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I’ve been using an iPad for B-3X and Setlist maker for a couple of years. After years of using Nords (with and without a Neo ventilator) and being reasonably happy, B-3X blew me away and Setlist maker is great as well - I love the program changes by clicking a song. I was fortunate in that my girlfriend won an iPad 6th gen in a raffle (this sort of thing never happens to us) but didn’t need it so donated it to me (yep, she’s a keeper) for me to try in my rig. I was, and still am, cautious about how far I can push iPads/iPhones for music so since installing B-3X and Setlist maker, the ipad 6 has lived permanently in Airplane mode with only those two apps installed. It works seamlessly and I’ve never had an issue with it (touch wood). In terms of cost and quality, I think it’s hard to beat. Fast forward a couple of years and I’m still using the ipad 6 when gigging but have recently got an iPad Air M1 for at home. Just to test its limitations, i installed some music apps (Korg Module, Moog Model D, Keystage, Camelot, B3X, Audiolayer etc) on the Air M1. I’m really impressed! I’ve been able to create a backup (and more) of my entire live rig (Hammond, piano, Rhodes, synths, samples etc etc), it sounds great and again works without glitches, outperforming my Nord in a number of areas. Finally, I wondered if I could use my iPhone SE 2nd gen work as a backup sound source if my Nord died on a gig? The answer is yes. I recreated a backup rig (same as on the iPad Air M1 but VB3m instead of B3X) on the iPhone SE, and controlling everything from AUM. It sounds great and works perfectly. The program changes aren’t as easy but if my Nord dies mid-gig I’ll probably have bigger worries on my mind! I’m not sure if I’m ready to move to an iPad-only rig and that’s mostly down to how much I still love my Nord stage 2 (its an emotional connection 🤣) but I definitely think it’s do-able. My only uncertainty is which iPad or iphone meets someone’s minimum requirements. I’ve been fortunate enough to find out by having some devices available to try it out.

Go to ‘Advanced’ (button in the top left) and set your keyboard split there. I set mine to pedal/upper with a split point of C1. The receiving midi channels are set in ‘Setup’ (the cog/wheel). I have mine set as upper=1, lower=2, pedal=3, program change=1. I set my Nord to transmit on midi channel 1 which means it only plays the upper manual and from C1 upwards…therefore no presets.

Is it possible to charge an iPad from the ‘To Device’ USB port while using the ‘To Host’ port for midi/audio from the same ipad (with Camera Connection Kit)? It’d make a nice, simple setup if possible.

I’ve been lucky enough to see Booker T a couple of times and James Taylor Quartet at Ronnie Scott’s. Got to meet them after the show and Booker T even signed a setlist for me (now framed). Here’s a couple of photos from when we had front row seats so basically sat next to the band!

I"ve just started getting into this with BX3 and Setlist maker, both of which I love! I needed to connect power, midi and audio. I think connectivity depends on which iPad you have but I used one of these as a starting point to connect two usb items to my lightning port: https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MK0W2ZM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter That will let you keep iPad connected to power and connect 'something else" via usb. My 'something else" is a Roland Rubix 22 audio interface which can then provide audio and midi to the outside world. The rubix is also self powered which is useful. Some keyboards provide audio over midi (numa compact 2, Yamaha modx are examples I think) so if you"ve got one you could connect that directly to the lightning adapter. Some (older?) iPads have a headphone output...I"m not sure if newer iPads have that? The headphone output could be used for audio output which would free up one of the camera adapter USB ports to directly connect a usb controller keyboard. I"m not really up on the wireless technology for connectivity but it obviously exists. Someone else might be able to talk to that!

Not the best nor the worst. The build is quite solid but it bends a little bit under pressure. It may twist a little bit because it's such a compact and long plastic build of course. My guess is that the base chassis is pretty much similar to the old VMK88 series. Thanks for the details, it"s really useful. With not being able to get to music shops at the moment it"s hard to get a feel (literally in this case) for an instrument but this gives me confidence to order one online. ð

How"s the build quality on the compact 2/2x? The weight really appeals and at 7kg it"s not going to be built like a tank but does the shell twist or creak? I had a Studiologic (or maybe Fatar) 61 key controller years and years ago and although it was feather light the shell wasn"t particularly rigid.

