Nord User Forum

Hi all
Just got my new stage 3 76 and setting up some sounds for gigging

Question

Can I layer two samples in each synth engine?
I see I can have two oscillators in a synth engine
So wondered as it would be useful to have a thicker brass or sting sound.

Also in the synth presets I can’t see any strings or others but when I initialise the synth I can scroll through everything
But it sounds raw.

Also how do I flick through each synth or sample sound how do I reset only the settings and not have to initialise it?

Yxh

The Nord Stage manual is not a thick monster but a nice piece to easily get through! You definitely should have a look into the synth section.

Answer to your first question: It depends on the type of 1st oscillator if you have a second one or not. Not only with samples, you don't have a 2nd oscillator.

Ok so it’s quite a simple sample player then without any layers?

Tristanmac wrote:Ok so it’s quite a simple sample player then without any layers?

As @FZiegler said, user manual is really easy to use and read. I don't own any Nord yet, but I've read whole Stage 3 manual few times and it's quite intuitive. Short answer, no it's not possible to layer two samples on the same A or B panel.

But there is workaround to make something similar. If you use Nord Sample Editor, you can record each of the 2 or more samples you want to layer together and connect them into one sample.
But there is a catch, before recording your samples into a DAW or Sample Editor, you should make all your desired settings for each sample to get what you want from them. Because when you connect those 2 or more samples together into one, and load them into Nord, there will be no way to control different parameters for each independent sample, because they're all layered together into one.
So Nord reads them as one sample --> all effects, parameters inside synth section affect that whole sample (group you made)... but there you have it, that's the way you can have more than two sample layers on any Nord, but it's a little bit limited, so how useful is that depends on your needs.

P.S. don't forget to read manual, it's really necessary and important to get most out of your stage 3. I don't get people who own that beautiful keyboard and don't read manual and do some research. I can't afford it at a moment, but I've done so so many research, read so much stuff about it, watched many many videos, and had a chance to play it 3-4 times in my local store for 1 or 2 hours... that's all... but it's worth it to me, and can't wait a day when I'll probably own one.

Tristanmac wrote:Ok so it’s quite a simple sample player then without any layers?

Yes, there is only one sound layer for the whole velocity range.

But you can shape the sound according to velocity with the Mod Envelope and the Amp Envelope. So, no, it's not a simple sample player.

Dig into it and try a bit. It'll take a few days to get through all the possibilities.

And if you want to fatten a sound, you'll find ways to do it. Try Unison, for example.

Hi and welcome to the forum. If you are adverse to reading the manual, there are a few good tutorials on YouTube that you might find more to your liking. A little time invested produces great results.

Hi all, thanks for all the very helpful hints, yes of course I will be reading the manual once it gets unpacked!
I do get it re the samples, I guess I was coming from eh Kronos world where you can layer until your brain explodes...

However I didn't get this board for being very production heavy - as its a live board for me. I just want to do my best to recreate
some of those cover record sounds on stage.

I suppose I could use the External section and run MainStage with fancy sampled loops or others, then set up a keyboard split.

My only question if that's the case, is do I send back this 76 key version and get the 88? Another reason for thinking to swallow it over
are that when I go to hit the low 'c', its not there!

Thx

thanks!

I suppose what started my thinking was that I wanted to set up a rock solid live sound set to include:
Piano/B3 on most of the keys, then the top split to have a brass sound (which I did and it of course easy), however,
When I set up a decent brass ensemble I wanted to add the cool brass 'fall' sample when I hit harder notes at the end of phrases -
but I see I can't do that unless I use both synth sections just for brass...

FZiegler wrote:

Tristanmac wrote:Ok so it’s quite a simple sample player then without any layers?

Yes, there is only one sound layer for the whole velocity range.

But you can shape the sound according to velocity with the Mod Envelope and the Amp Envelope. So, no, it's not a simple sample player.

Dig into it and try a bit. It'll take a few days to get through all the possibilities.

And if you want to fatten a sound, you'll find ways to do it. Try Unison, for example.

A Nord Stage 3 isn't always the better live instrument. Depends on your needs. If it was different, you'd have to see a Nord on stage everywhere - which is not the case.

I'm glad, for example, that I don't need brass sounds (as I've got enough brass around me in the band): You will not have the same features as on a workstation. To get a brass smear, you'll have to use the pitch stick. You can set its (synth) range in the Sound settings.

But again, I'd suggest that you have a deep look into how a Nord Stage is going to be played - and it may take a few months until you can say if you like the concept or not. In my eyes, it's a great tool for people who want to make decent music with a reasonable effort. The manual is here: https://www.nordkeyboards.com/sites/def ... on%20M.pdf. Around 55 pages to be read. No need to unpack it from the box.

Interesting thanks,

So what your saying is that perhaps its not the best option for me as a live keyboard?

If its not built for live, then who is it build for?

I assumed as it was super easy to build a patch, piano/organ/pads, easily turn on/off or blend, and sounded great that it would be ideal for the meat and potatoes of any keys player?

FZiegler wrote:A Nord Stage 3 isn't always the better live instrument. Depends on your needs. If it was different, you'd have to see a Nord on stage everywhere - which is not the case.

I'm glad, for example, that I don't need brass sounds (as I've got enough brass around me in the band): You will not have the same features as on a workstation. To get a brass smear, you'll have to use the pitch stick. You can set its (synth) range in the Sound settings.

But again, I'd suggest that you have a deep look into how a Nord Stage is going to be played - and it may take a few months until you can say if you like the concept or not. In my eyes, it's a great tool for people who want to make decent music with a reasonable effort. The manual is here: https://www.nordkeyboards.com/sites/def ... on%20M.pdf. Around 55 pages to be read. No need to unpack it from the box.