Nord Stage 3 | Learn All About the Pedal Options (Part 2)

Learn all about the many pedal options and features you have for your Nord Stage 3 including the sustain/damper pedal, the control/expression pedal, ​and foot-switches. Now, most of these options are available for the Electro line family of keyboards as well as older models of the Nord Stage. This is part 2 of a two-part mini video series regarding pedal options available and other topics related to pedal types, options, features and set up on the Nord Stage 3.

Discussed in this video is the following:
1) Using the sustain pedal with options to double as rotor control.
2) Use of the control pedal with a quick (very brief) sample of assigning morph to the level of the piano.
3) A brief look at the rotor and swell pedal options
4) A quick look at how a program up/down footswitch works. Demonstrated with a single sustain pedal. Ideally, you'd want to use an actual footswitch with an A/B option in a real-world scenario.

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[luvjammin]

Mark, one thing I believe that was missed on this video (I don’t believe it was mentioned) is the correct cord and placement for the Boss FS-6. After connecting my sole patch cord it still wasn’t changing programs properly. So after careful deliberation with my local music store guy, I found I needed a 1/4” TRS male to 2 x 1/4” mono male cord, or as it is more commonly known, a Y cord. I found that if I place the black connection in A and the red connection to B, B allowed me to go up the programs or song mode and A allowed me to go down or backwards without adjusting the polarity or momentary/latch switches. Hope this helps.

[HoldFastTheTruth]

Man I've been watching these videos since the time they were uploaded and I always come back to them!! I Literally learned everything I know about the Stage 3 from watching your videos ALONE!! Gotta say thanks man. You deserve tons of respect for the meticulous explanations and all the work you put into this.

[Pegaseus]

Your body of work on Nord is amazing. Thank you for putting all of this together for folks like me to be able to look up and learn.

[danielkinney]

MARK you are so awesome. you have the best VIDEOS on YouTube. I always come here first to gain knowledge for my studio needs. Great Job. Just bought a NORD STAGE 3. Hammond XK5 Pro Series & Leslie 3300 Yamaha MONTAGE 7 & Native Instruments Keyboard MKII

[jefreywoodall]

Marc, I found a new use for my pedal. I discovered that by morphing the rotating speaker, the speed changes from fast/slow to incremental. I had a Hammond that wouldnt allow this feature, so very glad to find it on the NS3. Doing B3 better than the Hammond (although I am still working on finding that exact sound...). Thanks for all you do here!

[NL]

As always a profound and very clear explanation. Thanks Marc!

[SteveHudginsMusic]

Hi Marc! You hinted at it in your last response, but I wanted to draw everyone's attention to the half-moon switch for the Compact. Though not a pedal, it does in fact plug into the rotor pedal jack. It also provides a traditional brake option in the center position between slow and fast. There is also a configuration setting to differentiate between a sustain pedal and the half-moon switch. It may not be for everyone, but those with a Hammond/Leslie background will appreciate this. I love mine!

[wowisms]

Hi Marc, Thanks for your very helpful videos. I just bought my second On-Stage KEP100 expression pedal which I find works well with the NS3.
When I scroll between the various pedal options the minimum volume setting is 11% on the Roland and Fatar options and 48% on the Yamaha and Korg options. The max level is adjustable up to 100% using the knob on the pedal itself. These settings are perfect for me. I don't know how reliable this pedal will be long term but it seems built well and is light weight. It's also pretty cheap at just under $26. It was great to find out on your video that I can also set it to control the volume of the piano and synth sections as well as the organ when plugged into the organ swell port. My normal gig set-up uses a NS3 Compact together with an Arturia Keylab 88 which I mainly use for piano type sounds. Stunning! FYI if I connect an external synth to the Nord midi out (in my case a Novation Peak) it's volume is unaffected by the swell pedal, which for me is not a problem.

[stkout]

There's a video on Sweetwater, somehow controlling the digital drawbars with a CC foot pedal. It's in the first video of the Nord playlist, "Product Demo Sweetwater" at 23:10 mark.

[rickjohnson]

Great video Marc! Will the Yamaha FC3A or the FC4 sustain pedals work to engage the rotor feature on the organ?

[mtzionlutheranchurch-kutzt]

Mark, I am a novice and have just purchased the Nord Stage 3-88 for the accompanist at the church. He loves it. I also purchased the Nord triple pedal. He is now asking for a 'volume control' pedal. Is there such a thing for the Nord Stage 3? And, if so can it be used with the triple pedal? And, if so, which one would you recommend and which port should it be plugged into? Thanks, April

[piteft]

Hey Mark, I just bought a Nord Electro 6D. Absolutely amazing keyboard, especially after the cheap one that I had back in the days. So, here's is question, can I use expression pedal to control speed of the rotary speaker?

[eduardojuri]

Great tutorial as usual!
I changed the settings so I can use my sustain pedal as I usually do with the piano but also to turn off and on the Leslie speaker when using the organ. Do you know if it's normal that when I'm using the piano an "E" appears and disappears on the display every time I press the pedal?
Thanks!

[benjaminthompson]

Hi mark. Just bought a Headrush expression pedal. Wondering if there are certain expression pedals that don't work with nords? And are the pedals listed by nord in their control pedal section the only ones that work? Thanks heaps for your helpful videos

[josephzigurski]

Hi Mark, my church just bought a new Stage 3. I can't get my rotor pedal to activate. And there is no toggle function like you show in your video. Thanks, JoeZ

[Notmehimorthem]

Thank you, It is bewildering as many pedals have the same options. Not sure what is the minimum set up? Anyone?

[Arno]

Hi Marc, thanks for your videos. really helpful for (new) owners of Nord keyboards. can the half moon switch be used on the Nord Stage 3 88 ?

[Magnilay]

Great nord info-full support from yoga/meditation music channel friend in UK ❤️🎹❤️

[jimkegley]

Marc, does the Nord 3 pedal unit work with the Nord Stage 3 Compact? Also does the 3 pedal unit work with all the Nords..saw a version 2 and version 3? Thanks!

[tonvandelangkruis]

Thank you for the explanation. Still a question. If I connect the control pedal, and use morph to control the volume (set it to max), this works. But is there a way to set the default of the control pedal on 100% in the case it is not connected?