Nord User Forum

JohnT wrote:

KipDuff wrote:

analogika wrote:“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.

OK. I'm on it. I thought the instrument was ready to go "as is" with all those details already set. I liked the way it sounded on the Nord site.

Thanks.

What you’re asking is a bit like saying “I’ve bought oats and milk and put them in my kitchen — why don’t I have porridge?”

You need to prepare a recipe that uses them. Simply having them available doesn’t put them on your plate.

Wow, that’s probably a really bad analogy. Whatever.

analogika wrote:What you’re asking is a bit like saying “I’ve bought oats and milk and put them in my kitchen — why don’t I have porridge?”

You need to prepare a recipe that uses them. Simply having them available doesn’t put them on your plate.

Wow, that’s probably a really bad analogy. Whatever.

Actually, that was a pretty good analogy.

KipDuff wrote:... I thought the instrument was ready to go "as is" with all those details already set. I liked the way it sounded on the Nord site.

That's really a crucial point: You will need to take some time to get the experience necessary for good seasoning/flavouring of the sounds: reverb, drive, attack/decay, EQ etc. Sometimes, they give some hints on the website how it's achieved.

But that's exactly what the Nord sound is all about: No presets, every setting at your hands.

Well, I'm still looking at a wall.

I have had no problem "substituting" "sounds". After clearing some space in the piano section, I was able to switch from MED to XL versions of Grand Imperial Bdorf as well as switch to other piano types. Also, on a few occasions, I was able to download and use some new sounds that were ready to play- like the installed programs. I could not see any difference in the technique I had used.

To review. *The new sound in the piano section says "unused" next to it. *It is only visible in the piano window- not in programs or in the screen of the keyboard.. *According to page 6 of the Sound Manager manual, double-clicking the sound "activates" it- this has no effect in my case. *When right-clicking or selecting, no options to create a new program are shown in the drop-down menus. *I have restarted my iMac 27" Catalina OS 10.15.7 and restored the Nord with the current factory restore file v2.5 from Nord site. *Neither "Auto Select" or "Select in instrument" in Program Manager seem to have any effect.

What is the first step in creating a new program for the new sound? I'm assuming it's done in the Sound Manager program, correct?

Despite this impasse, I'm learning a lot and having fun. There is a world of great sound already in this machine- I'm like a kid in a candy store. Like so many things these days, there's really too many options (other than limited storage space)- overwhelming. I have three amps to use: 1) 1964 Fender Super Reverb tuned up with Siemens NOS EL 34s 2) 2016 Rivera Sedona 55 ES instrument amp 3) 2018 Fender Deluxe Reverb Custom Hand Wired with some NOS 1942 RCA military 6V6s. I've only tried the 2018 Deluxe so far. My guess is that, as usual, the '64 Super Reverb will be the one. To my ear, so far the 2018 Deluxe is a good match. I'm gonna look into hooking two of these amps to the Nord.

Thanks for your help.

KipDuff wrote:… What is the first step in creating a new program for the new sound? I'm assuming it's done in the Sound Manager program, correct? ...

No. The Sound Manager handles the „transport“ of existing sample and program files between the nord and your computer. The program itself needs to be created in your nord. I‘d say take a program with a piano sound which you already have, turn the „Piano Select“ button that you find in the piano section, and I‘m sure you will go through all the piano sample files which are actually stored in your nord. Unless you‘re not saving this, nothing will get lost from what there is now. What you want to keep needs to be saved or saved as …

Have a good try. Cheers from Germany

Maybe we weren't precise enough. 'Please read the manual' didn't refer to the manual of the NSM. NSM is only a tool to get sample and program files transported or sorted. It's the manual of the instrument you need to read. As it's the instrument you'll need to create and adapt programs.

A Nord doesn't need any computer to create new sounds. That's what it is all about and why it's so famous. You create them on the fly during rehearsals or even on stage. All you need is having equipped your instrument with a selection of the basic sample files.

Good luck!

KipDuff wrote:I have three amps to use: 1) 1964 Fender Super Reverb tuned up with Siemens NOS EL 34s 2) 2016 Rivera Sedona 55 ES instrument amp 3) 2018 Fender Deluxe Reverb Custom Hand Wired with some NOS 1942 RCA military 6V6s. I've only tried the 2018 Deluxe so far. My guess is that, as usual, the '64 Super Reverb will be the one. To my ear, so far the 2018 Deluxe is a good match. I'm gonna look into hooking two of these amps to the Nord.

That's another story. I highly recommend to read the Amplification FAQ on this forum. Whatever guitar or even so-called keyboard amp you use - you may have fun with organ and EP sounds, but not with acoustic pianos. For those, you need a highly neutral amplification, mainly provided by DSP driven monitors or studio speakers. Your Electro 6 already has a speaker simulation on board, so you should be fine with a neutral amplification for all together.

KipDuff wrote:Well, I'm still looking at a wall.

I have had no problem "substituting" "sounds". After clearing some space in the piano section, I was able to switch from MED to XL versions of Grand Imperial Bdorf as well as switch to other piano types. Also, on a few occasions, I was able to download and use some new sounds that were ready to play- like the installed programs. I could not see any difference in the technique I had used.

Again: a piano sample or synth sample is the raw ingredient that can be USED to make a program.

Putting flour and eggs in your pantry doesn’t make a dinner; you still have to prepare a dish (program) that uses them for them to be useful.

The Sound Manager is just the shopping cart you use to get the raw materials into your kitchen.

RESOLVED!

I did not realize the role the the KB played in the download process. The sounds HAD been downloaded to both the KB and the program window of Sound Manager. But since I hadn't realized that I needed to select a specific empty bank position in the KB LCD screen, the new sound was taking the position and name of whatever program was currently selected in the screen of the KB. So I believed it hadn't been downloaded because it was hidden under another name.

the process:
I choose an empty location in the KB LCD screen where I want the new program to live> download a new sound with Sound Manager into the correct category in PIANO window of Sound Manager> double-click on the new program name in Sound Manager PIANO window to activate it> new sound shows up in KB LCD screen EMPTY slot (the name of the downloaded sound shows in small print below the large name in the KB LCD screen)> hit STORE button on KB twice (it names itself "no name")> edit name in Sound Manager PROGRAM window.

So, yes... it's dry- but it's THERE. So if I modify the sound with effects, string res, etc., and I hit the STORE button, the program will bring up those modifications next time I open it?

Thanks........