Quick update on this: I"ve taken a piece of advice from all of your responses and picked up an Anker usb hub from Amazon for £12. It"s an unpowered 4 into 1 hub. I plugged it into my iPad, rubix and Nord and it worked first time - perfect! Assuming I use this on stage I won"t have easy access to the rubix so the suggestion to cut out the rubix and run ipad headphone out to Nord monitor in does the job nicely for when at home. Thanks again for the advice, all the responses are massively appreciated!

Good call. I"m going to do that for now - thank you! NS2 doesn"t pass monitor in to the outputs so it"s headphones only but that"s all I need while at home (which is for a few months yet!) I see numa compact 2 has built in midi merge and that"s one I"m considering if I go for something lighter than the CP4 so that could do the job on stage(Nord out to rubix in, rubix out to numa in, numa out to Nord in). Puts a new spin on things. If the rubix, iPad and controller are all self powered would a passive usb hub be sufficient?

All good questions and responses, massively appreciated. I had the rubix knocking around from a previous project so may not have incorporated it if i didn"t already have it but it"s main use at the moment is that it"s direct monitoring function allows me to to mix my Nord stereo outputs with the iPad output (eliminating the need for a mixer). This is the question I meant to ask (but worded much more clearly by yourself)! Thanks for the advice. I hadn"t considered a midi merge box. That said, on balance I"m starting to think might be the USB hub is the way to go. I assume it"s best to get a powered hub so that it can also power the iPad, rubix and keystation?

Yeah I was a bit ambiguous about that. I"m using an M audio keystation 61 mk3 at home at the moment. I usually gig with a Yamaha cp4 as the controller but I"m considering getting something lighter when I get back to playing live.

I think this sounds more complicated than it is but any help much appreciated! I"ve googled this and both solutions sound like they might work but I"m not 100% sure. I"m using a Nord stage 2 with a controller (controller midi out to nord midi in) and also wanting to connect the Nord to my Roland rubix 22 which is USB"d to my iPad so that the Nord can (1) play B3X and (2) receive program changes from setlist maker. As I"m using the midi In on my Nord to connect with the controller it only leaves USB free to receive program change messages from the iPad/rubix. So...I"m thinking I could buy a midi host to convert the nord usb to midi in/out to plug into the rubix or maybe buy a usb hub that would somehow (I don"t know how exactly) link the Nord to the rubix? As you can probably tell, I doubt know much about USB hubs (but I get the concept). I"m leaning towards the midi host...but maybe a usb hub offers more flexibility (charging iPad, rubix, controller etc)? Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? It"ll be for live use so the hub/host would live in a rack with the rubix

A workaround that seems to work - go into advanced, split the keyboard upper/pedal at C1 then push all the pedal draw bars in

Thanks for the tips Ill take a look at that. I know Ill need to trim down my CPU and RAM usage wherever possible. Ive just upgraded the RAM but before that I was getting way too many glitches.

Ah I think Ive got it working! I hadnt remembered that the pedals in mainstage have their own settings and your last post me realise that. I think I get it now! Ive just gone back to Edit and clicked the FC7 then under the Expression tab>send to all then clicked the Yamaha, its working perfectly. Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it. I have to say Im blown away by Mainstage. About a year ago I upgraded my MacBook to an iMac and so have had the MacBook sitting doing nothing, I wanted a backup for gigging so got mainstage installed it but am so impressed by it (+ the sounds from Komplete which I already owned) that I think the Nord stage 2 is just going to be a control or backup if required. Part of me thinks its a bit of a waste of the Nord but mainstage/Komplete sounds fantastic!

Ah yep I can see it in layout. Its got these values: Midi port : all Channel: Channel 1-16 Type: Absolute Number: 11(Expression) Midi thru: Automatic Send Value to: [greyed out None]

JerryA, AnotherScott, thanks for the advice & the link. Delighted it will work but struggling to put it into practice. Im not using the Nord as a sound source, just a controller so all good on that front. However, I cant seem to get the controllers working right. As a test this is what I set up to try to get the expression pedal controlling the volume of the strings: Yamaha FC7 connected to the Nord Mainstage Channel 1: Midi input = Yamaha, Sound = Pop strings At this point the expression pedal is controlling the volume of the strings which is exactly what I want but then if want another mainstage channel controlled by the Nord keyboard I add another channel in the mainstage patch: Mainstage Channel 2: Midi input = Nord, Sound = Grand Organ At this point the FC7 stops working for the strings but does work for the organ. Seems fair enough. So I go to the midi input on the organ channel strip and filter out Expression. That stops the FC7 working for the organ but it doesnt start working again for the Yamaha. So Im reading and re-reading the link and set up a new channel strip for External Instrument with Midi Input = Nord and Midi Output = Yamaha (not sure if this is the right way around). This doesnt seem to make a difference so Im pretty sure Im missing a step or two (or three or four!) What am I doing wrong?

