New samples: Introducing Spitfire String Quintet

[Gambold]

I love all these videos of happy white guys sitting around their free Stage 4s. Life is good, at least somewhere.

[Rusty Mike]

What a shame that the nsmp2 format does not seem to be supported by this collection...
Sounds like an odd way of planning obsolescence by dropping support for the samples they provide for free anyway.
Hope the npno samples do not follow the same route.

I can’t be sure, but I have a feeling that this is the first sample set to take advantage of the updated library software. There are two sample-specific features in the firmware updates for the Piano 5 and Stage 4:

• Added support for special release behaviour for String samples supporting this feature
• Sustain position on Sample Synth Decay/Sustain/Release knob now provides Release time as defined in sample preset

The dynamic characteristics of this new sample set seems to be more noticeable, so maybe Nord is finally addressing all of our collective bitching about the lack of sample layers, just in a different way.

Yes, Nord have been historically cautious about preserving backward compatibility, but sometimes I guess they need to leave a few things behind to move forward. Prior to these strings, all samples were compatible all the way back to the Stage 2, which was released 13 years ago. And while Nord is no longer making firmware updates, compatible libraries are still downloadable. That’s not terrible. By comparison, the Yamaha YC73 I purchased in March, was released only 3 years ago, has been all but forgotten about by Yamaha.

Time marches on. We can never expect eternal backward compatibility on computer-based products. It’s just the way.

[TouchThatDial]

New Nord Electro 6D owner here, bought it yesterday.

I downloaded the Spitfire Strings and (alongside the other factory string samples) I’m amazed at how good they sound for a non-velocity-layered multisample sound set. I knew the NE6D would be amazing for EPs (the main reason I bought it), APs and organs but I didn’t expect the string sounds to be so good.

The NE6D really is an outstanding musical instrument, such a pleasure to play.

I’ve wanted to own a Nord for about as long as Nord have existed. So glad I finally took the plunge.

[TouchThatDial]

I love all these videos of happy white guys sitting around their free Stage 4s. Life is good, at least somewhere.

Not just white guys enjoying free Stage 4s ....

[maxpiano]

What a shame that the nsmp2 format does not seem to be supported by this collection...
Sounds like an odd way of planning obsolescence by dropping support for the samples they provide for free anyway.
Hope the npno samples do not follow the same route.

I can’t be sure, but I have a feeling that this is the first sample set to take advantage of the updated library software. There are two sample-specific features in the firmware updates for the Piano 5 and Stage 4:

• Added support for special release behaviour for String samples supporting this feature
• Sustain position on Sample Synth Decay/Sustain/Release knob now provides Release time as defined in sample preset

The dynamic characteristics of this new sample set seems to be more noticeable, so maybe Nord is finally addressing all of our collective bitching about the lack of sample layers, just in a different way.

Right, I had the same idea but then I wonder what about the fact that these new samples exist also as nsmp3?

Maybe Nord will soon release some OS updates to include those new features also for models which us the v3, or they are simply the same samples in terms of waveforms but not supporting them?

[Schorsch]

They probably removed new feature from the .nsmp3 samples, just made it available on the .nsmp4 ones - we'll hopefully know when some NS4 users tried it out

[davisjj]

I can’t be sure, but I have a feeling that this is the first sample set to take advantage of the updated library software. There are two sample-specific features in the firmware updates for the Piano 5 and Stage 4:

• Added support for special release behaviour for String samples supporting this feature
• Sustain position on Sample Synth Decay/Sustain/Release knob now provides Release time as defined in sample preset

The dynamic characteristics of this new sample set seems to be more noticeable, so maybe Nord is finally addressing all of our collective bitching about the lack of sample layers, just in a different way.

But why can't they update the Wave 2 to support the v4 sample library? It should be able to support it, seeing as how it's the basis for the synth engine in the Stage 4. I have the Wave 2 and a S3C, I shouldn't have to move to a Stage 4 to get the new samples.

[maxpiano]

I can’t be sure, but I have a feeling that this is the first sample set to take advantage of the updated library software. There are two sample-specific features in the firmware updates for the Piano 5 and Stage 4:

• Added support for special release behaviour for String samples supporting this feature
• Sustain position on Sample Synth Decay/Sustain/Release knob now provides Release time as defined in sample preset

The dynamic characteristics of this new sample set seems to be more noticeable, so maybe Nord is finally addressing all of our collective bitching about the lack of sample layers, just in a different way.

But why can't they update the Wave 2 to support the v4 sample library? It should be able to support it, seeing as how it's the basis for the synth engine in the Stage 4. I have the Wave 2 and a S3C, I shouldn't have to move to a Stage 4 to get the new samples.

They are available also as v3...

[Schorsch]

I think he is complaining about the Wave 2 not being able to load .nsmp4 samples in general, which makes it missing some new features that were seen in the lates Stage 4 OS update.

What I am wondering about is if anywhere/at any time Clavia said that the Wave 2 will not get an update to support v4 samples - @davisji where did you get that from?

I would just wait and see - or ask Clavia directly and hope to get an answer

[Gambold]

> I shouldn't have to move to a Stage 4 to get the new samples.<

Apparently the New Nord doesn't share your sentiments.

I dunno - spitfire strings, sure, whatever. I suppose if one is using their Nord as a studio instrument and needs this string sound for recordings, soundtracks, gaming music, etc - but my impression is that most studio creators are using other brands for that kind of work. Nord has always struck me as a stage keyboard maker, not a digital workstation developer.

It goes without saying that I see almost no use for spitfire strings in a live environment. These happy white and not-white guys (point taken) playing these jumpy string riffs on their free Stage 4s...when and where is that kind of music going to be performed live? You in a jazz combo that takes string breaks?