One comment might need to be attached to that video: With the Stage 4 it is not true anymore that any Nord with physical drawbars would take a half-moon switch - only the Compact models in the Stage series can be set internally to half-moon switch control, even if now all models have physical drawbars.
Would a half-moon switch work with a Yamaha MX88. I use organ sounds with a Roland 60's-70's card in a Roland 3080 Module. The organ sounds are great, but to operate the Leslie is the roller on the keyboard. I would much rather use the switch like the one on the A100 Hammond.
@indymac7 From what I can gather, the Yamaha MX88 doesn't have native support for a traditional half-moon switch out of the box. However, you could experiment with the two optional foot controller jacks that are built-in. Your experiment would start by getting a Crumar Half-Moon 3 way Switch (affiliate link: amzn.to/3XxtJEC) and then attempt to assign that to the Rotary speaker speed in the preferences of your keyboard. You'll find the necessary settings for "source" and "destination" information for your Yamaha on Page 51 of the manual here: usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/0/892960/mx49mx61mx88_en_rm_b0.pdf You'd be wise to first test all this with a standard footswitch pedal you have on hand. Then, if you get that working, you could dive in to test with a Crumar. Make sure you can return it if it doesn't work. You might like the footswitch option even better, and it doesn't require the extra hardware. Then, you can switch completely hands-free.
Soaked up every word here! The magic of RUclips is that is creates a marketplace for micro-specialization and boy was I a buyer here. If you are taking orders, I’d love a review of the actual feel between the Nord keybeds. I live in rural Oregon and there are no Nord showrooms anywhere around here. Trying to decide between Nord Stage 3 models and wish I could have some input for how each of the three keybeds actually feels.
Hello Erick Haynie. Explaining the feel of the keybeds is one of the hardest things to describe or put into words since you really have to "feel it" yourself for the maximum effect. I've played all 3 and I think the best feel is the 88 key followed by the 73 or 76 waterfall. Last on the list is the HP 76 but that's only because I tend to be more of a synth player versus a traditional piano player. With the HP and the 88, the keys are actually longer (full size length) which appears to be preferred when playing piano. The waterfall has a preference towards those that play organ. The HP is the most "resistant" of the three and some people have been critical of that fact. Here are a couple more resources for you: Keybed comparison done in a different way: ruclips.net/video/qHyrFF_0xb4/видео.html And a forum post (there may be more here too if you do a search after logging in): www.norduserforum.com/nord-piano-grand-forum-f10/difference-in-keybed-t5805.html
Probably not because of the half-moon switch, but it seems disappointing that the rotor stops so quickly. Almost sudden. A real Leslie (and many simulators) takes its time to get to a stop which means you can use this creatively (stop and start), like on a real Hammond.
@ED-wi4sx Hey Ed. You are correct. Although there is a setting to slightly adjust the overall speed and acceleration of a Nord simulated rotary speaker found in the system settings of each Nord keyboard that has a built-in Organ engine. You may want to play with that a bit if you haven't already. True, you don't have lots of fidelity here, but you can experiment to see if improvements can be made by adjusting the settings you do have.
you’re a well of knowledge - i enjoy coming through your channel often to check out your videos. in fact before i made my first Nord purchase I found your channel and watched as much as i could and so glad i did! i chose the Electro 6 HP 73. it’s a joy! Altho, i would’ve preferred physical drawbars - I wanted a few more keys than my previous purchases of 61keys..and i really liked the hammer action. I am an [hammond] organist in predominantly gospel/church settings and keyboards are my second go-to..of course Nords organ was a draw and these half moon switches caught my eye too. Unfortunately my Electro 6HP only has ONE threaded screw port underside. I might.. have to.. or want to..now consider a 61 key to add one of these half moons for my travel engagements! the digital drawbars are ..meh.. they work and i can live with them but nothing beats what you know and familiar. thanks for your time and input in your videos. I really enjoy learning more
