cant use downloaded piano program

[KipDuff]

I just bought a Nord Electro 6D (61 key), and want to download and try different new pianos from Nord. I show "237/416 used" of total programs. But "piano" is full. I removed a bunch of programs from "piano" with Sound Manager to make space for the 81 MB Studio Grand 1 YaC7 lg. It did appear to download to the Nord, and is visible in the "piano" column on Sound Manager (v7.66)- but has the word "unused" next to it. It cannot be found in the program window of my Nord 6D. Nor can it be found in the "program" or "samp lib") column of Sound Manager. The removal of the programs has wrecked other programs. I have installed the latest OS (2.60) on my Nord- but did notice that Nord Sound Manager (v7.66) is listed as being compatible with up to OS 2.50. I could not find a way to set the Nord keyboard OS back to 2.50. Could that be the problem?

It boggles the mind that this keyboard does not have any free storage area to add new programs without having to remove other programs. Adding new programs is one of the selling points for Nord- and was one of the claimed features that attracted me to buying. Especially ridiculous considering removing programs has a cascade effect on many other programs that use it. I know I could "substitute" instead of "delete", but that would probably have a negative effect as well because the other programs using the removed programs were designed to be used with the specific sound of the removed programs. After a brief internet search, apparently, it is not possible to add storage space. I like my Nord and may keep it, but I find it incredible that Nord would shoot themselves- and us in the foot by hardwiring in this serious and unnecessary(?) limitation. It's like selling desktop computers that have no available free space on the hard drives- AND no way to install a larger hard drive.

Thanks for your answers in advance, Kip...........

[KipDuff]

Hi Kip, it might be a good idea to read the manual of your new instrument. It's worth it. Or look for a YT video to learn how to set up a program or get a new sample installed (which is not the same).

It's not a big problem that you messed around with piano samples and programs as you can easily restore the factory settings by downloading from the Nord website, too. But you need to learn what a program is and what a piano sample is to get that sorted.

If you delete programs, there won't be more space for downloading an new piano sample. Programs hardly use any memory space. But if you managed to get the Studio Grand downloaded to the Electro, you'll need to set up a program with it. And if you go on playing around with your Electro, you'll find out that piano samples and synth samples are stored in different memory space, too.

From my perspective, there is nothing to complain about from the Nord side - just your impatience.

[analogika]

“programs” are just a set of stored parameters — splits, levels, and the sound settings for the individual engines.

The program is not the sound itself — it REFERENCES the piano sample, or the synth sample.

Those samples themselves are loaded into special sections of the Nord’s memory and can then be used in any program.

If you delete a piano or synth sample used by a program, calling up that program will be possible, but it can’t play a sample it can no longer find.

Conversely, just loading a sample into the pool doesn’t mean that it is actually used by any programs until you explicitly select it in a program.

What is possible is to “re-link” files: you can use the Nord Sound Manager to *replace* a piano with a different piano, and it will then re-link all programs that used the old piano to use the new one.

[KipDuff]

Hi Kip, it might be a good idea to read the manual of your new instrument. It's worth it. Or look for a YT video to learn how to set up a program or get a new sample installed (which is not the same).

It's not a big problem that you messed around with piano samples and programs as you can easily restore the factory settings by downloading from the Nord website, too. But you need to learn what a program is and what a piano sample is to get that sorted.

If you delete programs, there won't be more space for downloading an new piano sample. Programs hardly use any memory space. But if you managed to get the Studio Grand downloaded to the Electro, you'll need to set up a program with it. And if you go on playing around with your Electro, you'll find out that piano samples and synth samples are stored in different memory space, too.

From my perspective, there is nothing to complain about from the Nord side - just your impatience.

Thanks for your response.

One of the most prolific YouTubers for Nord instruments is Mark with "My Keys to Music"- great guy. I have watched his detailed video on how to download an instrument into the piano partition, and I cannot see that I am doing anything different. I will watch the video again. I may try asking him this question where the video is posted on Youtube.

My first attempt to download a new instrument was White Grand (245 MB!). I deleted many instruments to do that- and many remaining instruments were wrecked . The results were the same as my current situation: the White Grand was visible in the piano partition, but with the word "unused" after it- and not visible in the Nord LCD screen. So I am aware of the restore process- and it worked easily. I was wise enough to do a backup of my Nord before I tried to add instruments- however, I had already upgraded the instrument to v2.60. I'm considering doing a restore using the "Nord Factory Restore RevD v2.50" file from the Nord website. I did not make a note of which OS version was on my Nord before I upgraded to OS 2.60. Unfortunately, I think I did my backup after I had upgraded the OS to 2.60. If I use the restore file that I mentioned, it might put my Nord back at OS 2.50 which could solve compatibility problems if there are any.

