Nord Modular: DSI Evo, Jp8080 external midi control problems

[Infrasound]

Last week I picked up a Nord Modular G1 after years of GAS but never finding one for the right price.

It's been mostly straightforward with regards to getting the thing working. It took a little effort to get it talking to the computer because of the dual midi port requirement, but I was able to jump that hurdle. I'm able to run the editor in Win 7 from my Focusrite Scarlett, and my Novation X-Station is performing controller duties.

I'm able to assign midi CCs from the Novation, but am having troubles with other midi devices doing the same. I've got my JP 8080 set up to transmit midi CCs as well, but am not having much luck with the Nord accepting these. I'm particularly keen to use the JP 8080 as it has more knobs and sliders than the X-Station, I like and am familiar with the layout of this synth. I've tried both Mode 1 and 2 on the Jp 8080 and I'm not sure why it's not working.

I tried to get my DSI MEK to work, and also my Creamware Prodyssey, but no dice. Both these machines will readily spit out midi CCs. I've been trying to assign external controllers via the Nord Modular Editor, but alas, only the Novation is working.

I've looked through the forums at electro-music.com , but can't find anything specific to my problem, and the last post was in July, so not sure how active things are over there. Nord give little information at all except that, yes, you can assign external midi controllers to the G1, via the editor. Hooray for that


If there is anyone who has any idea, your input would be appreciated.

edit/
One thing I forgot to mention, I've been able to send program change messages from the Jp 8080, so I know that midi is being transmitted.

[Stab Frenzy]

Are they all sending on the same midi channel?

[Infrasound]

Yes, all on the same channel.

I discovered that if I go midi in --> out, rather than thru, I'm able to make changes.
OK, but not great, especially if I want more than 2 synths connected.

[Stab Frenzy]

Wait a second, outline how you've joined things together.

Thru only mirrors what a synth is seeing at the in port, it doesn't add data from the synth itself. That might be your problem.

[Infrasound]

I have the X-Station midi out going to the Prodyssey midi in, and the Prosyssey out going to the Nord in. Nord out going back to the X-Station (but not doing much I believe). Everything transmitting on channel 1

I haven't connected anything else for simplicity's sake, except that my Scarlett is running the other connection (for the editor).

I understand what you mean about midi thru, but I don't have any idea why midi out appears to work (also on the JP8080), but not with midi thru.

/edit
Just did a quick test on midi thru to make sure I'm not lying or insane, and still no go.

[masstronaut]

Try connecting one thing at a time to the Nord, MIDI OUT - MIDI IN. Obviously making sure they are sending on the same channel the Nord is receiving on. Seems unlikely that the problem has anything to do with settings on the Nord if it's receiving successfully from the X-Station.

The way you describe it there you'd probably only expect the Nord to be getting controller data from the Prodyssey, assuming the Prodyssey is actually sending CCs, unless the Prodyssey is also passing data through it's Out. Can't see the JP doing much if it's not even connected

[Infrasound]

I have to have the X-Station and the Nord connected, simply for note on-off.

The only other thing in the chain is the Prodyssey (or alternatively the JP808). I think Stab may be correct in that perhaps only the X-Station's sending controller data, and the Prodyssey or JP is simply shuttling the data through.
I'm curious that if I'm sending midi out from from either of these synths, is it normal for the Nord to also receive midi CCs from the Novation?

I've had no problem sending multiple lots of controller data to my computer via different combinations of synths and interfaces, but perhaps my problem is in trying to get multiple data streams to the Nord. I'm thinking that perhaps I could rig up some sort of template where all data gets sent to Ableton, consolidated and then sent back to the Nord.

[masstronaut]

I have to have the X-Station and the Nord connected, simply for note on-off.

Sure, but without that you could still see if the controllers were being sent. It was just a suggestion to break it down and try everything logically to help see exactly what is and isn't working.

The only other thing in the chain is the Prodyssey (or alternatively the JP808). I think Stab may be correct in that perhaps only the X-Station's sending controller data, and the Prodyssey or JP is simply shuttling the data through.

For instance it would help you to determine whether the modules are sending the right CCs or not. You could also try recording the output in your sequencer to see what's coming out.
Yes, data just being passed through is usually what a Thru port does. You did say you were using the Outs though.

I'm curious that if I'm sending midi out from from either of these synths, is it normal for the Nord to also receive midi CCs from the Novation?

Is that what's happening, or what isn't happening? You could achieve this if the modules have and are using a mode that merges the input to the output you're using, or configures the Out as a Thru, etc.

I've had no problem sending multiple lots of controller data to my computer via different combinations of synths and interfaces, but perhaps my problem is in trying to get multiple data streams to the Nord. I'm thinking that perhaps I could rig up some sort of template where all data gets sent to Ableton, consolidated and then sent back to the Nord.

Or maybe use a MIDI merge box. I don't think it was clear from your initial post that you wanted to merge data from multiple boxes.

So, just to cut to the chase - if that's the case I think you want to see if the JP or the Prodyssey have some kind of merge mode, it's not all that usual tbh - otherwise you'll be controlling the Nord with one or the other depending on how you hook it up, or get a merge box. If you were to do it with the computer you'd still need multiple MIDI inputs.