Nord User Forum

[Mauro]

I have a Nord 2hp. I use it in a jazz trio setting, so the quality of the piano is very important.

What is the best way to to connect it to a powered speaker that has only one input available?
I tried 'Y" connecting both L&R out from the Nord. But the sound quality does not sound as it would in the head set or any of the demo videos.

I am seeking a solution. Even when preceding a direct input into the speaker with a small mixer, the various piano sounds sound "boxy".
How can I get the best sound without having to change eq settings, etc.? In the head phone it sounds great, but on stage , it's been frustrating. Especially when all the piano sounds start to sound the same after a while.
Please advice.

My rig: Nord 2 hp 73 going to QSC K12 ( into one channel) the other channel is used for a microphone.

[elektromin]

Hi,
I would buy another speaker and a small mixer so that you get a stereo sound. It's really important for acoustic piano sounds. If you keep on using only one speaker, then you should only connect only one of the outputs on the piano (the one marked mono). Good luck!
/Anders

[Mauro]

Thanks Anders
The NORD 2Hp does does mark a mono output. Some designate the L for that. But I am not sure that is the case for NORD.

What if you are using a BOSE Tower? The Tone Master can accept 2 separate inputs from the piano, but in the end it's still one speaker system???

[wartaler]

Hi!
Best: use proper stereo amplification,
second best: use one speaker + engage mono mode on your NP2:
"If you press Shift + Kbd Touch, the stereo sound will be played back in mono instead . Connect the L or the R output on the Nord Piano 2 HP to an input on the sound system you wish to use ."
-never mix stereo signals to mono, you'll get phase related weirdness!
..and have a look at this thread:
nord-piano-forum-f10/extremely-important-info-for-the-sound-of-piano-samples-t4823-30.html

best,
Albert

[Seaglass]

Actually you probably can do quite well by _not_ engaging mono mode and just connecting either output 1 or output 2 to the speaker. You will have to decide if you want the tone to have a bit more highs or a bit more lows and connect accordingly (1 for low, 2 for high).

The "boxiness" you are hearing is phase cancellation between the right and left sides of the stereo piano sample. Unfortunately no manufacturer that I have found so far prepares their samples to appropriately cancel to mono (M-S anyone? I know, not great for close miking). The mono mode on the Nord does seem to work some magic as it seems IMHO to do better than simply summing the signal at the mixer.

[Mauro]

Thanks everyone. I can't help but say the sound is not as satisfying to me as the Roland RD-700, when it comes to operating with a single side or single outboard speaker.
I purchased it hoping it would come close to that while being a much lighter board to carry around. So much for mail ordering without the opportunity to test drive it.

[easplund]

Thanks everyone. I can't help but say the sound is not as satisfying to me as the Roland RD-700, when it comes to operating with a single side or single outboard speaker.
I purchased it hoping it would come close to that while being a much lighter board to carry around. So much for mail ordering without the opportunity to test drive it.

That is very strange. I got rid of my Roland RD-700SX because it sounded terrible when played through any speakers, no matter what combination of outputs and configurations that I tried. It sounded fine through headphones, but was always thin and weedy through my Roland monitor, EVs, or even my Genelecs. My Nord sounds great through all of these, but I had to try all of the pianos, because certain ones sounded boxy through the speakers. I found that the Fazioli sounded best through the EVs. I also had to put them on stands, too.

[FunKey]

I tried 'Y" connecting both L&R out from the Nord.

You mean with a Y cable? You should never connect two outputs this way, it can actually damage your equipment (though with modern gear, it probably won't).

[Mr_-G-]

This:
nord-piano-forum-f10/extremely-important-info-for-the-sound-of-piano-samples-t4823-10.html#p31728
and this:
nord-stage-forum-f3/ns2-great-on-headphones-bad-on-stage-monitoring-t6146-10.html#p38789
suggest me that the NS2 Mono button does the same job as mixing the R & L channels in a mixer (i.e. you get the same phase cancellation).

I am open to change my mind, but not without seeing some convincing evidence first.

As others suggested, you might get a "better" sound in some cases by connecting only the L or the R output and not using the Mono button. Of course the best thing is to try and see what you prefer.
You may also want to fiddle with the equalizer, which is a very good way of changing the presence of the piano sounds.

[JiminWales]

An example of the problem (Bose amplification)
http://toonz.ca/bose/wiki/index.php?tit ... vs._Stereo
At the end is a wish that makers take the need for mono seriously.