General Discussion of the Nord Stage (EX), Nord Stage 2 (EX), Nord Stage 3, and Nord Stage 4 Synths, FAQ, Troubleshooting etc.

The dreaded MONO word...

Postby Jhbackingtracks » 12 Nov 2017, 05:15

I wonder if anyone has had ANY success at all, in getting a decent sound when being forced to run pianos in MONO?

There MUST be a way of getting a piano to sing and sound realistic through one speaker. I'm getting so sick of trailing my two big EV ELX112ps everywhere to just attempt to get a decent piano sound (even that is difficult once the drums and guitars start going) but lately, going back to mono on gigs where there's either no room, or little set up time, or car sharing involved and having to ditch a speaker, is just a killer. It doesn't even sound like a piano. Just a boxy horrible muddy middy sound with no character or joy that produces notes!

I'm so jealous of all the other instruments that have either their own acoustic sound naturally and just need to be mic'd , or the types of instruments that just require ONE good amp and can rely on that for their sound. I hate how I have to rely on two speakers to even stand a chance of being happy with the pianos.

Lately I've been using Rhodes as much as possible when it's appropriate as that sounds fine in mono. But most of what I do calls for piano.

I feel like I've tried lots of options. Taking just the right output, taking just the left, taking both into the speaker, using the mono button, trying ALL the Nord piano samples (some are definitely better than others at being mono, but none good) running into a desk and coming back in etc. Actual keyboard Amps which accept stereo (but that's obviously not true stereo anyway) and even tried the very talked about center point stereo spacestation amp, which I hated! I can't believe it gets such good reviews all around. Not only could it definitely not compete in a band situation, the stereo-ness didn't seem good to me, and it massively coloured the sound. Not just a bit!

So I'm running out of options, but I know I want to try and move away from the EV's. I think I've become sick of their sound, and weight, and size. If that's possible! Despite them being very powerful and versatile. The new QSC K8.2's have grabbed my attention, but again even if I like them, it would have to be two, for pianos in stereo (unless some speakers are better for mono pianos that is! But I can't see it!)

So trying to get a 'stereo' effect out of one cabinet I feel is quite impossible, so perhaps trying to get a good MONO sounding piano sound is the only way to do this.

I'm hoping someone might have some magical results of how to possibly achieve goodness when in the dreaded mono!
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The dreaded MONO word...


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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby Jhbackingtracks » 12 Nov 2017, 05:27

Somebody suggested looking into a HK Lucas nano system. It does look interesting, having the ability to quickly/easily spread out a stereo sound in a small package , and I assume the bulk of the volume comes from the big sub/cabinet. But just looking at the size of it, and all of these compact systems out there, I fail to see how they can ever get to proper giggable volume, against such things as typical active speakers from the likes of Yamaha, QSC and of course my EVs!
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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby harmonizer » 12 Nov 2017, 08:49

I run my Electro 3 in mono, thru a single Electrovoice zx-a1 powered speaker. Most of the Nord acoustic piano sounds don't work for me in mono, but for home settings and quiet songs I am very happy with the Royal Grand in mono. The only negative thing is that its sound does not always "cut through" in a rock/covers setting. I use it for a couple of songs in my covers band, but for other rock songs I go back to a more pedestrian sound from a 12 year old Roland synth module, which just happens to sit in the mix well. Have you tried the Royal Grand?
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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby Goldphinga » 12 Nov 2017, 12:00

I've never had any issues with the Nord pianos in mono. I had the original Stage compact, the NS2 SW73 and now the NS3 compact, and the pianos sound great to me through my Yamaha DXR 15.
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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby Mr_-G- » 12 Nov 2017, 14:11

This has been discussed maaaaaany times. The options are: 1) use the use just one channel (L or R), 2) use the mono button or 3) mix both outputs with a sum box or a mixer. I would try in that order and keep the one you like. These should all produce different results.
L or R only might require boosting the bass or the upper frequencies to compensate.
I prefer to play stereo, but when not available, then the R channel. Options 2 and 3 cause some degree of phase cancellation, depending on how the pianos were recorded. (3 is the worst to my ears).
Last edited by Mr_-G- on 12 Nov 2017, 14:11, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby Rusty Mike » 12 Nov 2017, 15:38

I run both L and R outputs from my Stage or Electro into the A and B inputs on my QSC K8.2 to run mono (which is most of the time).

The ELX has 2 inputs. Give it a try.

