Nord User Forum

[FZiegler]

You mean Soft Release? According to the manual (as I'm the "manual guy"), it should affect all piano sounds except those where the feature is disabled. But reacting on the way you play the key. Does that mean: reacting on the way you release the key? Don't have to time to try.

[Tasten-Bert]

Sorry, friends, to disturb your thoughts, but it is indeed „Long release“, on nord sound webpage as well as in my manual. As it is supposed to prolong the sound’s release, It seems to be the right wording.
Cheers from Germany

Okay, this subject is quite funny. On the Stage 3 itself it‘s printed Soft. But when it‘s „Long“ in the soundfile ...??

[maxpiano]

As far as I understand reading Nord Piano Library page and NS2/3 manuals, the Long Release (on NPL info page and NS2 manual, Soft Release on NS3 manual) feature applies to all Grand Pianos, Uprights, Electric Pianos and Electric Grands and should just ad a short "queue of sound" when you release the key, to better support legato playing.

Probably, my thought, this is a setting that operates at Piano sound engine level, altering the looping/enveloping algorithm in a way that is independent from which specific sample you are using (as far as you are within the above "classes" of .npnos).

It is possible that the difference is subtle and more difficult to notice on EPs which have less harmonic content at release compared to attack/decay phases (?).

You may test by sampling one note, triggered via a DAW MIDI track to ensure the same note duration and velocity, 1 time with and another without Soft Release enabled and comparing the 2 samples.

[baekgaard]

From memory: Find one of the EPs with a distinct key off sound, like EP2. Use eg the bright or dyno filter so it's easy to hear. Play some different bass tones and listen to the release. Now engage soft/long and repeat - you may now be able to hear a difference.

Sent from my phone in brevity

[Mr. Marko]

if it is so subtle that we have to examine it...it is not a useful feature for a LIVE instrument. I can't tell a difference either...my 4th NS and that is my final answer!

[baekgaard]

if it is so subtle that we have to examine it...it is not a useful feature for a LIVE instrument. I can't tell a difference either...my 4th NS and that is my final answer!

Well, maybe if you play in a loud guitar-driven rock-band, where I guess no-one may hear the piano anyway, differences in release samples are not meaningful...

But for the type of music I play, I can hear a difference in normal playing. It's not subtle at all... at least not to my ears.

On my Nords, if I e.g. pick the EP2 and play some of the lower keys, for instance a G1, then even without any effects or EQ at all, it is VERY easy to hear the difference between a normal release and a soft/long release. It gets more pronounced with some of the EQ settings (dyno, e.g). It's also very easy to hear the difference especially when you play songs with no bass player and dig into the lower parts of the keyboard; the release sounds are like on a real Rhodes and when you engage the soft/long release the "clack" and "buzz" sounds I like to hear between chord and note changes disappear and the playing sounds less like a real Rhodes. That's one of the reasons I like the EP2, btw, as it reminds me of my long-gone suitcase also in this aspect.

Some of the other EPs have less release sample sounds, but for most it's easy to hear the difference.

YMMV, of course

[baekgaard]

@Hlaalu: On the EP1, EP2, EP4 and EP5, it's quite prominent (but a little different as to which tones have more release).

On EP3, EP6, EP7 and to some degree EP8 it's less discernible, but still present if you listen for it.

If you really cannot hear it, switch on the Dyno 1 setting and play a staccato G1 while switching on and off the long/soft release for every other note. If that doesn't make it audible, it's time for new speakers