M is not the simplest thing, because there's no standard MIDI assignments for drawbars. So if you want to be able to pair it with a wide variety of single manual clonewheels, you need to also provide a way to be able to redefine what those drawbars send out. In fact, the D3C companion tself was (at least originally) only designed to work with Native Instruments' B4. (Of course, it was a long time ago...)

[MartinJ2EX]

About the DX7 - if you get a DX7 IID / IIFD, you’ll have performance patches where you can select no sound only MIDI out, even more advanced with an E! Expansion board! so you won’t waste one of the voices, and have even more of them!
They sell for about the same as the original, have more reliable buttons and better DAC (16bit vs 12bit)

If you can find any controller with a decent (waterfall, in best case) keybed without drawbars, the Crumar D9U and D9X are awesome! Got a D9U to control my Stage 2EX organ in live situations
http://www.myrigshop.com

Discovered in this thread
nord-stage-forum-f3/midi-drawbar-contro ... ?hilit=D9u

[MartinJ2EX]

@rockymtnnord Did you already choose a MIDI controller?

[martyjones6294]

I find that a Yamaha MODX works great as a second keyboard. It can drive the Stage 3 just fine. You also get a lot of other sound capabilities that are beyond what the Stage 3 can do.

[Normhart]

About the DX7 - if you get a DX7 IID / IIFD, you’ll have performance patches where you can select no sound only MIDI out, even more advanced with an E! Expansion board! so you won’t waste one of the voices, and have even more of them!
They sell for about the same as the original, have more reliable buttons and better DAC (16bit vs 12bit)

If you can find any controller with a decent (waterfall, in best case) keybed without drawbars, the Crumar D9U and D9X are awesome! Got a D9U to control my Stage 2EX organ in live situations
http://www.myrigshop.com

Discovered in this thread
nord-stage-forum-f3/midi-drawbar-contro ... ?hilit=D9u

I have a D9U that I’ve been using with a VST plug in and would like to get it working with my new Stage 3 HA88. I’ve only gotten as far as getting it midi’d in using a 3.5mm to midi cable but I’d be grateful if you can tell me how you got yours working. Thanks!

Update* I’ve found a thread from a user named catosim that outlines the procedure for reprogramming the d9u. Apparently it’s a matter of matching midi cc#s. I’m going to need to dig into some computer stuff unless there’s some kind of preprogrammed utility that makes this easier.

[Normhart]

Update* I’ve found a thread from a user named catosim that outlines the procedure for reprogramming the d9u. Apparently it’s a matter of matching midi cc#s. I’m going to need to dig into some computer stuff unless there’s some kind of preprogrammed utility that makes this easier.

I'm uploading my Arduino sketch for the D9U.
You'll also need to download Arduino from https://www.arduino.cc/en/software
It's quite simple with the template I downloaded somewhere - it took me some time to find the part where I could change the MIDI channels, but after that it's a piece of cake

This one considers the following:
Controlling the currently active panel drawbars, via the global channel 11 (S2/S2EX) or channel 12 (Stage 3) via the switch on the back.
If you want to control both panels separately via the switch on the back, you will need to Panel A+B to MIDI 11+12 AND swap out the CCs at the top of the Arduino program to be both the same and for Stage 3

You can change the MIDI channel if you scroll down to find a note that says //mode+10 sets MIDI channel 11 or something

Also, you'll need to read page 15 of the D9U manual because you will need to reset your D9U to flash the new program
"In case you need to reprogram the board, one second before clicking the "LOAD" icon in the Arduino IDE, you have to "reset" the board by making a contact between the terminals labeled RST and GND using a small screwdriver."

[Eumel]

Hi,

how about a Roland VK7. It has decent waterfall keys + it is still sounding really extremely good. I just check. A 2nd hand VK7 should be available for less than €500.-

Cheers
Eumel