MIDI Controller as Upper Manual

[alexanderlyon]

Hello everyone,

Forgive me for asking a question that has been posed many times in different forms; I am so technically obtuse that I still can't figure how to do what I want to do (or even if it is possible).

I have an Electro 6D 73 that I have been using primarily in dual organ mode using a keyboard split, and would like to slap a 61-key M-Audio MIDI controller on top to use as an upper organ manual. (For configuration reasons, I don't want to use it on the bottom as the lower manual.)

My goal is to be able to use the entirety of the Electro (or at least 61 keys!) as the lower manual with one set of settings (808000000, no percussion, etc.) and the entirety of the M-Audio keyboard as the upper manual with a different set of settings (888000000, percussion, etc.).

Can I do this? If so, how? It seems that using External Keyboard to Lo, I should be able to use the M-Audio as the lower manual, but that's not what I want to do--although perhaps it is as simple as swapping my lower and upper manual settings.

And can I in fact use 73 or 61 keys on the lower manual (i.e., the Electro) and all 61 on the upper manual (i.e., the M-Audio), or will I be constrained by the limits of a keyboard split (i.e., 73 keys between both keyboards)?

Help!

AG

[alexanderlyon]

Hi,

that’s not possible I’m afraid, looking into MIDI section of the Electro 6 manual just mentions to use an external keyboard as lower manual, the keybed of the Electro 6 is always controlling the upper organ keyboard

[alexanderlyon]

Thanks for confirming that, Schorsch!

In that case, could I just swap the drawbar, percussion, and chorus settings between upper and lower?

And would I be limited by the total number of keys on the Electro? In other words, can it only handle 73 keys total between both boards, as it would if I were using a split on the Electro? (I currently simulate having an upper and lower manual by splitting the keyboard and assigning one set of drawbar, percussion and chorus settings to the left-hand side, and another set to the right-hand side.)

[Schorsch]

I don’t own an Electro 6 therefore cannot tell you but I suggest you check the manual and also try it out. On my Stage 3 I can use an external keyboard as the second manual with the full range of keys on both the Stage 3 and the external keyboard.

As for swapping the drawbars etc I don’t think it’s possible, you may have to swap it in your brain if you set the M-Audio on top of the Electro, by making yourself used to handle the original upper drawbar and related settings as lower, and vice versa. But again - best to just try it out

[alexanderlyon]

Thanks for confirming that, Schorsch!

In that case, could I just swap the drawbar, percussion, and chorus settings between upper and lower?

Yes, I was just thinking the same. It is possible. Set your „lower“ sound as the registration for the nord‘s upper part, and vice versa. A bit of getting used to it, and I bet you‘ll love it.

Cheers

[alexanderlyon]

Alright, I’m going to give it a shot! Thank you both so much for your help; I’ll let you know how it works out.

[alexanderlyon]

Well, I've got it set up!

I put the M-Audio controller on top of the Electro (I propped it up on some rubber isolation pads), applied my usual lower manual settings to the upper manual and vice versa, and voila: I can use the Electro as the lower manual and the M-Audio as the upper manual! The M-Audio keyboard feels very similar to the Electro's, and it is a pleasure to have two manuals!

There is only one problem: My swell pedal (a Yamaha FC7) no longer works! Any idea why that might have happened, and how I might be able to fix it?

As much as I enjoy this setup, if I can't get the swell pedal to work again, I'll have to return the M-Audio and start again from scratch.

[alexanderlyon]

Here's a photo of the setup. The M-Audio fits pretty much perfectly on top of the Electro, and the isolation pads are just thick enough to prevent the controller from touching the Electro controls.

[alexanderlyon]

More info: I have been using my sustain pedal as a Leslie switch, and *that* still works. Only the swell pedal no longer functions.

[alexanderlyon]

Just wanted to thank you both again for your help! I solved the swell pedal issue, and have been *loving* having two manuals. I just ordered the second-tier extension set for my K&M stand, so I should soon be able to put the Electro on top, giving me full access to the drawbars. I don't know why I didn't do all of this sooner!