Nord User Forum

Hi all,
I'm still new to the NS3 (in fact new to keyboards - have always played acoustic piano) and need help making it sound right. I have L&R M audio B8s set up. They sit about a metre high on L&R of Nord pointing inwards towards the player - but it doesnt sound 'right'. When i go and play on my acoustic piano, it sounds so much better even though its battered, bruised and slightly out of tune. Have I wasted my money on the NS3 or has anyone any better thoughts about speaker position etc.
Thanks Pete

Think about it this way?

When you play an acoustic piano, sound radiates in every direction, bounces around and hits your ears. It's a surrounding sound for the most part.

When you play through a pair of speakers, the sound radiates in a single direction, like a pair of flashlights. You won't get the same listening experience.

The monitors look decent enough. If it were me, I'd experiment with adding a bit of chorus to get some dimensionality back into the sound. Or try a pair of nice headphones to see what's possible. The Royal Grand, in particular, sounds pretty impressive through headphones.

The piano sounds in the NS3 are among the best available in a keyboard, so that's not your issue.

Hi,

Imho NO ELECTRONIC PIANO in the world can compete with the sound of a natural instrument. I think this is true for all other electronic instruments (e.g.) drums as well.

Greets

Eumel

An electronic instrument will compete more or less well with a RECORDING of an acoustic instrument. That’s the yardstick.

The OP didn’t mention what sound qualities he found lacking, but assuming he has his monitors placed close to a wall, here are some thoughts:

- 8” drivers are probably overkill for how close you have them set up. 5” drivers would be enough and give a tighter sound.

- Monitor placement and interaction with the room play a significant role in sound. Take a look at this article for some tips on positioning monitors: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/studi ... mal-sound/

- How close are your speakers to the wall? Being too close would cause boominess. My JBL 305s have a boundary adjustment so I can roll off some of the bass, but it doesn’t look like your M-Audios have that sort of adjustment. Moving away from the wall (preferably to the center of the room) may be your only option.

Hmm, I get the feeling here are so many details to look at - as the others have already mentioned. In real life I'm a piano player as well and up to now have never achieved to copy the sound of my piano or a good grand in electronical way. It starts with what is the piano sound I like. I can visit the music fair and play this or that instrument, some please me, others not. I have a good sounding Sauter 130 with a full and clear body sound for boogie playing. When I play my nord, the samples of the Boesendorfer Grand or the Yamaha Grand are first thing to choose. Then it comes to finding the best EQ setting of my NE to get it sound right over my standard stereo. And finally, what I always feel as a difference between real and sampled piano, is that I need to change my usage of the sustain pedal. At the real piano it helps me to add style and character, at the nord I have to use it far less not to make the sound 'spongy'. Playing live over large PAs I can say the nord sounds excellent. So you must try try try and you succeed at last ...

Something to keep in mind - When you're sitting, playing the piano, you're not listening to the strings. You're listening to the soundboard which isn't even facing you, so you're listening to the reflections of the soundboard off the walls and floor. The whole room is singing at you, and two point sources (speakers) just cannot compare.

If it's possible to you, try a Nord Stage 2 with the Royal Grand 3D or some Upright. Just my opinion.