Thoughts about new releases

[tomzi]

Hi,

i think we have to be patient, nord will release great e-piano samples - good things need time.

[jazzystu]

Patient! Do you realise how old the e pianos actually are?

We have had new everything x10 since.

It's not like they don't know what the word on the street is.

I don't want a bloody 19th century 3/4 stretch tuned bosendorfer with rabbit tail hammers, or a Disposable 80's synth in the sampler section.

How fricking difficult is it for them to sort out? (they managed it for the blinking tack hammer piano FFS)

OR failing that, something which allows other people to make sounds and put them inb NPNO format.

If they can't be arsed, let someone else do it.

The majority of people who buy NS want a decent piano, a decent upright a workable synth and lots of variety in the EP department. I can only come to the conclusion that you can make a sample library in your lunch break, which is what they are doing.

If they don't someone else will.

I have very little brand loyalty, it is about sound and customer service.

[mjbrands]

OR failing that, something which allows other people to make sounds and put them inb NPNO format.

If they can't be arsed, let someone else do it.

Yes please! I don't see it happening however as it potentially lowers the control they have over their platform and may give other companies more insight into their technology (and the limitations). I fear it will stay a fully closed platform, as with most manufacturers. At least Kurzweil allows you to tinker with the internals (making it rather complex, but when you understand it very, very powerful).

It would really be nice if independant companies (like Bolder Sounds) were able to create sound libraries in NPNO format with more than one layer. Licensing this content is a whole different can of worms though. How would you prevent person A from using sounds bought by person B, especially without limiting them overly. Clavia currently does not have this issue - if you have a Clavia board with the right functionality, you can use the sounds they make available.

[anotherscott]

Patient! Do you realise how old the e pianos actually are?

We have had new everything x10 since.

It's not like they don't know what the word on the street is.

I don't want a bloody 19th century 3/4 stretch tuned bosendorfer with rabbit tail hammers, or a Disposable 80's synth in the sampler section.

How fricking difficult is it for them to sort out? (they managed it for the blinking tack hammer piano FFS)

OR failing that, something which allows other people to make sounds and put them inb NPNO format.

If they can't be arsed, let someone else do it.

The majority of people who buy NS want a decent piano, a decent upright a workable synth and lots of variety in the EP department. I can only come to the conclusion that you can make a sample library in your lunch break, which is what they are doing.

If they don't someone else will.

I have very little brand loyalty, it is about sound and customer service.

I think one should never buy a keyboard based on what it may do in the future. It's great that Nord has a terrific track record of bringing new sounds you can load into your keyboard, better than anyone else. But if it doesn't have the sound you need on the day you buy it, you should buy something else.

Nord will probably come out with new EPs, but there is no guarantee. Moreover, they could come out with new EPs, and you might not like them! So if this is such an issue for you that you must have EPs other than what is in the Nord today, you really ought to find a board that has EP sounds in it already that will make you happy, rather than just being unhappy with what you have. Life is short!

Personally, I always like to gig with two boards, for a variety of reasons (weighted and unweighted actions, backup in case of failure, wider range of sounds instantly available without having to call up different presets or worry about running out of keys at a split). So instead of replacing the Nord, you might want to find a board that complements the Nord by having strengths where you find the Nord to be weak. You can use MIDI so that you can trigger either boards' sounds from either boards' actions. For EPs, I would probably look at a Kurzweil (one of the many PC3 variations, or an SP4) or a Korg (Kronos at the higher end, SV-1 at the lower). Alternately, you could look into triggering a rack module (or laptop, etc.) from the Nord to get the sounds you want, if you want to keep the Nord and don't want a second keyboard.

[jazzystu]

I am very happy with my board, the only gripe I have is that they are hosing new pianos around left right and centre and every time I look at the website, there are new samples.

I have got to the point where the initial "WOW IT'S AMAZING" has worn off a bit and I can see room for improvement here and there.

It's rather like Apple. nord are amazing innovators and their products are the best. However, in the background there are other players, big and small and at some point, unless Nord keep the pedal to the metal, other boards will look like serious competitors.

I don't want to gig numerous boards. Dragging a Rhodes Suitcase and Clavinet around was more than enough. I want one board.

As far as I could see, the Korg SV-1 and Nord Stage were the only competitors for what I had in mind and the Nord organ swung it. (even though I only wanted the EPs and the Pianos really).

If someone comes along and can match the basic Nord format and sort out the glitches that Nord are unprepared to.... lack of leslie lights on the 2, Lack of adjustable pitch bend range, lack of Rhodes pan, lack of more electric pianos, etc, etc, etc. People will shift.

