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

[Johannes]

Hi,
hmm I see the instructions are not very clear. ON top it depends a bit on the version of Ctrlr (which is being actively developed at the moment so there are quite some changes going on) you are using and OS.
In the screenshot three posts back, you see the ribbon with all kinds of icons? There you can select the devices, or is it not visible in your application?
Possibly, you need to activate your MIDI device beforehand by clicking on the "Devices" button, which can be found in the menu bar of the program window.
If you don't see it, could you upload a screenshot of how it looks in your case?
Thanks!
J

[dchristian44]

I have managed to find the Devices button but still can't get the Nord panel to respond. Here's what I have done so far:
- Downloaded Ctrlr.exe -- 32 bit version for windows
- Downloaded the panel
- Started Ctrlr.exe, clicked on Devices button, set it to my midi device. My midi device is correctly showing up there as "E-DSP MIDI Port [2CC0]"
- Started "Nord Stage Classic EX.exe" (from outside of Ctrlr.exe), go past blank license screen, and the Nord panel appears
- On the panel, there is "In Device" and "Out Device" but it only offers "No device" as a choice, rather than "E-DSP MIDI Port [2CC0]". (What is showing by default is "1-RoMI/O MIDI" but this does not seem to be what I need.)

I also tried opening up the .player file from within the Ctrl program, but when I do that, nothing happens (the Nord panel doesn't display).

Thanks for your help.

[Scott]

@dchristian: So you got the 32 bit version of Ctrlr installed? OK. Then, DON't use the "Nord Stage Classic EX.exe"! Instead get the .panelz file from the download section here: Nord Stage C/EX Patch Editor and load the .panelz file from within Ctrlr (Panel files don't contain the images, .panelz DO!)
This way it should work, activate your MIDI IO in DEVICES and then select them in the ribbon. Let me know if it works!


I also finished the Release Candidate for the Nord Stage 2 Editor, thanks to Alain aka iaorana for the new revB Panel!
It should now work with the same features as the NS Classic/EX version. Given that I don't have a NS2, I cannot test it, so there are probably some errors of incorrect CCs or wrong messages (in particular, the UNISON mode, Waveform Mode, Delay values,... of each option need to be checked).

Download: Nord Stage 2 Patch Editor

NS2 Editor RC1 Screenshot.png (295.97 KiB) Viewed 5282 times

To Do List:
-Octave Shifts DONE
-Clavinet EQ (the implementation is a bit weird using two messages at a time)
-Piano and Synth Waveforms/Models (would need all the values of each model/waveform)
-get the correct values used on the Nord display for some missing pots (Mid Freq, Envelopes, ...NS2 only)
-Image Sliders to display correct "Nord" values (dB for instance).
-Rate and Level description on the FX pots DONE
==> fully functional CC version

-Interpret SYSEX dumps (assign all cc values, names of sources, ....)
==> Would allow for easily synchronizing the Panel with the Nord Stage AND allow to get the Piano selected, Waveform etc........


Let me know if you have problem, or feel free to edit the panel to correct the small issues with the NS2, it is pretty self-explanatory!

[dchristian44]

Thanks, Johannes - the .bpanelz file solved the problem. This editor is really great, and I appreciate the work you have done on it. The thing that will make a huge difference to me is just being able to see where the knobs without LEDs are set. Until now I have given up on trying to fine-tune Synth sounds, because of the difficulty of trying to "guess by ear" to bring the knobs back to where they were when a sound was created. Now that all becomes possible. So, thanks again!

[Johannes]

Glad it works now! Indeed I think seeing all synth parameters at once is (for me) the biggest use for such an editor, plus having a kind of graphical snapshot of a patch.

[iaorana]

I think seeing all synth parameters at once is (for me) the biggest use for such an editor, plus having a kind of graphical snapshot of a patch.

+ 1. My special thanks for a nice idea you had: "demultiplexing" the 2 Effects 1, 2 and 3 encoders into 6 ones

Alain

[Johannes]

Indeed when I went thru qll the elements I thought I would have to expand the Panel to display all values and settings simultaneously.
But in the end, I realized that the only Settings NOT visible at a glance on the Panel (apart from the non-LED knobs) are indeed only the three Effect Parameter Pairs, and the octave shift settings.
All the rest is laid out straightforward onb the panel, including some seemingly more complex settings such as the env mode of the FEG...
Great Design of the Elements by Nord!!


UPDATE: Just had a look on the Sysex implementation and it seems rather complicated. Moreover, the nspg format is not completely easy to derive from the Sysex dumps.
As an example, I took one of the volume knobs, and finally got a Midi=>Sysex Mapping which involves 4 bytes. But it seems way to complicated and would involve some serious programming so I decided I won't pursue this way further and stay with the CC version.
Updated some minor issues and introduced Octace Shifts (RC2, see download section)

AFTER ALL, its the knobs you make you go Nord!!

[LeoB3]

Hi how can I download the patch editor for the stage 2 ? or is it still in work ? I miss the EQ settings on the nord stage 2 .
Thanks Ralf

[Johannes]

Hi LeoB3,

to download the editor
1) Get Ctrlr from http://www.ctrlr.org and install it
2) Download the Panel for the NS2 here: Nord Stage 2 Patch Editor

EQ settings are missing? I don't have sa NS2 so it is a biut like driving in the dark with lights off But if you try it out, you can PM or post a list of bugs and describe the current behaviour where it si wrong so I can maybe adjust some parameters to get it right! Thanks!

[AlQuinn]

Great job guys! I purchased a Nord Stage 2 HA88 a few weeks ago and have been loving the sound, feel, and playability of the instrument. Last night while getting deeper into tweaking the synth settings I wondered if a patch editor exists and found it on this forum. Thank you -- it works quite well. I agree that having envelope representations would be an excellent next step. Motorized knobs is an appealing feature for future Nord's as well.