I should add the tweaking the EQ and reverb settings will also help improve your sound, if you’re not doing that already.
Last edited by Rusty Mike on 12 Nov 2017, 15:39, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby Falcon2e » 12 Nov 2017, 16:53

I'm doing the same as Mr. G. When I'm not at home, I use the Right output only. My stage monitor is a powered EV EKX 12".
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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby Mr_-G- » 12 Nov 2017, 17:50

In theory, Rusty Mike's solution is (in my humble opinion) the least desirable one. According to Clavia, the Mono button mixes the two channels depending on the key position, so that should minimise more the phase cancellation at the extremes, something that mixing both channels will not.
But the best judges are you ears. As somebody said: in theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not. :-)
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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby danrv » 16 Nov 2017, 00:12

Jhbackingtracks wrote:I wonder if anyone has had ANY success at all, in getting a decent sound when being forced to run pianos in MONO?

There MUST be a way of getting a piano to sing and sound realistic through one speaker. I'm getting so sick of trailing my two big EV ELX112ps everywhere to just attempt to get a decent piano sound (even that is difficult once the drums and guitars start going) but lately, going back to mono on gigs where there's either no room, or little set up time, or car sharing involved and having to ditch a speaker, is just a killer. It doesn't even sound like a piano. Just a boxy horrible muddy middy sound with no character or joy that produces notes!

I'm so jealous of all the other instruments that have either their own acoustic sound naturally and just need to be mic'd , or the types of instruments that just require ONE good amp and can rely on that for their sound. I hate how I have to rely on two speakers to even stand a chance of being happy with the pianos.

Lately I've been using Rhodes as much as possible when it's appropriate as that sounds fine in mono. But most of what I do calls for piano.

I feel like I've tried lots of options. Taking just the right output, taking just the left, taking both into the speaker, using the mono button, trying ALL the Nord piano samples (some are definitely better than others at being mono, but none good) running into a desk and coming back in etc. Actual keyboard Amps which accept stereo (but that's obviously not true stereo anyway) and even tried the very talked about center point stereo spacestation amp, which I hated! I can't believe it gets such good reviews all around. Not only could it definitely not compete in a band situation, the stereo-ness didn't seem good to me, and it massively coloured the sound. Not just a bit!

So I'm running out of options, but I know I want to try and move away from the EV's. I think I've become sick of their sound, and weight, and size. If that's possible! Despite them being very powerful and versatile. The new QSC K8.2's have grabbed my attention, but again even if I like them, it would have to be two, for pianos in stereo (unless some speakers are better for mono pianos that is! But I can't see it!)

So trying to get a 'stereo' effect out of one cabinet I feel is quite impossible, so perhaps trying to get a good MONO sounding piano sound is the only way to do this.

I'm hoping someone might have some magical results of how to possibly achieve goodness when in the dreaded mono!


I can relate to this entirely. As mentioned it has been discussed many times here and I've now excepted that Nord pianos as far as I'm concerned, are not tailored for mono use. I've never encountered phase cancellation issues on Roland pianos that I've used previously (U220, XP80) when using them is mono.

I also sometimes have to just use one speaker for the same reasons you give but it's always used as a monitor on a mini tripod. I run keys stereo through the PA.
That way I don't have to force my volume to be heard over the band. Our FOH top speakers are RCF HD12's and the Nord pianos do sound nice in stereo through these.
I've got used to the Silver Grand and Grand Upright in mono through a single DXR10. Whenever possible though I take 2 DXR10's for stereo monitoring from our A&H QU16 desk. These are compact, very powerful and sound great.
No problem here with piano sound.
I even use a budget Alto TX10 as a second speaker on occasions which works absolutely fine.
Nord pianos need to be monitored in stereo. Let the PA handle your main sound, preferably in stereo too.
Last edited by danrv on 17 Nov 2017, 12:15, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: The dreaded MONO word...

Postby afroskully » 16 Nov 2017, 02:19

I know you say the two speaker thing is what you're looking Not to do. I felt the exact same way and never wanted to go stereo for the inconvenience of it all, regardless of how much better people kept saying it sounded. My Traynor K4 served my purposes fine but I wanted to go lighter so I got one K8.2. It just wasn't cutting it volume-wise for me. I was almost going to keep the K4 and return the qsc until I decided to just try out 2 K8.2s for one gig and see how it went. Amazingly, it was easier to lug around 2 k8.2s than the single K4. Both speakers combined are lighter and easier to carry with each in one hand. And the sound just blows anything else I've ever used away. They're so small and powerful that you may rethink the mono thing altogether.
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