Midi Out/Thru for daisy-chain Setup Nord Stage 3

[syr91]

I am attempting to send ‘Program Change’ MIDI messages from a computer to two different devices: a Nord Stage 3 and a Novation Bass Station 2.

My goal is to trigger preset changes and certain MIDI configurations at specific moments without manually interacting with the instruments’ panels, solely by sending MIDI commands from the computer. However, I am encountering an issue: when connecting the computer’s MIDI output to the input of Keyboard A, and then connecting the MIDI output of Keyboard A to the input of Keyboard B, the Program Change messages only reach the keyboard directly connected to the computer’s MIDI interface (keyboard A or B can be either device, it's a way of speaking).

I have confirmed that this is not a MIDI channel issue, as everything works correctly when both the Nord and the Novation are connected directly to the MIDI output of the interface. Therefore, I suspect the problem lies in the fact that neither keyboard is capable of forwarding incoming Program Change messages from their MIDI input to their MIDI output, thus preventing a proper daisy-chain setup.

Any assistance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance

[syr91]

In general in MIDI what is received on IN is not forwarded to OUT unless a "Soft Thru' function is available; NS has a Soft Thru feature on Extern section but it applies only to note messages and under certain conditions, not sure about Bass Station but I guess it has no Soft Thru at all.

Solution: connect NS3 to computer via USB MIDI instead of MIDI DIN (and also Bass Station has USB MIDI, so if you wish to use it is there too)

[syr91]

Thank you very much for your reply, maxpiano. I ended up buying a Y MIDI cable, as I prefer not to use USB in live performance environments. Why? Because the sound card I use live (Playaudio) sends both audio and MIDI channels through the same device, so it’s better for me to keep everything centralized. The Y cable does the job for me

Thanks!

[maxpiano]

Thank you very much for your reply, maxpiano. I ended up buying a Y MIDI cable, as I prefer not to use USB in live performance environments. Why? Because the sound card I use live (Playaudio) sends both audio and MIDI channels through the same device, so it’s better for me to keep everything centralized. The Y cable does the job for me

Thanks!

Using a 5 pin DIN Y cable on MIDI is not supported by the standard and could damage the MIDI ports (you are loading the OUT 2 times the nominal load) or cause transmission issues (depending on how the IN ports are designed on each device, they could unbalance the signal between the two); you should get a MIDI THRU box instead if you wish to continue using MIDI DIN