Nord User Forum

[eibinger]

Hi to everyone, very simple question: Are the keys in NE5HP and NE6HP the same or did Clavia modify them?
Thanks!
Thomas

[Rusty Mike]

The physical key action is exactly the same. Nord might have done some software tweaking to alter/improve the response perception, but they are not involved at all in the physical construction of the keyboard mechanism.

Fatar supplies Nord with all of their keyboards. In the case of the HP models, it’s the TP100.

[eibinger]

Thanks! I know, this, but I thought, they modified the keys. TP100L/R is the same in some Kurzweil or in Studiologic, but the use different springs.
I should have ask more precisely: Is there any NE5HP-user, who changed to NE6HP and does he feel "other springs"?
Thomas

[23skidoo]

Any new keyboard will feel different from a well played older board... I'm not sure it would be accurate to compare a new NE6 against an older and well played NE5 and assume the difference is different springs when a huge difference will come from a simply properly-worn-in action.

[CountFosco]

I assume this means you're considering upgrading from NE5 to NE6, and I know you're not the only one here who's done, or is considering doing, it. What are your main drivers for upgrading to an E6?

[eibinger]

There are "NO MAIN DRIVERS", if the keyb is the same! I think, the keyb of the NE5HP feels a little bit hard and it is clattering! If it is the same TP100L/R, I consider to buy a Stage3-88.

[Rusty Mike]

As I stated above, Fatar supplies Nord with the keyboard actions. The mechanical action of the TP100LR has not changed between generations of Nord instruments. Nord does not do any physical modifications on keyboards received from Fatar.

The clattering or ticking sound comes from some insufficient lubrication, but is not the result of mechanical issues. There are similar threads in the past where I've described how I disassembled and re-lubricated the action, making the noise problem disappear. But rest assured you are not playing a damaged keyboard.

My experience with the HP action is that it responds very well if you play it softer than you think you need to. I've learned to play more gently, and it helps to bring out a lot of expressiveness in the Nord piano samples. Playing more gently also helps reduce hand fatigue.

[23skidoo]

Yeah, Fatar actions are the subject of many passionate discussions. Truth be told, though, unless you make your own keyboards entirely (like Roland and Yamaha) then you're using Fatar or you're using some cheap something from China. There really isn't a lot of choice in the off-the-shelf keyboard world. So many people here complain at Nord when they should be addressing their complaints to Fatar. Nord is a small purchaser compared to all the other vendors who use Fatar actions, and even if they complained on behalf of all of their customers at once it would not resonate so strongly. Fatars have pluses and minuses, but these little quibbles like mislubrication and other issues are as much a problem of transport and storage as they are of mismanufacturing. In fact, just as it's normal for a piano to be recalibrated and retuned after a transport/environment change, you can imagine that even these plastic actions need some love periodically. It's the nature of the beast.