Nord User Forum

Hi nords,

I am a newbie when it comes to synthesizer sound production.

I see that you can load your own samples into the synth section but I am wondering what types of samples people are loading. Is this the kind of thing where you record something in your home studio and use it as a base for a new synth patch, or do people mostly load in other classic synth samples?

Any insight into the process of synth sound production would be appreciated.

DM

Hello DM,
both actually.
I would say that the many are recording their favorite sounds of other instruments so that their Nord can be a substitute. Why take 10 instruments on the road when you can have the same sounds in just one or two.
I never take my vintage gear out any more.
Cheers, Hanon

Hi all,

My apologies if this is redundant but I couldn't find what I was looking for. While I found and watched the great videos on how to record and import sounds using PC software, does anyone know of a way using a Mac to record a Virtual Instrument or programs from another synth and import into NS2 sample editor? Please advise.

Thanks!
GRod926

GRod926 wrote:Hi all,

My apologies if this is redundant but I couldn't find what I was looking for. While I found and watched the great videos on how to record and import sounds using PC software, does anyone know of a way using a Mac to record a Virtual Instrument or programs from another synth and import into NS2 sample editor? Please advise.

Thanks!
GRod926

Hello GRod926,
If you have GarageBand on your Mac, it will be a good program to use.
An alternate choice would be Audacity for Mac

The following isn't intended to be a tutorial, just a basic outline of steps and concerns for making sample sets for your Nord instrument.
Unfortunately the process has many steps:

1. Search the Nord website and Norduserforum for what you're looking for, to see if someone has already done an acceptable version "there's no sense in re-inventing the wheel".

2. prepare the source sound "physical, or virtual instrument" by turning off any effects that can be duplicated by the Nord instrument, and removing any velocity based effects as they will make it difficult get consistent note-to-note recordings.

3. Decide on an overall sampling (recording) strategy. Which Nord instrument is your finished
product intended for? The Electro 3 (NE3) is very limited in any additional processing that it
can do to the sample. The Stage 2 (NS2) and Wave (NW) can use the samples like an oscillator
and add vibrato, multimode filtering, amp and envelopes. Subsequently the preparred samples
should be brighter for the NS2 and NW than for the NE3. Additional concerns will be: How many
samples per octave will be needed to reproduce the original sound. Sound sources that are
synthesized usually require less individual samples per octave since the sound doesn't change
character much from note to note. Natural sounds usually require more samples per octave, with
acoustic pianos needed one sample per note, or 12 per octave. Currently there is a limitation
with the Nord Sample Editor (NSE) software that won't allow velocity layers in samples, so one
sample per note is the most that you can have. Decide on how long your samples will need to be
to fully capture the decay, or allow for looping. It is usually better to record a longer
sample than what you really need, because NSE will trim them for you at your loop points,
whereas if you don't have enough for a transitionless loop point, you'll have to go back and
re-record.

4. Record your samples. Record via direct interface whenever possible. Record at the highest
gain possible without clipping. Record stereo sounds in stereo, and mono sounds in mono.
Record at 16 or 24 bit 44.1 KHz WAV format. Two methods can be used by NSE: Record all notes
serially, from low to high leaving a small amount of silence in between. Using this method
also requires a fixed interval between notes (your choice, but the same for all). This method
yields one file for all notes. The other method is to record individual notes as separate
recordings and name them for the sound and either note number, or note name i.e. brass_14.wav
or brass_C2.wav, this naming convention makes it easier for NSE to assign the individual
samples to the correct notes. Each method has it's advantages: One file serial is just that
"one file". The individual sample files allow for easy substitution of sounds for making
splits.

5. Convert your samples to a .nsmp sample set using the NSE software. Assign the sample(s) to keys, or ranges of keys. Set, or disable looping for the samples, and any alternate start points. Normalize (adjust levels), and set any velocity triggered dynamic processing "mainly for the NE3". Carefully re-check your sample set to make sure all keys trigger the correct notes, as it's very annoying to discover that a C key triggers an F# note.
Save and name your project then generate and download your new sample. I know that it seems like a lot of work, but with minimal practice, a new sample set can be done in less than 10 minutes.
The NSE manual is very comprehensive, and a good start on learning the software.

Hopefully in the next month or so the forum will be putting together a comprehensive tutorial on sampling and the NSE software.

Cheers, Hanon

Awesome, thank you so much Hanon!

Yes, I'm still trying to get a handle on what I can count on the Synth section to be able to do to the samples once they are in there. A comprehensive tutorial would be wonderful...

BTW, did I see somewhere that you live in Florida?

GRod926 wrote:Awesome, thank you so much Hanon!

Yes, I'm still trying to get a handle on what I can count on the Synth section to be able to do to the samples once they are in there. A comprehensive tutorial would be wonderful...

BTW, did I see somewhere that you live in Florida?

Hi G Rod,
I am hoping to post an appeal to the forum for help "as a collaborative effort" in producing a sampling tutorial, or series of tutorials. I'm far from being the definitive master of sampling, and/ or using the NSE software. There are a lot of very talented members here, and I believe a collaborative tutorial would probably end up being one of the finest to grace teh innerwebs.

The NS2 is a little limited with how it uses samples, especially when compared to several of the leading workstations, but with a little creativity, it can still do some very amazing things.

You are correct, I live in Sarasota Florida.

Cheers, Hanon

So it's been a few months, have you heard any rumblings of the possibility of a Nord Sample Editor Tutorial? I, unfortunately haven't had any time to devote to messing around with it yet... I was also interested in a tutorial on the synth section... Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? =o)

By the way, Hanon, I live in Dunedin, a small town just north of Clearwater. I was down in your neck of the woods this past weekend. I meant to contact you beforehand but forgot... In any event, we'll be playing down there again Feb. 17th, at the Gator Club. Familiar with it? Do you play out anywhere? It would be great to meet and/or hear you play! I haven't seen anyone up this way playing a Nord instrument yet!! Take care,
Gary

GRod926 wrote:we'll be playing down there again Feb. 17th, at the Gator Club. Familiar with it? Do you play out anywhere? It would be great to meet and/or hear you play! I haven't seen anyone up this way playing a Nord instrument yet!! Take care,
Gary

Hi Gary,
quite familiar with the Gator.
Played there a bunch of times, but not for many years.
I don't play out anymore.
To quote Mick: "What a drag it is getting old..."

I may stop in and see you.
Cheers, Hanon