Hello @Wrightmusicc Great question! If I understand your question correctly and you are talking about a Nord Stage 3 or Nord Stage 4, then I believe the answer is yes, and here's why: 1) The swell pedal option has a dedicated jack in the back for use with a control pedal. This can adjust just the organ volume (like a traditional swell pedal would behave with a Hammond B3) or it can be set to adjust the overall volume on your Nord Stage 3 for all engines and panels/layers at once (piano, organ, and synth). 2) The bass pedals from Nord include a swell pedal option. So you have two cables coming out from the Nord bass pedals. First, you have the MIDI cable which allows you to control the notes/keys. Then you have a cable for the volume/swell pedal. This would be plugged into the Swell Pedal jack in the back. If you go with a 3rd party bass pedal that doesn't include the swell/volume pedal, then you would be simply connecting it into the "MIDI IN" in the back of the Nord. When I say MIDI, I'm talking about the 5 PIN traditional MIDI input, NOT the USB port (which can also be used for MIDI in but typically not with bass pedals). 3) The Half-Moon switch, on the other hand (and as demonstrated in the video here), plugs into the rotary pedal jack in the back. This allows you to have both a half moon switch as well as bass pedals along with at least one Control/Swell/Expression pedal connected to the Swell pedal jack> 4) Not mentioned here, but also essential to know, is that you could get an additional Volume/Expression pedal and connect that to the "Control Pedal" jack in the back. This allows you all sorts of programmable functionality known as "morphing". In addition to adjusting all kinds of things, one of the options you can adjust is volume. Morphing goes a step further, however, as you can assign multiple things to one pedal. For example, you can simultaneously adjust volume, frequency cutoff, and the amount of auto-wah all at the same time for each different sound engine and in varying amounts (very powerful). This is but one example, but there are hundreds of combinations you can create using the morph options on the one pedal with your Nord Stage 2, 3 or 4. And while we're on the topic of morphing, it's important to note that morphing controls are possible using the control pedal, the mod wheel or with aftertouch. FYI: I explain all of this in great detail in my Master Course online at www.MyKeysToMusic.com 5) Finally, you have options to also adjust various things using the MIDI CC capability that also include volume. A complete list is available in the back of the downloadable manual. *Affiliate links related to the talk above:* ▶ Nord Pedal Keys 27 Midi Pedal Board with Integrated Swell Pedal for use with Nord C2 Organ: amzn.to/3FvudS4 ▶ Yamaha FC7 Control/Expression Pedal: amzn.to/2DxcLy7 *Homework:* Consider watching these three videos if you haven't already: 🎥 Video reviewing the Yamaha FC-7 Control Pedal (you'll see me demonstrate simultaneous volume control of the Stage 3): ruclips.net/video/eeJ9b1oGEyY/видео.html 🎥 Video reviewing all the pedal options for the Nord Stage 3 part 1: ruclips.net/video/7I8HV0L2AdA/видео.html 🎥 Video reviewing all the pedal options for the Nord Stage 3 part 2: ruclips.net/video/0b6KHnEQtUk/видео.html
Well done, finally a review of the half moon. Look forward to you getting a triple pedal one day. Personally I can’t hear the una corda pedal making any difference to the sound at all, but maybe you would be able to show that it does.
Hello @Russ Tobin Keyboard Covers Hey, nice Genesis work on your channel - one of my favorite bands for sure! (Land of Confusion) So, this is a great idea. Unfortunately, in order for me to do a proper video on this, I would need the actual equipment. As the channel grows over time, I may be in a position to request demo models and equipment directly from manufacturers/distributors in exchange for reviews and equipment training videos from me. However, at this time I'm not in that position! Everything you see here on the channel has been purchased with my own money so I only review the stuff that I actually plan to use going forward. With that said, I "almost" bought the knockoff half-moon just to experiment with it. But then I thought, if I go with the "official" Nord branded one (as expensive as it is), then it keeps in line with just about everything else on the channel which is mostly just the branded stuff from Nord (which I know will work out of the box) versus the third party stuff. With that said, I've heard great things about the Neo Vent 2 and many students in the online courses I teach have one and talk about them as a nice enhancement to their rig, etc. Oh, and the third-party switch mentioned in this video has programmable switches for compatibility with other devices. An email to them may help guide you with the setup if they don't already have instructions for the Neo already. I couldn't tell in your video which half-moon you have exactly. Personal side note: My heritage is 100% French Canadian but born in the U.S. 🇨🇦
Hello Jaydez! The half-moon switch is hard-wired to work with the rotary speaker once connected to the rotor pedal jack input. It cannot be assigned to synth modulation. Great idea, though!
@@jaydezproductions2081 Yes, absolutely! A control pedal will have no problem morphing many things on the Stage 3, including the synth filter cutoff and modulation.
@gabrielmoore6099 Hello Gabriel! So, I did some research for you on this. You cannot use a half-moon switch on any Nord Stage keyboard other than the *Compact* models, which includes the Nord Stage 4. When you plug in a half-moon switch into a Nord Stage 4 76 key or 88 key, for example, the keyboard simply doesn't recognize it. So, it's directly disabled in the software. I'm not exactly sure why they disable it except to say that if they did enable it, people would wonder why they also didn't include the holes underneath to mount it, thus causing Pandora's Box to open up. This is but one of the many mysteries people have about Nord keyboards and their decision to include or not include a given feature and why. (I confirmed my findings from others on the Nord User forum regarding the half-moon switch).
