Nord Stage EX sounds dull through studio monitors

[svleeuwen]

Hi there,

I recently bought a Nord Stage EX. I'm really happy with the instrument but not with the sound through my monitors. (through my denon receiver + speakers it sounds good)
It sounds a bit dull. It lacks freshness in the higher range.

This is my setup. The NS outputs go to an Alesis IO2 and then to Syrincs M3-220 speakers.

What do you think can improve the sound quality?
I'm wandering if a better audio-interface (like apogee duet) will make a difference.
Maybe better cables or a small mixer so I can do some EQ.

Any ideas or experiences with good setups?

Thanks in advance,
Sander

[RedLeo]

Hi there svleeuwen

I don't think you need a better interface, I'm sure the Alesis is fine. You just need to add a little high frequency EQ to your sounds. You can do this in the Stage EX itself as it has onboard eq, or you could add a small mixer as you suggested. It's just one of these things, different speakers can sound quite different from each other. You know it's not the Stage EX that's the problem, because it sounded good through your other speakers. In time you get used to the fact that your instruments may sound quite different depending on what speakers and amplifiers you are using.

[Johannes]

Indeed try some EQing.
But in my experience, all keyboards I've played so far thru (even very good) studio monitors sound dull and in particular the Piano sounds so bad. I definitively don't recommend playing keys thru Studio Monitors. I know it is inconvenient when you have your studio setup with Monitors but I prefer to have two sets of speakers, or a good hardware multiband EQ as a second best solution.
I played a RD-700NX and Kawai MP-8 thru some Genelec studio monitors just the other day and the sound was seriously unbearable even though they have great piano sounds!

[RedLeo]

Hi Johannes

Just some further thoughts - piano sounds on commercial recordings often have huge amounts of EQ applied, particularly high frequency EQ. (The Eighties are particularly guilty!) The Nord pianos seem to be sampled very naturalistically and it's likely that monitors are "just telling it like it is". I'm guessing that real pianos in studios probably sound pretty dull as well, hence all the EQing, so the Nord piano "sound" is just doing what it should. Perhaps they just sound better through cheaper systems (ie hi-fi systems) because these are frequently designed to artificially enhance both treble and bass. I listen through AKG K701 headphones, and for classical playing, my Stage sounds stunning - but going live I need to add a fair bit of treble to make the same piano work well.

[svleeuwen]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your responses. I might get myself a small eq, like http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/FBQ800.aspx (behringer; always a risk, but it might be worth a shot) Only too bad that it will need another power outlet. It's already too damn full under my desk.

@Johannes, what are good speakers for the nord in your experience?

[Johannes]

For home studio I woulnt mind a Behringer EQ.
Regarding other speakers, there are several topics already here: http://www.norduserforum.com/accessorie ... cation-f8/
Some famous choices include EZ, QSC, MotionSound, Yamahas,... But check the topics out.

[bengeringh]

I actually find the sound of my Nord Stage 2 88 (mainly the piano) very very bad on my studio monitors (using Apogee Duet and JBL monitor speakers). When I use headphones directly through the Nord, the sound is 100% better. Also, I find the sound also through a mixer (when rehearing) by good, so possibly indeed an eq or a separate keyboard amplifier.

[jfenton]

The key to good studio monitors is a wide frequency response. Read the specs. Mine run flat frequency response between 38HZ to 22Khz and sound pretty decent. I've never seen a monitor with less than 8 inch speakers handle the low end well. Mine are ok (but not great) for the mid range so I kept my 5 inch Yamaha for that.

M-Audio BX8a (would have preferred Yamaha HS8 but could not afford them
Yamaha HS50

Works good in my studio but not recommended for live performance.

[srburholt]

This won't make it brighter, but I've had good results and a warmer sound by putting the Nord through a high quality DI box into the mixing desk, eg Radial http://www.radialeng.com/jdistereo.php

[Horacio]

I play my Stage 2 through studio monitors, KRK Rokit6, and it sounds amazing.