Nord User Forum

[Corea]

Thank you again for your responses! I am hyped about my new NP5!

I got some more very, very basic questions.

First of all: using ONE speaker(RCF 712) for the NP 5:

I used this speaker in the past for my Korg SV1. The Korg had a L/Mono output, so I would use that an and go in the Line In of my speaker.
With the NP5 tho, I figured that the good sounds are stereo, but first things first:
When playing it for the first time with my RCF speaker, I used the Headphones output, because neither the L / R output worked. (I used the Line in input of my speaker).
1.) can I damage my Nord by using wrong outputs?
2.) when using only one cable, what’s the way to go? Shall i use the headphones output or should I switch the Stereo outputs to Mono via the Mono function of the NP5?
3.) would it make sense to use both the L/R stereo outputs going into the L/R inputs of the RCF speaker (XLR jacks.. I’d need 1/4‘ to XLR cables..) …? And wouldn’t that still be Mono since it’s one speaker? Or is this when phasing starts?

These questions really interest me because I lack the basics.
4.) Nevertheless, for the case I have two speakers, it’s a clear case of using both L/R stereo outputs and going into L of speaker 1 and R of speaker 2 - correct?

5.) do you guys use TS or TRS cables and which ones can you recommend to me?

Finally: https://youtu.be/q5HS-5JL2rY
Can somebody identify what kind of sound comes close to this one? 2:14 after the break is a good spot to hear it clearly.

Thank you very much in advance!!

[FZiegler]

If you wanted to integrate a Youtube video, just set a link.

As far as rumors are concerned: The next top Nord (Stage 4?) is said to have a better key action. Which will induce a higher price, I think.

[FZiegler]

https://youtu.be/q5HS-5JL2rY

Ah, danke!

It’ll be hard to wait that long and borrow an Instrument whenever I need one.. will probably not be a nord Piano 6, but if it’s the stage 4 with a better key action, that would make the nord piano 5 quite irrelevant.

[FZiegler]

They sound thrilling!

It looks as though Taylor Eigsti was playing a NS3-88: It has pitch stick and mod wheel -- the Piano 5 doesn't.

You can play any fixed sound in a Piano 5 that can be handled through the sample engine. The dynamic possibilities are reduced ("tru-vibrato", e.g., as you may know). You just need a source for those sounds in WAV type to feed the Nord Sample Editor with them.

As far as waiting for a new product (NS4?) is concerned:
a) You never know if product development and production work as intended (there were rumors about a planned release within the next months);
b) You will certainly have to wait another few months until the new product will be available;
c) there may be another few months before you are able to go on stage with it because of minor or major bugs.

I never compared a NP5 to a CP88 -- in a first place I wouldn't say that the NP5 is more versatile - depends on what you want. I might be wrong, though. I do agree that the NP5 would be the better sounding one - but that may be a matter of taste.

I'd even dare saying that a NP5 never will be irrelevant: If you don't need it any more within the next years, you'll probably get a good price when selling. Nevertheless, I recommend trying to play it somewhere if ever possible - before buying.

[docbop]

That video of Grethen with Taylor Eigsti is about eight years old. Taylor won the Grammy last year so looking at videos over past year he can ask for real acoustic pianos now. Below a video from early 2022 with Gretchen again he's has an AP and a Vintage Vibe EP. Now that would be nice if Nord would add some Vintage Vibe samples to the library.

Watch on youtube.com

[Corea]

They sound thrilling!

It looks as though Taylor Eigsti was playing a NS3-88: It has pitch stick and mod wheel -- the Piano 5 doesn't.

You can play any fixed sound in a Piano 5 that can be handled through the sample engine. The dynamic possibilities are reduced ("tru-vibrato", e.g., as you may know). You just need a source for those sounds in WAV type to feed the Nord Sample Editor with them.

I'd even dare saying that a NP5 never will be irrelevant: If you don't need it any more within the next years, you'll probably get a good price when selling. Nevertheless, I recommend trying to play it somewhere if ever possible - before buying.

Okay, it shows more and more how much of a newbie / noob I am:
Are the NS3 Synth and Piano engines more powerful and versatile than the NP5s? You mentioned the dynamic possibilities, but are there more things I can’t do in the 2 engines of the NP5 that I can do in the NS3‘s?
Seeing the NS3 having more knobs (I am so sorry ), I think the sound engines are more ‚powerful‘.