@@MyKeysToMusic yeah it’s kinda weird that they exclude some stuff. Do you know of any alternatives to the switch. The button on the keyboard works just fine but If I can have more of a switch that would be great. I was thinking about using a foot pedal but if I can get maybe a knockoff switch and use that, I would feel much better
@@gabrielmoore6099 Hmm, the Nord Stage 4 can toggle the Rotary Speaker via a Footswitch - that's probably the best way to go at this point allowing for either a "rotor toggle" or a "rotor hold". The Sustain pedal can also double as a footswitch for the rotary speaker as well!
@ispianist There are a lot of things that surprise us about Nord keyboards that "should be" included based on their price. But alas, we take what they give us and attempt to make the best of it. Here are a few of my personal grumblings (1st world problems for sure): 1. USB to Audio (currently only supports program transfer and MIDI) 2. No Set List option for the NS4 3. Need options to have 2 LFOs per synth engine (instead of 1) - applies to all Nord synth engines. 4. People are looking for a balanced output option for the NS3 NS4, NW2. 5. On the NS3, turning on the rotary speaker option kills outputs 3 and 4. (This is fixed on the NS4) 6. More base memory installed 7. Expandable memory (thumb drive option) 8. Other
@@MyKeysToMusic Yes I have the Numa x Piano GT and I love practicing with it. No just because the key action but because is got the USB audio. It is very east to play tracks using my phone and practicing on top of the audio tracks . I can't do that with the Nord. I own the Nord stage 4 compact.
@@ispianist I hear good things about the Numa. FYI: Although the Nords don't have USB audio out, you can have your phone output to a traditional 1/8" line and insert that in the "Monitor" input jack on the back of the Nord. Maybe you know about this feature already? This lets you hear the backing track mixed in with your Nord keyboard. The mixed sound comes through on the headphones, along with Outputs 1 and 2. You adjust the volume on the phone and mix that with the volume knob on your Nord. This feature is handy, especially when not connected to an audio interface.
Thank you so much for explaining so clearly the setting up of the half-moon switch which I have just completed. The instruction manual says that you have to go into the Electro 6D settings and enter a half-moon switch setting. Is this necessary? Or does the keyboard detect automatically that the half-moon switch is there? I just received my new Nord keyboard yesterday so I'm finding it pretty hard to navigate at the moment! So many functions!! Thank you. :)
Hello @Bryan John Orwell - Congrats on your new Nord Electro 6D! Yes, you should go into the system settings and set it to the half-moon switch to ensure it works properly. I have seen that if I don't have it set to Half-Moon switch, it may not work as expected. *Now that you have an Electro 6, I wanted to introduce you to a couple of key Electro 6 videos I have on tap if you haven't already watched them:* Roll with the Changes: ruclips.net/video/UD75MVVnRKQ/видео.html (There is a part 2 if you want to learn the solo) Advanced lesson: Arpeggiator with your Electro 6: ruclips.net/video/Uct-VVwS2KY/видео.html When you're ready to take online lessons for everything from A to Z, you can consider my online training courses found at www.MyKeysToMusic.com Good luck with your learning! 🎹
@@MyKeysToMusic Thank you so much for your swift and helpful reply. I will check out the lessons you have indicated above over the next few days. Best wishes. Bryan
Hi, I'm trying to find a rotary pedal to take the place of the half moon. I got stacked setup, often playing organ with left and piano with right. This leaves me with no hand available for switch. I NEED A PEDAL! I found the Nord 3 pedal switch but it says it's for Stage 2 & 3. Do you know if this will work for my Electro 5 as a rotary pedal (slow, no, fast)? If not, can you suggest other item?
Hello @grant everett I have some good news for you. You don't need to spend on a Nord triple pedal if all you want to do is control the rotary speaker slow/fast. For that, you simply need any sustain pedal or simple foot switch pedal and plug that into the rotary pedal jack on your NE5. In fact, go ahead and try connecting your sustain pedal to the rotor pedal jack right now. I think that you'll find that it toggles the speed just like the half-moon does. (Note that there are additional system settings for the rotor pedal you can look at on your NE5).
Nord accessories are absurdly expensive. $226 (Amazon) for the half moon switch is ridiculous. The triple pedal at 399 is also outrageous. Roland’s triple pedal, yes I know, it’s not compatible with Nord, is only 150 bucks. But that’s Nord. Like you, I have an Electro 6D and a Stage 3. They are great boards and the free downloads make owning Nords wonderful. I did buy the music stand because it’s so convenient but I draw the line on the rest of their accessories. As always, great video.
