Nord Stage 4 + MIDI Sequencer

[shenkie456]

I think I'm getting crazy haha. Please help me out.

I have a studio that includes a Nord Stage 4 and a Squarp Pyramid MK2 sequencer and some other synths.

I want to use the keyboard as my "MIDI controller" so I connected the MIDI OUT from my Stage 4 to the MIDI IN in the sequencer. This works well.

The sequencer saves my sequence and plays the MIDI notes and gives them back from the MIDI OUT to the MIDI IN of my Nord Stage 4. This also works well.

It is possible to set every layer of the Stage 4 on a different MIDI channel, which I've succeeded.

Let's say I play my first piano sequence on Layer A. The loop works fine, and I hear the
sequence being played in the sequencer and sending MIDI to the stage.

Now the problem starts when I want to add a second layer. I want to play the next layer over the first layer to build something. However, because the first layer is activated, I'm playing both layers while I actually only want to play/hear the new layer, while still hearing the other layer coming from the MIDI notes. This is basic multi-timbral MIDI which is present in many synths. For two layers this would not be a big deal. But imagine you have multiple layers playing and you want to add a lead sound. This would result in playing all the activated layers while you only want to hear the newest layer. Turning off the layers doesn't work of course.

This problem can be solved by turning off Local Control because this means you only hear sounds over MIDI coming from the sequencer and back in the Stage 4. However, this also turn off all the knobs and sliders so you can't control any parameters or effects. Another option would be to use an external keyboard I think, but that would be madness for an 4800 euro device.

Am I missing something? Why would this be only available if using an external keyboard? Why not through it's own keyboard.

With such an extensive MIDI functionality there should be a way to do this right? Maybe some advanced local control? Where only the keyboard is turned off, but still having the possibility to access the knobs and sliders?

Thanks in advance!

[AlbergKeys]

I have the exact same question.
Did you find out and want to share the solution?

Regards,
Snorre

[Ecaroh]

Hi guys!

Sorry to say but there’s no easy fix for this. NS4 cannot put individual parts to ”local off” or ”no kb zone” which is something that would help. This is just another example of Nord’s very badly thought MIDI implementation of NS4. NS4 works only two ways: a) you have to play all active parts with you own fingers *) or b) put the whole thing in local off when you can’t play anything. Latter case is like gigantic sound module with useless keys and knobs.

But unfortunately this is just one of many MIDI related problems of NS4…

*) with an exection of aux kb mode: you can give one or more parts to one ch aux kb. But even that does not work well because you cannot use AT, Exp pedal of wheel…