Connecting to a PC

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1072FxMGP
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Joined: 06 Mar 2025, 21:33
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 5
Great Britain

Connecting to a PC

Post by 1072FxMGP »

Hi.
I am new to keyboards and would appreciate some guidance.
Why are there both in/out ports and also a USB connection on the rear of the instrument? I am trying to get the Nord 5 through a Focusrite Scarlet 4i4 box and a PC. Focusrite say use two cables from the piano out to the in ports on the box and then a USB connection from the box to the PC. Which is correct please?
I also have a MIDI keyboard which works ok through a USB.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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cphollis
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Re: Connecting to a PC

Post by cphollis »

Hi, Nords don't play audio through USB. It's just for midi and transferring data.

You want to run a pair L and R 1/4" audio cables to your Focusrite audio inputs. Don't forget to hard pan the L and the R.
I think I have gear issues ....
1072FxMGP
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Mar 2025, 21:33
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 5
Great Britain

Re: Connecting to a PC

Post by 1072FxMGP »

Thanks cphollis,
I dont understans what you mean by "Don't forget to hard pan the L and the R."
Thanks
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cphollis
Posts: 1795
Joined: 01 Mar 2013, 20:56
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Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 4
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Re: Connecting to a PC

Post by cphollis »

1072FxMGP wrote: 07 Mar 2025, 11:42 Thanks cphollis,
I dont understans what you mean by "Don't forget to hard pan the L and the R."
Thanks
Ideally, you have two signals coming out of your Nord, known as L (left) and R (right). Each one will plug into its own channel on your mixer or audio interface.

Each channel on your mixer or interface has a "balance" control which determines how much of that individual channel ends up on the left side or right side of your stereo audio.

Normally, these controls are left straight up, which means that each audio channel signal is split 50/50 across the stereo feed. Vocalists appear in the center, for example.

But that's not what you want with a stereo keyboard. You need to twist two balance controls on your mixer or audio interface so that one is 100% L(eft) and the other 100% R(ight) to preserve the stereo imaging, otherwise it'll sound like a mono instrument.

That's called a "hard stereo pan".
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I think I have gear issues ....
1072FxMGP
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Mar 2025, 21:33
Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 5
Great Britain

Re: Connecting to a PC

Post by 1072FxMGP »

Hi,
Thanks again, I understand now.
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