Hey Lou! Always good to hear from you. Yes, Nord charges way more than they should for the accessories (we're not alone on this thought.) I haven't purchased a triple pedal (as much as I would like to do a video on it) mainly because I can't justify the price. Now, if they lend me one, sure, I'll do a video but that hasn't happened yet! 😂 Granted, if I were to purchase any of the Nord accessories (I also have the metal music stand), they should last for the rest of my life and they should be transferrable to any future Nord purchased. In any case, if they cut the price in half on all this stuff, they would probably sell twice as many and people would have some really neat options at their fingertips and toes. But of course, I'm not in charge of their business, so I stand by with my hands in my pockets and look for the things that inspire me next. Have a great 2022 Lou! 🥳
@@andy5178 Thanks for this tip and I’ve heard stuff like this before in reading up on it. You don’t happen to have a link to where people could find detailed instructions on how to set this up by chance?
hi, Ive accidentally over written the piano cake sound on my Electro 6D , do you know if I can get this sound from the libary without doing a reset ? many thanks if you have some advice.
Hello @Rob McCormick Yikes! Well, I think that happens to everyone at least once so don't feel bad about that haha. I'm also assuming the "piano cake" sound was an original factory sound and not one you customized? If so, here are some options: *Option 1:* A. Let me know the exact location and/or name of the program and I can send it to you. If however, you want to learn how to fish, here are a couple of strategies for this. However, everything below assumes that you are comfortable with the Nord Sound Manager and know what a bundle is and how they work , etc. *Option 2:* A. Make a copy of your custom programs (upload them from your keyboard via the Nord Sound Manager) B. Downoad the Nord factory restore settings and restore your keyboard. This of course will replace your sound C. Move your custom programs back onto the Nord. *Option 3:* A. Download the factory restore file (but don't do anything with it yet). B. Watch my video on how to "Unbundle a Bundle" which will explain how you can unzip the Nord factory file and pluck out just the pieces you are missing. C. Upload the sample first, then the program using the Nord sound manager. D. This should replace just the program you are missing without having to wipe the whole board. *If you are brand new to all this, here is your homework first if you choose option 2 or 3:* Watch the 3-part video series on the Nord Sound Manager Master Tutorial: (3 videos starting with part 1 here: ruclips.net/video/32UBN7Dj4Is/видео.html) These will get you more familiar with the Nord Sound Manager so that you become comfortable doing all this. Like I said, option works for me assuming it's a factory prorogram we're talking about. If we're talking about something you created custom, AND you wrote over that without a backup, then it's gone forever. 😥 Another consideration for you somewhere along the way: Enroll in my course called "Master your Nord Electro 6": www.mykeystomusic.com/courses/master-the-nord-electro-6
The holes on the bottom are elongated to fit it closer to your keyboard. EDIT: my aftermarket switch does this. It was $50 and fits flush with keyboard. Apparently Nord switch has just regular holes at the bottom. Dumb on Nord
@Blueguitar007 That is correct. The Nord Half-Moon screws are fixed (not elongated), which means you don't get a choice on exactly how it's positioned. I agree that it would have been better if they made it adjustable in some way. I assume the aftermarket switch works well? If so, you've saved a lot of $$$ 👍
Hello @Notmehimorthem the Nord Stage 4 Compact does have screw holes for the half-moon (I just installed mine on this end). However, the holes may not be available for the HA 73 or 88 as they were not available for the NS3 HP 76 or the 88 either.
Not sure what you mean by organic sounds exactly. The pianos and synth samples sound better than ever. If you are referring to the organic synth sounds, then perhaps you are right in that the NS4 is a different synth engine than the NS3. So in that way, you might hear a difference that could be perceived as organic versus non-organic of one versus the other.
One comment might need to be attached to that video: With the Stage 4 it is not true anymore that any Nord with physical drawbars would take a half-moon switch - only the Compact models in the Stage series can be set internally to half-moon switch control, even if now all models have physical drawbars.
@f.ziegler9950 You are absolutely correct! In fact, I'm going to pin this comment so others can read that first.
It was very important information for me. Well thank you.
@milanveles6820 Glad you found it helpful!
Would a half-moon switch work with a Yamaha MX88. I use organ sounds with a Roland 60's-70's card in a Roland 3080 Module. The organ sounds are great, but to operate the Leslie is the roller on the keyboard. I would much rather use the switch like the one on the A100 Hammond.
