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Korg Nanopad

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 3:54 am
by Run
I think that the Korg Nanopad can be only connected to a computer. I'm using the four M50 chord triggers for complex chords but I'd like to have more as the M3 does.
Is there any kind of midi pads out there that could be connected directly to the M50's USB or MIDI IN without the use of a computer ?

Can the Korg Nanopad be directly connected to the M50 USB ?

Or is there a way to use the M50 keys as chord triggers ?

Thanks.

More chord pads

Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 3:48 pm
by taxbuster1040
At one time I was trying to get more chord pads and considered the nanopad as a vehicle for this. It seemed difficult to achieve.The best solution I found for more chord pads is to buy Karma software. This gives you 8+ chord pads and a whole lot more by turning your m50 almost into an m3..... I am very pleased with that solution. I think the Karma software is $150. The only downside is that you have to use a laptop with your m50......

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:55 am
by mocando
Part of the nano products MIDI interface is inside the driver that runs on the PC. Is like those Winmodems of late, part of the hardware is actually software running on the PC. So, sadly the answer is no. You can't make it work by connecting it to the M50 alone. You need a PC.

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 4:23 pm
by Run
Thanks, I think I'll go with taxbuster 1040 suggestion since I already have a desktop connected to my M50 and I'll get more than pads. This desktop is running Win XP SP3 with 1 Go ram, 2.4Gz processor ....will it be able to run Karma ?

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 5:22 pm
by Harry_G
You have to program the Nanopad on the computer, but you can connect the Nanopad to any USB device that that ads bus power (V-machine, Motif XS).

I was wondering if there is some kind of power-adaptor that you can put between the m50 and Nanopad that ads buspower for the Nanopad. This way you don't need a computer to use it. Anyone knows if a adaptor like this exists?

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:24 pm
by X-Trade
Harry_G wrote:You have to program the Nanopad on the computer, but you can connect the Nanopad to any USB device that that ads bus power (V-machine, Motif XS).

I was wondering if there is some kind of power-adaptor that you can put between the m50 and Nanopad that ads buspower for the Nanopad. This way you don't need a computer to use it. Anyone knows if a adaptor like this exists?
Erm, the problem with this is that you get no MIDI data. The nanoPad has no MIDI ports, only the micro-USB port that connects to the computer and provides the MIDI data over USB.

So yes, you could power it off anything that provides bus power - a USB phone charger, a powered hub - but the device would have no function.

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:43 pm
by Harry_G
The Micro-USB port is the midi-port and the Nanopad should send out midi data. The reason Nanocontrol don't react is because it needs bus-power. The M50 don't deliver that (type B USB port).
You can use the Nanopad with any synth that have a type A USB port.

That's why my idea about the power adaptor between Nanocontrol and the M50 so you can connect devices that need buspower to a synth that only have a type B USB port like the M50

Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:51 pm
by X-Trade
That still doesn't make any sense. You said yourself that the MIDI is on the USB port.

But the main issues are:
- USB port doesn't transmit pure MIDI, it would be wrapped in whatever data headers or format is needed for USB host/client transmission. Hence why you need a driver on the computer to use it.
- There is only one port on the nanoPad - the miro-USB connection. If that is connected to supply power, how are you going to get any data out of it?
- USB isn't a simple two-way serial communication. When a new device is connected, the host has to allocate it a device number.The M50 doesn't have any USB host (type A) ports unlike the M3 which does. You can't use a memory stick with the M50. A 'to host' or 'deivce' port (type B) like that which is available on the M50 is not the same. It doesn't provide device enumeration or anything like that, it receives it from the computer only. It can't host other devices, only be connected to a host. There are very few devices that can host other USB devices that aren't a computer.

Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 4:38 am
by mocando
And even trying to use the NanoPAD on the M3, which will provide USB power, the "driver" part is still missing (Unless someone have hacked Windows XP to run inside the M3 :roll: ). So connecting it directly to a keyboard is pointless.
Of course, you can use it so the nice KORG logo will light up, and look cool at night. But nothing else.

Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:06 am
by Harry_G
Nanokontrol (I don't have a Nanopad) works fine with the V-machine, without any drivers installed so I was assuming it works on any synth with a type A USB port. But it doesn't seem to work with my Motif XS.