A Patch Editor for the Nord Stage (based on Ctrlr)

[Mr_-G-]

I am trying the linux64 version. It works (uses Jack to find the MIDI interface), but I noted that the organs B3 VOX and FARF are swapped (when I select one an different one gets selected in the panel. Or maybe I am using it wrong?
Has anybody seen this?

[iaorana]

Hi Mr G,
glad it worked out.
As for the organ selection, yeah it might be the case. I know there are 2 or three wrong assignments. It can be easily fixed using the CTRLR software and photoshop (to create and order correctly the different icons).

So I thought finally have to finish this and revised the whole panel. It turned out to be about a dozen small things to change plus some scales to adjust, but now it works with all the CC parameters, but for all the settings, voila! Just grab the latest version from the download section, now the wrong assignments are fixed!
If you still find some errors, please let me know!!

Improvements:

• All LEDs fixed
• Wrong assigments corrected
• Piano Sample is now displayed as number
• Synth OSC variation is now displayed as on the NS2 (for the analog waveforms)

Small improvements that might be done: get the exact numbers of the frequency knobs. I used an exponential approximation to compute the MIDI=>value in Hz comversion while to be precise one would need to write down all values of the 128 MIDI states (I did this for the envelopes but its tedious...)...
Download Link:

Nord Stage 2 Patch Editor


Cheers, Johannes

[Mr_-G-]

Hi Johannes
Pretty cool!
For some reason the LED images appear slightly out of line. I guess that this is just a problem of the resolution of the image and the spacing of the underlying grid?
Great job, and many thanks for sharing this. Now I have to learn to use Ctrlr a bit better!
I see a possible enhancement would be to send midi notes to test the patch from the Ctrlr panel.
Also maybe the background of the piano number and the oscillator display should be all black. I will try to see if I can implement this. Cheers!

[Johannes]

Hi,
yeah I know the design is not 100% perfect - basically it is because the distance between the LEDs is not always the same, but you have to create always an imae of all possible positions, a lot of image editing, so I took some shortcuts. Secondly, I originally created the panel for the classic/EX version based on a photo rather than design drawing so that anyhow the dimensions are not 100% accurate.
CTLR is pretty powerful (in particular to somecome capable of LUA programming) and not that difficult to edit the panels, yo you are very welcomed if you want to improve it.
Things I have thought were a program patch selector panel with all presets, a graphical display of the envelope generators etc. all feasible but loads of work...
Cheers!

[jefferywinter]

For some reason this is not working for me. My Nord Stage 2 is hooked up to my computer with the supplied USB cable and is visible to the sound manager. I have installed the ctrlr software and the Nord stage 2 patch editor and uploaded the patch editor successfully. But when I follow steps "Load the Panel in Ctrlr and select your MIDI interface using the "Devices" Button Select your MIDI in and ouput device and channel in the Tool bar drop down menus." when I select "MIDI -> Input -> Device" it only shows "none" with a check mark.

Also, on the Nord, when I hit SHIFT+MIDI it does not show "Send MIDDownload" but only shows "MIDI Control Local: On/Off"

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

[glatchri]

Hello, I just found this thread and was really psyched, so i tried to download ctrlr, but unfortunately, when i try to install it, I always get this notification:

"Error opening file for writing: C:\Program Files\Ctrlr\Ctrlr-Win32.exe . Click abort to stop the installation, retry to try again, or ignore to skip this file."

Well, if some of you guys know what i can do, I would be enormous thankfull, would be great

regards,
A new user, asking for help.

[scho33]

Hi! I don't know whether this issue of glatchri is still valid but I had the same Problem today (Win 8.1).
I just installed into a sub-Folder of my documents Folder instead of the Program / Program(x86) Folder and it worked.

There is two things which I am missing (maybe they are already described in this post, I haven't read it yet completely)
1) The different values with/without Aftertouch, Modulation Wheel and Control Panel (I tried a bank with MW but CTRLR always gave the 'native' value even if I increase the MW-value and the high value was displayed on the Keyboard.... I also did not manage to get These values displayed on the keyboard's Display either
2) How can I do a Kind of Excel or CSV Export of the data? Or is there a list somewhere available or another possibility to read the values? Maybe from a backup-data file of the sample Editor?!
It is really a lot of work to write down the values manually plus the MW/AT/CP-changed values are hard to get...

[Johannes]

Hi,
as for the MW/AT, might be due to the fact that it is not implemented as of yet, though not exactly sure what you exactly aim for as those values are normally varied during playing.
For exporting, I checked and there is unfortunately no option in CTRLR to export all values. Plus, some would be missing anyhow since they are not transferred via CC's. As long as the n2sp format specs are not publicly available, there is no way of having all values of a program on a PC I think.
Anyhow, as for the NS2, the problem has been improved quite substantially via the SHIFT function which lets you see the stored value on the screen on the keyboard without changing it, which was a major issue on the NS Classic/EX.
So exporting is best done directly using the program, and if you need, manually note the values of the parameters of interest.
I know it can be a lot of work but I fear it is the only way to go (or using MIDI OX or something so you cen read them directly from the MIDI log.

[edredfern]

If this can be produced as a full application in standalone mode and also piggyback into a DAW (for mac, mac based as a concern lol) I'd be happy to offer what help I can.

an app like this would streamline my workflow for editing as I use TONS of sample libraries until I persuade myself to go for a 2nd stage 2. the trick of the interface is relying on SYSEX code but as you say, it is an issue of finding out the SYSEX hooks for each action provided, being able to discover patch names via the editor and have a navigatable interface from a screen reader interface perspective. with the mac, it's voiceover. with windows, that goes into different directions but as long as it complies with MSAA you're alright.

ed

[danielhayles]

From a touring keyboard player relying on switching between different models of backline-provided Nord Stage - frequently rebuilding patches when you don't know the value of those controls with no LED readout, this is LIFE CHANGING. Thank you so much!!!