I think the CP88 is off the table, I guess I’d rather adapt to a worse Keybed and have a better sound. All these great guys play the nords.. and I lean more and more to the NP5. Simply because I’ll always play gigs when there’s no acoustic piano, so the key action wins - and I am excited for a new NS4 - one day.

[Corea]

That video of Grethen with Taylor Eigsti is about eight years old. Taylor won the Grammy last year so looking at videos over past year he can ask for real acoustic pianos now. Below a video from early 2022 with Gretchen again he's has an AP and a Vintage Vibe EP. Now that would be nice if Nord would add some Vintage Vibe samples to the library.

Watch on youtube.com

That’s true, but I am sure 8 years ago he also never had to play on a stage piano because there was no real piano. I am sure we will see him with nords on stage (I checked some Instagram posts and saw him also play a Nord Stage 2 in the past 3 years, so either that was the gif venues equipment or he owns/plays both - for sounds he can’t play with a real Rhodes.

[FZiegler]

The Nord Stage comprises a piano section (2 sound engines), an organ section (2 sound engines as well) and an almost full, just slightly restricted virtual analog subtractive synth engine (allows for using samples as basis as part of the game, also 2 at a time). Plus an extern section that allows for controlling software or external sound engines. That's the full Nord program. The new Piano 5 as well has 2 piano engines and 2 sample playing engines with very limited sound shaping features (meant primarily for accompanying the piano sounds with strings, voices or pads, but usable for the full Nord Sample Library), no organ engine and no extern controlling section. So, the Piano 5 key action can easily be focussed on piano playing, while the key action of the Stage needs to be a compromise.

Does this make anything clearer for you?

[M1tsos]

Happy New Year y’all!

Watch on youtube.com

[bbvideo 425,350]
I’ve owned a Korg Sv1 for 6 years, gave it to my dad and am now looking for a new instrument (for gigging only).
After weeks of watching YouTube videos and reading through this forum and others, I‘ve decided to make this thread here because I feel like you guys reflect very well on not only Nords but other brands.
Recently I ordered the only Kawai MP11se I found online, and a day after I cancelled my order, because suddenly I couldn’t see myself lifting 34kg + 10kg to play a solo piano gig .. The reason I ordered it in the first place was because they say it comes closest to a real pianos action. Anyway.

Ah, I am a Jazz Pianist, and I’d always hope for an acoustic instrument at the gig. So not really a keyboard player cause i haven’t needed organ / synthesizer in the past. But I can very well imagine to play something like that in the future:

[bbvideo 425,350]

First question, can a NP5 play such sounds?
I think he plays a NS 3 here.

Anyway, i played the NG and Yamaha CP88 recently, preferred the Keybed of the Yamaha and the sound of the NG (white grand). After thinking back and forth, I came to the conclusion that I’d rather want to adapt to a ‚not so great‘ action but have a more versatile instrument such as the NP5 - which I haven’t played yet.
So the Yamaha is out, also because the NP5 is a bit lighter and you get more for more money - y’all agree?

So I really see myself with a NP5, because when there’s no acoustic instrument, the NP5 gives more compensation for that than the NS3, right? Cause of the better Keybed, right?

Now that there are rumors about a NS4, I thought about getting the NP5 and maybe getting a NS4 and be poor for some months but ready for any gig to come.

Second question, when would you rather get the NP5, and when the NS3? Specially curious about the opinion of pianists who mainly play acoustic piano (if available).

(Please don’t stone me for being the 100ths person with these kind of threads, I’m just terrible when in comes to making decisions like these..)[/bbvideo][/bbvideo]

Just 2 months left for next nord instrument…

[Corea]

The Nord Stage comprises a piano section (2 sound engines), an organ section (2 sound engines as well) and an almost full, just slightly restricted virtual analog subtractive synth engine (allows for using samples as basis as part of the game, also 2 at a time). Plus an extern section that allows for controlling software or external sound engines. That's the full Nord program. The new Piano 5 as well has 2 piano engines and 2 sample playing engines with very limited sound shaping features (meant primarily for accompanying the piano sounds with strings, voices or pads, but usable for the full Nord Sample Library), no organ engine and no extern controlling section. So, the Piano 5 key action can easily be focussed on piano playing, while the key action of the Stage needs to be a compromise.

Does this make anything clearer for you?

Thank you very much! Clearer for me now!