Nord User Forum

[Andersson]

Any rumors on a NP3?

The first piano was released in 2010, NP2 in 2012, NP2hp in 2013?

About time for an update with more memory ++ ?

[Spider]

it's perfectly possible that they release a Nord Piano 2 EX, simply doubling the memory as they did with the Stage.
It's a very easy upgrade from the manufacturer's point of view: the product stays basically the same, almost zero investment in hardware and R&D, and would provide much-appreciated additional memory to load XL pianos.

But as with all Clavia releases... there's no way to really know, just wait and see.

[SingerNick]

I would love to see Nord attack piano modeling with the same practical controls as their current boards. For instance, you could narrow acoustic pianos down to five knobs: harp length, harp tuning, string material, hammer material, and some sort of "piano age" parameter that caused individual strings and hammers to become less uniform across the board.

This would obviously negate their investment in making premium samples, but I think there are enough sample-only instruments that modeling could be its own feature in the Nord Piano line.

[RedLeo]

I really don't see that happening. For a start, it's a whole different technology which they would have to invest in from scratch. And on a practical level, it would probably be pretty pointless. For live use - which is where their products are aimed - these sorts of nuances are not really noticeable. And for recording work, they would have to compete with the array of top-end software that already has that covered pretty thoroughly. As a small company, their success has been based not on competing directly, but on finding their own individual niche. Speaking personally, I wouldn't be very interested in having that - i just want to pick a piano and go.

[SingerNick]

For live use - which is where their products are aimed - these sorts of nuances are not really noticeable. And for recording work, they would have to compete with the array of top-end software that already has that covered pretty thoroughly.

Very true, but perhaps there is untapped potential in between those extremes. If you're already grabbing that EQ dial to brighten an upright sample, why not just tweak a dial that influences timbre, instead of artificially manipulating the sound? The difference may be negligible, but so is the difference between each iteration of organ modeling in hardware instruments. Manufacturers chase sonic prestige, and that's a good thing.

[RedLeo]

It still sounds like a whole lot of investment in technology, staff, and financial outlay for very little. Switching from sampling to creating modeled sounds is no trivial matter. You're also talking about changing the whole concept of how your products work. And what happens to compatibilty with existing models?

Improving the organ models is a case of tweaking or improving upon already existing software. It's not even remotely comparable to what you're asking for - which is to throw out all their existing piano tech and start again from scratch.

[RedLeo]

Although I'm having a vision of the Nord crew chuckling to themselves as they glance at the closed door with a big sign that says:

Acoustic Piano Modeling Research. Top Secret. Keep Out! This Means You.

[electr0]

NP3 - that would be nice. My wish would be: At least double memory, and hopefully remove the synth section. If you want a synth, get a synth.
There was no point in upgrading from NP to NP2, but with no memory increase I never saw the point.

Cheers!

[Andersson]

I would tend to agree with you on the usefullness of the samle-section. I used to own a np1, and also used the np2 for a few months, but the sample-section remained largely de-activated.

The original idea with a pure piano-approach is the selling-point if you ask me.

Give me 1gb + memory and a good effect-sction!

[maurus]

For a purely piano-oriented instrument Clavia needs to do something about the action. In comparison with the best actions on the digital piano market the present Fatar action just doesn't cut it. If Clavia really wants to sell a piano to pianists...

Says the broken record.

By the way, perhaps time to reactivate the Nord Piano wishlist thread?