Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

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jchau
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Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by jchau »

I recently purchased a Nord Piano 4 and it had a few clicky keys. Additionally, occasionally, when pressing the keys it seemed that the note would play twice or the sound would be choppy (perhaps a triple sensor issue). This happened with normal playing and seemed random on when it occurred. I figured that it was faulty so I requested a replacement. However, while the second one has no clicky keys, it seems that the new one still has the problem of playing notes twice/choppy. Has anyone else experienced this? I am at the point where I think it may be a problem with the design rather than my particular unit. It plays the notes within milliseconds of each other and it seems that the second note has a lower velocity. I have only tested it so far with headphones, so I'm not sure if it occurs through the mono outputs.

EDIT: After playing with it more, sometimes it almost sounds like popping.

Thanks!
Last edited by jchau on 23 May 2020, 23:59, edited 1 time in total.
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pablomastodon
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by pablomastodon »

is this instrument connected to an external midi system? computer, DAW or similar? or stand-alone playing?

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jchau
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by jchau »

It happens when playing standalone. Playing more, I have only able to replicate the issue with the piano section. Though, it's possible that it has just been luck that it has not occurred with the synth section.

Thanks for the help.
Last edited by jchau on 25 May 2020, 11:47, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by lawman »

I also experience an occasional "double tap" note, but I think it is a function of my own technique on acoustic pianos, rather than a flaw in my Nord Grand. My instructor studied with Tobias Matthay, so I have inherited the technique of relaxing my wrists, hands and fingers immediately after striking a note and while holding the key down afterwards (since it takes much more force to initially sound a note than to simply hold the key down). As a result, when I play very very softly on the NG the key return spring tries to push the key back up, and I end up with two sounds, milliseconds apart. Could this also be happening to you when/because you are playing double or triple piano?
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by pablomastodon »

lawman wrote:...double or triple piano?
this confused me at first, but now I'm thinking that you mean pianissimo or pianississimo?

to the OP, jchau, this multiple triggering report is unusual, and that triple-contact action has been out in the marketplace for some extended time now, in NP4 and also NP3.

Hopefully you purchased this new? If so, and if the instrument is less than 30 days old, request replacement through dealer first, and if they do not wish to help you 1) seek a solution under warranty, and 2) never purchase anything from that dealer again. If more than 30 days old, seek warranty solution.

Completing a tech support request on the Nord website will put you in direct contact with the appropriate personnel with the US distributor to assist you with warranty solution, and at the same time alert appropriate personnel in Sweden as to your problem.

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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by lawman »

You're right, Pablo, I meant pianissimo or pianississimo. I continue to think that this is not a design flaw. It only occurs for me when I'm playing so softly that the upward force of the return spring is about the same as the small pressure of my finger holding the key down, as lightly as possible, after striking the note. It works like on a charm on my Steinway B, but there are no return springs under its keys to fight my fingers/hand. I'd be interested to know if jchau experiences this problem when playing forte.
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by nO_one »

Sorry for reviving this age-old thread, but this is the only mention I've found of an issue I am having with my 73 Key Nord Piano 5...

Like the OP, I keep experiencing double notes, where a key seems to retrigger a millisecond after the original note rings.

It seems to happen more often on one particular C-Note, but I do feel I have encountered the problem with other notes aswell.

The problem however, is that it happens so sporadically... so it's quite hard to recreate on the spot. Here's a small video of me trying anyway:

https://youtu.be/dUc9hpSNUeM

Could this be, as suggested above, that this phenomenon arises solely by combination of unorthodox technique and the triple sensor keybed? :?
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by FZiegler »

I'm not sure that I could hear a double note.

You didn't mention if MIDI is involved in your case?
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by nO_one »

FZiegler wrote: 17 Aug 2024, 14:01 I'm not sure that I could hear a double note.

You didn't mention if MIDI is involved in your case?
Thanks for the quick reply! :thumbup: There's no MIDI involved, just the internal sounds.

And yes, you are right. It is not the best video showcasing what I mean...
Like I mentioned, it is very hard to reliably recreate it...
It just happens ever so often when playing. Especially when playing pianissimo or pianississimo softly. This also leads me to think it could be a triple sensor issue.

I will try to get a better recording right away!
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Re: Notes playing twice/choppy/popping

Post by nO_one »

Alright, here's another little video:

https://youtu.be/YyZm4GIYxgs?feature=shared

In these examples it seems to be the 2nd or 3rd time playing the C note in a row, that just seems off. Again, sometimes it is even more pronounced, but it is really hard to recreate :(
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