Just to shake up your brain a little bit, you might think about doing this without buying any sequencer at all...all you really need is the ability to record a simple .wav file...
First off, if the kind(s) of loops you're interested in using as background material for your foreground noodling are as short and simple as what was shown on that vid, why not simply play them into a .wav file and dump that onto your Nord? For that matter, they don't really have to be all that short; the Wave has enough memory to handle many many much longer loops. For that matter, you could create a program with numerous different loops so that you can change it up for different parts of your tune (be sure to use mono mode to avoid having two loops running at the same time -- unless that's your goal).
Set the midi channel to Bi-Timbral and set Slots A and B to different channels. Now the trick is how to get one Slot to play your loop continuously undisturbed while soloing on the other Slot. This could be done in any one of several different ways.
Traditional thinking would have you play that loop note from an external controller with a sustain pedal. Play the note assigned to your desired sample while holding pedal down, then play the other Slot at will from the Nord. But that involves spending money on an external controller and a sustain pedal and a midi cable, having to hold down the pedal, and, worst of all, traditional thinking (when in doubt, discard traditional thinking).
You might have a midi device which is capable of sending Note On message without sending any following Note Off message. That would be simple and elegant, but not many have such devices...plus, we're trying to avoid spending more money on more equipment to transport and learn and connect and...
For the really twisted souls out there, here's a solution which requires ONLY a midi cable: as above, set the midi channel to Bi-Timbral and set Slots A and B to different channels, then turn Local OFF and connect midi out to midi in with short cable. Now, enable the Slot which contains your custom loop program, play and hold the desired note with one hand. Disconnect the midi cable (either end, it doesn't matter), release the note, then immediately reconnect the midi cable. You've just filtered out the Note Off message manually; the loop will play until the cows come home. Switch to the other Slot and have your way with it. Whenever you're ready to stop the loop, switch back to the loop slot and hit the same note again to generate another Note Off message.
Note that you must immediately reconnect the cable in order to switch slots because local is off. Anyone who wants to do this regularly might go to the trouble of dissecting a midi cable and installing an NC momentary switch. Hold the note, hold the switch, release the note, release the switch. Done.
Also note that the Stage 2, with its Hold feature, can do this without midi cable histrionics.
Another really GREAT feature of this method is that you are not locked into some sequencer's rigid quantization scheme. Because will actually be PLAYING your loops, your result can sound human and you can twist time however you may wish. It's totally free-form.
With all that money you saved on buying a sequencer, you could even help defray the operating expenses of this Forum!
Bless,
Pablo