@indymac7 From what I can gather, the Yamaha MX88 doesn't have native support for a traditional half-moon switch out of the box. However, you could experiment with the two optional foot controller jacks that are built-in. Your experiment would start by getting a Crumar Half-Moon 3 way Switch (affiliate link: amzn.to/3XxtJEC) and then attempt to assign that to the Rotary speaker speed in the preferences of your keyboard. You'll find the necessary settings for "source" and "destination" information for your Yamaha on Page 51 of the manual here: usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/0/892960/mx49mx61mx88_en_rm_b0.pdf
You'd be wise to first test all this with a standard footswitch pedal you have on hand. Then, if you get that working, you could dive in to test with a Crumar. Make sure you can return it if it doesn't work. You might like the footswitch option even better, and it doesn't require the extra hardware. Then, you can switch completely hands-free.
Soaked up every word here! The magic of RUclips is that is creates a marketplace for micro-specialization and boy was I a buyer here. If you are taking orders, I’d love a review of the actual feel between the Nord keybeds. I live in rural Oregon and there are no Nord showrooms anywhere around here. Trying to decide between Nord Stage 3 models and wish I could have some input for how each of the three keybeds actually feels.
Hello Erick Haynie. Explaining the feel of the keybeds is one of the hardest things to describe or put into words since you really have to "feel it" yourself for the maximum effect. I've played all 3 and I think the best feel is the 88 key followed by the 73 or 76 waterfall. Last on the list is the HP 76 but that's only because I tend to be more of a synth player versus a traditional piano player. With the HP and the 88, the keys are actually longer (full size length) which appears to be preferred when playing piano. The waterfall has a preference towards those that play organ. The HP is the most "resistant" of the three and some people have been critical of that fact. Here are a couple more resources for you:
Keybed comparison done in a different way: ruclips.net/video/qHyrFF_0xb4/видео.html
And a forum post (there may be more here too if you do a search after logging in): www.norduserforum.com/nord-piano-grand-forum-f10/difference-in-keybed-t5805.html
Probably not because of the
half-moon switch, but it seems disappointing that the rotor stops so quickly. Almost sudden.
A real Leslie (and many simulators) takes its time to get to a stop which means you can use this creatively (stop and start), like on a real Hammond.
@ED-wi4sx Hey Ed. You are correct. Although there is a setting to slightly adjust the overall speed and acceleration of a Nord simulated rotary speaker found in the system settings of each Nord keyboard that has a built-in Organ engine. You may want to play with that a bit if you haven't already. True, you don't have lots of fidelity here, but you can experiment to see if improvements can be made by adjusting the settings you do have.
you’re a well of knowledge - i enjoy coming through your channel often to check out your videos. in fact before i made my first Nord purchase I found your channel and watched as much as i could and so glad i did!
i chose the Electro 6 HP 73. it’s a joy! Altho, i would’ve preferred physical drawbars - I wanted a few more keys than my previous purchases of 61keys..and i really liked the hammer action.
I am an [hammond] organist in predominantly gospel/church settings and keyboards are my second go-to..of course Nords organ was a draw and these half moon switches caught my eye too. Unfortunately my Electro 6HP only has ONE threaded screw port underside. I might.. have to.. or want to..now consider a 61 key to add one of these half moons for my travel engagements! the digital drawbars are ..meh.. they work and i can live with them but nothing beats what you know and familiar.
thanks for your time and input in your videos. I really enjoy learning more
@Lmobe Lance! Thanks for leaving your warm and detailed comments. Thanks for stopping by and keep up the good work!
An you use a swell pedal and bass pedals with the switch simultaneously?
Hello @Wrightmusicc Great question! If I understand your question correctly and you are talking about a Nord Stage 3 or Nord Stage 4, then I believe the answer is yes, and here's why:
1) The swell pedal option has a dedicated jack in the back for use with a control pedal. This can adjust just the organ volume (like a traditional swell pedal would behave with a Hammond B3) or it can be set to adjust the overall volume on your Nord Stage 3 for all engines and panels/layers at once (piano, organ, and synth).
2) The bass pedals from Nord include a swell pedal option. So you have two cables coming out from the Nord bass pedals. First, you have the MIDI cable which allows you to control the notes/keys. Then you have a cable for the volume/swell pedal. This would be plugged into the Swell Pedal jack in the back. If you go with a 3rd party bass pedal that doesn't include the swell/volume pedal, then you would be simply connecting it into the "MIDI IN" in the back of the Nord. When I say MIDI, I'm talking about the 5 PIN traditional MIDI input, NOT the USB port (which can also be used for MIDI in but typically not with bass pedals).