I may come across as critical. I have utmost respect and thanks to those at Nord. In my opinion, the Nord Organ is a serious contender for a hammond, The Wurly is as good as my old EP200a and less noisy, the Rhodes ARE brilliant. I did prefer my suitcase sound, but Nord could easily do one of those. I prefer the synth to my old Minimoog D, I think it's easier to use and less prone to drifting. The clav sound is a bit "thin" but really, it has none of the drawbacks of the D6....feedback, noise, etc. the effects are great and all in all, it is the best value I've ever got out of an instrument.

However, to make it an all time winner, I'd like a "bigger" Rhodes Suitcase and a fatter Clavinet. These would be so simple to do and would truly make the Stage well and truly the best instrument someone could own.

I never thought that an electric keyboard would ever stand up to all my old vintage gear, but it does and I can carry it up stairs as well!!!!

I wouldn't go back to old gear ever because of Nord. However, I wish they would just give me some more electric pianos. I'd even pay them for them.

[walkerdata]

I'd like a "bigger" Rhodes Suitcase and a fatter Clavinet. These would be so simple to do and would truly make the Stage well and truly the best instrument someone could own.

Not trying to be confrontational but, things aren't always as simple as they appear. The cost alone would be a lot more than we probably realize. First, you would have to find an excellent specimen of a 30-something year old instrument. You can't just go down to the pawn shop and buy one anymore. Second, you would then need to book some studio time. Without a good environment and equipment, a good recording is impossible. Next, you would need to process the recordings and create the samples to please everyone. All of this would be a task that is not to be taken lightly. It would be extremely hard to improve on something that is already "brilliant".

I use my NS2 live and if Nord releases a new Rhodes sample, no one in the audience will be able to tell the difference!

[anotherscott]

Walkerdata makes a good point. For those who say "too many synth samples," keep in mind that, to sample a synth, you take a line out, capture one strike at every so-many keys (those boards weren't velocity sensitive to begin with, so that's not an issue), and you're much of the way there. Sampling pianos is far more complex. EPs are somewhere in the middle. You have to find a good piece to sample, you may need to do some work on it to get it in tip-top shape, and then work out a way to reliably trigger each note mechanically at a variety of consistent velocity levels, all before you even get to the complicated work of looping and blending the samples and mating them to the velocity response of the MIDI keyboard. Though unlike acoustic pianos, at least you don't need a high end studio with an ideal acoustic environment to sample an EP.

I think it's also worth noting that, for all our complaints about the EPs (and I'm among those who prefer to use other boards for my EPs), many people do like them, and Nord themselves apparently thought they were quite good when they made them! People don't agree about these things. Heck, I didn't like any Nord grand prior to the Bosendorfer. I hope they will come out with some new EPs. But I don't take them to task for not having done it. I guess I"m more of a glass-half-full guy. If and when there are better EPs, I'll enjoy them. Until then, the Nord still has plenty to offer me, and I have other boards at my disposal, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

[Cute James]

I don't get it either...?!? What is the use for these bass sounds?

I expect it's to help sales of the Nord Piano 2 (and to a lesser extent the Stages).

Cheers,
James
x

[Ecaroh]

Well, if it's so, they won't get my money. If they had given better keyboard, improved piano and midi-features, I would probably updated my NP to NP2.

While were are critical here (myself included), let's remember that Clavia has two good things compared to many other companies:
#1. They at least give updates and sounds. Think about V-piano for example: it has enourmous potentiality, but Roland hasn't developed it practically at all from its release.
#2. Sounds are free. And when it is like that, you cannot complain to have value for money Yamaha is selling for example Chick Corea Rhodes for over 100euros (if I remember it right). I know this is dangerous to say, but I might even pay for new (high quality!) piano and e-piano sounds (and certainly for not new bass or mellotrons)...

What makes us novadays quite critical is the feeling that they do not pay attention to this' forums ideas anymore. And to my point of view, Clavia has simply made mistakes with their resent products (C2d excluded). All the others E3HP, NP2, ND, NE4d really suck.

[Frantz]

Intersting point of view ! let's share, here's mine :

I think those releases and updates (OS and sounds) are just "needed" for Nord products to stay competitive on the market.
From my keyboard buyer's point of view, the invest must do the job for a certain time (the longest the better ROI), I have to find a balance between two business model caricatures :
1- everything is here the day I buy (sounds and OS features)
2- things will evolve, sounds and OS updates.
I mean that Nord updates are part of what I bought, it's not free, it's not given, I chose and paid for it and I'll be inclined to make this choice again if my ROI is Ok (subjective pleasure included ).

they do not pay attention to this' forums ideas anymore.

They don't have to. I would worry if they were. We are only a small portion of their customers, and an even smaller portion of the market.

About new products & releases, only the market will tell, the customers will decide. From what we know (what happened in the past), I think we can be confident in their strategy.

Cheers.