Nord User Forum

Hi, I have searched and am not finding anything. I'm a new Stage 3 owner. Completely in love with this thing! But I'm finding the preset programs to be really random. One patch is a grand piano, and the next is some synth sound, and then an organ, etc. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to their order. So have a list would be great. What am I missing here?

Hi, you can use the Nord Sound Manager to export the Programs list. You can also browse Programs by Category, directly on NS3, using the List function in Cat mode (see NS3 manual for details about that),

Besides, there is a menu item to disable memory protetion. From that point on, the content of the program list is totally up to you!

The way stock programs are sorted from factory makes sense from a "display" point of view, so that when one tries the instrument at a shop, he can have a overall view of what it can do. So the sorting criterion is kind of "as varied from each other as possible".

I personally have completely turned mine upside down in terms of programs and sorting, and I think I have left only a few synth patches from the original ones.

Stage programs are meant to be customized !
Use the Nord Sound Manager to view all programs and reorder/delete/create programs as you wish.

Another way to have a look at all the program presets is to launch the Program Viewer application and load the Stage backup file.

Fred

I found the category browse mode, thanks for pointing that out. And I do understand everything can be replaced, but for now, I'm just learning, and am also immensely enjoying playing around with all the presets that are pre-loaded, out of the box. It's simply a stunning instrument. I keep using this word to describe it to anyone who will listen: inspiring!

I too am a new Nord Stage 3 owner and have the same concern expressed by "dansnord." I wish there were an easier way to switch between programs and understand I should be able to re-group them as has been mentioned in earlier posts. I would just like to have all the Organ programs in one category and Piano and Synth in their own respective categories. Would any of you be able to be more specific in how I would use the Nord Sound Manager to accomplish this? Maybe there is a video tutorial that I could access? Thanks

You may find a Nord Sound Manager manual on the Nord website or a video tutorial from Marc Larochelle (MyKeysToMusic) on Youtube.

PSA: When you fire up your Nord Stage 3 for the first time, set aside an hour or two or three to go through all the preset programs.. and then go through all the raw samples. Make a note on paper of which programs and samples you think that you'll never use (eg pan flute, etc etc).. Then after you've gone through all the programs and samples, open up your Sound Manager in Organize / Split view and sort them by name or number and start deleting EVERYTHING YOU WROTE DOWN ON PAPER. Don't fret - if you ever need them again, they are available to you to restore. Then start dragging and dropping your remaining programs into banks or however you want them sorted. What you'll end up with is a monster synth customized to your liking and you should now have a boat load of memory left in the board to make your own programs/samples or download/purchase new ones from this site, nordusersounds.com, Nords online library, or other 3rd party sources. Don't worry about deleting anything from the factory - you can always get them back if you want to. Make the Stage 3 your own board the way you want it. This is the brilliance of Nord. It's so simple to do and the flexibility is absolutely incredible (especially if you play live)..

When you're done purging your Nord, go through the samples again and sort by size. Look at the largest samples and ask yourself "Do I really need this sample on my keyboard?". Ask yourself out loud, don't just think about it.. If the answer is "No", then delete it... Keep deleting the largest samples that you know you don't really need.

Trust me, after you do this, you'll have enough memory left on the Stage 3 for your needs.

If you're still need more memory, buy another NS3 now or wait for the NS4 that will be in stores in March 2023.

Fully agree, even if I haven't followed the advice yet - still escaping from my own decision to do it.

Except:

PolishPrince wrote:If you're still need more memory, buy another NS3 now or wait for the NS4 that will be in stores in March 2023.

I think I see a new Nord product (NS4 AFAIK) in March on Youtube, but not in the stores.

Besides: Dive into those sounds and then put them aside! Fun doubles if you chase for your own ones, even if you take some factory sounds as a starting point. You won't remember all, I think - sorted or not.