Nord User Forum

[Tgc00000]

This is the sound library. https://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-lib ... library-30

But it seems there are also lots of additional sounds in the synth library that I don’t see listed anywhere.

It is the most confusing layout I have ever seen. You are not alone. I am determined to figure this all out.

[catosim]

The link you are referering to is not the sound library within the NS3 - it's various of samples you can use on your Nord.
The sound library is best accessed with the Nord Sound Manager - when connected it shows you every program.

The Nord Stage is based on programs containing different combonations of the three sections: organ, piano and/or synth.
In the Synth section you can basically choose among the synthpresets (shift+synthpreset), or you can tweek your own sound by using the internal waves/samples.

Cato

[analogika]

To clarify: The „sounds“ you step through in the program section of your Stage are called „programs“ and are always a combination of two slots (slot A & B) with one organ, one piano, and one synth sound, and various effects in *each* slot.

Any of those can be switched on or off, as can an entire slot, but they are all saved as part of the program.

The synth section itself (one of the three engines on either slot) can produce sound in several different ways:
Virtual analog waveforms,
Super waverforms (which are a Variation of the above, basically),
Frequency Modulation (FM, a digital synthesis found in Yamaha’s DX series and many others that followed), and
Samples.

That last category is where the entire sample library you’re looking at on the website goes.

EVERYTHING you see there is just a single sample you can use in either or both of the two synth engines alongside the two pianos and two organs of a single program.

This means that just loading a sample onto the machine doesn’t mean you can hear it yet. You need to actually use it in the synth section of a program. But that also means that a single sample can be used in any number of programs.

To further complicate things: the synth section is complex enough on its own that you can save your own presets *just* for the synth section.

An overview of the samples already loaded onto the Stage 3 from the factory is here:

https://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-lib ... ory-sounds

[Murphy]

To further complicate things: the synth section is complex enough on its own that you can save your own presets *just* for the synth section.

The synth section preset creation process was initially hard for me to understand and I still have yet to create one from scratch. I’m just now beginnning to want to be able to do that. I’ve been comparing this to a Prophet X, and have come to realize the S3 has enormous synth capabilities that I’ve yet to grasp. Combining the S3’s synth section’s waveforms or samples with the other panel is amazing and powerful. All in due time...

[VivSavage]

Some great advice here so far...as a new user, I too was puzzled at how to quickly pull up patches on a keyboard with no alphanumeric keypad of any sort.

One thing you can do that will help is to put the keyboard in Numeric Pad mode. This makes the Page buttons choose entire banks rather than pages. The five program buttons at that point are used numerically to enter the page and program number. For example, if you want patch L3-2, you use the Page arrow keys to move to bank L, then button #3 followed by button #2. Once you get used to this it will speed you up a bit.

Although you have 400 Programs at your disposal, and each one can be thought of as a composite patch ("Performance" in Yamahaspeak; "Multi" in Korg), they don't have to. I think part of the beauty of the NS is that although you can create a patch with two pianos, two organs and two synths (and who wouldn't), the individual engines are huge and really sound excellent on their own.

For this reason I've found a good way to get at these individual sounds quickly is by setting up Programs designed to work with a number of sequentially-stored synth Presets or samples. For example, I created a Program called "Pad playback" where I simply have the synth module active. The panel settings - EQ, reverb etc - are basically appropriate for any number of typical pad sounds. I position the synth preset knob on the first factory pad sound and save the Program. Recalling that program, I can just grab the synth preset knob to audition a number of following synth pads (since they're grouped together). If I end up really liking any of them, I may save them as separate programs, fine-tuning the other panel settings to suit.

Similarly, I did this with some of the Samples as well. For example, I set up a program called "Mallet playback" for vibes, marimbas, etc. To do this, once again create an initial program with only the synth engaged. To get to the samples, hold the Shift button and twist the preset knob to bring up List View. select the button under the "sample" category to make the knob choose only samples. Dial the knob until you reach the first of the mallet sounds (you can exit List View at this point if you like), adjust panel settings to taste (EQ , effects and reverb etc.) and save. Now you have a marimba patch with a quick knob twist to get to vibes, mbira, celeste, etc.

Of course, as you explore the instrument, you may want to overwrite much of the synth and sample memories anyway - but by grouping like sounds closely in the list, you could preserve this function.

Hope this helps.