NS4 bug? Mono doesn't work on effects; no auto switch output

[spradders]

Hi all, I know other threads have discussed the lack of a Mono button, but I think there's a bug with the way the NS4 implements mono today.

The manual says:
"MONO OUTPUT
In certain scenarios it may be necessary or desired to output all sound coming from the Nord Stage 4 in mono, rather than stereo. To achieve this, make a setting for the Bus being used which uses just a single output channel (1, 2, 3 or 4). When using just one output, piano sounds are optimized for mono and stereo effects are adapted for mono use."

Here's what actually happens:
- Plugging in just one cable does NOT switch from stereo (eg outputs 1&2) to mono (summed output 1 only). It's been suggested that this should auto switch, but the manual talks about 'using just one output' in the same context as making a setting for the Bus to be a single channel. So this is user misunderstanding; you need to set a single output bus to use the keyboard in Mono.

But here's the bug:
- When I select a single output bus, a fully panned sound WILL be heard (regardless whether it's panned L or R), and it somehow deadens the piano (which I guess is going something to make it mono). This is correct behaviour.
- BUT it doesn't change a stereo effect to mono. So if I have a fully panned tremelo I still only get one side of the effect coming through. Surely it should adapt the effect to either be fully mono (so a stereo pan wouldn't be heard) or to decrease it in some way?

[WannitBBBad]

...But here's the bug:
- When I select a single output bus, a fully panned sound WILL be heard (regardless whether it's panned L or R), and it somehow deadens the piano (which I guess is going something to make it mono). This is correct behaviour.
- BUT it doesn't change a stereo effect to mono. So if I have a fully panned tremelo I still only get one side of the effect coming through. Surely it should adapt the effect to either be fully mono (so a stereo pan wouldn't be heard) or to decrease it in some way?

Hello, what do you mean by "fully panned tremolo"? On my Stage 3 the tremolo effect sounds exactly the same in stereo or mono with all other effects off.

[spradders]

Hello, what do you mean by "fully panned tremolo"? On my Stage 3 the tremolo effect sounds exactly the same in stereo or mono with all other effects off.

If I use A-Pan effect, amount full, then in stereo it fully moves the sound from one side to the other. In mono I'd expect to hear continuous sound because both channels would be routed to the mono output. This is what the mono button does on Stage 2. But on the Stage 4 I still only hear one channel. Video attached showing Output 1 being used only, comparing Stage 4 and Stage 2:

20230429_214811000_iOS.MOV

(43.59 MiB) Downloaded 88 times

[WannitBBBad]

Hello, what do you mean by "fully panned tremolo"? On my Stage 3 the tremolo effect sounds exactly the same in stereo or mono with all other effects off.

If I use A-Pan effect, amount full, then in stereo it fully moves the sound from one side to the other. In mono I'd expect to hear continuous sound because both channels would be routed to the mono output. This is what the mono button does on Stage 2. But on the Stage 4 I still only hear one channel. Video attached showing Output 1 being used only, comparing Stage 4 and Stage 2:

20230429_214811000_iOS.MOV

I agree, I would expect the stereo pan to go away in mono. As plugging into just one channel doesn't switch the NS4 to mono, did you set up the output routing as described in the manual?

[Graspieper]

Mono sums L+R
A-pan would become ineffective (=flat) in mono...

[WannitBBBad]

Mono sums L+R
A-pan would become ineffective (=flat) in mono...

Have you tested this with the NS4 to confirm that the A-Pan effect goes away when NS4 is in mono? If so, how did you set up the NS4 for mono operation? Thanks

[spradders]

I agree, I would expect the stereo pan to go away in mono. As plugging into just one channel doesn't switch the NS4 to mono, did you set up the output routing as described in the manual?

Yes, that's what I show in the video... I set Master bus to 1 only, and plug in output 1 only, but still only get one channel of the effect.

[spradders]

Mono sums L+R
A-pan would become ineffective (=flat) in mono...

Have you tested this with the NS4 to confirm that the A-Pan effect goes away when NS4 is in mono? If so, how did you set up the NS4 for mono operation? Thanks

I agree that the effect should go away, like it does on the NS2. But on the NS4 it doesn't you just hear one channel.

[WannitBBBad]

I appreciate the discussion of this in this separate post as requested at my post List of Known Issues/Bugs. I've updated that post with a link to the new Google sheet for the bug to be entered. I'd appreciate one of you entering the bug in the Google sheet, making sure it's reported to Clavia (Nord) at Nord Support, and noting when it was reported. I've included this item on my post with a link to this discussion. Thanks!