NP3 Key velocity issues

[clint_lombard]

Hi guys. I’m new on this forum, but I’ve found it super helpful so far.

I know this issue has been flagged in other topics, but I would appreciate some wisdom related to our situation.

We bought a NP3 for our church last year. We have 4 different pianists, and all have noticed a velocity issue with about 3 keys, specifically the C below middle C. What seems to happen is that regardless of the touch of the player, that key outputs at maximum velocity. It’s been sent to the shop, but they can’t reproduce the issue and have sent it back. I’ve videoed the issue, but it’s hard to evaluate on a recording.

Any suggestions? I want to ask our pianists if they experience the issue on different pianos, or at different sensitivity settings, or through headphones.

Could it have anything to do with perception through our PA (i.e. and eq issue)?

Any help appreciated!

[baekgaard]

This sounds like dust in the upper key contact. The Nord keyboards use two (or three in the newer NP series) contacts and uses the time it takes from closing the first one to the last one to determine the speed the key is travelling at. If the upper contact has a bit of dust in it, it may not (always) close properly, and when the lower contact then sees the key, it thinks it has travelled in no time -- hence it sounds at max velocity.

The remedy might be some compressed air; or it it keeps doing this, you may want to have the contacts cleaned (there are several videos/instruction on how to do this on the net).

Is the piano in a dusty place? You may want to consider covering it when not in use.

[SteveNordP3]

I can’t speak to the dust suggestion (believe that’s good advice). To test your interesting question about the PA, the C below middle C is about 131hz. Try other instruments doing a scale in that area and see if it replicates. Try dialing down that frequency and see what you think. Good luck!

[Mr_-G-]

Yes, pretty sure that is the symptom of dust in one of the contacts.

[baekgaard]

To test your interesting question about the PA, the C below middle C is about 131hz. Try other instruments doing a scale in that area and see if it replicates. Try dialing down that frequency and see what you think. Good luck!

You can also try to play the keyboard transposed an octave up or down. That way, you can check whether it's the key or the sound/PA-system.

[clint_lombard]

Thanks so much for the replies. I'll keep you posted as we try a few different things.

[clint_lombard]

For interest's sake, I've recorded three videos which show me playing an even (reasonably) pattern on the C, and then on the adjacent keys. The problem seems pretty noticeable to me.

Re: the dust issue, the piano started doing this within weeks of unboxing, and has always been covered when not in use.

[SteveNordP3]

Yeah - that’s not a PA frequency problem. Something’s wrong with that particular key.