Nord User Forum

Hi,
I would like to buy a Nord piano with 88 keys and a heavy touch. I hesitate between the Grand Nord, the Piano 5 or the NS-88. However, as I would like to use this keyboard on stage to control at the same time a light synth placed on top of the piano, it would need to have sufficient MIDI functionality.
My main goal is to use the North keyboard to play a piano sound along with a sound of strings or pads, the volume of which could be adjusted with a MIDI pedal.
But also, for some pieces, that it can reproduce "keys" and "pads" sounds coming from the external synth (on MIDI channels 1 and 2 for example) instead of its internal sounds, while controlling the volume of the pads with the foot pedal on MIDI channel 2: in other words, that the piano Nord works like a masterkeyboard in this situation.
My question is: do any of the above mentioned Nord keyboards have the MIDI functions I am looking for?
Thank you for your answers.

Hi Georges

and a very warm welcome to this wonderful forum of nord enthusiasts. If I got your post and your goals right it seems to me that you can achieve this even without an extra light synth if your choice would be the NS 3 88. It can play all nord‘s piano sounds plus adds a synth with what you want, both controllable with foot pedals, volumewise. That would be my favourite solution.

Cheers and a happy new year from Germany

Hello
The Nord Stage has great MIDI functionality and is superior to the Nord Grand and Nord Piano in this matter.
Of the three choices, the Nord Stage has the lightest weighted keyboard touch. This is due to the compromise of being a stage piano, a synth and an organ (at the same time).
So I would recommend the Nord Stage. I have one of my own, and I simply love the machine!
As much as I would prefer a heavier touch, there´s no problem at all playing dynamic piano-accomp.

Hi Georges and welcome,

I personally own a Nord piano 4 as a master keyboard (with Cubase) and I'm fine.
The only thing I'm missing is the lack of pitch bend /modulation so if it's important for you you haven't the choice : NS3 is only to have this feature in your list.

I still have the impression that I should respond to your job description concerning the weighted Nord keyboard.
You wanted to know if all candidates had enough MIDI capabilities - but what exactly for?

1. You want to be able to play piano sounds directly from the internal weighted keybed. Why do you need a MIDI pedal for expression/control? I haven't done that yet.
2. You want to play synth sounds on your synths. No need for MIDI.
3. You want to use the Nord as a master keyboard which means you play the Nord keys and forward MIDI data to the synth that plays the sound. Each Nord has one DIN-MIDI out for that. None of the Nords have special master keyboard functionality, only basic functions.
4. You want it to

georges studer wrote:... reproduce "keys" and "pads" sounds coming from the external synth (on MIDI channels 1 and 2 for example) instead of its internal sounds, while controlling the volume of the pads with the foot pedal on MIDI channel 2...

What do you mean by "reproduce"? And you want to forward the expression pedal of the Nord as a volume control for your synth? Have a look into the manual of your synth.
What exactly would you want 2 MIDI channels for? As far as I can see, only the Stage 3 can send on two MIDI channels (Extern A and Extern B MIDI) at the same time.
Still a bit puzzled about what you want to achieve and why you want a Nord for that.

FZiegler wrote: 3. You want to use the Nord as a master keyboard which means you play the Nord keys and forward MIDI data to the synth that plays the sound. Each Nord has one DIN-MIDI out for that. None of the Nords have special master keyboard functionality, only basic functions.

I think saying "none of the Nords have special master keyboard functionality" is not totally accurate, the Nord Stage with its Extern section makes a difference in this respect, it is not a "basic MIDI function" but closer to what you expect from a "basic masterkeyboard" and it also has aftertouch and more pedals than the other comparable Nord models

So, bottom line, if the OP is looking for the most flexible Nord board, in terms of sound and MIDI master keyboard capabilities, the (already given) answer is: Nord Stage

OK, I think we agree about the term "basic masterkeyboard". In my eyes even the MIDI capabilities of the Stage 3 are worth a warning: You can't individually assign controllers to CCs, would need a MIDI message controller to get this done - right?

FZiegler wrote:OK, I think we agree about the term "basic masterkeyboard". In my eyes even the MIDI capabilities of the Stage 3 are worth a warning: You can't individually assign controllers to CCs, would need a MIDI message controller to get this done - right?

Yep, agreed about term and warning but at least with NS Extern you can send Program Changes, pedals, AT, PB/MW and at least 1 freely assignable and morphable CC, much more than what you can do with a NE/NP/NG

In live-settings, the Nord Stage has very flexible and powerful MIDI functionality. There are lots of operations it can't perform, if one need very deep midi configurations.
I find it very flexible for my live-usage, in order to send the correct parameter-changes, program-changes, morphing etc.
The OPs mentioned: My main goal is to use the North keyboard to play a piano sound along with a sound of strings or pads, the volume of which could be adjusted with a MIDI pedal.
But also, for some pieces, that it can reproduce "keys" and "pads" sounds coming from the external synth (on MIDI channels 1 and 2 for example) instead of its internal sounds, while controlling the volume of the pads with the foot pedal on MIDI channel 2: in other words, that the piano Nord works like a masterkeyboard in this situation.

Both the Nord Grand and Nord Piano can basically serve the first goal, to play a piano sound along with a sound of strings or pads, for the rest: it's the Nord Stage

FZiegler wrote:OK, I think we agree about the term "basic masterkeyboard". In my eyes even the MIDI capabilities of the Stage 3 are worth a warning: You can't individually assign controllers to CCs, would need a MIDI message controller to get this done - right?

Yes, but the MIDI capabilities the OP is talking about seems to be limited to triggering external sounds to be played in conjunction with the Nord sounds, including the ability to be controlled by the Nord's foot pedal... and the Stage does that (and is the only Nord that does that). The Stage will let the OP select which external sound he wants, and which key range he wants to play it from (allowing the sound to be split or layered with internal Nord sounds). The pedal volume control would be accomplished with a morph.

But yes, there are other boards which have more MIDI flexibility, where you can (for example) control which CCs the various sliders send, over what channel. The Stage drawbars CCs are fixed and will transmit on the global channel. Depending on what it is you are trying to control, you might be able to remap those functions on the receiving end, if desired. But that goes beyond anything the OP is talking about wanting to do.