How do I connect my Nord Lead 2 ?

[Sophistikat]

Hi.
First post , and its full of noob. Sorry.

I was given a nord lead 2 without any connecting leads , and I dont know how to connect it to my m-audio fast track pro interface.

I've been using a simple alesis USB powered midi keyboard , simply for playing VST synths , but midi is a whole new ball game , as is hardware.

Can someone help me out and let me know what cables I need , and how to connect it to the interface so it shows up in FL studios controller list ?

Thanks in advance.

[Nordlicht]

Hi,

to connect any synth/keyboard with the "classic" MIDI jacks to an USB device (PC) you have to use an USB/MIDI cable/interface like this one:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/miditech_midilinkmini.htm

If you go directly in your PC via USB your NL2 should appear in your DAW. Normally this is really just plug-and-play.
Then you can play your VST-instruments via the NL2 and the DAW can control/play the NL2.

Regards

[mjbrands]

Small addition: your NL2 itself will never show up in FL, but your MIDI interface will. On newer Nords that have MIDI-over-USB functionality (just having a USB connection is not enough) it would actually appear as that specific keyboard; I think that would be the Nord Stage 2, Nord Piano and Piano 2, Electro 4 and the new Lead 4.

Anyway, a MIDI connection is uni-directional. That is, data only 'flows' from the MIDI output of device A to the MIDI input on device B. So if you want to send MIDI data from your NL2 to FL (via your computer's MIDI interface), you would plug one side of the MIDI cable in the MIDI out port on the NL2 and the other side into the MIDI in port on your MIDI interface. Conversely, if you want to send MIDI data from FL to your NL2, plug a MIDI cable in the MIDI out port on your MIDI interface and the other side into the MIDI in port on your NL2.

On a lot of the simpler MIDI interfaces, the cable will be an integral part of the MIDI interface; if you can't get things to work, try swapping the MIDI cable(s) on the NL2 side. With a 'real' MIDI interface a port might be labeled 'MIDI in', while on a cheaper USB one the cable attached to it might be labeled 'out', because you connect it to the MIDI out port of your device. A bit confusing and non-standard with interfaces that have a cable that is fixed.

Most Nords have a MIDI LED which blinks if MIDI is received by the Nord - I haven't checked if the NL2 has that though. On newer Nords the MIDI LED blinks briefly if it receives a MIDI messages on a channel it is not listening (= it is ignored), while it stays on longer if the messages is actually processed.

If you are using the NL2 as a controller keyboard, you may want to turn 'Local Control' off (check the manual). When you press a key on a Nord, it normally sends out a MIDI message via the MIDI out port and it sends a copy of that message to the 'sound engine' inside the Nord. If you turn 'Local Control' off, that copy will no longer be sent, so only a MIDI message will be sent via the MIDI out port. If your NL2 is making sound when you're using it as a controller, or if you want it to make sound but hear strange 'echoes', double notes, etc. try turning off 'Local Control'. This 'echoing' of sounds or the double notes mentioned may be caused by the DAW software mirroring (echoing) MIDI messages it receives from the Nord back to the Nord (so the internal 'sound engine' receives every keypress twice, with a very small delay between the two).

I briefly mention MIDI channels: a single MIDI connection consists of 16 different channels, numbered from 1 to 16. You need to make sure that the MIDI channel on your NL2 is the same as what FL is using. Check the manuals for the NL2 and FL on how to set the MIDI channel.

A bit of a brain-dump, but hopefully it will be of some use. Don't hesitate to ask if you can't get it to work, but please try using the search function of the forum first

Edit: oh, and MIDI does not carry audio, it only carries 'meta data' between two MIDI enabled devices. What this means is that when you press a key on your NL2, a message is sent that contains information on what key you pressed (MIDI note number) and how quickly you pressed it (velocity). When you release that key, it sends a message stating what key you released and (in some cases) how quickly you let go of that key. Depending on how you've set up your Nord, it will also carry data about what program to use; not the actually settings, but just the program number.

[Sophistikat]

Thanks guys !
I didnt realise there were replies as I didnt turn notifications on.

