General Discussion of the Nord Stage (EX), Nord Stage 2 (EX), Nord Stage 3, and Nord Stage 4 Synths, FAQ, Troubleshooting etc.

Noise on High Strings..

Postby moonglum » 04 Jun 2018, 00:27

Hi.

I just got my Stage 3 yesterday. I admit that I'm a total n00b. I updated it yesterday to the latest OS (as recommended). I have played it through headphones, and my Lucas Nano 600.


I had to buy to try it... I don't care for that... but no stores in a 100 mile radius carry this keyboard (mabye even as far as 300)... so I did what I had to do.

I'm really impressed (and honestly, a bit overwhelmed) by all it can do. I look forward to engaging this instrument...

But, while my initial impression is overall favorable, there is one thing that is really disappointing to me: The strings.

I'm using the presets that came with the Stage 3, mind you... but... I get a lot of hiss when using strings on the upper 3 octaves. It is probably there on the lower octaves too, but the sound is full enough that you don't hear it. As soon as I get to the upper two octaves, it is truly not usable. I wouldn't want this on any song I'm recording... it sounds very unprofessional, and I'm very surprised by this.

Maybe, there are better samples out there... I haven't messed with that yet... but still... why would they ship with this?

Strings are important to me.... any advice on this? Should I just obliterate the presets and download something else? Anyone have a string pack they recommend?

I apologize if I sound like an idiot here.... I'm still very new to this. Please be gentle :)


Thank you.
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Noise on High Strings..


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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby Coker » 04 Jun 2018, 02:29

You may have the filter knob in the synth section set too high. Try turning it down while you play the offending notes
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby baekgaard » 04 Jun 2018, 10:24

I'm not sure which strings samples you're using, but many of the Mellotron and Chambelin ones have -- by definition, so to speak -- the authentic tape hiss built-in to them. Otherwise they wouldn't sound authentic...

Of the non-tape based ones, I haven't noticed any problems with the ones I use, which is mainly as a background layer behind an acoustic piano and thinned a bit in the top end in order to avoid dominating the piano. I also tend to mix them with synthesised pad sounds, often based on a filtered saw wave, and these are of course completely "clean" and hiss-free.

I'm not with my board now, so I cannot check right now for what you're hearing -- but maybe if you give us the name of the program and which samples it is based on it would be easier to check for.
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby moonglum » 07 Jun 2018, 03:19

I don't know what happened to my post... but I had responded the other night... and now it is gone.

Here are some examples:

A34: Dynamic Strings (Soft Strings Legato)
D55: Celli Violins (16-Celli legato Vibrato)
F41: Royal Strings (C?hangerSTr Legato High Vib)

There are others... but that is all I have time to dig out at the moment.

Thanks.
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby Bjosko » 08 Jun 2018, 00:55

I hear them to, and think it are in the sample itself on the higher notes. Wonder if it are the same if the samples are played from an Older Stage or an Elektro ?
/Bjørn
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby moonglum » 09 Jun 2018, 23:14

I'm really surprised to have not heard more complaints about this. I doubt my ears are that much better than others'... I'm really digging this keyboard, but the quality of some of the samples (strings in particular) are a real let-down. Even in their on-line library, I hear the problem... I figured that it was because I was using cheap computer speakers that I heard the imperfections, but they are there.

Are there solid, high-quality, alternate sources for samples? I'm not seeing much out there in google-land, but maybe I'm just not phrasing it appropriately.

Thanks.
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby MartinJ2EX » 10 Jun 2018, 12:41

I can hear those audio artifacts, too. It's really subtle and I'm glad that it's there for just a few notes...

But as you might know, Nord keyboards are definitely designed for playing 100% live - and I doubt that many people might recognize audio artifacts in a string sample while the Singer or guitar player is getting the whole attention ;)
Furthermore, Nord was always and will always be loved for their awesome collection of replaceable piano samples - that's what they care the most :D
Their samples accommodate the whole performance really well, most of them are even very nice.

If you're really "recording-first", you might consider getting some good plugins that support multi-velocity layers - which Nord doesn't ;)
As I said - there's a reason why the Nord Stage is called "Stage" :thumbup:
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby moonglum » 10 Jun 2018, 14:42

I hear what you are saying.... but it is not subtle. Not at the higher ranges.

It may be the cost of having an instrument that does such wonderful piano sounds, and has the feel and capabilities of the S3. One of the things that drew me to it was the fact that it wasn't loaded with the "one-man-band" options that so many other workstations and keyboards have. I don't need or want a drum machine in my keyboard, I do not want a sequencer in my keyboard, I do not want to multi-track on my keyboard -- there are solutions for all these things, and they are always better ala carte. To me, paying for these options on my keyboard is throwing money away, because I won't use them.

But... it just seems that they really got the piano sounds down nicely. There is no hiss and very, very minimal discoloration. Why not the other samples? The hardware seems capable. It just appears that they didn't want to put the effort forth into the other samples (strings, brass, woodwind)... which seems crazy, given the price point of the S3 -- A "business" decision, not a technical limitation of the equipment. I dug deep on this purchase... I'm worried that I'm going to have to do it all over again by buying another keyboard for a decent strings section...

I might be able to play with this... I know... after sinking enough time into it I might be able to squeeze out some acceptable patches to cover strings, but that kind of time is in very short supply. I'd rather be making music, and you can only do so much with an adulterated signal.

But, I'm interested in what you mean by "plugins that support multi-velocity layers". I know what multi-velocity sampling is, but when you say plugins... what do they plug into? Is it a plugin that works in a computer system? Like in the DAW? Or is it a midi extension? I'm not well versed with Midi, and this is my first real keyboard... so again, I apologize if these are dumb questions.

I'm really hoping that there is someone out there who makes some really good-quality samples for strings (and horns and woodwind) that I can just load onto to the Nord. Even at the expense of some piano samples (if necessary). I'd pay a reasonable price for them... but I'm not finding much on the Internet regarding this.... I don't know if there are generic samples that can be converted and loaded, of if people record them specifically for a certain keyboard...

I appreciate your input.
Last edited by moonglum on 10 Jun 2018, 14:45, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby analogika » 10 Jun 2018, 14:48

There is plenty of hiss on a number of the piano samples, especially with the “bright” EQ setting on the Stage 3.
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Re: Noise on High Strings..

Postby Quai34 » 10 Jun 2018, 16:31

Funny, maybe I 'm concentrated too much on playing/ feeling the sound, I never been embarrassed by the noise in samples....I haven't even noticed them....
Well, Martin J2X, you are right though, between guitar and bass (bassist with 4X10 Qmpeg SVT and guitarist with Fender Bassman and a Twin reverb, there is way more hiss coming from them that I could even expected to hear mine...
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