Korg Forums

Mark vG · Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 21

Hi,

I would like to add a 3rd (MIDI) keyboard to my life rig.
This allows another band member to play keys/Piano with me when I am short in hands...

My Master keyboard is the Kronos 88 and the Slave is my Nord Electro 5D.

As I am a bit of a sound freak, I'd like to use a MIDI keyboard to be used as "2nd slave keyboard". Then I can program and control all sounds played on the 3rd keyboard.

Currently I have the Kronos and the Electro's IN and OUT connected to each other. I use the sounds of both keyboards, for some songs I play the Nord Sounds on the Kronos keys and the other way round.

So basically I call the Kronos my master instrument as I use the Setlist mode for programming the sets and automatically select the patches of my Nord.

QUESTION: How can I MIDI connect the 3 keyboards in such a way that I maintain the functionality I have today, and can play sounds of my Kronos or Electro from the 3rd keyboard?

Anyone having experience with this type of live setup?

geoelectro · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 10:50 pm Post subject:

If you could limit the controller to just playing the Kronos then a USB controller would work. Having it talk to the Nord would require a MIDI merge. If the controller had USB and MIDI that might work. If it were me, I’d limit it to one keyboard. Having the Korg connected to the Nord as you do is complicated enough.

Geo
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psionic311 · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:25 am Post subject:

As Geo noted, you're best suited for your 3rd MIDI keyboard to have both MIDI DIN and USB connections, with the DIN having merge capability.

1) 3rd keyboard USB B => Kronos USB A
2) Kronos OUT => 3rd keyboard IN
3) 3rd keyboard merged OUT => Nord IN
4) Nord OUT => Kronos IN

All 3 keyboards will play each other with that setup:
With step 1, your 3rd board can play itself as well as the Kronos.
Steps 2 then 3 lets the Kronos play both the 3rd keyboard and the Nord.
Step 4 of course lets the Nord play the Kronos.

There are several brands that have both USB and MIDI DIN with merge, like the Novation X-station or Remote series.

psionic311 · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:46 am Post subject:

I just noticed that your Nord has USB MIDI. That means you can just get a 3rd MIDI controller keyboard with standard MIDI DIN to meet your needs.

1) Nord MIDI USB B => Kronos USB A
2) 3rd keyboard MIDI OUT => Kronos IN
3) Kronos THRU => 3rd keyboard MIDI IN (local off)
4) 3rd keyboard MIDI THRU => Nord IN

Step 1 -- Nord plays Kronos
Step 2 -- 3rd keyboard plays Kronos
Steps 3 and 4 -- 3rd keyboard info comes back to itself and continues onward (step 4), playing Nord

You'll want to turn Local Off on the 3rd keyboard to avoid the MIDI loop, which you'll hear as notes sounding like phasing or chorusing.