Im not a complete novice. Ive produced albums , but everything ive used has been usb powered , even my novation launchpad.

If I understand right , the midi to usb goes to either the usb slots on my computer ( will most likely be plugged into a usb hub ) and no driver cd or anything else is necessary ?
Then I need stereo phono cable to either of the 4 line-ins at the front of the fast track pro interface , so the sound can go through my monitors ?
I know midi is data only and its probably similar to editing vst parameters and automating them that way , which is what ive been doing so far.

I found this cable on ebay. It looks the same to me , and a lot cheaper. Is this the cable I need ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-MIDI-Keyb ... 483b015357

Also , please advise on the phono cables I would need.

Thabks again !

[Sophistikat]

This is the back of the fast track pro , and it does indeed have midi sockets ( see attached photo ) , so should I forget about the midi to usb lead ?


Also , I have a split cable with two 6.35mm jacks on one end , and 2 jacks on the other end which I think are sp/dif ( or whatever its called. Presumably they would be left and right audio out from the nord , but where do they go in the back of the fast track pro ?

Sorry to be such a noob about this but we all gotta start somewhere =)

[mjbrands]

That M-Audio interface should work fine. Connect the FastTrack Pro to your computer as you always do (I assume you need to have the external power supply connected).

Run a MIDI cable from the NL2's MIDI out to the FastTrack's MIDI in and, optionally (if you also want to send MIDI back from your DAW to your NL2), connect the FastTrack's MIDI out to the NL2's MIDI in. Additionally, run an audio cable from the two main outputs on the NL2 (the NL2 only has two and not four like the NL2X, right?) two the two inputs on the front of the FastTrack - don't forget to set the buttons next to the inputs to line, not instrument. The cable to use has two 6.35 mm (1/4") moni (unbalanced) jacks on both ends; of course, you can also use two cables that each only have a single 6.35 mm jack on each end.

Now this cable you're describing that goes from two 6.35 mm jacks to 'SP/DIF', does that have connectors like this?



If so, that connector is called an XLR connector and it is used for 'pro-audio' connections (balanced) and for microphones. If that's the cable you have, you might be able to use that - just give it a try. You may need to switch the FastTrack from line to inst and play around with the gain knob and the pad switches. The things to get right are the volume level and the amount of noise you can hear (if any).

I'm covering this stuff with the depth of a surfboard, but I'm sure someone will elaborate if needed.

[Sophistikat]

Thanks. I know what cables to get off ebay now.
This is the other end of the cable ( the one with 6.35mm jacks at the other end ).
Definitely not xlr

[mjbrands]

Ah! Those are RCA (cinch) connectors. They're typically used on consumer equipment for in and outputs. For example, your DVD or CD player will likely have outputs with the female version of that connector on the back. S/PDIF (or just SPDIF) is a consumer-grade digital in- or output; it stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format. SPDIF just happens to use the same connector, although technically the cable is different - over short distances I generally just use a plain audio cable with an RCA connector on each end.

SPDIF can also be sent over an optical cable; in that case you sometimes see the name TOSLINK used, after the name for that connector.

If you have a device with RCA inputs (your stereo maybe?) it should work fine if you connect your Nord to it using that cable.

[Sophistikat]

So they wont plug into the fast track then ?

Well , ive ordered my midi leads.
Can get phono leads for 2 quid for now , just until I get the ones with gold connectors.
Looking forward to linking the music I make with the Nord.

This is what ive managed to do until now , without it

www.soundcloud.com/2ndMOUSE

[mjbrands]

You can plug them in, but they won't do what you want. The outputs of the Nord are an analog signal while S/PDIF is a digital signal - they work in a completely different way, so you'll need a different cable. I would just use two of these, since I like angled connectors on the side of my instruments (less chance to get snagged on a connector):
http://www.thomann.de/gb/cordial_cci_3_pr.htm

And if it needs to be cheaper:
- http://www.thomann.de/gb/pro_snake_tpi_a_3.htm

Or even:
- http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_sssnake_sk3613_kabel.htm

You can also get convertors to go from RCA to jack: http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_sssnake_1820_adapter.htm