Nord User Forum

I’m considering getting a StudioLogic MP-113 or MP-117 for my NE6 73 SW. (I’ve read the previous threads about the limitations of such a setup, and am OK with them.) But I am new to all things Nord and MIDI, so please forgive what may be a simpleminded question...

I have seen these pedals used with 61-key boards that have C as their lowest note. (See here for example:

But my NE6 begins on a low E.

So how could I “map” the pedalboard to the manual in such a way that I don’t lose the lower fifth on the Nord (i.e., E through B), but also keep the pitches on the pedals and keys matched up correctly?

Any help would be much appreciated!

The peddle board has to start at C as that is how the peddle keys are organized.

You have two options.
1. The peddle board starts at C, just like the 61 key keyboard (A real hammond doesn't have 73 keys so this would actually be normal)
2. The peddle board could be translated down an octave and start on C below where the NE6 keyboard starts (Assuming the NE6 will recognize and play those notes, which it may not)

Oh, I see—ok, thanks!

cgrafx wrote: 2. The pedal board could be translated down an octave and start on C below where the NE6 keyboard starts (Assuming the NE6 will recognize and play those notes, which it may not)

I think the problem is not so much whether it recognizes MIDI notes an octave below (I guess it would), but that, assuming it's the organ you're getting the pedal board for (which the OP didn't specifically mention), they will sound exactly the same as the octave above due to foldback. That's because apart from the now discontinued C series, I'm not aware of Nord keyboards with an organ engine that emulates the bottom-octave tonewheels, originally used for pedals, which are not the same wheels used for manuals. These wheels are not playable from the manuals on Hammonds (unless you mod it). On the Electro / Stage series there are no drawbars to control the pedal notes either. So if you get the pedal board I guess you will have to be OK with the fact that you will be playing the same notes that you would from the manual, which may or may not make sense depending on what you aim to do.

Hlaalu wrote:

cgrafx wrote: 2. The pedal board could be translated down an octave and start on C below where the NE6 keyboard starts (Assuming the NE6 will recognize and play those notes, which it may not)

I think the problem is not so much whether it recognizes MIDI notes an octave below (I guess it would), but that, assuming it's the organ you're getting the pedal board for (which the OP didn't specifically mention), they will sound exactly the same as the octave above due to foldback. That's because apart from the now discontinued C series, I'm not aware of Nord keyboards with an organ engine that emulates the bottom-octave tonewheels, originally used for pedals, which are not the same wheels used for manuals. These wheels are not playable from the manuals on Hammonds (unless you mod it). On the Electro / Stage series there are no drawbars to control the pedal notes either. So if you get the pedal board I guess you will have to be OK with the fact that you will be playing the same notes that you would from the manual, which may or may not make sense depending on what you aim to do.

NE6 was mentioned in initial post, so assume that's the board used.

But You have the "B3 Bass" mode on the NE 5 and 6, where You indeed play the Bass pedal sounds.

Not sure whether You can run the pedal "manual" over MIDI though.
On my NE5 it's impossible as "B3 Bass" automatically runs the Bass pedal sound from the Lower part, and split keyboard can only receive external MIDI on the Upper part.
(I guess it would be possible if running external keyboard on Upper receive MIDI channel and pedals on Main MIDI channel, but kinda silly to have to have also external MIDI keyboard to be able to play bass pedals...)

Perhaps (hopefully) that's changed on the NE6 so that MIDI for the Bass pedal is possible without silly solutions.

fieldflower wrote: NE6 was mentioned in initial post, so assume that's the board used.

Yes, but he didn't say it's the organ sound he wants the pedal board for. Though normally associated with organs, there are players who use such pedal boards to play synth or other sounds for example.

I didn't know about B3 bass mode on the Electro. On the Stage there's no such a thing. But I wonder if that bass sound is a modeled tonehweel sound or is more like a synth bass, as it's an option in the C2D. Nothing wrong with synth bass anyway, Barbara Dennerlein herself uses synth bass, but it's better to be aware ahead of time.

Another option for the OP would be to get one of those pedalboards which, along with MIDI out, have built in sound units themselves.

Hlaalu wrote:

fieldflower wrote: NE6 was mentioned in initial post, so assume that's the board used.

Yes, but he didn't say it's the organ sound he wants the pedal board for. Though normally associated with organs, there are players who use such pedal boards to play synth or other sounds for example.

I didn't know about B3 bass mode on the Electro. On the Stage there's no such a thing. But I wonder if that bass sound is a modeled tonehweel sound or is more like a synth bass, as it's an option in the C2D. Nothing wrong with synth bass anyway, Barbara Dennerlein herself uses synth bass, but it's better to be aware ahead of time.

Another option for the OP would be to get one of those pedalboards which, along with MIDI out, have built in sound units themselves.

When you use B3 Bass you use the lowest 2 drawbars and the sounds is a lot more bass than regular manual. No foldback.

I’m definitely interested in organ, but other sounds too; and I’m ok with only being able to trigger the manual notes. I just want to free up my left hand a bit!

But good to know there are pedalboards with built-in sounds as well. Any recommendations for one with good organ bass? (I’m not crazy about B3+Bass.)

@alexanerlyon -- just to be clear, there are pedalboards (usually intended for organ players) that send midi and don't make sound. The NE6 would be making sounds. There are also synth pedalboards (e.g. Taurus comes to mind) that make great bass sounds, and usually also send midi. And, finally, I've seen a few cheapies out there that just do midi for triggering an iPad or something.

Thanks for the help, everyone!

After poking around a bit, I'm going to stick with something that sends MIDI but doesn't generate its own sounds, like the MP-113 or MP-117.

I'm primarily interested in using the pedalboard to trigger the low-end organ sounds that I would normally play with my left hand, but would love to be able use it to trigger other fun low-end sounds (like Rhodes, clavinet, etc.).

And now I'm really intrigued by the idea of triggering some kind of synth bass sound. I didn't know Dennerlein did that!

It seems like this should all be possible, right?

Am I correct in understanding that if I am using organ sounds all around, there will only be one "split", i.e., the pedals will control the low end, and there will be one other "zone" on the keyboard that I will play with my hands? But that if I use the pedals to trigger a synth bass sound rather than the B3 sound, I can still do upper/lower manuals in organ mode?

And what is the significance of the split keyboard only receiving external MIDI on the Upper part? To an ignoramus like me, that sounds as if I could only use the pedalboard to control the upper (i.e., right-side or higher-pitched) portion the keyboard--but that can't be right, can it?