Using a Nord Lead 2X with a sequencer? You should know this.

[tonyggg]

I have struggled with the Nord Lead 2X midi implementation since purchasing the keyboard and unlike other manufacturers, Clavia chooses to transmit program changes on a second midi channel. They call this channel the "Global" channel which is misleading because it does not behave as a true Global channel, which is typically used when doing sysex dumps etc. It's important to note that the second channel is used only in "Performance" mode. When in "Normal" mode, program changes are transmitted on the same midi channel assigned. This may not seem like a big deal, but when using a sequencer, you either have to record using "All" or "Any" or use two distinct tracks, one assigned to the Nords midi channel, the other assigned to the Nords "Global" channel.
This presents a real problem when using sequencing programs like Steinbergs Cubase if you want to handle everything on one track. Simply put, you have no choice but to use two tracks if you want command of all the Nords controllers from the sequencer.
So just be aware, Nord transmits on two different channels when in "Performance Mode". This implementation just creates more work for the end user. Other manufacturers simply transmit ALL data on the midi channel assigned. Period.
Tony G

[elektro80]

A nice one. I never thought I would see a Nord Lead user hitting the post button at the same rate as vile russian viagraheads.

Listen, we never do excessive crossposting here and the best place to post this in here anyway. If you are a tad annoyed by the engineering feats by the bright minds at Clavia, please ride over to Festung Clavia and tell the guys there. Please do not post this one all over the board.

[blue hell]

Tony, would you please stop cross posting ?

I just deleted another four.

[elektro80]

Doesn´t the post stating the problem also present the solution to the problem.

[TOTAL]

Do Clavias communicate with Steinbergs flawlessly? Or should I consider switching to another sequencer?


T

[tonyggg]

[TOTAL]

Thanks a lot 4 ur answer and for this post here.

T

[Wout Blommers]

Well Tony, I have to break in...
As written in the earlier thread, I have no problem at all recording Midi data, nor in Cubase nor in ProTools.

I suggest TOTAL to try it out himself.

About the Midi modes, why should Clavia, not making a mono synth themselves, have to worry about these modes? They are not a factory making Midi controller keyboards...

Wout

[TOTAL]

Okay. I will definitely give it a try. Now something completely different: does NL have a "program change OFF" option (like f.e. Virus TI)?

This matters because apart from home using NL with Cubase, I plan to play it live connected to Yamaha RM1x sequencer/groovebox which on STOP sends some unwanted CCs (outdated OS bug). So far it hasn't been a problem because the Virus has this option.

[tonyggg]

[TOTAL]

Gr8!

[Olsen]

Hope is not too late to go back to this old topic... But it happen that i just bumped on it and i found it very interesting and may be the solution x my concerns.
First of all let me tell you that since a few years ago to this part i stop reading regular books and i started reading user manuals as if they were novels, with the same emotional envolvement and interest but with much more excitement because now the protagonist is me dealing with the starr that is the device.
If its true that clavia does not make mainly midi controllers out of their masterpieces synths; it is also true that neither Clavia deny this fact and all the Clavia keyboards are mint to be also used as midi controllers, including the electro pianos. Like 99,99% of keyboards produced in between 1985 and 2007 if you find midi ins, outs and thru in the back of your synth even if is a cheap Yamaha or Casio means that are midi controllers(somehow).

Now i go back to my little old problem: I'm arpeggio abuser user, also a sustain pedal abuser, and a wheel pitch/mod abuser; i used to have a K5000 which i sold very good and i bought a NL3 the next day, yes a great deal indeed.. but for my surprise the incredible easy user arpeggiator of the K5000 is found nowhere else... To play arpeggios in any other sound source out of the controller you have to make previous setings up before hand.
With the Kawai K5000 you plug for example the two midi out/ in cable(M-one) to the USB of your mac and play the sounds of your softsynth with the arpegiator of the K5000. or midi out of the K5000 to midi in of whatever other keyboard you want to arpeggiate, play or sustain or change pitch or modulate.

To make this operation with the NL or any other keyboard you have to make a lot of seting and still not have any luck. I never could do this with the NL3 or any other keyboard, and i have try a lot of other brands in the last two months...
The funny thing about this is that the sellers at music stores don't know exactly what the hell i'm talking about and they all say yes, it play arpeggios, then they show me how the arpeggiator works; i remember once in in the Guitarcenter after having this conversation with one seller i took a midi cable and i plugged it from the NL to a Casio WK3500 (my favorite Casio, it has excellent sounds) i set the channels to match and i show the seller that when you press the arpeggio botton of the NL the sound you are playing in the Casio or whatever other brand and model nothing happen, of course the seller started scratching his head and looking at me with confusion and asking me why do you want to play a Casio thru a NL ?.. After that point i lost my pactience and i say ok forget it and i walk out, then i came back and i explained the same seller that synths may complement each other in many different ways...But the guy insisted in the fact that NL is better than Casio by years light, i told the guy that that was not my point, i said i don't care who is better, i'm just trying to use the arpeggiator of the NL to play sounds in other synths or even in the synths that i have in my computer, is that so dificult to understand?
The guy finnaly called other seller and this one was much more square and ignorant that the first one.

Now, two weeks ago i meet one seller in Sam Ash that seemed to be a little genious and he explain me that the operation that i was trying to do was not possible just like eating cake, but recording arpeggio data was totally possible and he show me how, but again is not what i was looking for; i dont want to recor arpeggio data, i want to play arpeggios in my gigs or record'em in my 16 traks individually to over dub'em or whatever else post production i would wish later on...
The guy with sincere humillity told me "i don't know" i don't think this is possible because of a difference of midi language, some GM devices just dont speak or understand the same codes that others and vice versa.
So now that i own a NL3 i'm looking for having a K5000 back. (to complement it with my other synths just because you not only can use the arp with other sounds but also you can tweak other synths and other external sounds from the K5000 in only one matching channel ) so i will keep doing things manually in my recordings and playing less complicated shit in my gigs unless i can find a stand alone arpeggiator and one stand alone knob tweaker...do you know any? do they exist?

[disrupt_the_imc]

It sounds like what your looking for is all available and more in the Access Virus TI. Best sound-engine in existence. Built like brick shit-house, like only europeans can pull off. Arpeggiator is far better than a crappy K5000...

[Wout Blommers]

[Olsen]

Yes, i did try the Access Virus once and i stood quite impressed.
Is always a matter of consideration to get one, after all is so expensive as a NL, isn't it?
What do you know about the Alesis Andromeda?
I used to have the Alesis ION, have it for 4 or 5 months only, i didn't really like it much... i mean, is cute, some of its sounds are great but i don't like the interface and most of all i don't like the way that the bank of sounds is presented, you never find what you looking for and is very or totally unpractical; doesn't save properly; i know some people love the ION but i'm not in that club. I had enough of Alesis, i'm selling my QS8 after 6 years of being my master keyboard to buy a Triton, so i'm going to be without master keyboard for few days... good, i'll play guitars.

[Olsen]

Yea, a lot of people recommends the G2 over the NL3; at this point the tentation to take action and trade my NL3 x a NLG2 is huge enough so my heart is open...
What do you think shall i do that?... or shall i keep my NL3 and get a G2 modular?

[TOTAL]

Still curious, could NL3 be recreated on Modular?

[Wout Blommers]

[Olsen]

It seems that the G2 has a lot of midi conveniences but what about the sounds? are they very different from the NL3?
and what about the filters and oscilators?

[Wout Blommers]

[Wout Blommers]