Piano sounds worse on my Electro 6 than my old Electro 4!

[manaje]

I recently sold my Nord Electro 4HP (which I owned for 7 years) and purchased an Electro 6HP a few months ago. My go-to piano sound that I always used was the Grand Upright piano (the XL version), but this same piano sound now sounds quite different to my ears on my Electro 6, which is baffling me. The Grand Upright piano on the Electro 6 definitely sounds thinner and more artificial, whereas the old Grand Upright sound on my Electro 4 was more natural sounding and more robust. Additionally, overall all the piano sounds on my Electro 6 just sound thinner and more fake-sounding than the ones on my Electro 4. I only used the Electro 4 both at shows and in recording via mono, never stereo, and I'm doing the exact same on my Electro 6. I'm not using an EQ on the Nord or any effects at all, just the dry sound. No string resonance, no piano EQ controls, none of that is on. I have the same recording and live gear as before - the same exact PA that I practice with and the same UAD Apollo x4 interface. I've tested it through my studio monitors, through headphones, through my PA speakers... same result. It simply sounds worse overall to my ears and I don't how to achieve the old sound that I got before.

Has anyone else experienced this? Can anyone else explain why this could be happening? I must be missing something here. Technically it should be the same exact sample from the same piano library, regardless of whether it's been loaded to Electro 4 or Electro 6, correct? I had the XL version on my Electro 4, just as I do now on my Electro 6. I'm truly baffled and it's making me want to sell my Electro 6 to find another keyboard because the piano sound is so tinny and fake-sounding that I barely want to play it ever, and I spent so much money on it! Truly can't understand how this is happening. I have to figure this out before I go on tour in a few months, so I would greatly appreciate any help with this! Thank you!

[PScooter63]

I can’t speak for the 6HP, but I still have my 4HP along with my S3 76…

For over two decades I was a Kurzweil-only owner (late 80s through early 10s), and regardless of the model, you could count on their flagship piano sample to sound identically across them all. Same with Yamahas, from stage pianos to Clavinovas. Sometimes that level of predictability is an advantage, but eventually it becomes monotonous.

Nords aren’t like that. They seem to tweak the sound engineering for each new product iteration, and as a result, each model has a unique sound identity, even if the samples are the same.

Most of the time, I appreciate the differences. The only thing I really miss from my 4 is the B3 engine… somehow it just speaks to me a little differently. It’s been noted here before, and though I can’t exactly quantify it, I still dearly love it.

[catosim]

Can anyone else explain why this could be happening? .......... Truly can't understand how this is happening. I have to figure this out before I go on tour in a few months, so I would greatly appreciate any help with this! Thank you!

I believe the explanation is that the different models have slightly different DACs and minor differences in other hardware components.
Also the different models have minor changes in the velocity-curves and so on. The software-based changes are also sometimes noticeable on the same models but with different OSs

These changes (or developments, depending on point of view) are appreciated by some, but not always by all.

[cphollis]

I think your ears got used to the "grit" in the older board's DACs -- which, of course, get upgraded over the course of years and decades. I can play the same piano sample through my older NS3C and my newer NP5, and it sounds "better" on the NP5. Same sample, of course.

Some suggestions? Try the different piano voices again. You may end up with a White Grand or something else. Dialing up a small bit of "grit" (distortion) can help as well.

Personally, I enjoy the pristine sound of the newer Nord DACs. However, that might not be everyone's cup of tea! I know plenty of people who haul around antique gear to get "their sound".

[manaje]

I think your ears got used to the "grit" in the older board's DACs -- which, of course, get upgraded over the course of years and decades. I can play the same piano sample through my older NS3C and my newer NP5, and it sounds "better" on the NP5. Same sample, of course.

Some suggestions? Try the different piano voices again. You may end up with a White Grand or something else. Dialing up a small bit of "grit" (distortion) can help as well.

Personally, I enjoy the pristine sound of the newer Nord DACs. However, that might not be everyone's cup of tea! I know plenty of people who haul around antique gear to get "their sound".

Gotcha. Wow, well this is so unfortunate because I really really don't like the sound of the piano samples on the Electro 6 DAC's. However I think the Sample Engine sounds are improved and more usable than ever. But my main use with the Electro 6 is being able to use the Nord piano sounds at more of a budget than the Nord Piano or the Nord Stage. I'm afraid I may have to look for a hardware keyboard similar to Electro that has a more quality piano sound. I wasn't expecting to have this issue at all. This really sucks! Thank you for your reply.

[manaje]

Can anyone else explain why this could be happening? .......... Truly can't understand how this is happening. I have to figure this out before I go on tour in a few months, so I would greatly appreciate any help with this! Thank you!

I believe the explanation is that the different models have slightly different DACs and minor differences in other hardware components.
Also the different models have minor changes in the velocity-curves and so on. The software-based changes are also sometimes noticeable on the same models but with different OSs

These changes (or developments, depending on point of view) are appreciated by some, but not always by all.

I appreciate your response. Definitely makes sense and totally didn't foresee the difference in DAC's + minor tweaks in velocity-curves to make such a huge impact for me on how I experience the tonality and overall sound of the piano samples. It's really unfortunate because I feel no inspiration when playing ANY of the Nord piano samples through my Electro 6. I may have to look for a new keyboard. What a bummer.

[maxpiano]

Try to work a bit with the EQ, for example a +4dB boost of Mids at 838HZ (I have seen this trick on some patches of one of the NE6 signature Product libraries, but I don't remember which one exactly) and try also to use Dynamic curve (Kbd Touch) 1 instead of 0.

[cgrafx]

Before you do anything else, try plugging on a pair of headphones and see what that sounds like first.

I'm guessing the sound difference has way more to do with the mono setup than it does with an actual change in sound from the sample.

[maxpiano]

Before you do anything else, try plugging on a pair of headphones and see what that sounds like first.

I'm guessing the sound difference has way more to do with the mono setup than it does with an actual change in sound from the sample.

OP says the setup is the same as before, which was already in mono, so the audio chain has not changed, but your remark makes me think of another question to ask the OP: are you using the Mono mode on the NEs or just one of the OUT 1/2, but leaving the keyboard in stereo?

[Schorsch]

That came into my mind as well when I read the thread just now - I would also recommend to engage the mono button if not done so already and check