Sending MIDI Program Changes from Stage 3 to Electro 5

[Transonic]

Hi people I'm having issues with MIDI program change due to a lack of MIDI experience and can't seem to find the info I'm looking for to tackle the following issue - I'm sure it's most likely a simple fix!.

My issue so far is as follows:
I have an Electro 5D and a Stage 3 and on both I have ‘song mode’ selected - NOT program mode, so what I'm trying to achieve would be for example when I select song “Crocodile Rock” for a Piano/Acoordion sound on the Stage 3 - it will also simultaneously select song “Crocodile Rock” which I’ve also programmed on the Electro 5 for a Synthlead sound. So far all I’ve achieved is when I select bank 1 on the Stage it simply defaults to bank 1 on the Electro (this was via the standard MIDI section - not the Extern section). So basically I'm trying to find whether there is a more specific way for one program/song on one keyboard to select a specific program/song on the other keyboard?? I've been told the Extern section would be better for this than the standard MIDI section but still am having trouble getting it to work as there seems to be so many settings in there. Also is it possible for the MIDI program change component to recognize "Songs" (song mode) or will it recognize only Programs?

To clarify further, I understand the basic concepts where the sending and receiving units need to both be set to the same MIDI channel - I have mine set to 4, MIDI cable from the MIDI Out of the Stage to the MIDI In of the Electro. Extern setting switched to on and button within the Extern section set to "Program". Can someone help as to where I would go from here?

Thanks in advance.

[Transonic]

You need to set the MIDI parameters (Channel, PC, Bank Change, Send on Load) in the Extern Menu + assign it to "no zone" (all leds off)
Take a look at the The Nord Stage MIDI Tutorial

[Transonic]

Thanks maxpiano, your answer was very helpful and I've now got the Nord Stage successfully configured to be able to select any program I like on the Electro.
All I needed to do was adjust the Extern component to "no zone" and configure the "Send on Load" and PC components to "On".

Now all I need to do is figure out if I can achieve the same when both keyboards are set to "Song/Set List" mode - which currently isn't working properly yet, though I will try to figure it out and post back if I cannot work it out.

[Transonic]

Thanks maxpiano, your answer was very helpful and I've now got the Nord Stage successfully configured to be able to select any program I like on the Electro.
All I needed to do was adjust the Extern component to "no zone" and configure the "Send on Load" and PC components to "On".

Now all I need to do is figure out if I can achieve the same when both keyboards are set to "Song/Set List" mode - which currently isn't working properly yet, though I will try to figure it out and post back if I cannot work it out.

With that setup, if I were you I would use the Song mode on the NS3 only and have NS3 "call" the required NE5 Program from each of its own programs (in the song)