Nord User Forum

Sorry for the stupid question, but it haunts me.
Samples of the piano on my Nord 2Ex Compact (without EQ and effects) do not sound as bright as on demos from the Nord or demo from YouTube (Especially in the left hand). The synth section and organ section sounds good. Should I use the EQ to get the same bright sound as on the demo from the Nord site or is it the result of some error for the device?
My setup: NS2EX Compact => 2 TS CABLES => Audio interface: Focusrite Scarlett18i20 or the Apogee Ensemble (Pan to the left and right <_>). Exit settings in menu NS2 are set correctly. My home headphones Sennheiser 206 HD.
Thanks

Hi,

it could be caused by many different things imho, like EQ being used in the demos to make up the sound or something in your amplification chain that might have an impact on your sound. Also the keybed may have an impact, a hammer action triggers piano sounds velocity and therefore the sound differently than the keybed of the NS2ex compact.

Did you try to connect your headphones to the NS2 directly and check if the same happens?

Schorsch wrote: Also the keybed may have an impact, a hammer action triggers piano sounds velocity and therefore sound differently from the keybed of the NS2ex compact.

+1 and also the individual touch (of the player) can make a difference.

Also, are you comparing to NS2 demos or NS3 demos?

The first thing I noticed when I switched from a Stage 2 compact to a Stage 3 compact was that the 3 sounded a bit brighter overall, especially noticeably in the pianos. This was a bit problematic in the organs and required some adjusting to my taste, but this sort of high-end "sheen" really improved the pianos and synth.

analogika wrote:Also, are you comparing to NS2 demos or NS3 demos?

The first thing I noticed when I switched from a Stage 2 compact to a Stage 3 compact was that the 3 sounded a bit brighter overall, especially noticeably in the pianos. This was a bit problematic in the organs and required some adjusting to my taste, but this sort of high-end "sheen" really improved the pianos and synth.

Interesting, my take going from NS2 to NS3 was that there was better overall fidelity in the newer version, like a DAC improvement had been made. It did not seem brighter to me, only clearer-

-dj

Schorsch wrote:Hi,

it could be caused by many different things imho, like EQ being used in the demos to make up the sound or something in your amplification chain that might have an impact on your sound. Also the keybed may have an impact, a hammer action triggers piano sounds velocity and therefore the sound differently than the keybed of the NS2ex compact.

Did you try to connect your headphones to the NS2 directly and check if the same happens?

Connection headphones directly - it is first what i did. Only volume has changed - it became louder, but character of samples did not change.
Probably the totality of all factors (using of Nord 3, eq on the record and the difference in keybeds) gives such a difference in sound. I have no doubt in my recording equipment.
I didn't even think that demo could be played on NS3. On my NS2EX Compact Samples of Upright Pianos just disappointed me. They sounds like from other room or out of a the box. And is brightly expressed character of the piano case. It seems to me that the Clavia wanted to show the nuances of the sound of the whole instrument, but they forgot that the main thing is a hammer blow to the string. For me his not non -working. The EQ makes a little better, but definitely not for this price. Grand pianos not bad, but not the best. Maybe in the mix another situation.

maxpiano wrote:

Schorsch wrote: Also the keybed may have an impact, a hammer action triggers piano sounds velocity and therefore sound differently from the keybed of the NS2ex compact.

+1 and also the individual touch (of the player) can make a difference.

I tried to play with different power. I think that the fact is that the demo is not a dry sound played on Nord3 (probably).

analogika wrote:Also, are you comparing to NS2 demos or NS3 demos?

The first thing I noticed when I switched from a Stage 2 compact to a Stage 3 compact was that the 3 sounded a bit brighter overall, especially noticeably in the pianos. This was a bit problematic in the organs and required some adjusting to my taste, but this sort of high-end "sheen" really improved the pianos and synth.

I don’t know which keys used to record (NS2 or NS3) on the keyboard website
But I compared the sound of demos NS2 on YouTube and the sound of my NS2EX and I hear some difference. I contacted one of the players, asked how NS2EX was recorded. He said that a little compression and reverb, no EQ.
But most demo really are recorded on 88/76 keys hammer action. Maybe the difference of sound is because of this


My question is this: how often do you use the EQ when playing solo on the Grand Pianos and Upright Pianos. Using EQ is a normal practice for the sound of a piano or not. It seemed to me that the EQ section for EP's, synths and organs. I played on NS3 88 key and the sound is completely different, closer to the truth + separate delicate EQ specially on the piano section.

P.S. Sorry for my english and thanks for your opinions

Your English is fine! Thank you for making the effort!

I hardly ever use the pianos without some sort of at least light EQ. Depending upon what I want it for.

You know that NS3 not only has an EQ section in the effects range, but also the EQ button for pianos. I use both - the preconfigured piano EQ button in a first place. You don't have that on a NS2ex.

I found that I have to change a lot if I use another keyboard to play the same sound (via MIDI) or use another amp - that's way more delicate than I thought.

analogika wrote:Your English is fine! Thank you for making the effort!

God bless Google Translate

analogika wrote: I hardly ever use the pianos without some sort of at least light EQ. Depending upon what I want it for.

It calms me.( I bought Nord not new ). In this case, I need to pay more attention to EQ settings. Thanks!

FZiegler wrote:You know that NS3 not only has an EQ section in the effects range, but also the EQ button for pianos. I use both - the preconfigured piano EQ button in a first place. You don't have that on a NS2ex.

I found that I have to change a lot if I use another keyboard to play the same sound (via MIDI) or use another amp - that's way more delicate than I thought.

Yes, there is a EQ button for piano section on the NS3, settings made specifically for piano timbres. This is very useful function, imho! It's a shame that there is no such button on the NS2EX.
And if use other midi-device for playing synth you need to consider the difference in velocity, aftertouch and maybe other parameters. But I did not think that one synth model with different versions of the keyboard gives different sound. All life is study.

Koss2003 wrote:Samples of the piano on my Nord 2Ex Compact (without EQ and effects) do not sound as bright as on demos from the Nord or demo from YouTube

Why compare? Just make the piano sound like the way you want it to sound! Grab those EQ settings and play with them until you find yourself the sound you're looking for