Nord User Forum

Tasten-Bert wrote:I‘m afraid no. It reads as if it uses the arpeggiator of the synth section which the nord pianos, no matter which version, don‘t have.
Cheers
Edit: But you can load the sample and play it by hand or an external midi player app.

Sorry I'm kinda new to this what do you mean play it by hand? Like would I be able to load a sample into the synth section on the piano 4?

Even the original post was a sort of fun contribution. The Nord stage pianos (Stage, Electro, Piano) aren't step sequencers or the like. Although you can use the sample synth engine to play nearly any sound - even a drum set. To get the drums sound, you would have to either play them one by one on the keybed or to have a MIDI sequencer control them from outside. There is no rhythm section or what so ever built-in like workstations or simple keyboards usually have. And you would have to split the keyboard into two zones if you want to play the piano, too. Then, you'd play drums with one hand and piano with another. Which doesn't sound very useful to me - but who knows!?

SwiftHoliday,
your Nord Piano can load a sample which has been set up as a drum kit. I posted a link in your Nord Piano post to a sample file you can use, and if you search this forum there are some others I know. These files play all the individual drum instruments split over the keys. Usually you find a bass drum on the bottom C, then two or three snare variations on D, E, F, then some toms going the keys upwards. Cymbals and HiHats are often placed on the black keys. Having said that you play the drum kit manually I mean if you know how to play a rhythm you just need to play the according keys, everytime you want to hear this drum sound. There is no rhythm automat.
This may work for basic styles, more or less as a fun or to get a beat base. That‘s it with the NP4.
The situation in the above mentioned Nord Stage is different because there is an arpeggiator in the synth section which can be programmed to play a sequence of keys, repeatedly.
Maybe a cheap casio children keyboard with a rhythm machine could help you?
Cheers from Germany

Tasten-Bert wrote:The situation in the above mentioned Nord Stage is different because there is an arpeggiator in the synth section which can be programmed to play a sequence of keys, repeatedly.

Sorry, Tasten-Bert, but I'd simply say: No. You can't program the arpeggiator on a Stage. Maybe you can switch between up and down, I'm not sure. That way, you won't get many different rhythms. In my eyes, it's not of much use.

But of course, you might be able to edit multiple drum kits on your own to have a choice...

Thank you, FZiegler, for the info. I thought that the arpeggiator was programmable like in my cheap korg X50. If it’s not, then it remains quasi unusable.
SwiftHoliday, sorry for the irritation.
Cheers

I love the arpeggiator drum machine trick! I have not done this before and look forward to trying it.

For anyone looking to do drums without having the arp capability, there are a number of nice drum loop samples on this forum where you can jam along nicely to just a sample. I'll try to find a few and link them here.

Here's a nice one for In the Air Tonight.
post79319.html?hilit=drum%20loop#p79319

Here's a really nice long drum loop.
post35297.html?hilit=drum%20loop#p35297

Some AWESOME reggae beats.
post30050.html?hilit=drum%20loop#p30050

ericL wrote:For anyone looking to do drums without having the arp capability

For some great drum loops, go down this rabbithole
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC45Usl ... 5992Dn72tA

With regards to arpeggiator, how does this guy stop the pumping effect at 1:44 whilst seemingly not pressing any buttons to do this?

Is this a sustain pedal or an expression pedal that he has connected to the NS4? I'm quite convinced this is done by foot.