Nord User Forum

Hi ,
I'm new here and I'd like to ask for some help.

Just bought a brand new NP3 and first thing I noticed was that some notes sound different than their neighbours when played equally hard. Even though it could be described as "louder", the difference is mostly in timbre, some notes sound mellower than the next one. Is this the way it should be? I'd think not. But I would be grateful to hear your opinions. I didn't do all the experimenting yet as my first thought was I have to return this piano. I should record some midi with same levels of velocity on cubase and see if it's a sample problem or a keyboard problem.
I play acoustic piano almost exclusively. A piano technician charges a lot of money to regulate and voice a piano so all keys respond evenly across the keyboard, so I'm looking for the same consistency in this instrument.
My hope is that this is due to something that can be rectified, either by downloading larger samples or some other actions. Also, I'm curious if other NP3s have the same problem or mine is a bad batch.

I could record some examples if anyone would be interested.

Thanks!

Is this happening with one specific sample or all acoustic pianos for you?

It's with all sounds but only with pianos is most obvious. But I tried different grands and upprights. I transposed up or down a semitone, same keys respond the same way. So it's not the samples. I did also the sequencer check, the sounds answer the same for the same velocity. Didn't try all the ranges, like 82 vs 90, 92 vs 97 and so on, but at 127 it sounded equaly bright and at lower velocity, like 80, it also sounded similarily mellow. I suppose it's a key problem, some trigger diff. values than neighbours for the same force. I know it's a subjective impression how hard I hit a key, but I am sure I reproduce the same force within the margins where I get the same sound on any well regulated acoustic. By repeating the test a lot, I can see it's a constant result.

Also I find that velocity choices 2 and 3 are not the way I want a piano to respond. The sound becomes bright too easily. The nr.1 is close but probably a bit less sensitive. Ideally it should be someplace inbetween 1 and 2.

I'd be interested in hearing this, if you have time?
Huw

ok, I'll record tomorrow.

Sorry, I didn't feel very well so I didn't do a new recording. But I have a few seconds from a few weeks ago. I cut it to only two notes, you can see Bb sounding mellow an A being harsh.

I would say there's nothing untoward in the sound, listening through my headphones. I think each individual note has a different make-up of sound and vibration - they shouldn't sound the same. The difference that you noted - is this still apparent when you play them at a gentler velocity?

No, it's more difficult to compare when it's lower velocity, but when playing a scale or a frase I can feel it does not give the equal response I am used to. While I agree with you that the sound can be different to a cetain degree, all adjacent notes should respond with as close harmonics map as possible. In other words one key shouldn't scream more than the other at same force.
When I play maximum force one is mellower than the other. But if I write 127 in cubase, both keys sound the same. So it's like Bb doesn't reach 127, maybe only 120. That's the next experiment I'll do, record through midi, bang as hard as I can and see if some notes still don't get to max velocity. Also playing those frases and scales to see if the difference is always the same between the same notes.

rojaz, I checked my NP3 after watching your video. Mine does not seem to have that broad variation in timbre on adjacent notes with similar velocities. There is some slight variation, but it's extremely minimal. I'm not a tech, but it makes me curious if there is something physically interrupting the velocity message of that Bb key.

mikep

Hi Mikep,

thanks for checking! It confirms that this one has a problem. I'll have to return it and get another one.