NS4 Aux KB Control functions

[mtier0067]

I think that is to be expected. not optimal but usable... Aux KB uses the internal NS4 morph controllers of Wheel, Exp Pedal to control morphs assigned to Aux KB panels. Aftertouch is not received by a midi controller sending to panels assigned to Aux KB mode. Too bad but not the end of the world.

Can you set up splits/layers with the panels assigned to Aux KB mode? I really just want to know this one thing... Please someone test and respond if you have a ns4 and a midi controller. It doesn't tell us anything in the manual and I don't have the NS4 to test. Set a 2 zone split up. Assign a synth bass to lower section and set to Aux KB mode, set a EP piano to lower section and set to Aux KB mode, set an organ to upper zone and set to Aux KB mode. Does the external keyboard split these sections at the same split point or do all panels sound over the whole keyboard? Can you shift the octave transpose received to +1/-1?

[mtier0067]

Concerning Octave +/-: The MIDI menu item 'Transpose MIDI At' [In/Out] is said to control any transpose setting - global and per program. Would be interesting to know if Octave +/- is affected by this setting as well - but I don't suppose so.

I would really like to know if this is indeed possible or not. Please someone test this functionality along with the split/layer possibility of panels assigned to Aux KB mode.

[Ecaroh]

Concerning Octave +/-: The MIDI menu item 'Transpose MIDI At' [In/Out] is said to control any transpose setting - global and per program. Would be interesting to know if Octave +/- is affected by this setting as well - but I don't suppose so.

I would really like to know if this is indeed possible or not. Please someone test this functionality along with the split/layer possibility of panels assigned to Aux KB mode.

Did you read my post (one before my last one)? I was not 100% sure what to test but I tested at least something…

[mtier0067]

Sorry! I didn't see that one. That is great, thank you for testing it out. I think Aux KB will work for my uses as long as it allows splits and octave shift without altering the controls of the external keyboard...

For live use, I put a NS4SW directly on top of a Studiologic Acuna 73 and don't touch any controls on the Acuna. I have things set up in a custom enclosure with a custom multichannel snake to a pedal board. I set up splits/octaves/panels to divide different sounds between the NS473 keybed and the Acuna73 but route everything out of the NS473 to my amp. This should allow me to have two splits of say: organ and synth split on the NS473 and a Piano/Synthbass with Organ on the Acuna73. I usually have the organ panel for Aux KB morphed on the internal mod wheel of the NS473 and various aspects of the synth/organ morphed on the control pedal/aftertouch of the internal NS473.

Thanks for testing this all out. We still should push Clavia to update the MIDI functionality if possible but I believe this should work out well for live use.

[groovejazz]

here my Solution for the Aux KB control funktions:

With the NS4, I now have 7 slots instead of the two panels in the NS2 and 3, to which two different channels can be assigned

I'm going to set it up like this:

Panel-Midi-Channels NS4.png (27.69 KiB) Viewed 3098 times

Example 1:
I want to control a lead synth in Slot C of the Synth Panel with an external keyboard:

Synth Slot C is assigned to the Aux Keyb. I send my external keyboard to Midi Channel 8 (Aux Keyb). The controllers such as aftertouch, modulation, filter cutoff and envelope are only controlled by Synth C on Midi Channel 7. Other sounds, such as a synth pad in synth A, which is layered with a piano, are not affected. I think that if my ancient Edirol PCR 500 can do this, then current master keyboards should be able to do it too.

Example 2:
Now I want to “build” a two manual organ

The external keyboard should be the upper manual and its 9 sliders are the drawbars for the upper manual, the drawbars of the stage control those of the lower manual:

Organ A should be the upper manual and is set as Aux Keyb. I continue to send with the external keyboard on channel 8. The sliders of the external keyboard send the controllers 16 to 24 for the respective drawbars on Midi channel 1. The stage keyboard plays the lower manual, organ B, and is clicked with the focus button. This is how I have the drawbars of the stage for the lower manual

This is how it really works!
Any objections?

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Ecaroh]

hi,

Did I understand this correctly:
If a (organ/piano/synth) part is put to Aux Kb mode it still responds to its own Midi channel?

EDIT: I did my tests and I can confirm that it works like that at least with wheel (I just tested it). So with this hack you can have a wheel (and presumably other missing midi stuff too) if your ext midi controller can send both Aux kb channel (notes, sus ped and bender) and parts own ch (wheel etc.). While this hack seems to work IMO this is amazing if we need to make this kind of tricks. Of course NS4 should respond to wheel (etc.) with Aux kb ch like other stages did without any problem. I am afraid I’ll keep my earlier opinion that NS4’s MIDI is still total disaster.

[groovejazz]

The Aux KB channel cannot be the same as one of the panels. That is the crux of the matter and that's why you have to trick so much.

if you think it through logically, it's not so easy to change this in a future update, since it affects the whole midi architecture.

[mtier0067]

Another wrinkle that I'm finding with the NS3 and wondering if it's the same on the NS4 is you cannot differentiate between USB and MIDI channels in the MIDI menu. On the Stage 2 you could select if any of the sections was transmitted over midi, or over USB. This essentially gave you an additional 16 channels to play with via usb that could be assigned independently. Is that not possible on the NS3 or the NS4? Shame that a 15year old keyboard has better functionality vs. the flagship, new stage model...

Using a NS2 as the master controller, you could have two boards midi'd together using the traditional midi in/out on each. This allows program changes, cc changes, notes, etc. to be exchanged and the NS2SW to function as a master controller for both boards. Having the MIDI via USB assigned separately also allows you to connect both boards to an iPad via a powered USB Hub and have both control 2 separate things. For instance, you could control the upper and lower manuals independently via USB in a hammond IOS BX3 app. Or have the lower board control Module while the upper board controls BX3... all in addition to having both boards sync'd up via midi for single button program changes, extern section playability of sounds on either board etc.

The more I dig into the nuances that made the NS2 a great board, the more I don't want to sell it! despite the lackluster organ section, the ancient synth engine, and the small sample memory size in the piano departments. It does a ton when used with another board... and/or with an iPad!

[FZiegler]

I don't understand your point. Controlling every single engine/layer of a Stage 2 through a separate MIDI channel is something you may want to do; a Stage 3 doesn't have that functionality, but the Stage 4 got it back, I think. But even then, 16 channels should be enough to separate anything you can on a Nord into different MIDI channels. No need for 32 channels.

Your view is different from mine. I say: The Stage 3 was finally the first that was able to address the same MIDI channel both through DIN and USB connections. No matter which connection you use - you can have the same data even on both channels at the same time (be it a tablet or a laptop on USB). It's up to the target to filter out what it's meant to react on or not. Great improvement - same on the Stage 4.

So you can address a hardware synth via DIN MIDI while you store the same MIDI data in a DAW (for later manipulation).

[mtier0067]

Finally pulled the trigger on a ns4sw73. Decided the new stuff was worth it despite all of the issues. I’m wondering, does the ns4 listen for all 3 sensors for a weighted midi controller controlling a piano (for instance) via aux kb mode?

I have a Studiologic sl73 that I’m planning to hide under the ns4sw73 to control pianos and layered sounds and wanted to know if it picked up all sensors or just on/off. I can’t seem to find confirmation in the manual.