10. MIDI | 49
CONTROLLING OUTBOARD GEAR WITH THE
EXTERN SECTION
It is useful to think of the Extern A/B sections simply as another pair of onboard sound engines
- just like the Organ, Piano and Synth sections. Assigning keyboard zones and layers, enabling
pitch stick and sustain pedal response etc. are all done in the same manner as with other sec-
tions.
It is also possible to store “initial values” of things such as Program Change, Bank Select, or Vol-
ume, for the Extern A/B panels. Additionally, the Extern section provides an encoder, assignable
to the MIDI CC# of your choice. Most settings can be stored either on a global or per-program
basis.
1 Select a Nord Stage 3 program where external sounds should be integrated.
2 Set the Extern A section and the external device, for example a rack synth module, to the
same MIDI channel. On the Nord Stage 3 this is done in the Extern menu, accessed through
EXTERN (Shift + Program button 4).
E Make sure that the Extern channel is not the same channel as the Nord Stage 3 Global
channel. If it is, set Global to another channel.
3 Activate the Extern Section and assign it to the desired keyboard zone(s).
4 Play within the zone defined for Extern A on the Nord Stage 3 and you should hear your
external device.
M There may be settings on the external MIDI unit, affecting how it reacts to incoming MIDI
data. Refer to its documentation if needed.
5 Set OCT UP/DOWN, SUST PED and PSTICK as appropriate.
6 Press the Extern parameter button repeatedly until the PROGRAM LED is lit. Turn the Extern
encoder until the desired program is selected on the external device. If Bank Select data
is needed for accessing the program, these data will need to be manually entered into the
Extern Menu.
7 Press the Extern Parameter Select repeatedly until the VOLUME LED is lit. Turn the Extern
encoder knob to adjust the volume of the external MIDI (which is achieved by transmitting
MIDI CC#7).
8 Store the program on the Nord Stage 3.
By activating Send On Load in the Extern Menu all stored data (program change, bank select,
MIDI CC and volume) will automatically be sent from the Nord Stage 3 whenever this program
is selected. An additional continuous controller message can be defined in the Extern menu, if
needed. Simply set the CC number and the desired value and it will be transmitted along with
everything else.
For yet another degree of integrated control, the Extern encoder can be controlled by the mod
wheel, aftertouch or a control pedal, by setting up a Morph.
Just like other panel sections, the A/B Extern panels are completely independent from one an-
other and can be programmed to do different things on the same or different zones at the same
time.
M If the on-panel Transpose feature is used, the MIDI output from the Extern section will be
transposed.
CONTROLLING THE NORD STAGE 3 FROM AN
EXTERNAL DEVICE
There are several options available if you wish to use a second keyboard or other MIDI device to
control the Nord Stage 3. Let’s have a look at the Dual KB feature first.
DUAL KB
With this function it is possible to use an external keyboard to control the Panel B sound engines
exclusively.
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