3) The Half-Moon switch, on the other hand (and as demonstrated in the video here), plugs into the rotary pedal jack in the back. This allows you to have both a half moon switch as well as bass pedals along with at least one Control/Swell/Expression pedal connected to the Swell pedal jack>
4) Not mentioned here, but also essential to know, is that you could get an additional Volume/Expression pedal and connect that to the "Control Pedal" jack in the back. This allows you all sorts of programmable functionality known as "morphing". In addition to adjusting all kinds of things, one of the options you can adjust is volume. Morphing goes a step further, however, as you can assign multiple things to one pedal. For example, you can simultaneously adjust volume, frequency cutoff, and the amount of auto-wah all at the same time for each different sound engine and in varying amounts (very powerful). This is but one example, but there are hundreds of combinations you can create using the morph options on the one pedal with your Nord Stage 2, 3 or 4. And while we're on the topic of morphing, it's important to note that morphing controls are possible using the control pedal, the mod wheel or with aftertouch. FYI: I explain all of this in great detail in my Master Course online at www.MyKeysToMusic.com
5) Finally, you have options to also adjust various things using the MIDI CC capability that also include volume. A complete list is available in the back of the downloadable manual.
*Affiliate links related to the talk above:*
▶ Nord Pedal Keys 27 Midi Pedal Board with Integrated Swell Pedal for use with Nord C2 Organ: amzn.to/3FvudS4
▶ Yamaha FC7 Control/Expression Pedal: amzn.to/2DxcLy7
*Homework:*
Consider watching these three videos if you haven't already:
🎥 Video reviewing the Yamaha FC-7 Control Pedal (you'll see me demonstrate simultaneous volume control of the Stage 3): ruclips.net/video/eeJ9b1oGEyY/видео.html
🎥 Video reviewing all the pedal options for the Nord Stage 3 part 1: ruclips.net/video/7I8HV0L2AdA/видео.html
🎥 Video reviewing all the pedal options for the Nord Stage 3 part 2: ruclips.net/video/0b6KHnEQtUk/видео.html
Well done, finally a review of the half moon. Look forward to you getting a triple pedal one day. Personally I can’t hear the una corda pedal making any difference to the sound at all, but maybe you would be able to show that it does.
Thank you for your comment. If I ever get the triple pedal, I will be sure to do a review (not uncle this) for it.
Would you be able to do a video on how to hook up the knockoff halfmoon switch to a Neo Vent 2 pedal?
Hello @Russ Tobin Keyboard Covers Hey, nice Genesis work on your channel - one of my favorite bands for sure! (Land of Confusion)
So, this is a great idea. Unfortunately, in order for me to do a proper video on this, I would need the actual equipment. As the channel grows over time, I may be in a position to request demo models and equipment directly from manufacturers/distributors in exchange for reviews and equipment training videos from me. However, at this time I'm not in that position! Everything you see here on the channel has been purchased with my own money so I only review the stuff that I actually plan to use going forward.
With that said, I "almost" bought the knockoff half-moon just to experiment with it. But then I thought, if I go with the "official" Nord branded one (as expensive as it is), then it keeps in line with just about everything else on the channel which is mostly just the branded stuff from Nord (which I know will work out of the box) versus the third party stuff. With that said, I've heard great things about the Neo Vent 2 and many students in the online courses I teach have one and talk about them as a nice enhancement to their rig, etc. Oh, and the third-party switch mentioned in this video has programmable switches for compatibility with other devices. An email to them may help guide you with the setup if they don't already have instructions for the Neo already. I couldn't tell in your video which half-moon you have exactly.
Personal side note: My heritage is 100% French Canadian but born in the U.S. 🇨🇦
@Mark. Can this half moon switch be use as a mod wheel for synth modulation effects,just a curious thought that ran across my mind 🤔
Hello Jaydez! The half-moon switch is hard-wired to work with the rotary speaker once connected to the rotor pedal jack input. It cannot be assigned to synth modulation. Great idea, though!
@@MyKeysToMusic OK thx! Just a flash of though that cross my mind,but a control pedal will work for that right?
@@jaydezproductions2081 Yes, absolutely! A control pedal will have no problem morphing many things on the Stage 3, including the synth filter cutoff and modulation.
Ok,thx keep the vids coming!! 👍
@@jaydezproductions2081 Thanks - will do!
Can I still use the switch if I can’t mount it on my stage 4? If I can, I’ll figure out how to put it on there
@gabrielmoore6099 Hello Gabriel! So, I did some research for you on this. You cannot use a half-moon switch on any Nord Stage keyboard other than the *Compact* models, which includes the Nord Stage 4. When you plug in a half-moon switch into a Nord Stage 4 76 key or 88 key, for example, the keyboard simply doesn't recognize it. So, it's directly disabled in the software. I'm not exactly sure why they disable it except to say that if they did enable it, people would wonder why they also didn't include the holes underneath to mount it, thus causing Pandora's Box to open up. This is but one of the many mysteries people have about Nord keyboards and their decision to include or not include a given feature and why. (I confirmed my findings from others on the Nord User forum regarding the half-moon switch).
