Nord User Forum

[luckyluca]

Hi,

I purchased the nord electro 5d 61keys 2 days ago but am having second thoughts. I opted for the 5d because having been a piano player I liked the feel of the semi-weighted keys, however I have no interest in organ sounds, just synths and occasionally pianos. My last keyboard was a korg trinity.

What I find limiting is the inability to run two synths at the same time. So I'm finding I'm spending a lot of time tinkering with the fx to achieve analogue synth sounds out of organs and pianos to overcome this. Do you know if it was possible to add synth sounding samples to the piano library? i feel this workaround would solve the problem for me.

Also are there enough 'good' nord lead A1 sounding synth patches available for the 5D? I'm starting to realise I enjoy developing analogue sounds more than actually playing technically. Should I've gotten the A1 instead?

PS two keyboards is not an option for me atm. I don't have the space, in fact I need to take the keyboard out of the gigbag and tuck it back in every night; I don't even have a stand, I play on the sofa.
L

[notchdave]

Hi You cannot add a sample (synth sound) to the piano library. I agree that this is a downside of this superb machine. I quite often need to play bass gtr and strings split but cannot do it if bass player in band is not there. I use an organ bass instead which I can just get away with in a live situation. The only work around would be to use the nord sound editor software to make your own sound but not sure where this sample resides and if you you use it with another synth sample. Others on this forum would probably know that.

[jfenton]

You probably need NS2 EX if you want to run to synths simultaneously. I ended up on the fence between NS2 and Electro 5d. Took a while to figure out that for not that much extra in price, you get much more functionality out of the NS2 ex.

Unfortunately Nord does not put side by side comparison of these on their web site, The just compare from previous to new versions of the same model. Is it too late to return it for upgrade from the dealer you purchased it?

[luckyluca]

Thanks for the suggestion, I can try but the price gap between the electro and the 2 ex would be too high for me
I might actually keep it, it's an awesome piece of equipment, or I might try to return it for a lead A1 if the seller agrees to return the difference. It would obviously be quite a shift in direction

[jfenton]

The gap was not as wide here when I was researching it was about $2,200 ves $2,800 USD.

[benny ray]

Electro 5D 73 SW $1900 or less all day long new USD. Gotta shop around

[Big Jock]

Hi, I felt a bit like you when I first got my NE5D. I took it for granted that I would be able to combine any two of the 3 engines but as you now know, you can't have 2 X synth or 2 X piano. The organ engine works in a different way but since you are not really into that part of the NE5, I'll leave it there. For me now, I have realised that once you get your head around the architecture of the NE5 it is fantastic!. I have played Hammonds and Rhodes in bands since 1969 and this baby really cuts the cake! Having an unbelievable acoustic piano is the icing on that cake!. However, I think for you personally, because you previously had a Trinity and like to work with real synths, you should have gone for the Lead or Stage range. You also mentioned the piano, as I already said, you cant go wrong with the NE5 but I can't comment on the keybed action on the others. Also, neither of them are as short in length as the NE5D 61 note. The NE5 does exactly what is says on the tin, meaning " electromagnetic", ie ; Hammonds, Rhodes & Wurlitzers. The "sample synth" section is really just a massive bank for everything else. I have sampled a few patches and synth sounds from my old VR09 and use them regularly. IMO, the word "Synth" on the buttons and "Sample Synth" on the panel is a wee bit misleading, they should really just be named "Samples". Nord could have saved a few Krona on paint there!.

Good luck. Big Jock

[luckyluca]

thanks big jock, that's really inspiring to read.

speaking of samples i had a quick browse on the nord website and there seem to be plenty of nla1 samples downloadable for the electro, so all in all it seems to be possible to mimic synth sounds on the ne5d. I'm after the synth sounds from wendy Carlos' kubrick soundtracks and since i prefer the waterfall keybed i was wondering if the electro could pull such sounds off

[luckyluca]

thanks big jock, that's really inspiring to read.

speaking of samples i had a quick browse on the nord website and there seem to be plenty of nla1 samples downloadable for the electro, so all in all it seems to be possible to mimic synth sounds on the ne5d. I'm after the synth sounds from wendy Carlos' kubrick soundtracks and since i prefer the waterfall keybed i was wondering if the electro could pull such sounds off

also i guess i know the answer already, but is it possible to assign two different fxs from the same effects section one to upper and one to lower?

[pablomastodon]

no, it is not. EQ can be lower, upper or both, but the rest of the f/x are one or the other.

note that assigning EQ to both upper and lower at the same time will defeat segregated audio output routing if you are using that function. that is, if you have assigned lower and upper parts to different outputs (for feeding adjacent channels on a live or studio mixer so that they can be controlled independently), you do NOT want to assign EQ to both parts. doing so will cause the mixed signal of both parts to be transmitted only through one output; the other will be silent

bless, pablo