Welcome to YamahaSynth!

MIDI communication will allow you to set the CP4 STAGE as the Master Keyboard (meaning physically playing the keys of the CP4 STAGE can trigger a response in the connected, or slave, device). You would need to make a connection from the 5-pin MIDI OUT on the CP4 STAGE back panel to the 5-pin MIDI IN on the Nord. Making sure MIDI I/O is active in each.

A standard MIDI cable should be used. In this particular instance you need only the one connection as the goal is a simple one way communication.

Both instruments will need to connect their audio Outputs to your sound system. More on that in a moment. MIDI communication allows the Master Keyboard (the CP4 STAGE) to generate a coded message for each gesture you make performing on it physically (key presses, pedals, wheels, Knobs, sliders, etc.). These messages causes a response in both the local, CP4 Tone Generator, and the external slave device’s Tone Generator. The messages can be routed to the slave on a specific communication bus, called a MIDI Channel.

The receiving (slave) device is tuned to the same channel as the transmitting (master) device, and it responds by sounding its internal tones. The word ‘channel’ is used because you can, like Television, have different things going on different channels, simultaneously, discreetly. You tune the receiving device to the specific channel transmitting the program you wish to view.

When the two are connected and the channel properly set, they both will sound. You can disconnect the CP4 STAGE from triggering its own Tone Generator by turning LOCAL CONTROL = OFF. When Local Control is Off, playing the CP4 STAGE’s keyboard will only send MIDI messages to the remote device (external) — its Tone Generator will sound.

Each device must be connected to your sound system. MIDI does not take care of sound. Each device must be connected to an audio sound system as you normal would when you want play them and hear them. We are only affecting which one you physically interact with.

CP4 STAGE Setup
Each program (Performance) has the ability to store what you want the instrument to do. This can include what the three internal Parts are doing (Main, Layer, Split) and via the “Master Keyboard” function within each Performance, you can setup what is referred to as a “ZONE” to address your external device(s).

The CP4 STAGE can address four external ZONEs, simultaneously. As you want to control just the single Nord, you will activate just Master Keyboard > Zone 1.

From this Zone you will be able to make settings for MIDI Channel, Note Range, Transpose settings, Bank Select/Program Change, Volume, Pan, you will be able to activate/deactivate your Controllers so that you can control the external device completely from the CP4.

Set the MIDI Channel so that it matches the Receive Channel setting of the Nord
And setting by setting, you can dial in what you require.

The Reference Manual page 23 covers the details. Turn “Master Keyboard” On, and activate “Zone 1”
The Owner’s Manual Page 45-46 covers your basic MIDI connection.

Setup MIDI I/O
Press [UTILITY]
Select 02: MIDI
Set “MIDI I/O = MIDI”

Setup the Master Keyboard Zone
Select the Performance you want to work with or create a new one (see Owner’s Manual “Creating your own Performance” page 31)
Press [EDIT]
Cursor Down to 03: “Master Keyboard”
Set the “MasterKbdSw” = On
Cursor Down, set “Zone1” > “ZoneSw” = On
And set the MIDI Channel you want this Zone to transmit, 1-16.
(See Reference Manual Page 23 for Zone details).

Perfect! Thank you very much!