Nord User Forum

In my band it sometimes happens that we have to change the key for a song. This is fairly easy since I can use the (cheat) transpose button on my Nord instead of learning the song again. The thing is now, I've got a Hammond XK-3 laying around which I would like to add to my setup again. However, the Hammond only has a global transpose (-6 to +6) setting. I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion on how I can make a setup in which both my Nord and Hammond are transposed depending on the song so I can keep playing both in the same key. I've already looked into some MIDI settings, but what I understand is that there is no transpose CC setting.

The most obvious solution i can think of is a MIDI processor, and a roundtrip routing through it. Albeit this will be cumbersome as you either need a processor with multiple I/Os, or you need to merge/split the MIDI signal (from and to the keyboards).

I think it would be easier to learn the parts in the new key.

Elias wrote:The most obvious solution i can think of is a MIDI processor, and a roundtrip routing through it. Albeit this will be cumbersome as you either need a processor with multiple I/Os, or you need to merge/split the MIDI signal (from and to the keyboards).

Yes or more simply a computer/tablet with a MIDI processing/routing capable software (I am thinking about Mainstage, Camelot Pro and the likes), connecting to it the keyboards in MIDI Local Off and letting the app do the all the MIDI job (transposing when needed and all other MIDI management like programs selection, CC filtering, routing messages between keyboards) and all could be programmed on a per-song basis in a SetList.

That is the best HW/SE solution... then there is always the option to transpose by brain and hands

maxpiano wrote:

Elias wrote:The most obvious solution i can think of is a MIDI processor, and a roundtrip routing through it. Albeit this will be cumbersome as you either need a processor with multiple I/Os, or you need to merge/split the MIDI signal (from and to the keyboards).

Yes or more simply a computer/tablet with a MIDI processing/routing capable software (I am thinking about Mainstage, Camelot Pro and the likes), connecting to it the keyboards in MIDI Local Off and letting the app do the all the MIDI job (transposing when needed and all other MIDI management like programs selection, CC filtering, routing messages between keyboards) and all could be programmed on a per-song basis in a SetList.

That is the best HW/SE solution... then there is always the option to transpose by brain and hands

It sounds very interesting. Although, I'm not really following how such a device is able to transpose the keyboards.

It is actually a very basic feature of those apps. If you have a computer you can use for that, you can download Camelot Pro free/trial version and try it.

Scheper wrote:...I'm not really following how such a device is able to transpose the keyboards.

When you press a note on your keyboard, and the keyboard is set ti output MIDI notes, this is what it's sending to the recieving device:
- "Note on"
- Channel
- Note (pitch)
- Velocity

What this setup would do is send the note to a device (like your PC and the Camelot Pro software), and said device just changes the "note (pitch)" value, and sends it back to the instrument. Resulting in transposition of the notes.

Thanks for your suggestions. I've been playing with Camelot Pro the past week and that seems to work.