How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
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How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
Say you want to save a sound externally to both the Sound Manager AND the Stage 4? Can this be done? AFAIK when you communicate sound manager - keyboard, in the Nord SOund manager you only have room for the (tiny) max the keyboard can support. If one could build up a library of customised sounds, outside of the Sound Manager - thus circumnavigating the size restriction - this could be a good thin. Is this possible?
Thank you
Z
Thank you
Z
Last edited by ZeroZero on 27 Jul 2025, 15:27, edited 1 time in total.
- Mr_-G-
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
I do not think 512 programs for the NS4 is tiny, but after backing up your instrument contents, you could overwrite/delete the existing programs and save them with a different name.
What would be an acceptable size for programs memory?
What would be an acceptable size for programs memory?
- maxpiano
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
Not sure I get the question: you can save individual programs/bundles on your hard drive from NSM, using the Upload function and then send them back to the keyboard with the Download function (see NSM instructions). How to name and organize programs on your disk is your free choice.
Last edited by maxpiano on 27 Jul 2025, 19:01, edited 1 time in total.
- cphollis
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
I don't get the question, either. I have a google drive with all sorts of programs and setlists from past bands. They roll on and off pretty easy.
Also, I've never felt at a loss for "more program slots". At ~45-50 songs-per-band, that's enough for 10 bands. And even I wouldn't consider that
Also, I've never felt at a loss for "more program slots". At ~45-50 songs-per-band, that's enough for 10 bands. And even I wouldn't consider that

I think I have gear issues ....
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
My first sentence was not clear. I edited it to: "Say you want to save a sound externally to both the Sound Manager AND the Stage 4? "
What would be an accceptable size? Frankly, for the top money a lot more. Best Synchron sampled pianos come in at around 30+ gb each. The idea of having different sizes of piano is bizarre - they should all be the best, not 2gb collectively. I have heard the arguments such as the fast-memory is too expensive, but this is a top of the range board, we pay premium prices and can't fit on all the best sounds. For example there are technologies which load into RAM the first fraction of a sample, before the rest is called. This means that a slower storage drive can be used.
A good sampled piano should have a number of samples, per note, 24 bit, the samples should not loop. Minimal cross fading in favour of more samples per velocity range/note. If doen well, this gives the piano depth and dynamic expressive playability. Of course this is simplified but to my ears I don't like any of the pianos on the Stage 4. I know a lot of people seem fine with using cut down pianos to save space. Modelled pianos are of course another world. This is just my opinion.
Z
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
I was not clear.cphollis wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025, 15:32 I don't get the question, either. I have a google drive with all sorts of programs and setlists from past bands. They roll on and off pretty easy.
Also, I've never felt at a loss for "more program slots". At ~45-50 songs-per-band, that's enough for 10 bands. And even I wouldn't consider that![]()
I save one program (at least) per song. I am not an expert with Nords. If I start loading pianos, I get (in the Sound Manager) "you have to delete other pianos in order to do this" (paraphrase). WTF. A LOT of money and running out of room?!!!
It's easy (at least for me) to update the Sound Manager, from the keyboard and lose a sound one has set up. My basic question is is it possible to get a program out of the Sound Manager, out of the board and still save it?
Z
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
I have been doing the same thing, I have folders for programs for each year on my hard drive. I rarely change samples, so I can just save programs after an editing session and be up to date. I can save 400 programs in about 10 seconds.maxpiano wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025, 14:12 Not sure I get the question: you can save individual programs/bundles on your hard drive from NSM, using the Upload function and then send them back to the keyboard with the Download function (see NSM instructions). How to name organize programs on your disk is your free choice.
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
Hi ZeroZero,
am I right in saying that you want to expand the internal storage capacity of the Nord by something external, like an external hard disk or free space on a computer which is connected to the Nord, to save programs and sounds on it if there is no space on the Nord anymore, and also load it from there just like you do with the programs and sounds stored on the Nord itself, without swapping them by the help of Sound Manager?
If so the answer is “No, that’s not possible” - you are limited to the internal space of the Nord, and everything which is saved externally needs to be loaded into the internal storage space of the Nord, thus deleting something there if all is occupied
am I right in saying that you want to expand the internal storage capacity of the Nord by something external, like an external hard disk or free space on a computer which is connected to the Nord, to save programs and sounds on it if there is no space on the Nord anymore, and also load it from there just like you do with the programs and sounds stored on the Nord itself, without swapping them by the help of Sound Manager?
If so the answer is “No, that’s not possible” - you are limited to the internal space of the Nord, and everything which is saved externally needs to be loaded into the internal storage space of the Nord, thus deleting something there if all is occupied
Regards Schorsch
Check this https://chris55.github.io/ns3-program-viewer/ awesome tool to visualize NS2/3 programs and re-create them on the other instrument!
Gear: NS3C, Uhl X4V-1, 2-manual HX3.4 organ made by Tastendoktor, SL88 Studio
Check this https://chris55.github.io/ns3-program-viewer/ awesome tool to visualize NS2/3 programs and re-create them on the other instrument!
Gear: NS3C, Uhl X4V-1, 2-manual HX3.4 organ made by Tastendoktor, SL88 Studio
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
Yes that is the case. It seems we are locked in then, which is ridiculousSchorsch wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025, 17:01 Hi ZeroZero,
am I right in saying that you want to expand the internal storage capacity of the Nord by something external, like an external hard disk or free space on a computer which is connected to the Nord, to save programs and sounds on it if there is no space on the Nord anymore, and also load it from there just like you do with the programs and sounds stored on the Nord itself, without swapping them by the help of Sound Manager?
If so the answer is “No, that’s not possible” - you are limited to the internal space of the Nord, and everything which is saved externally needs to be loaded into the internal storage space of the Nord, thus deleting something there if all is occupied
Z
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Re: How to save individual programs outside of Manager?
It was a design decision for how the Nord works. It's not ridiculous, it's one of the things that allows your Nord keyboard to turn on in a matter of seconds rather than minutes.
It's a live stage instrument, not a workstation.
You don't need 15 different acoustic pianos on stage. You don't need 15 different Rhodes samples, or most of the other 1000s of individual sounds that people seem to be stuck focusing on. If you can't perform with the list below, then I'd suggest you spend more time focusing on your actual musical skill rather than the mental masterbation of worrying about having every variation of every sound loaded on a keyboard at one time.
Here are the basics
- 1 or 2 acoustic pianos
- 1 or 2 rhodes emultations
- 1 Wurlitzer
- 1 or 2 clavinet sounds
- 1 harpsichord
- 1 vibraphone
- 1 marimba
The B3 organ engine will produce all of the Hammond sounds you wan't
The synth engine can handle Choirs, String Pads, Flutes, orchestral pads, etc.
The biggest area of weakness is in articulated sounds that require multi-velocity samples (horns, plucked guitars, etc). And even here there are some work arounds that get you pretty far.
Current Gear: NS3C, NP5-88, NP5-73, Alesis QS7.1 & QS8.2, Hammond B3 with Leslie 122, Yamaha CP70, Yamaha C3 6' Grand, Roland D-05