Synth "Dynamics" set for 25 NSE4 Sample Categories

[gsbe_com]

The online guide for the Nord Sample Editor 4 has the following section:

"TRANSFER THE SAMPLE INSTRUMENT TO YOUR NORD
Give the sample instrument a suitable name in the “Sample Instrument Name” field and select an appropriate category from the “Category” drop down menu. If “Dynamics” are enabled, appropriate settings for amplitude, filter velocity response and envelope shape, are applied to the sample instrument based on the chosen category."

UPDATE: Not having found any documentation on which settings are used for each instrument category in NSE4 when "Dynamics" is enabled, I went ahead and brute-forced it:
a) created 26 NSMP3 samples (one as "User" without Dynamics enabled, and all categories with "Dynamics" enabled),
b) loaded the samples into my Stage 3,
c) created 26 programs,
d) uploaded the programs to my laptop,
e) created CSV files for each program using the "unofficial" NS2 and NS3 Program Viewer (thanks!!)
f) unzipped the files and loaded each CSV file into a workbook,
g) combined the results into a single workbook to determine which fields changed with Dynamics enabled when creating the sample, and
h) formatted the output PDF with only the settings that changed besides basic file name and other general parameters

My assumption in reading the statement above from the NSE4 online guide was that filter parameters won't be set if "Dynamics" isn't selected, however based upon the program where category "User" was selected but not Dynamics, some parameters changed (audibly the AMP ENV Release wasn't an abrupt cutoff).

An error and a better understanding of NSM: As I have an early version of the Stage 3, I don't have the Synth Preset USER and SAMP lights or Mode designation under the mono/legato (page 37 in the manual), so as a matter of programming I never got used to selecting samples with the Synth Preset dial, I always used the OSC1 dial and set the parameters I wanted. Hurrying to get through 26 programs, I created the first few just by selecting the sample with the OSC1 dial and saving the programs before realizing my error that using OSC1 wasn't loading the sample's synth parameters. As I had Nord Sound Manager open while working, I tried something I had noticed in the past that may or may not be documented: double-clicking on a sample under the Samples tab will load the sample and sample synth parameters into whatever program you have open on the Stage 3. I quickly moved to each program, double-clicked the associated sample from the Samples tab, and resaved each program.

Attached are two PDF files, one wide to show all category columns across the page, the other better for viewing while still covering all sample categories. In the spreadsheet I show the field name that is part of the CSV output of the file viewer and next to it the associated synth panel or MIDI parameter. Parameters that changed from the default are in red. I hope this will be useful to you. Take care

[gsbe_com]

I don't think there is any documentation for that. So it's full surprise what those dynamics will apply: EQ/frequency filtering, ADR etc. That's not exactly what you'd usually want as a starting point, I imagine.

[WannitBBBad]

True. I would also be interested in how the "appropriate settings" are handled when imported into a Piano or Electro. I noticed Dynamics as a selectable parameter on the Piano 5 I believe and wonder if they're related.

[WannitBBBad]

I've posted a spreadsheet above with the parameters that are set when "Dynamics" is enabled with each sample category in NSE4.

[maxpiano]

What a piece of work you did, a well deserved and big thanks!!

[FZiegler]

Great work, thanks a lot!

And I didn't know that MW means 'morph wheel' (not 'mod wheel') in Nord speak. But of course, that's what you should expect.

[taxman]

You're welcome! The parameters set are basic, so easily applied to all Nord models that use the same sample format. Not owning a Piano or Electro, I'm curious whether each has a feature where a sample can be used with or without its preset parameters as one can do with the Stage 3.

[florence]

That’s very smart and interesting ! Thanks a lot!

[gsbe_com]

That’s very smart and interesting ! Thanks a lot!

You're welcome - I know it's nowhere near the work that was needed on the file viewer. What I gathered from the CSV file is that if I create a Stage 3 program from scratch and select a sample in Panel A using the preset list (or select it by double-clicking on the sample in Nord Sound Manager with the program open), the sample name gets saved with the program under the field "panelA.synth.preset.presetName". The presetName does not change if I load the sample using the OSC1 dial. As you know, the field "panelA.synth.oscillators.waveForm1.name" will display "Sample not found" if the sample isn't a Nord-created sample. I think displaying the field for the presetName in place of "Sample not found" the file viewer would be a helpful addition if it could be displayed on a conditional basis. Thanks.

[dmamfmgm]

hi

I tried to mimic the LCD as closest as possible, but everything can still be improved of course. For me the preset name is visible but they are multiple cases...I re-tested it this morning. I created from scratch a user sample with NSE v4.14, I called it 'The Greatest, and downloaded it to the NS3 with NSE. Then saved it on my NS3 with a program.

Automatically the Synth Preset LED switch to SAMP(le) and the preset name is the same as the sample name:

Synth Sample Preset.jpg (1.6 MiB) Viewed 3270 times

Now if I create a 2nd program using the Synth Preset mode, LED switch to USER, and the preset name can be different from the selected sample (note can even be empty by using the System menu 'Clear Stored Program's Syn Preset Name'...):

Synth User Preset.jpg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 3270 times

Now on the Viewer app, I try to mimic the Synth LCD showing the preset name in the top.

The 'Sample Not Found' part try to mimic the main LCD showing the Sample Name. This part is not available in the program file, only a sample hash code is embedded in the ns3f file. As I'm unable to decode it I created a database with all the Nord Sample library files. But this fails of course for any User sample.

test program.png (60.18 KiB) Viewed 3270 times

test2 program.png (61.01 KiB) Viewed 3270 times

Conclusion: preset is not always the sample name, in the 2nd program Sample 48 is still (The Greatest) but the name is not available in the program file unfortunatly.

Let me know your thoughts...