List of Nord Stage 2 known issues/bugs

[fabiokey]

Hi Max.
try to record an audio file on you DAW , any audio file.
then copy it on another track , and play the two files together in the same timing
you'll hear a sort of "chorus" effect...
hope it helps.

[Palindrome]

Hi all,
I’ve been lurking a while on this forum and thought I’d join and contribute. You seem like a good crowd!

I bought a Stage 2 last summer as I wanted a light keyboard with excellent piano sounds, first and foremost. I quickly narrowed it down to Nord after trying the Rolands and Yamahas. And I loved the organs and synths so went for the Stage 2 instead of the pure piano.

But, what’s been driving me nuts is, what I believe, a bug. I wonder if others have heard it. I don`t see any mention if it on the forum and I hear it so clearly that I wonder if it’s just my unit.

I’ve recorded it and provided a MIDI file as well to see if someone would like to try to reproduce. I’m running OS 1.40.

Essentially, the issue occurs when I’m using the sustain pedal with String Resonance on. It doesn’t happen when String Resonance is off. What happens is that notes are suddenly cut off or drop drastically in volume. I originally thought it was random, but there is some pattern to it that I can’t determine. However, I can reproduce it, every time, recording a passage to a sequencer.

I was encouraged when I read that OS 1.4 fixed an a bug that sounded similar: “Pedal actions could on certain occasions lead to unwanted level changes when string resonance was active. This has been optimized to ensure a smoother and more natural sound.”. But alas, my problem wasn’t fixed.

So, here are three .wav files:

File #1: On the fifth chord strike (the F#m sus2), you should hear the issue I’m talking about, with the notes cutting off/dropping in volume on that chord. The sixth strike is fine again.

File1-Passage with Resonance.wav

(1.42 MiB) Downloaded 277 times

File #2: Same passage, with String Resonance off. The issue disappears – the fifth chord strike rings out properly.

File2-Passage without Resonance.wav

(1.42 MiB) Downloaded 265 times

File #3: With String Resonance back on, I started the same passage just after the first strike and initial pedal down. This means there is no pedal until the fifth chord strike (now, actually the fourth) when the F#m sus2 is struck. The issue from File #1 is now gone.

File3-Passage with Resonance-just after first pedal down.wav

(1.42 MiB) Downloaded 243 times

I’ve also attached two versions of the MIDI file, in format 1 and format 0.

FileMIDIformat0.mid

(510 Bytes) Downloaded 241 times

FileMIDIformat1.mid

(543 Bytes) Downloaded 222 times

It would be great if someone can help me determine my sanity

Steve

[tomzi]

Hi Palindrome,

Welcome to this forum!

i feel with you, i have noted it too. Before OS 1.40 it was more intense. But i´m experiencing the same problem and i hope it can be improved.

Before updating it sounded like this:

Melodie cutoff:

• Example 2.mp3

Bass and Melodie cutoff:

• Example 3.mp3

Bass cutoff:

• Example 4.mp3

[maxpiano]

Hi Max.
try to record an audio file on you DAW , any audio file.
then copy it on another track , and play the two files together in the same timing
you'll hear a sort of "chorus" effect...
hope it helps.

It doesn't, just doubles the intensity in the mix (unless in copying you shift the copied track a bit in time). Anyway what I am experiencing on NS2 with that problem is not just chorusing but a more dramatic sound change.

Have you tried to reproduce what I described?

[Palindrome]

i feel with you, i have noted it too. Before OS 1.40 it was more intense. But i´m experiencing the same problem and i hope it can be improved.
Before updating it sounded like this:

Melodie cutoff:

• Example 2.mp3

Bass and Melodie cutoff:

• Example 3.mp3

Bass cutoff:

• Example 4.mp3

Thanks, Tomzi. Good to see I'm not alone here. Do you agree this should be added to the master list of bugs? It's a very big one in my view.

[tomzi]

Thanks, Tomzi. Good to see I'm not alone here. Do you agree this should be added to the master list of bugs? It's a very big one in my view.

Yes I fully agree with you.

[tomzi]

Hi all,
I’ve been lurking a while on this forum and thought I’d join and contribute. You seem like a good crowd!

I bought a Stage 2 last summer as I wanted a light keyboard with excellent piano sounds, first and foremost. I quickly narrowed it down to Nord after trying the Rolands and Yamahas. And I loved the organs and synths so went for the Stage 2 instead of the pure piano.

But, what’s been driving me nuts is, what I believe, a bug. I wonder if others have heard it. I don`t see any mention if it on the forum and I hear it so clearly that I wonder if it’s just my unit.

I’ve recorded it and provided a MIDI file as well to see if someone would like to try to reproduce. I’m running OS 1.40.

Essentially, the issue occurs when I’m using the sustain pedal with String Resonance on. It doesn’t happen when String Resonance is off. What happens is that notes are suddenly cut off or drop drastically in volume. I originally thought it was random, but there is some pattern to it that I can’t determine. However, I can reproduce it, every time, recording a passage to a sequencer.

I was encouraged when I read that OS 1.4 fixed an a bug that sounded similar: “Pedal actions could on certain occasions lead to unwanted level changes when string resonance was active. This has been optimized to ensure a smoother and more natural sound.”. But alas, my problem wasn’t fixed.

So, here are three .wav files:

File #1: On the fifth chord strike (the F#m sus2), you should hear the issue I’m talking about, with the notes cutting off/dropping in volume on that chord. The sixth strike is fine again.

File1-Passage with Resonance.wav

File #2: Same passage, with String Resonance off. The issue disappears – the fifth chord strike rings out properly.

File2-Passage without Resonance.wav

File #3: With String Resonance back on, I started the same passage just after the first strike and initial pedal down. This means there is no pedal until the fifth chord strike (now, actually the fourth) when the F#m sus2 is struck. The issue from File #1 is now gone.

File3-Passage with Resonance-just after first pedal down.wav

I’ve also attached two versions of the MIDI file, in format 1 and format 0.

FileMIDIformat0.mid

FileMIDIformat1.mid

It would be great if someone can help me determine my sanity

Steve

Hi Steve,

one question, do you use the Nord Triple Pedal or the "normal" sustain pedal?

Greetings

Tom

[tomzi]

Hi Steve,

i checked your midi file, you used the normal pedal, perhaps we should try the Triple Pedal and the problem is solved?

Tom

[Palindrome]

Hi Tom,

I don't have the triple pedal...do you really think that would make a difference? I would imagine a number of people would have the single sustain pedal on the Stage 2 and hear this. Do you have the triple pedal? And those samples you posted, how do they sound now with the OS 1.4 fix? Much improved?

I was reading there's a way to change the MIDI messages to the triple pedal, but can't find it.

thanks,
Steve

[tomzi]

Hi Tom,

........Do you have the triple pedal? And those samples you posted, how do they sound now with the OS 1.4 fix? Much improved?

Hi Steve,

I recorded those samples in april last year and sent them to the german nord distributor and my music dealer, because i was a little bit shocked. Since the last updates the problem is much improved, but sometimes, like your recording, it happens in a lighter way. I´ve got the triple pedal, but not at home - it´s in the "rehearsalroom", if i play with my band i can´t hear the problem. I will check it at home. But you are right it should be improved no matter which pedal we are using.

Greetings

Tom