NS3 + MainStage MIDI Routing

[stringtapper]

So I have decided to downsize on my Sunday morning gig and stop hauling my Korg SV-1 and just use the Nord as my single board.

My setup involves the NS3 Compact, MainStage 3, MOTU 828x, and a Roland FC-300 pedal.

My main issue right now is in trying to use the panel system for both the internal sounds from the Nord and for triggering sounds in MainStage. I keep getting MIDI loops or double triggering based on how I have the routing set.

Here’s the simplest example of what I want to be able to do:

Nord piano on Panel A
Nord synth (pad) on Panel B
Softsynth pad in MainStage triggered only by Panel B

At this point I can get this setup working, except that I get double-triggered notes on softsynth channel in MainStage.

I have tried several different setups all with varying problems involving double triggers or full on MIDI feedback loops.

Without yet going into the details of what I’ve tried so far, does anyone have any thoughts on how they would set up a scheme like the one I listed above?

Thanks!

[stringtapper]

Also, Local MIDI is Off in all of the schemes I’ve tried.

[MrTobbe]

Hmm, how are you triggering mainstage? The best way to do what you describe above is to use the external section for Panel B. The MIDI channel for the external section can be set for each program.

Then you just have to keep in mind that the Nord always sends MIDI on the Global channel, unless you turn it off. So if you need the Global channel to change program from Mainstage, you better filter out that channel in MainStage, or else you might have every note of your softsynth double triggered (external section + Global channel).

Then one more thing to look out for - in the external section menu, there is a setting called Global Soft Thru. You have to make sure this is set to off - if not, any incoming MIDI on Global channel or Panel A/B channel, will be sent back on the MIDI Out port, if the external section is engaged on either panel.

One last thing - I would not have the Stage in local off. I'd rather have the Stage trigger its own sound, and have any midi loop settings turned off in MainStage, and only use MainStage to change programs in the Stage 3, and host the softsynths you want to use. That would also give you one less possibility for feedback/loop problems.

[stringtapper]

Hmm, how are you triggering mainstage? The best way to do what you describe above is to use the external section for Panel B. The MIDI channel for the external section can be set for each program.

Right now I am using External Instrument channel strips for the Nord's internal sounds.

Then you just have to keep in mind that the Nord always sends MIDI on the Global channel, unless you turn it off. So if you need the Global channel to change program from Mainstage, you better filter out that channel in MainStage, or else you might have every note of your softsynth double triggered (external section + Global channel).

Do you know how I can filter those messages out in MainStage?

Then one more thing to look out for - in the external section menu, there is a setting called Global Soft Thru. You have to make sure this is set to off - if not, any incoming MIDI on Global channel or Panel A/B channel, will be sent back on the MIDI Out port, if the external section is engaged on either panel.

The trouble I've been having seems to happen whether or not this is on. I will make sure it's off just so it doesn't cause any more trouble.

One last thing - I would not have the Stage in local off. I'd rather have the Stage trigger its own sound, and have any midi loop settings turned off in MainStage, and only use MainStage to change programs in the Stage 3, and host the softsynths you want to use. That would also give you one less possibility for feedback/loop problems.

My last resort will certainly be to simply use Audio channel strips for the outputs from the Nord's internal sounds instead of External Instrument channel strips.

I can't remember for sure (not around the rig right now), but my main concern with this is that I would lose some functionality in terms of messages you're able to send with External Instrument channel strips versus Audio channel strips.

[MrTobbe]

Do you know how I can filter those messages out in MainStage?

Sorry, I don't use MainStage myself - I can only help you with the Stage 3 part.

[baekgaard]

At this point I can get this setup working, except that I get double-triggered notes on softsynth channel in MainStage.

It sounds like you may be sending out dual MIDI. Have you switched off the global MIDI channel (MIDI menu, setting 2/4, global should be Off)?

If it doesn't help or if the problem is something else, please copy all the settings you have on the Stage 3 wrt MIDI and Extern menus, so that we can check for any forgotten settings

[sdmkeys]

I have the Nord Stage 3 working successfully with Mainstage using the External Section and pretty much used this YouTube video ( as a starting point.

[Berretje]

Hmm, how are you triggering mainstage? The best way to do what you describe above is to use the external section for Panel B. The MIDI channel for the external section can be set for each program.

Right now I am using External Instrument channel strips for the Nord's internal sounds.

That's not what MrTobbe means. You have to use the Extern section on the Nord Stage itself to trigger a sound in Mainstage.
You can create an extra piano and attach it with the "Assign" button to the external section (A or B) of the Nord Stage.

[stringtapper]

Hmm, how are you triggering mainstage? The best way to do what you describe above is to use the external section for Panel B. The MIDI channel for the external section can be set for each program.

Right now I am using External Instrument channel strips for the Nord's internal sounds.

That's not what MrTobbe means. You have to use the Extern section on the Nord Stage itself to trigger a sound in Mainstage.
You can create an extra piano and attach it with the "Assign" button to the external section (A or B) of the Nord Stage.

Yeah, I’ve done just this in several ways. At one point I had a keyboard object for every MIDI channel I was using with the setup. So keyboard objects for Global, Panel A In, Panel B In, Panel A Extern, and Panel B Extern.

The last iteration I came to had two keyboard objects for Global/Panel A and Panel B.

And of course you DON’T have to use the Extern section to trigger sounds in MainStage. The Global channel will trigger synths just fine.

But with the way I want it to work, essentially to have MainStage softsynths that can be assigned to either Panel A or Panel B, it seems like turning off Global and using the Extern section is going to be the way to go. I’m doing some more testing tonight.

[stringtapper]

At this point I can get this setup working, except that I get double-triggered notes on softsynth channel in MainStage.

It sounds like you may be sending out dual MIDI. Have you switched off the global MIDI channel (MIDI menu, setting 2/4, global should be Off)?

If it doesn't help or if the problem is something else, please copy all the settings you have on the Stage 3 wrt MIDI and Extern menus, so that we can check for any forgotten settings

Thanks baekgaard! I tried turning off Global in one of my experiments and still ran into problems, but I’m going to try that again when I do some more testing tonight.