Volume not responding to CC message. VST Live

[timj63]

Hello. Trying to set my Nord up to accept patch and volume changes from VST Live.

Patch change works fine but it appears that the volume resets to that stored within the patch. A VST layer is sending:

3x (I don't know why it is 3) volume settings CC7 value 60.
1x MSB 0 value 0, 1x MSB 32 value 5. Prg Chg value 4 (works ok)
1x volume settings CC7 value 60.

Maybe the additional volume change is for good measure although it makes sense to send after program change. If I set up a VST Layer to change volume without patch change, it appears to work OK.

Layers sending patch and volume to my other synths work OK so was wondering if there is something specific about the Nord.

[FZiegler]

Hi,

did you consult the manual? The MIDI documentation isn't the best (not according to MIDI standard), but it makes clear that there is no MIDI CC 07 implemented on the Electro 5 (nor other Nord Electros or Stages) nor another CC for Master Volume. Why is that? Because you won't be able to control an analogue knob via MIDI - it's not motorised. You can control Part Mix Level (CC 13) instead - that's all.

In newer Nord stage pianos, you can set at least engine levels instead, but the Electro 5 doesn't seem to have that.

I'd say: That's how it is. Even if I never had an Electro 5.

[timj63]

Hello. I did consult the manual for the MIDI implementation and the last item on the chart is Gain CC7. As mentioned above, I can change the volume with this control but not at the same time as a bank select. It seems that it reverts to the volume level saved in the patch.

[FZiegler]

Oh, thank you for correcting me! I didn't watch carefully enough. NE5 not only has a "master volume" knob (which isn't supported via MIDI), but also a gain level knob on the right side - I didn't know this. And indeed, "this value is also stored within the Program, allowing adjustment of relative volumes between Programs." (p. 5 in the manual) So it's exactly as you supposed: It's a per-program setting.

Not only NE5 has this "gain level" CC, but also NE2..NE4 and NS2 have it (on the latter, it works a little different).