Nord User Forum

[Nikller]

Hi all, yesterday I finally got to purchase a new Electro 4 HP and become a Nord family member. I am very happy with it, since it is a great keyboard. However, Im having an issue with my M-Audio SP2 sustain pedal, as it doesn´t work properly. It is not a polarity problem. The pedal just works "randomly" so to speak. Sometimes it sustains for a few seconds, (even if I dont press it) Sometimes it doesnt work at all, sometimes it sustains the notes wheater is it depressed or it´s not. I know the pedal works fine in other keyboards I own, and I have been reading some other issues like mine.

My question is simple. Is this pedal fully compatible with a Nord Electro 4? Is it a keyboard (this one unit) issue? or do I have to buy another pedal in order to have a normal sustain experience? I mean, any of you guys are using a M- Audio SP2 working OK?

Thanks for your help.

[neolithic]

It's literally just a push-switch, so there isn't much to go wrong.
A few thoughts:

I know the pedal works fine in other keyboards I own

- Do you mean 'in the past' or have you tried the pedal recently with another keyboard?
- Borrow another pedal and test with the Nord - this may show if there is a problem with the socket or the pedal.
- Check the plug is inserted ALL THE WAY in
- Clean the plug (with isopropyl alcohol)
- Open up the pedal and look for bad connections - damaged cable etc.

One last thing (maybe the first thing before you try the others!) - there's quite a long throw on the pedal before electrical contact is made, so could it be your pedalling technique? Basically, it is either ON or OFF, there is no intermediate stage like an expression pedal or a 'real' sustain pedal on a piano where you can kind of 'ease' the dampers slightly off the strings, or gently lower them back.

[Nikller]

Thank you for your replay. The pedal works fine in other keyboards. I just tested it today. All the other mentioned things but the plug cleaning I did already, (plug is all the way inserted). I have no problems with my pedal technique hahaha! As I just said, the pedal works perfecly OK in my Thomann SP 5500 and in a Roland RD700GX. Tested today. What I need to know is: Are there any other Nord Electro 4 users using the same pedal (the M-Audio SP2)? Is it working OK?

Thanks for your help Neolithic. I will try to borrow another pedal tho. But im afraid that maybe there is something wrong with the keyboard sustain input.

Looking for your answers, regards!

[azwel]

Ive had a couple of those M-audios and they went wrong.(infinite sustain or no sustain/works sporadicly). I had a few from other companies and they went wrong too. ive had 7 pedals or so...all eventually breaking. Sustain pedals dont work well with nord.

im on the same boat.. You can see one of my many threads about it.

I think I may have a solution though!...Last night i tried a boss\roland pedal. roland FS-6 dual pedal.but perhaps ill get the single one..FS-5U. This pedal uses a 1/4" cable. its nice and flat and small in size. It worked well...and if it breaks..just replace the 1/4" cable! Im optimistic about this one. anything by Boss is good as their thing is pedals. Gonna try to buy one today.

[Nikller]

Thanks, but I cant believe that Nord has a general issue with sustain pedals, no way. That would be well known by everybody if true and immediately fixed. And again. The pedal is not broken. The pedal works OK with other keyboards.

Any other users? I need help or advice, please!

[Mr_-G-]

Sustain pedals dont work well with nord.

Really?
Maybe, just maybe the cheapest pedal one can buy is not particularly good?
Dodgy soldering, or cable that fatigues quickly and breaks if you bend it when storing, or contacts which work intermittently are so much more likely than an instrument design fault, I think.

[RedLeo]

Azwel's problem is that he keeps buying the same cheap unreliable pedals over and over again, and then abuses them by tightly wrapping the pedal lead round the pedal, which is pretty much guaranteed to cause them to fail quite quickly.

From anecdotal evidence it seems the M - Audio pedals are just not reliable. Seriously, just buy a good quality branded pedal: Korg, Yamaha, Roland, whatever and stick to them. Cheap sustain pedals are just false economy - and they're not that much cheaper anyway.

[azwel]

i see many on this forum or amazon have problems with the sp2. I wouldnt call it a cheap pedal...perhaps theres are better ones though.
I am really happy with this BOSS FS 5U Yes, its been just a day, but I think my troubles will end here. If the thing goes wrong, I just use another 1/4" cable..perfect.

[ericL]

I've been using Nord keyboards since the '90s and never had any issues with sustain pedals. I suspect the M-Audio has some quality control issues. I've only used Roland, Yamaha, and Nord pedals with zero issues. In fact, I have a couple of Yamaha pedals (both sustain and expression/control) that have been serving me well for going on 3 decades. Invest in a good pedal and your problems will cease!

[Nikller]

For all those who are interested and are using M-Audio SP2, this is fully compatible. Finally the problem was a false contact in the pedal. Now that it is fixed it works perfect. Thank you all for you replays.

See you around!