Nord User Forum

Hi all,

I find it frustrating that the first few programs on the Nord S4 aren't great general setups for that most of us would use for most situations. None of them make use of Layer Scene II. None are great general piano/pad piano/organ programs etc.

On my old 2ex my first setup was a super bright piano with pad on footswell, then standard B3 ready to switch on and fade in on pedal. Then Slot B had a nice Rhodes. This was all I need for most piano / jazz / church gigs etc. Then programme 2 was a bright wurli for blues, 3 was a screaming B3, 4 was layered brass, 5 DX7 style keys.

The idea being I could switch on and play almost anything at the touch of a button. Obviously setups for specific songs were needed, but that's not my main use-case.

So how about a few of us work out what the top 5 programs could be on the Stage 4? I think it would be really useful for every Stage 4 user to download. When you first get the keyboard it's hard to even find a decent acoustic piano.

Thoughts...?
Mike.

People keep forgetting Nord is a SMALL company so they can't do everything at once. So they are busy manufacturing keyboards to get them to people. Then will be busy in the usual debugging phase all companies go through after a new products is released, then will have enough feedback from pros and customers to making tutoring video and making minor changes like programs. It's a process and the smaller the company that long that process takes.

It seems to me that Mike “spradders” is making a request for collaboration rather than a critique of the patches that come with the S4.

100% be lee vit.

I haven't forgotten that they're a small company - it's just frustrating that there are some good setups but they're all over the place and few make good use of the full functions of the board. Hence my suggestion "So how about a few of us work out what the top 5 programs could be on the Stage 4? I think it would be really useful for every Stage 4 user to download." I think it would be a useful resource, especially for people new to the keyboard.

I just found patch E12 which is one of the J3PO patches; it's got a good combo of piano / ep / pad / organ etc and could be a useful starting point. E31 is a nice pair of Hammonds... so there are good programs about but could be tweaked, grouped, shared with the forum.

Let's see if others are up for it ... or not

spradders wrote: 100% be lee vit.

I haven't forgotten that they're a small company - it's just frustrating that there are some good setups but they're all over the place and few make good use of the full functions of the board. Hence my suggestion "So how about a few of us work out what the top 5 programs could be on the Stage 4? I think it would be really useful for every Stage 4 user to download." I think it would be a useful resource, especially for people new to the keyboard.

I just found patch E12 which is one of the J3PO patches; it's got a good combo of piano / ep / pad / organ etc and could be a useful starting point. E31 is a nice pair of Hammonds... so there are good programs about but could be tweaked, grouped, shared with the forum.

Let's see if others are up for it ... or not

I like the idea and would try helping to get those 5 sounds. Hopefully my knowledge is sufficient.

Let us start. Attachted you can find a few files and mp3-Soundfiles.

Oooo I was heading in a different direction - so far I've done:
1. Main program: Expressive piano, Rhodes to add as a layer, mellow pad and bright strings to fade in, mellow organ to fade in. So this is a go-to piano program suitable for almost any song, with other layers ready to fade. - this would be a useful program to share for everyone new to the Stage 4, I think.
2. Bright wurli
3. Sweet Rhodes - I should have added this is a scene II on the above, so I have one go-to program for EP.
4. Organ (based on B3 screamer program), some drive etc ready for funk / solos etc
5. 80s keys layer (dx7 etc)
6. Brass section - not yet done
7. Funky clav

I'd thought of creating a simple spreadsheet with program name (or aim), organ A/B, piano A/B, Synth A/B/C, effects - showing a high level description of what the aim for each program is, then working on creating absolute killer setups for each. Maybe it's too subjective what everyone needs.

I think it would be helpful to move this topic to the NS4 Programs and Presets page. Some of the sounds noted above like "Bright Wurli" and "Sweet Rhodes" are perfect for sharing as Presets so they can be easily used in other Programs. To that point, maybe this should be expanded to include top 5 organ, piano, and synth presets as well.

I prepared a Google Sheet where we can collaborate.
I suggest that we edit one layer of a programme/preset per line. I.e. if we were to create a programme with 7 layers, we would have 7 lines. Otherwise it would become confusing. Afterwards, we can also create the other view with a PivotSheet. For demonstration purposes, I have entered examples in both the "Program" and "Preset" sheets. What do you think?

I feel the same way. From such an expensive keyboard one should expect very good and practicable layers in the first 10 programs. Most programs are not suitable.