Nord User Forum

Hi All,
I have the Nord Stage 2 plugged into my Mac Pro running Logic Studio via usb with a Motu 828 mkII as my digital/audio box again connected to my Mac via usb with left/right 1/4" jacks plugged from audio outs on the NS2 into the front of the motu.. I have attempted to go through several scenarios (old and new manual (using extern as well)/this forum (midi tutorial)/etc.) on how to get the multi-timbral 6 individual instruments patched over 6 individual midi channels in six individual tracks in the arrange window in logic (using the environment to create multi-instrument 1-16 channel node) but can only acheive the one instrument at anyone time meaning I have to individually bounce instruments down (no thanks!). Does anyone have a comprehensive explanation of how to achieve multi instruments over multi tracks simultaneously ? I'm starting to think its not multi-timbral!!! Cheers P

The Stage can only *receive* on 6 multi-timbral channels, not transmit. You would need to record the MIDI channels individually.

Forgive me I'm not sure I understand.. Say I want the the A:01:1 Grand Imperial on track/instr 1/midi channel 1 in Logic Arrange and then lets say C:01:1Fantasy VenusRain MW on track/instr 2/midi channel 2 in Logic Arrange.. I cant do this?

No, I'm afraid you can't do that - it's not how it works on the Stage. You can only have one Program at a time under any circumstances, the multitimbrality works within a single Program. You can have 2 x Organ manuals, 2 x pianos and 2 x synths (for a total of 6 instruments on 6 MIDI channels), but they all work within the same Program. You can think of a Program as either:

1. A single split/layered setup on a single MIDI channel or

2. As two setups on two MIDI channels, one channel each for Slot A and B or

3. As a complete six channel multitimbral setup for the individual sound sections or

4. Various combinations of the above.

However, if you want it to be multitimbral on several MIDI channels, you need to set the Stage up properly to do this.

The NS2 always sends via the MIDI Global Channel when you play the keyboard or turn knobs, etc. As RedLeo mentions, the different sections only receive MIDI and can be given their own MIDI channel - by default they don't have a channel configured.

To start, I suggest setting the following channels in the MIDI menu:

• MIDI Global Channel - set to MIDI 1
• MIDI Slot A/B Channel - set to Off for now
• MIDI Organ A/B Channel - set to channels 4 and 5 (switch between A/B by pressing the slot A/B button)
• MIDI Piano A/B Channel - set to channels 6 and 7
• MIDI Synth A/B Channel - set to channels 8 and 9
• MIDI Dual KB Channel - make sure this is set to a channel you're not currently using, such as 15

Depending on whether you're using a seperate MIDI interface or the built-in MIDI-via-USB thing (which always worked fine for me), choose either MIDI or USB (so either MIDI 1 or USB 1 for the Global channel).

If you want to use the NS2 as a controller for Logic (rather convenient), also set MIDI Control Local to Off - you'll need to do this every time you've turned the NS2 off. Other settings are saved though.

If you send MIDI directly to the MIDI channel configured for a section, it will always make sound; the NS2 doesn't check whether the section is enabled or not. If you want to use the NS2 as if you're playing the keyboard, send data to the Global channel (or the Slot A/B ones, if you want to do it per slot).

I posted a small how-to on setting up Logic here: http://www.norduserforum.com/nord-piano ... t3847.html

It's not perfect (and I've done it at least 2 times before), so if you have feedback to improve it, that would be very welcome.

You can definitely use the NS2 as a multi-timbral sound module for Logic; you just need to set it up the right way. You're a bit limited due to the number of outputs though.

mjbrands wrote: You can definitely use the NS2 as a multi-timbral sound module for Logic; you just need to set it up the right way. You're a bit limited due to the number of outputs though.

And limited due to the fact that you can't pan any of the voices....which means you need to record to an Audio track to do any panning...which basically means the multi-timbral aspect is fairly useless in a recording environment ( although still very useful in a live situation)

Thanks for the help guys I will get stuck into your suggestions.