@@MyKeysToMusic yeah it’s kinda weird that they exclude some stuff.
Do you know of any alternatives to the switch. The button on the keyboard works just fine but If I can have more of a switch that would be great. I was thinking about using a foot pedal but if I can get maybe a knockoff switch and use that, I would feel much better
@@gabrielmoore6099 Hmm, the Nord Stage 4 can toggle the Rotary Speaker via a Footswitch - that's probably the best way to go at this point allowing for either a "rotor toggle" or a "rotor hold". The Sustain pedal can also double as a footswitch for the rotary speaker as well!
I am actually surprised that this particular hardware is not built into the keyboard that costs 5k. Yes the same stage 4 compact.
So true
@ispianist There are a lot of things that surprise us about Nord keyboards that "should be" included based on their price. But alas, we take what they give us and attempt to make the best of it. Here are a few of my personal grumblings (1st world problems for sure):
1. USB to Audio (currently only supports program transfer and MIDI)
2. No Set List option for the NS4
3. Need options to have 2 LFOs per synth engine (instead of 1) - applies to all Nord synth engines.
4. People are looking for a balanced output option for the NS3 NS4, NW2.
5. On the NS3, turning on the rotary speaker option kills outputs 3 and 4. (This is fixed on the NS4)
6. More base memory installed
7. Expandable memory (thumb drive option)
8. Other
@@MyKeysToMusic Yes I have the Numa x Piano GT and I love practicing with it. No just because the key action but because is got the USB audio. It is very east to play tracks using my phone and practicing on top of the audio tracks . I can't do that with the Nord. I own the Nord stage 4 compact.
@@ispianist I hear good things about the Numa. FYI: Although the Nords don't have USB audio out, you can have your phone output to a traditional 1/8" line and insert that in the "Monitor" input jack on the back of the Nord. Maybe you know about this feature already? This lets you hear the backing track mixed in with your Nord keyboard. The mixed sound comes through on the headphones, along with Outputs 1 and 2. You adjust the volume on the phone and mix that with the volume knob on your Nord. This feature is handy, especially when not connected to an audio interface.
Thank you so much for explaining so clearly the setting up of the half-moon switch which I have just completed. The instruction manual says that you have to go into the Electro 6D settings and enter a half-moon switch setting. Is this necessary? Or does the keyboard detect automatically that the half-moon switch is there? I just received my new Nord keyboard yesterday so I'm finding it pretty hard to navigate at the moment! So many functions!! Thank you. :)
Hello @Bryan John Orwell - Congrats on your new Nord Electro 6D! Yes, you should go into the system settings and set it to the half-moon switch to ensure it works properly. I have seen that if I don't have it set to Half-Moon switch, it may not work as expected.
*Now that you have an Electro 6, I wanted to introduce you to a couple of key Electro 6 videos I have on tap if you haven't already watched them:*
Roll with the Changes: ruclips.net/video/UD75MVVnRKQ/видео.html (There is a part 2 if you want to learn the solo)
Advanced lesson: Arpeggiator with your Electro 6: ruclips.net/video/Uct-VVwS2KY/видео.html
When you're ready to take online lessons for everything from A to Z, you can consider my online training courses found at www.MyKeysToMusic.com
Good luck with your learning! 🎹
@@MyKeysToMusic Thank you so much for your swift and helpful reply. I will check out the lessons you have indicated above over the next few days. Best wishes. Bryan
@@bryanjohnorwell2540 Have fun with your new baby! You know where to find us if there are more questions...
Hi, I'm trying to find a rotary pedal to take the place of the half moon. I got stacked setup, often playing organ with left and piano with right. This leaves me with no hand available for switch. I NEED A PEDAL!
I found the Nord 3 pedal switch but it says it's for Stage 2 & 3. Do you know if this will work for my Electro 5 as a rotary pedal (slow, no, fast)?
If not, can you suggest other item?
Hello @grant everett I have some good news for you. You don't need to spend on a Nord triple pedal if all you want to do is control the rotary speaker slow/fast. For that, you simply need any sustain pedal or simple foot switch pedal and plug that into the rotary pedal jack on your NE5. In fact, go ahead and try connecting your sustain pedal to the rotor pedal jack right now. I think that you'll find that it toggles the speed just like the half-moon does. (Note that there are additional system settings for the rotor pedal you can look at on your NE5).
@@MyKeysToMusica regular sustain pedal plugged into the sustain jack, not the rotary jack, will sustain for piano and toggle or hold for rotary.
@@Blueguitar007 Correct. You get the option to do that in the system settings for the sustain pedal - a very handy feature indeed!
