MIDI

MIDI FUNCTIONS

The Nord Electro 7 can be used as a master keyboard to control other hardware units or software sound sources, and it is also possible to control the Nord Electro 7 from a separate keyboard or MIDI device.

GLOBAL CHANNEL

The Global MIDI channel is used both for transmitting and receiving MIDI information, at the same time. It allows for external control over every aspect of the Nord Electro 7 – much like playing its own keyboard – and is used for sending keyboard, pedal and panel actions to another MIDI device or sequencer.

MIDI messages are transmitted and received on both the USB and MIDI In/Out connections simultaneously.

RECORDING TO A SEQUENCER OR DAW

Here is how to record a Nord Electro 7 performance including any pedal actions and parameter adjustments to a DAW or MIDI sequencer.

Set the DAW or sequencer to use the Nord Electro 7 USB MIDI driver, if connected through USB, or the appropriate MIDI interface if connected through the 5-pin MIDI connectors.
Set the DAW or sequencer track to route back incoming MIDI on the MIDI channel set on the Nord Electro 7.
Set Local Control to Off in the MIDI menu on the Nord Electro 7.
Select the Program on the Nord Electro 7 that you wish to use.
Start the recording on the sequencer.

If a Transpose value is set, either by the panel Transpose function or the Global Transpose setting in the System menu, its effect on MIDI depends on the “Transpose At” setting – see page 44.

MIDI MESSAGES

The following MIDI messages can be transmitted and received by the Nord Electro 7:

NOTE ON/OFF

Note On and Note Off messages including velocity are transmitted and received.

CONTROLLERS

From the System menu it can be determined whether the Nord Electro 7 should transmit and/or receive Control Change messages, see page 44.
If a pedal is connected to the Expression Pedal Input, this is transmitted and received as Controller 11 (Expression).
If a sustain pedal is connected to the Sustain Pedal Input, this – as well as the right pedal of a Nord Triple Pedal – is transmitted and received as Controller 64 (Sustain Pedal).
Pitch Bend is received on both the Global and Aux KB MIDI channels and has effect on any active section with a +/-2 semitone range.
Modulation is received on both the Global and Aux KB MIDI channels and will address the Synth section Vibrato.
Almost all other controls (knobs and buttons) on the front panel are also transmitted and received as Control Change messages. This can be used for recording front panel actions into a MIDI sequencer. For a full list of MIDI Control Change messages, refer to page 47.

AUX KB MIDI CHANNEL

The Aux KB MIDI channel is used for receiving incoming MIDI and can be used for addressing individual sections on the Electro 7 from an external MIDI keyboard. A more complete overview of Aux KB is found in the Program chapter, on page 31 but here is a basic example of how to set it up, in this case controlling the upper manual (corresponding to Preset 1 and Drwb Live) of the Organ section:

Connect an external MIDI keyboard to the MIDI In jack of the Nord Electro 7.
Open the AUX KB menu by pressing Shift+Transpose.
From the list of available Aux KB options, choose Dual Organ: Upper.
Open the MIDI menu by pressing Shift+Program 3 and navigate to page 3, “Aux KB MIDI Channel”.
Set the Aux KB MIDI channel to that of the transmitting MIDI device. The default setting is MIDI channel 2.
Make sure the ORGAN section is turned ON. The Preset 1 and Drwb Live drawbar sets are now played from the external MIDI keyboard. Preset 2 (Lower) as well as the Piano and Synth sections are controlled as usual from the Nord Electro 7.

If the Electro 7 is transposed using the Panel Transpose, the incoming MIDI on the Aux KB channel will also be transposed – regardless of how the “Transpose MIDI at” setting is configured in the MIDI menu.

PROGRAM CHANGE

Loading a Program or Live Program will send a Program Change message on the Global MIDI channel, each content type identified by its Bank MSB value. Conversely, incoming Program Change messages will select the corresponding content on the Nord Electro 7.

One MIDI program bank encompasses five banks of 25 programs each on the Nord Electro 7, with program numbers 1-125 being used. The message consists of three parts, as defined in the table below.

Synth Presets can also be accessed using Program Change, addressed using the distinct Bank Select MSB number associated with each Preset type.

	Program	Live	Sample	Analog	FM
Bank MSB (CC#0)	0	1	2	3	4
Bank LSB (CC#32)	0-5	0	0-x	0-x	0-x
Program Change	1-125	1-5	1-99	1-99	1-99

LOCAL CONTROL ON/OFF

If Local Control is set to Off, the keyboard and panel on the Nord Electro 7 are “disconnected” from its sound engines. Use the Off setting when the instrument is set up in a MIDI loop, for instance when using it in conjunction with a DAW or seqencer. Local Control On/Off is set in the MIDI menu, which is described on page 43.