Nord User Forum

So here's one out of left field. I've noticed that, while users can (hopefully soon) create their own NSMP3 patches and load them into sample memory, the actual piano section samples seem to be restricted to what Nord has prepared, or those working closely with them. Does anyone know if there is a way for a user to create Nord Piano samples or if it's worth getting in touch with Clavia directly? I have a concert-prepped grand piano in my home studio I would just die to add to the library and am willing to sit there for a bit recording different velocity levels on each note. Clavia being a Swedish company, it's no surprise there's no American pianos represented in the library but it would be really nice to add to it. Any insights on this?

No way to do it, and I suspect Nord doesn't want to open up any of the proprietary way they handle their piano stuff. But you can use numerous Mac/PC programs to sample you piano and turn it into a soundfont which could be played from assorted sources (including Mac/PC programs themselves, iOS programs, Kronos).

anotherscott wrote:No way to do it, and I suspect Nord doesn't want to open up any of the proprietary way they handle their piano stuff. But you can use numerous Mac/PC programs to sample you piano and turn it into a soundfont which could be played from assorted sources (including Mac/PC programs themselves, iOS programs, Kronos).

I suspect they would have nothing to lose by building in Piano Library functionality into the NSE in that they are in the hardware business; they're not selling samples. Even if their piano sampling was reverse engineered it would hardly hurt Clavia if people started selling third party samples for their instruments--it would only make them more appealing, I'd think. But I digress. It's obvious Clavia has worked with individuals who have unique instruments and samples in order to provide an eclectic variety of sounds to expand the Nord's usability. I, for one, would be happy to send them wav files and let them cook the patch free of charge if it meant I could load my grand into the Piano Library and play it on the go. I hardly want to make money on this. That's what I love about this community is the sharing of knowledge and sounds.

I agree, I love it too, good point to add... Even before adding your or any Personal Piano Sample

Fallboard wrote:Even if their piano sampling was reverse engineered it would hardly hurt Clavia if people started selling third party samples for their instruments

I don't think they'd be worried about the existence of third-party samples. But you know, lots of people think Nord pianos sound/play better than those in many other keyboards, despite using relatively small sample sets. It is possible they have employed some clever techniques to get such good results out of such small sample sets, and it's possible that exposing the file format could potentially give competitors a window into some of their trade secrets. That is, the issue might not be that they don't want third party samples to exist, but rather that they don't want other companies to see how they get such good results out of so little data.

BTW, if you were to sample your own piano, even without any special resonance samples or anything like that, but just with normal velocity mapping and looping, unless you're a pro, odds are the file is going to get very big, in very short order! It would probably not be the best use of the limited piano library space in your Nord, in that--within any reasonable size--I don't think any amateur is likely to end up with a result that sounds nearly as good as the pianos that Nord already provides.

If you want to experiment, you're probably better off using a program like Sample Robot, and loading the soundfont into an iPad app like BS-16i, which also gives you the advantage of not inefficiently using up so much of the Nord's internal memory.

I swear I feel like the only musician these days who doesn't use an iPad

Fallboard wrote:I swear I feel like the only musician these days who doesn't use an iPad

It really can add a lot of functionality to your rig for relatively small investment. A new iPad Mini 4 is $399 (and there are plenty of used perfectly usable iPads for less). A lot of what it does can also be done on an iPod Touch at $199. (Or your iPhone, if you happen to already own one.) Another $100 or so can get you whatever you need in interface/cables and apps.

Though for this soundfont sample thing, your existing computer will probably do just fine. iPads are just a bit more gig-friendly.

Fallboard wrote:I swear I feel like the only musician these days who doesn't use an iPad

+1

I have a MS Surface Pro 3 i7 Windows tablet that has StudioOne and Kontakt on it, but a lot of these apps coming out are iOS only

Windows tablet should be fine for doing what you want. In general, unless you're looking for something specifically with a touch orientation, I doubt there's any MIDI app for iOS that you can find an equivalent-or-better for for Windows. Though it may be more complicated to set up.