Piano library - new versions in instrument, not on website

[ElectroStrat]

Hi all,

I'm a new NP5 owner and while rearranging the sounds on my piano I have just noticed that there are several piano versions in my instrument that are newer than both what's on Nord's website and what's in the backup/restore files from the NP5 download section.

On my piano there is e.g.:
- White Grand XL, v6.3 (website: 6.1)
- Amber Upright XL, v6.2 (website: 5.3)
- DX Full Tines Large, v6.0 (website: 5.4).

They also differ in their file sizes.

At the moment there seems to be no possibility to restore those newest versions when erased from the instrument.
So it might be a good idea to make a complete backup from the piano first.

[maxpiano]

Interesting. Have you checked if they are not part of NP5 Factory Restore file?

[Schorsch]

You can always download the factory restore file from the download section for the NP5 at the Nord website. This file is in fact a ZiP file, just named differently. If you replace the extension .np5b with .zip and extract it you will get the whole content in a directory and file structure on your computer. Here you will also find the individual piano samples, which you can load to your NP5 with Nord Sound Manager individually in case of having deleted one by mistake or want it back at some time.

The samples mentioned by you are part of it

[Nordlicht]

Hi and thanks to both of you!

I only checked the individual downloads on the website but not the factory restore file (I wasn't aware that this is in fact a ZIP file).
On the website the piano library shows the "old" versions (although I chose the downloads for the NP5 only), and also the files for the factory sound banks (e.g. "Nord Piano 5 Piano Bank Rev B.zip") don't contain the newest versions.

Only the 2.9 GB "Nord Piano 5 Factory Restore Rev D v1.24.np5b/zip" file contains the actual (and latest) files from the instrument.

Obviously the website isn't up to date. Good to know and thanks again!

[florence]

hi

thank for the finding!

Actually in the Factory restore rev D, ALL piano samples are in version 6.0, 6.1, or 6.2. No 5.X at all anymore.

What was changed? Same sound or not?

Size changed for sure, but not increasing all the time, example:

Name	Date	Size
White Grand XL 6.1	13-JUN-2019	256.8 Mb
White Grand XL 6.3	21-MAR-2022	213.5 Mb
-------------------------	-------------------------	------------------------
Royal Grand 3D YaS6 XL 5.4	20-DEC-2016	209.6 Mb
Royal Grand 3D XL 6.1	21-MAR-2022	218.2 Mb
-------------------------	-------------------------	------------------------

If Nord is not advertising these upgrades, I guess the samples are the same, just the compression method was improved/changed (again)... but I'm maybe wrong

[Nordlicht]

What was changed? Same sound or not?

Yes, that would be interesting.

For example there are the 6.1 versions of the Imperial Lrg and Velvet Grand Lrg in the factory files (i.e. in the new instrument) but I've substituted them with their XL versions = the "older" v5.3 files in my NP5.
I also assume there will be no (significant/audible) difference but it would be interesting anyway and it would be nice if we would be able to download alle the latest versions from the library.

Anyway, it's a good sign that Nord is continuously working even on the older samples.

[dcjams]

They might only be functional changes to support new features, rather than changes to the sample data

[Schorsch]

They might only be functional changes to support new features, rather than changes to the sample data

That's what I would guess as well

[ElectroStrat]

I also assume there will be no (significant/audible) difference but it would be interesting anyway and it would be nice if we would be able to download alle the latest versions from the library.

Very good finding Nordlicht !
With no significant audible difference, a reduced file size of around 45 Mb for White Grand XL 6.3 compared to 6.1 is great !
It's indeed weird that Nord does not publish these newer versions on the Sound Libraries section of its web site.

[ElectroStrat]

They might only be functional changes to support new features, rather than changes to the sample data

New features indeed. I've just tried the updated Wurlitzer 1 and 2 v6.x on my Electro 6 and they have the additional Dyno 1 and Dyno 2 filters.
The difference in file size may also suggest some change in the sample data (compression ?, rearrangement?).