Im just getting into Mainstage and love it but I didnt realise it could do this! Im looking at using a Nord Stage 2 and and a Yamaha P35 to control it but the Yamaha doesnt have an expression pedal input. Are you saying theres a way I can configure a Mainstage patch so that the expression pedal plugged into the Nord can control the volume of the sound controlled by the Yamaha (without affecting the sound the Nord is controlling)?

Sounds like a really nice simple solution! Just wish it had midi ports so that I could use it to replace my audio interface on stage.

This is a really interesting setup. What sort of gigs are you using it on (size, lineup, noise/volume etc)?

Getting some crackle on one of the Nord EP sounds when playing in the lower octaves. Sound normal? Already got a plug in th sub output

So, I decided to let my ears decide, pulled the trigger and the space station arrived today! I have to admit, I'm on the fence at the moment. I'm A/Bing it against a Mackie SRM350 at the moment which isn't the fairest of tests but I do notice the lack of bass in the space station (and there's no way I'm adding sub). Maybe I just need to get used to that though as our band already has lot of bass going on without me. We've also got subs at FOH and I think my keys have probably been clouding the sound in the monitor mix previously. In its favour I'd say it sounds nice and clear though! I've only been able to test it in a small room so I'm guessing need to get it to a rehearsal to put it to the test.

Thanks again for the responses :-) Ok, I've just jumped back from page 93 of this thread!! @Al Quinn - I play in a 90s covers band. I'm talking UK 1990s (indie, britpop, madchester) so plenty of Hammond organ and piano but also with lots of other bases to cover e.g. Strings from Bitter Sweet Symphony or the synth from Born Slippy by Underworld and one or two samples. The band is a standard 5 piece with guitar and bass both having some serious speaker weight! The overall sound is big and usually loud! All my sound comes from a nord stage 2 (plus a ventilator 2 for organs) into FOH that's a couple of Mackie 15" powered speakers both with mackie subs. I monitor just myself with a mackie (can you see a theme developing!?) srm350 at the moment. Gigs are generally bars/clubs. Stages vary but I'm a *little* concerned I won't always have the space to put my amp 6' away. @timwat - how far from you was the speaker on your Saturday night gig? I'm guessing its within arm's reach if on your rack. Oh, and looking forward to the Stanford pics! ;-)

Thanks everyone for the advice. Some really good stuff here and it's given me some real clarity which is so useful as I'm not going to be able to demo a unit before buying unfortunately. @CPHollis - I've been reading your blogs(all great btw!) and also seen you mention the Nord Royal Grand 3D. Is that piano working out for you with the space station? I'm using a Nord stage 2 and play plenty of piano so I want at least one good sounding piano sound. Do you find you need to tweak the space station when changing sounds e.g. from piano to Hammond, or will on board eq of the Nord be sufficient? I have a patch saved for every song and really don't want to be tweaking an amp between songs. @Jazzooo/anotherscott - I started to think along the same lines last night i.e. do I get what's best for me or best for the band? Starting to turn into a test of my character lol! But that said, I guess I'm playing music for my band mates as much as the audience (although ideally there's more people in the audience than in the band ;-)) so it's in my interests for them to benefit from the improved sound. They currently hear me through their own mono Mackie thump so using a space station would be an improvement AND make their monitors easier to mix if we can drop the keys out out their monitor. Who knew an amp could cause such a dilemma!? I'd never really considered them much until recently! @dglavko - another good point! I may have to brush up my chops if everyone can hear me in glorious stereo! ;-) Since I'm a one-band-man I guess I've got no excuse, I just need to nail my lines!

So how does the space station (without a sub) perform as an on stage monitor, say, in comparison to a couple of powered monitors of a similar price? I usually play through FOH with my own DI/monitor just for keys. Is the space station the wrong tool for the job in this case? Gigs are normally 100-150 bar/club gigs and while I'm open minded about not going through FOH I may have to.