Inferior sounds on my Nord E5D

[Keytaro]

Ok, I have been playing keyboards for decades using Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Ensoniq, soft synths, etc. I finally made the plunge and invested in supposedly the best keyboards out there - NORD - specifically the electro 5D. My music buddies now go "ooh - aahh - you got a Nord!!!"
It MUST BE my imagination that all the sounds in every category sound SIGNIFICANTLY INFERIOR to the other boards I am using or have used. My expectation based on popular use, hype and cost is that they would be SUPERIOR.
now before you start advising me to check my amps, equalizers, and tweak the patches or go out t the Nord sound libraries - been there - done that. The sounds are thin, flat, in a word "Cheesy". The Hammond sound disappears on the upper register and the only way to add any balls to it, is to put on drive/compression which such makes it sound terrible. The pianos have absolutely no depth. Is it just me? whats going on here? HELP before it goes up for sale.

[cphollis]

My guess is "it's you". Or, at least, you and your rig.

Most of us here have played just about everything, and have landed on Nords for both their sound and real-time playability.

Why don't you tell us a bit more about your setup, and specific examples of where you're having a problem? Then again, if you want to sell it, you'll get a good price.

[CountFosco]

now before you start advising me ...
been there - done that ... HELP

Errr?

[RobertHoffmann]

So what kind of help would you like? If there really is a problem, either you have a defective unit (in which case, contact your dealer), or it’s a problem with your signal chain and/or amplification.

[RobertHoffmann]

Have you tried it through headphones? Stereo or mono? Played with the EQ? Many people are very happy with the sounds. Where do they fall short for you? Finally, you realize it’s basically a sample player, yes? It’s not a Moog, for example. What about it doesn’t meet your expectations?

[dkernohan]

I guess you don't like the way the Nord sounds. Sell it and buy something you like the sound of.

Sorry to be blunt, but life is short. Play an instrument you connect with.

Some players are surprised by the raw, unforgiving, Nord sound - especially after the effects-laden gloss of Yamaha and Korg. I love it (it's made me a better player) but if it doesn't suit where you are as a player - why struggle?

[RobertHoffmann]

I agree that there are better sounds with better dynamics. Honestly, at home, I play a software plugin for (e-)pianos. However, nord is not about the sound on its own. There are three main reasons that, after 10 years, I am still very happy with my nord electro 3:

1. Sound in the bandroom mix: I find it very easy to find my place in the sound of my band, no matter whom I'm playing with. (assuming proper amplification) Laying a carpet of sound or punching through, I can do whatever I want, partly thanks to the simple quality of the sound, but also thanks to the well chosen effect settings (see below).
2. Ease of use. The interface is just very smart. I hardly ever spend more than half a second pressing buttons during play, just because they are laid out in a very intuitive way. Also, the options are limited (e.g., only two effect groups with only two parameters), which is a good thing as concerns ease of use. The effects are already tailored to be useful.
3. Weight. I easily carry my electro on my bicycle to the rehearsal room 5 km away.

It is this package of qualities that makes me very much like the electro. (by the way, I also own a lead A1, with precisely the same advantages)

[RobertHoffmann]

I will just say - check your amplifcation and try to tweak EQ on the different samples. I often feel I have two different instruments when I use my Electro at home on Yamaha speakers, and on rehersal on other brands...

[lvercaut]

Some players are surprised by the raw, unforgiving, Nord sound - especially after the effects-laden gloss of Yamaha and Korg.

This is so true ! I also had this problem when i started to explore the Nord piano samples.
I asked myself: hey, is this how a real grand sounds ? I don't like this... (coming from Yamaha's P and CP range digital piano's, Roland RD series, GEM Promega ,Korg Kronos, etc...)
Now i start to like these Nord piano's very much!

[kbmatson]

I too felt as you do when I first got my stage 3. I was not blown away like I thought I should be for the $$$ i put out for it. What I've come to learn is that the Nord really does sound 'different" than most other keyboards. It's hard to put my finger on to describe exactly. The best I've been able to come up with is that the Nord sounds more like a recording of a piano, vs sounding like a piano. It must have something to do with their sampling techniques, mics, rooms, ... something ...and it can be a bit jarring when hearing and comparing it for the first time.

In almost every case -though - I initially thought some other keyboard I had sounded better on piano, organ, whatever, but more and more, I'm finding myself thinking the Nord is much superior ... albeit still "different". The sound has really grown on me over the last couple months I've had the keyboard.