Nord unable to receive MIDI over USB

[magnuskatz]

I have a Nord Electro 5D, updated to the latest OS 2.02.

I'm looking to use my Nord as a MIDI instrument, not as a controller.

Receiving midi signal into the Nord over traditional MIDI cables works fine, but with USB I do not receive any signal in the Nord (the MIDI light does not even light up).

I've confirmed that the cable is fine, and I also confirmed that using the same USB cable I am able to SEND midi signals from the Nord without issues, so that means the USB port is OK. Also, I'm able to update firmware via that same cable no issues. It's only receiving MIDI via USB that is a problem.

I've fiddled extensively with the MIDI settings. I've tried all 16 global midi channels, as well as every combination of every other setting in the MIDI menu. Nothing works.

I've also confirmed that the incoming MIDI signal is valid, because hooking that same signal into my laptop for example works fine with mainstage.

I've pored through the manual looking for clues without luck. Also, according to the manual, both USB and MIDI should always be active, there is no need to select which one to use anymore.

Any ideas?

[maxpiano]

What are you using to send USB MIDI data to the NE5 (a DAW, other... )? Maybe the problem is on the sending side and not on the NE5.

[magnuskatz]

The sending device is a Korg B2N which I wanted to use as a controller. I tested that sending device, using the same cable, hooking it into Mainstage on the macbook, and that works flawlessly. I re-tested it several times, always works 100%.

Also I tried several different cables.

I have to conclude either:

1) My Nord has some issue receiving MIDI over USB
or
2) maybe the sending device sends info using some slightly non-standard variant encoding that not all devices can understand, and maybe Mainstage understands it while Nord does not

I'll try to find another USB sending device to test theory #2.

[maxpiano]

How do you connect the B2N to the NE5? You cannot connect 2 USB devices each other without a computer/tablet (or in general a device with USB Host capability) and with some software acting as MIDI router between the two.

[magnuskatz]

Oh, I didn't know that, that could well be the issue then!

But using standard MIDI cables, that's exactly the setup I've done with with my other keyboard. Keyboard out, directly into Nord, works fine. So you're saying for USB I need an intermediary host, but not for standard MIDI? That seems like a plus for the old MIDI way then!

Thanks for this answer, I'll look into this, seems promising.

[magnuskatz]

Oh, I didn't know that, that could well be the issue then!

But using standard MIDI cables, that's exactly the setup I've done with with my other keyboard. Keyboard out, directly into Nord, works fine. So you're saying for USB I need an intermediary host, but not for standard MIDI? That seems like a plus for the old MIDI way then!

Thanks for this answer, I'll look into this, seems promising.

USB is a completely different type of interface and was born for connecting peripherals to computers (while MIDI was specifically designed for electronic musical instruments); the alternative, to avoid using a computer, is to convert the USB MIDI of your Korg B2 into a DIN connection using a "USB MIDI Host" box like the Kenton or this one

[magnuskatz]

It worked! I got the Camola DoreMIDI box that you linked to (opted for the upgraded UMH-21 model because it has wider compatibility and supports more recent USB versions). Works perfectly.

Thanks again for the guidance.