Nord accessories are absurdly expensive. $226 (Amazon) for the half moon switch is ridiculous. The triple pedal at 399 is also outrageous. Roland’s triple pedal, yes I know, it’s not compatible with Nord, is only 150 bucks. But that’s Nord. Like you, I have an Electro 6D and a Stage 3. They are great boards and the free downloads make owning Nords wonderful. I did buy the music stand because it’s so convenient but I draw the line on the rest of their accessories. As always, great video.
Hey Lou! Always good to hear from you. Yes, Nord charges way more than they should for the accessories (we're not alone on this thought.) I haven't purchased a triple pedal (as much as I would like to do a video on it) mainly because I can't justify the price. Now, if they lend me one, sure, I'll do a video but that hasn't happened yet! 😂 Granted, if I were to purchase any of the Nord accessories (I also have the metal music stand), they should last for the rest of my life and they should be transferrable to any future Nord purchased. In any case, if they cut the price in half on all this stuff, they would probably sell twice as many and people would have some really neat options at their fingertips and toes. But of course, I'm not in charge of their business, so I stand by with my hands in my pockets and look for the things that inspire me next. Have a great 2022 Lou! 🥳
You can build a half-moon switch with a three-way guitar switch and a two-poles jack cable: that is, a total expense of 20€.
@@andy5178 Thanks for this tip and I’ve heard stuff like this before in reading up on it. You don’t happen to have a link to where people could find detailed instructions on how to set this up by chance?
hi, Ive accidentally over written the piano cake sound on my Electro 6D , do you know if I can get this sound from the libary without doing a reset ? many thanks if you have some advice.
Hello @Rob McCormick Yikes! Well, I think that happens to everyone at least once so don't feel bad about that haha. I'm also assuming the "piano cake" sound was an original factory sound and not one you customized? If so, here are some options:
*Option 1:*
A. Let me know the exact location and/or name of the program and I can send it to you.
If however, you want to learn how to fish, here are a couple of strategies for this. However, everything below assumes that you are comfortable with the Nord Sound Manager and know what a bundle is and how they work , etc.
*Option 2:*
A. Make a copy of your custom programs (upload them from your keyboard via the Nord Sound Manager)
B. Downoad the Nord factory restore settings and restore your keyboard. This of course will replace your sound
C. Move your custom programs back onto the Nord.
*Option 3:*
A. Download the factory restore file (but don't do anything with it yet).
B. Watch my video on how to "Unbundle a Bundle" which will explain how you can unzip the Nord factory file and pluck out just the pieces you are missing.
C. Upload the sample first, then the program using the Nord sound manager.
D. This should replace just the program you are missing without having to wipe the whole board.
*If you are brand new to all this, here is your homework first if you choose option 2 or 3:*
Watch the 3-part video series on the Nord Sound Manager Master Tutorial: (3 videos starting with part 1 here: ruclips.net/video/32UBN7Dj4Is/видео.html) These will get you more familiar with the Nord Sound Manager so that you become comfortable doing all this.
Like I said, option works for me assuming it's a factory prorogram we're talking about. If we're talking about something you created custom, AND you wrote over that without a backup, then it's gone forever. 😥
Another consideration for you somewhere along the way: Enroll in my course called "Master your Nord Electro 6": www.mykeystomusic.com/courses/master-the-nord-electro-6
The holes on the bottom are elongated to fit it closer to your keyboard. EDIT: my aftermarket switch does this. It was $50 and fits flush with keyboard. Apparently Nord switch has just regular holes at the bottom. Dumb on Nord
@@Blueguitar007 makes sense!
Read my edit. Yours just has regular holes? Not elongated adjustable for screws?@@MyKeysToMusic
@Blueguitar007 That is correct. The Nord Half-Moon screws are fixed (not elongated), which means you don't get a choice on exactly how it's positioned. I agree that it would have been better if they made it adjustable in some way. I assume the aftermarket switch works well? If so, you've saved a lot of $$$ 👍
Nord Stage 4 does not have screw holes for this switch
Hello @Notmehimorthem the Nord Stage 4 Compact does have screw holes for the half-moon (I just installed mine on this end). However, the holes may not be available for the HA 73 or 88 as they were not available for the NS3 HP 76 or the 88 either.
Most excellent - I use other half moon switches that cost much less and look better.
Hey Thomas! Yes, big price difference between them. Thanks for stopping by. Happy 2022!
Which one do you use?
Organic Sounds has vanished
Not sure what you mean by organic sounds exactly. The pianos and synth samples sound better than ever. If you are referring to the organic synth sounds, then perhaps you are right in that the NS4 is a different synth engine than the NS3. So in that way, you might hear a difference that could be perceived as organic versus non-organic of one versus the other.