Nord Electro 5HP keyboard/sample torture

[AndyG1955]

I understand sample size might not be everything. For instance the best Wurlitzer for me is the 5.3mg unamped one, I do use it on gigs, but I keep going back to the Nefertiti - it can growl and is imperfect with some notes twanging more than others. Strangely enough I like the EP5 Bright tines and thought the new larger version was better, but the larger Nefertiti didn't seem to respond as musically so I have kept with the smaller one. No wonder there is a Nord forum, the instruments certainly keep you thinking! My hope is they keep on bringing new samples which I can really settle on but I am probably gradually getting there ! Cheers Andy

[LeftyBass68]

Glad to hear you are enjoying the sounds and trying things out.Like Rusty Mike I also use EP2 and EP5 as well as the Nefertiti.Also prefer the 5.3 Wurli have used it since the StageEX in 2013.
Electro has more features on the Hammond menu than a Stage,and you most likely will only use a few AP's.Amber,White,Silver all bite hard when needed and soften up quiet just right!
The old Steinway, around since StageEX at least, is still a nice dark sound that doesn't rob too much memory.Imperial and Grand Lady are a lot of memory for that one ballad a show.
I do like the filters on the Stage3 AP's,and run both 1/4" TRS outs of my mix to a single cab,summed mono if you prefer.The mono function on the Nord is not my 'go to' signal.

Once you get both signals to a single cabinet,you'll get the whole enchilada.
E5HP has enough memory for needs,is a bit short on 'wants' though,you'll need a Stage for those extra features on pianos.
The sample player layered with pianos can be very effective so the Electro has evolved into a 'Stage Light' sort of.

[AndyG1955]

Thanks for your encouragement. I see myself continuing using the Electro in several situations. 1 - Big band old piano a la Basie etc I'll try the twin output to one that should do it. Can you believe that when the keyboard of my Technics SXP30 finally went, I sawed the frame down - all the electronics are on the left - so I made a small piano module out of it. Because I had confidence in its powerful mono sound there I am in some pretty good venues using the Nord as a controller accessing 20 year old obsolete Technics sounds! 2 If I do my own jazzy thing it is more modern and am happy with the Rhodes all the way. Because you can't layer pianos with the Electro I normally add a touch of TX7, it sits on the right very neatly as a desktop and I can adjust volume or patches in performance. If I want string synth I fade in on volume control from Nords' sample, luckily I found 1 that I like! 3 - The next issue with me is I find the HP action fine enough for general playing and comping, but hard work over two 1 hours of improvising, so I always take a top Synth with waterfall action. Often I'll be using a Hammond sound but I can keep playing faster for longer. So I bet you know where I'm going next - why am using a synth for organ when I have the organ model in the Electro? Love its sound but not the action for organ - it just doesn't work for me. So if I ditch the synth sounds on Nord, could I successfully midi in from top synth to access Hammond model and have Electric piano on left output, and Hammond model on right output. Both these sounds are mono so it should sound OK and two independent sound sources for the mixing desk ?
All I would do then is get a string synth patch from one of my many modules eg Motif ES Rack, U220 (which still has some great sounds) etc daisy chain midi from the TX7 I could be in business! I am trying to shrink every thing down I could go one further, take out the strings board from my JV2080 and put it in one of those JV 1010 half racks - I have to find one though Aaaaaagh!

[Normski]

Hi Andy
I have used the E5HP to gig for a couple of years and find it a great light weight board.
I also have a Stage 2 76 which is heavier but still fairly portable and has a fully weighted keybed.
As for using your TX7/ Technics etc, Have you considered sampling some of the non nord sounds that you like to use and layer with the Nord White etc.
The new sample editor 3 is easy to use and is now compatible with the E5HP.

[AndyG1955]

Thanks for opening this back up. Yes I would try that, but from what I can gather the sampling abilty of the Nord is a bit more limited, so I don't know how strong my DX7 samples would sound in comparison to the original sound source. Trawling though the samples by Nord and 3rd party, most I find a little weak. However the organ is definitely not weak - a real Nord strong point, so I was wondering if I should just concentrate on it's two main strengths - for me electric pianos and organ? The new Symphobia strings are great, I could layer those. My preference for a string pad is analog JP8 style and just one in the Nord collection I have found is the OB8 samples - really quality. I have a Logan string melody and Nord's own sample of that just doesn't get anywhere near. So up to now I mainly use El piano, or the White piano with analog strings faded in or out on a layer. To beef up the Nord I can midi the TX7 keeping it in analog it sounds massive! If I want to use the Nords Organ, I will have it midied from a light action top synth. but I'll miss the strings so I would have to bring another module eg Motif ES Rack and have that on a volume pedal. But yes every thing sampled into one keyboard would ne great. Do you think I really a stage for what I do? I could only lift a compact though ? Thanks Normanski

[Normski]

You really should try sampling the sounds you are happy with, the sample editor is very easy.
I'd be surprised if you couldnt sample your TX7 and be happy to use it in a layer.

[alex78]

Do not forget that except nord's official sample library, there is also the custom sample collection of this forum. Many of the people here have made excellent work sampling their favorite sounds, if you have time check it out and I'm sure you will find very interesting stuff!

[Bachman]

I too did not care much for the AP sounds from my new Nord (electro6D). They sounded electronic compared with my FP7, and the more I tried to enrich the sound the worse it got. I now use less reverb. I only use in ears on stage or headphones at home, no monitors. And I pretty much stick to White Grand XL.

I am slowly getting used to the sound, but I don't think I'll ever prefer it to the Roland's supernatural AP, ( I am lucky in the fact that I do not have to gig with an AP sound as I bought the Nord for it's organ settings) maybe we should both try Normski's idea and sample?

[AndyG1955]

The White Grand I find the best so far, like you in XL size, it also plays quite musically. I will stick with the Nord because of the weight. I hope they will continue releasing samples that I like even better - that is the good thing about Nord. I hope they put one out with 1GB size to see if that sounds fatter and fuller range. I will get round to sampling my own eventually, but in the meantime if anyone has some great piano samples I can layer I would be very interested! Whatever happens I will not lift my Roland FP9 out of the house!