Initial Setup

nw · Joined: Jan 18, 2009 Posts: 3 Location: UK

Hi, I wonder if anyone can please help me with this basic setup question?

I am new to synthesisers and have just bought a Nord Modular Rack G1.

The setup is: Oxygen 49 keyboard connected to Mac by USB and from MIDI out to Nord MIDI in. Nord MIDI in and out connected to Mac via USB interface. Mac connected to stereo output.

I can use the keyboard to play sounds using a couple of presets on the Nord, though not most of them. I'm not worried about this - the problem is that I can't get the software to find the keyboard.

I'm using Nord Modular Editor Mac OSX Beta and everything seems to work fine except that when going to 'Setup' and 'MIDI' and selecting the keyboard as the in and out on port 1, it says 'still looking' and never finds them.

In Audio MIDI Setup, the computer has found the USB interface and the keyboard. It doesn't detect the synth itself. I've tried adding it as a new device and linking it up to the keyboard, and I've tried activating the IAC driver, but it still doesn't work.

Does anyone know what I need to do to be able to set everything up in order to start using the software and download patches on to the synth?

I've also noticed that when creating a new patch in the editor, no 'Slot Selection' box appears as stated in the manual.

Thanks,
N.

davep · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:34 pm Post subject:

You need TWO midi ports (two ins, two outs) to connect the NM1 to the computer. The first set of midi ports is for standard midi data (keyboard note info, etc.) and the second set of midi ports is to allow the NM Patch Editor program in the computer to talk to the NM synth and allow you to view, edit, and creat patches and transfer them between the synth and the computer. Notice the two sets of midi connectors on the back of the synth - one set is marked MIDI and the other is marked "PC" or something like that.

Go to the clavia site and download the user's manual - you will need it and it's a very good manual.

nw · Joined: Jan 18, 2009 Posts: 3 Location: UK

Hi Dave, thanks very much for your reply but I think you misunderstood the question.

I have the two MIDI ports labelled 'PC' connected to the computer. However, regarding the other two MIDI ports on the NM1 - there is only a MIDI out on the keyboard, no MIDI in. But this seems standard for a keyboard to only have a MIDI out. Do you know what the MIDI out on the NM1 is for?

Also, do you know why the software won't recognise the keyboard or ask which slot to use when creating a new patch?

Thanks,
Nick.

nathan · Joined: Jan 07, 2008 Posts: 59 Location: amsterdam

you cant choose slots, cause the micro only has 1.
you can choose between Local or Slot 1.

davep · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject:

Hi NW,

I'm confused by some of the stuff in your posts, maybe you can clear them up & we can get you set up.

I have a NM1 rack, which is basically identical to the NM1 keyboard version except of course it has no keyboard. My NM1 rack has FOUR midi jacks -

1. a IN & OUT pair for the PC connection (so the patch editor program in th PC can display and edit patches and tranfer them to & from the synth) and

2. a IN & OUT pair of standard MIDI jacks. IN is used to connect an external midi controller keyboard for controlling the NM1, and OUT is used to send MIDI note data from the NM1 keyboard, send MIDI CLOCK signals from the NM1 when you set the NM1 to do this, and it also sends midi cc data from the 18 knobs on the front panel if you set up a patch to do this.

The NM1 keyboard version should be the same as the rack - are you sure your NM1 only has three MIDI jacks?

Also, I'm not sure what you mean when you say the "software won't recognize the keyboard". Do you mean:

A)the NM1 Patch Editor program installed in the PC does not detect that the SYNTH is connected to the PC? (the program opens, but you get only a blank gray screen with no patch displayed). Or do you mean

B)some other software, like a MIDI sequencer program, does not detect KEYBOARD midi note information coming from the synth? (so when you play the keyboard, the program doesn;t record the midi notes).

If you mean (A) then check the midi settings by pressing "SETUP" at the top of the toolbar, then "MIDI..." and then see if the midi cables between the computer and the "PC" midi ports on the synth are connected to the right ports (all available MIDI ports should be shown in the drop-down menu). See the first chapter in the manual for more info.

nw · Joined: Jan 18, 2009 Posts: 3 Location: UK

Hey, I also have a NM1 rack, with 4 MIDI ports. I have the PC MIDI connections sorted, so that's not an issue. The keyboard is an Oxygen 49.

I have the keyboard MIDI out connected to the NM1 MIDI in, as you said. To simplify, what I'm unclear about is where the NM1 MIDI out should connect to...?? Before buying it I thought it would connect to a MIDI in on the keyboard, but there is no MIDI in on it.

About the software: the manual says to setup the MIDI in the NM1 patch editor software [I'm using Nord Modular Editor Mac OSX Beta]. To do this, I go to 'Setup' and 'MIDI', as it says. I check the 'Enable' box and it comes up with the options of 'MIDI in' or 'Oxygen 49' for MIDI in and 'MIDI out' or 'Oxygen 49' for MIDI out. When I select any of these options and click 'Apply', the 'Status' section says 'Looking' and then 'Still looking' and it stays like this forever, ie. I don't think it's recognising the hardware.

Thanks for your help and patience!

N.

worker8 · Joined: Jan 17, 2009 Posts: 6 Location: France

It could be a bad midi connection (NM PC midi in to usb interface midi in).

Advice : disconnect oxygen 49 usb and midi cables (they are not necessary for the Nord Modular software to recognize the Nord Modular rack). Just connect the NM PC midi to your usb midi interface (in>out & out>in). After checking the "Enable" box, you should only see "Midi In", which must be the name of your usb midi interface. If it's not the name of your Midi Interface, perhaps there is a missing driver. You should install this driver.

If it still doesn't work, I would have a look at software version (my NM keyboard is version 3.03). Perhaps older version doesn't work with your Nord modular editor version ...

About regular midi in/out of the nord modular : usually, they are connected to the computer. The signal (midi data) from your keyboard goes into the computer to your sequencer software (logic, cubase ...). That software decide which sound should be played (internal plug-in or external midi instrument). If you wanna play a nord modular sound, just select the dedicated track on your logic/cubase/live ... midi data will go out to the regular midi in of the Nord Modular.

Your oxygen49 have two mode to choose from : int or usb. If you are using a sequencer software, you should use the usb mode. Else, in the int mode, notes will go out of the oxygen from its midi out to the nord modular.

Regular midi out of the nord modular is useful to send midi cc to the computer. Those midi control change can be recorded into your software sequencer (in order to record & edit automation). This way, you can use your NM as a midi controller (to edit NM sounds or any other software/device that recognize midi cc).

Good luck & best wishes from France,

Pierre