Synth presets for external synth

[lerber3]

I am thinking about adding a Roland Integra to my Stage 4 rig to get access to Supernatural sounds. The Supernatural articulations of acoustic wind and string instruments is something missing from the Stage.

Is it possible to save Integra patches in synth presets? I would like to be able to program a synth layer using Ext Keyboard to play (for example) Steel Drums. Can I save the layer as a synth preset (eg “Steel Drums”) and recall as part of different patches it to play Integra steel drums from a Nord or Ext keyboard zone?

It seems like this should work, but it’s hard to parse the user manual as this information is split between Ext Kbd, synth presets, and MIDI programming topics.

[Heatha05]

Hi. You should be able to transmit a program change to the Roland using the EXTERN settings, with the SEND ON LOAD for each Nord program switched ON. You will need to configure the Nord MIDI settings for EXT A to be sending on the same MIDI channel as the Roland. Some Roland keyboards have limited Program, Bank receive capability, so you might need to take care where you save programs on the Integra.

You can use multiple EXT A, B, C splits on the Nord to send to different channels so the Integra can work in multi timbral. (Although I tend to use one EXT on the Nord and set up the keyboard splits on my Roland Jupiter Xm. This keeps 2 synth engines free on the Nord)

[lerber3]

Thanks for the response!

I know I can transmit a program change as part of a saved scene (or whatever a complete patch is called).

What I want to know is can I save a synth preset that will call up an Integra patch... this would let me integrate that Integra voice into any scene by simply recalling the synth preset. I want to have a collection of synth presets that get me directly to the Supernatural sax, brass, steel drums, choir vocals, etc. I can't quite figure this out from the Nord documentation, so I'm a bit reluctant to spring for an Integra to find out.

[maxpiano]

Thanks for the response!

I know I can transmit a program change as part of a saved scene (or whatever a complete patch is called).

What I want to know is can I save a synth preset that will call up an Integra patch... this would let me integrate that Integra voice into any scene by simply recalling the synth preset. I want to have a collection of synth presets that get me directly to the Supernatural sax, brass, steel drums, choir vocals, etc. I can't quite figure this out from the Nord documentation, so I'm a bit reluctant to spring for an Integra to find out.

I think the easiest way is to try to do it: connect NS4 to a computer/tablet running a MIDI Monitor app, then set a Synth Layer as External, save as Synth Preset, recall/use that preset on a different Program and check on the MIDI Monitor if the Program Change is being sent as expected (or just inspect the Synth Layer to check that the External mode and settings were properly loaded from the Preset)

[lerber3]

Well done, Nord.

I have not actually hooked up an extern synth, but I did study the manual and created some presets with EXTERN parts.

The EXTERN menu settings are saved on a per program basis and all 3 synth layers are set up there… which CCs the virtual knobs control, whether to send program change info, sustain, control, swell, volume, pitch bend, mod wheel data for each layer.

I zeroed out 2 layers, and set up the 3rd layer with some easy-to-recognize parameters that were different from layers 1 and 2, which were internal synth configs. I saved the 3rd layer as a preset, then loaded it back into layer 1. Now I had 2 identical layers set up to control an external synth with identical settings. Woot!

I am totally confident that I’ll be able to create tweaked SuperNatural Roland presets that will play on the Integra and re-use them in any program.

Now I just have to actually get an Integra… I was half hoping that there was a major obstacle that would prevent me from doing it : )