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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby damasp » 30 May 2017, 21:10

Thanks Scott. Interesting about the velocity and the SW key bed. It seems to make sense why I don't get the same dynamics for the sounds like some Rhodes or Clavs. The Midi Solutions box seems like a way of adjusting that. It looks like it can be used when playing out, as well and retains the settings. If I went for it, I would want to have it be able to changes the velocity a few different voices that I found to be a problem.
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?


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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby orangefunk » 31 May 2017, 23:13

I currently have a Stage 2, Electro 5D 73 and the Electro 5 HP.

I first bought the Stage 2 many years back as I was impressed by the features. The keyboard is a little bit light and triggers higher velocities a little bit too easily for me. Still, overall its a great instrument with a ton of features. The 5D 73 (which I bought for a more portable experience) is even more sensitive to triggering high velocities... everything just pops if you aren't careful... I could not really get used to it hence the HP which I bought with the intention of A<->Bing. The HP has a really heavy action compared to the Stage 2.. a real shock to me.. not 100% sold on it but its early days and it really does fit with the Rhodes samples more than the Stage 2 and 73 do.

All 3 keyboards feel like different instruments altogether.. in other words the connection to sound is really what helps the player experience. HP has a heavy action but is amazingly portable.. only 2Kg heavier than the 5D.

I won't be keeping all 3 but it was a nice experience to actually try all 3 out together.
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby anotherscott » 01 Jun 2017, 00:52

orangefunk wrote:The 5D 73 (which I bought for a more portable experience) is even more sensitive to triggering high velocities... everything just pops if you aren't careful...

Be sure to try the different Kbd Touch options.
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby orangefunk » 01 Jun 2017, 01:04

anotherscott wrote:
orangefunk wrote:The 5D 73 (which I bought for a more portable experience) is even more sensitive to triggering high velocities... everything just pops if you aren't careful...

Be sure to try the different Kbd Touch options.


I have.. none of em really fit with my playing on the 5D... on the HP its a different matter... RHodes sound/touch is almost bang on on Keybd Touch = 1.

I was with Carlo last week in Italy (Marino - I guess you know him) he had the same impression about the 5D.

The HP is taking some getting used to though because it is quite heavy compared to the regular HA on the Stage 2.
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby orangefunk » 03 Jun 2017, 21:39

Just an update on playing from the HP keyboard. The Rhodes sounds really work well using a touch sensitivity of 1. For the acoustic pianos I struggle a little with the action as a whole although I'm glad to say I am making progress... I think just leaving the touch sensitivity to its default is probably the best bet.

The main thing about the action is that it does have a rattle-y feel to it... kind of odd but I suppose its a compromise to keep the weight down and it is only 2kg heavier than the 73D. I think my fav sound is the Yamaha Bright grand atm. Amazing keyboard for doing occasional gigs where you don't need to carry too much (which is the case for me as I badly damaged my arm last year and can't carry much these days).
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby jethrocrabtree » 05 Jun 2017, 15:14

Well, I've now owned the Electro 5D SW73 for over half a year, so maybe it's time to pay a visit to this post. I *still* don't really like the way it responds with acoustic pianos. I really think that if Nord wasn't absurdly promising the moon with its sounds, I'd feel a little better. Though, like I said in my original post, their sounds work much better (and even sound pretty good) played through a separate fully-weighted board (which I'm not going to do for gigs, because that would be ridiculous).

The organ, however, is still excellent (to me), and is the main reason I can't possibly get rid of the Nord. (I'm selling my Hammond XK1, and settling on the Electro for organ work.)

I'm slowly getting a little more used to the acoustic piano on the Electro. It's still disappointing, but it's passable enough that I do bring it to about 1/2 my gigs -- the 20 pound weight, and a case like a backpack go a long way. So, if you can afford the Electro (or, like me, get a really good deal on it), it's pretty much worth it for the weight and convenience, and the great organ sound... as long as you're prepared to be a little disappointed in the still-lousy Nord acoustic piano experience.
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby Gambold » 05 Jun 2017, 17:44

>as long as you're prepared to be a little disappointed in the still-lousy Nord acoustic piano experience.<

Ok, I'm never one to shy away from criticizing Clavia, and I have a few love-bites from various posters on this forum to prove it :)

But I think this is being flogged a little too dramatically - dude, you bought a SEMI-WEIGHTED keyboard. The whole point of said keyboard is to emulate the feel of a Hammond organ while still giving you some (that's SOME) response when you play an emulation of an acoustic piano.

Calling the Nord acoustic piano experience "lousy" for THIS reason seems to be kind of foolish. You want a wondrous acoustic piano experience? Then buy an acoustic piano. Or get ye to a Yamaha CP-40 or something that is built for that purpose.

Now, if you want to discuss the recent spate of less-than-impressive piano samples (Royal, Velvet, Bambino, and the generally useless Chris Maene stuff), then we can have a discussion about the falling-off of Clavia quality. But come on, berating the Electro and Nord for an SW keyboard? You're off base, and out.
Last edited by Gambold on 05 Jun 2017, 17:45, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby anotherscott » 05 Jun 2017, 18:33

jethrocrabtree wrote:Though, like I said in my original post, their sounds work much better (and even sound pretty good) played through a separate fully-weighted board (which I'm not going to do for gigs, because that would be ridiculous).

Not ridiculous at all. Okay, maybe impractical if you need to get to your gig via public transport. But short of that, why not? There is no action that feels great for organ and also feels great for piano. They're two different instruments, there's always a compromise one way or the other.

Back in the 70s, I gigged with a (chopped) Hammond tonewheel organ, a Leslie 122, and a Baldwin electric piano (real strings, no soundboard, kind of a predecessor to the Yamaha CP80 electric grand). Hundreds and hundreds of pounds of gear. The idea that you can get a good organ sound/feel in a 20-something pound Electro, and get a nice piano feel by adding a 20-something pound weighted Casio/Yamaha/Kawai to it (assuming here that you like the Nord piano sounds better than what is already in the Casio/Yamaha/Kawai) seems kind of miraculous by comparison. Though back then, I did have the benefit of roadies, and now I have to move my gear myself. ;-) In fact, I am indeed currently running an E5D-73, triggering its piano from an attached weighted board.

Gambold wrote:Calling the Nord acoustic piano experience "lousy" for THIS reason seems to be kind of foolish. You want a wondrous acoustic piano experience? Then buy an acoustic piano. Or get ye to a Yamaha CP-40 or something that is built for that purpose.

...or buy a Nord with an action better suited for piano playing, but be prepared for the action to feel worse for organ. This really gets back to the same thing though... for piano and organ feel, nothing beats using two boards, one way or the other.

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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby Gambold » 05 Jun 2017, 18:44

Or tell your band that for now on all you play is Hammond, on EVERYTHING. No more "can you sound like that guy in the Shut up and Dance song?" No more acoustic piano, no more Rhodes, and definitely no more Clavinet. The guitarist plays one instrument - so do you. B3 BABY, ALL NIGHT LONG.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3X5J_wGHrw
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Re: Improving Electro 5D SW73 acoustic piano sounds?

Postby maxpiano » 05 Jun 2017, 19:34

anotherscott wrote:There is no action that feels great for organ and also feels great for piano.
...)
for piano and organ feel, nothing beats using two boards, one way or the other.


That's the thing, to play pianos properly on a NE5SW73 all you need is a decent weighted master keyboard.
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