I'm in early stages of understanding differences of "programs" vs "samples". Seems like the program is a cook grabbing many different foods (samples) to make a delicious stew. But based on the instructions I've seen on adding new piano instruments, I got the impression the samples were brought along in the download/install process described.

Other than the complaints I currently have, the Nord site, instructions, and downloading are well organized and intuitive. Although there may be a valid reason that I am not yet aware of, at this point, it seems to me wrong that the instrument comes with no free space for new instruments, forcing extensive and tedious rearrangements. But that is actually a secondary and general complaint. My biggest problem at this point is getting a downloaded instrument to work. I'll worry about absence of open storage space later.

[KipDuff]

“programs” are just a set of stored parameters — splits, levels, and the sound settings for the individual engines.

The program is not the sound itself — it REFERENCES the piano sample, or the synth sample.

Those samples themselves are loaded into special sections of the Nord’s memory and can then be used in any program.

If you delete a piano or synth sample used by a program, calling up that program will be possible, but it can’t play a sample it can no longer find.

Conversely, just loading a sample into the pool doesn’t mean that it is actually used by any programs until you explicitly select it in a program.

What is possible is to “re-link” files: you can use the Nord Sound Manager to *replace* a piano with a different piano, and it will then re-link all programs that used the old piano to use the new one.

I was under the impression that the download/install process brought the samples along. But I will review.

At this point, I am may install the current restore file (v2.50) from Nord's site, on the theory that there may be some compatibility issues with my keyboard OS 2.60 and Sound Manager v7.66.

[JohnT]

If the Nord Sound Manager says the piano IS installed but UNUSED, you need to create a PROGRAM that uses it!
The User Manual IS your friend, please read it.

[JohnT]

“programs” are just a set of stored parameters — splits, levels, and the sound settings for the individual engines.

The program is not the sound itself — it REFERENCES the piano sample, or the synth sample.

Those samples themselves are loaded into special sections of the Nord’s memory and can then be used in any program.

If you delete a piano or synth sample used by a program, calling up that program will be possible, but it can’t play a sample it can no longer find.

Conversely, just loading a sample into the pool doesn’t mean that it is actually used by any programs until you explicitly select it in a program.

What is possible is to “re-link” files: you can use the Nord Sound Manager to *replace* a piano with a different piano, and it will then re-link all programs that used the old piano to use the new one.

I was under the impression that the download/install process brought the samples along. But I will review.

At this point, I am may install the current restore file (v2.50) from Nord's site, on the theory that there may be some compatibility issues with my keyboard OS 2.60 and Sound Manager v7.66.

You DID download/install the Piano sample. It IS in your Nord. You just need to create a PROGRAM to access it with the settings you desire.(EQ,reverb,chorus, gain, etc.

[FZiegler]

I'd keep the OS 2.60 version. I was looking where you found that note that the Nord Sound Manager would only be compatible unto OS 2.50 for the Electro 6 - couldn't find that message on the Nord website and can hardly believe. But I don't have an Electro 6, so can't confirm.

The only issue you should be running into at the moment is that you didn't create a program containing that piano sound. As everybody tries to tell you. Having it downloaded doesn't mean that it is ready to play - just ready to use (by a program).

[KipDuff]

I'd keep the OS 2.60 version. I was looking where you found that note that the Nord Sound Manager would only be compatible unto OS 2.50 for the Electro 6 - couldn't find that message on the Nord website and can hardly believe. But I don't have an Electro 6, so can't confirm.

The only issue you should be running into at the moment is that you didn't create a program containing that piano sound. As everybody tries to tell you. Having it downloaded doesn't mean that it is ready to play - just ready to use (by a program).

OK. "Create a program". I'll research that. Thanks.....

[FZiegler]

P. 17-19 in the manual. What you need to do first is switching on the piano section and selecting your favorite piano sample with the little Piano Select knob.

If you've got everything done, you may look for an empty program slot to save that program. Apparently, you already switched off memory protection - so it should work. Good luck!