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Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 21 Apr 2023, 21:56
by docbop
The piano library hasn't changed between the Stage 3 and Stage 4, but listening to all the demo put up the piano sounds all sound brighter to me. Many people talk about the piano on other brands of keyboard sound bright so they cut through in band setting. Does the Stage 4 pianos sound brighter to others? Do the new signal routing on the Stage 4 bring about a bright sound?
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 22 Apr 2023, 12:34
by missoundscape
Good question. I have the NS4 next to my NS2EX, and played the same piano samples on both boards. The piano sound on the NS4 has more mid frequency as far as I can tell. This is without any EQ or effects, just plain piano sound. I find it much, much better in comparising to my NS2EX.
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 22 Apr 2023, 13:53
by cphollis
One of the key bits of tech in any keyboard is the digital/analog converter, or DAC. Between the various anecdotal reports as well as comparing recordings, the same samples appear to sound markedly better when played on the NS4 than its predecessors. I bet there's a spiffy new DAC in the design.
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 06 May 2023, 19:26
by catosim
I've just got the NS4, and got to play with it for about 30 mins.
My first impression is that the the piano-sound in the NS4 has more mid-frequency’s and sounds more muffled than the NS3.
I have the NS3 on top of the NS4 so it's easy to do a comparison of the two, and I do prefer the aq. piano in the NS3.
Will surely have to get used to the new character, and also there's plenty of eq opportunities.
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 06 May 2023, 19:45
by WannitBBBad
catosim wrote:I've just got the NS4, and got to play with it for about 30 mins.
My first impression is that the the piano-sound in the NS4 has more mid-frequency’s and sounds more muffled than the NS3.
I have the NS3 on top of the NS4 so it's easy to do a comparison of the two, and I do prefer the aq. piano in the NS3.
Will surely have to get used to the new character, and also there's plenty of eq opportunities.
The Nord manual for the NS4 notes the pianos are optimized when mono bus routing is used, have you noticed a difference there (for the better) that might help explain the new character?
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 06 May 2023, 20:04
by Valpurgis
« The Nord Stage 4 comes with a new enhanced collection of Grands, Uprights and Electric Pianos from our exclusive Nord Piano Library…»
https://www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-stage-4
Anyone knows what is enhanced, mid-frequency?
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 06 May 2023, 20:12
by catosim
Aha...that's the explanation

Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 06 May 2023, 20:15
by catosim
WannitBBBad wrote:
The Nord manual for the NS4 notes the pianos are optimized when mono bus routing is used, have you noticed a difference there (for the better) that might help explain the new character?
No I haven't. But I will try later on (not today).
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 06 May 2023, 22:50
by Nordine
Valpurgis wrote:« The Nord Stage 4 comes with a new enhanced collection of Grands, Uprights and Electric Pianos from our exclusive Nord Piano Library…»
Sorry for this question, does Nord Piano 5 features the same enhancement? I'm waiting for my NP5 to arrive on late June. Thanks.
Re: Stage 4 piano sounds brighter
Posted: 07 May 2023, 10:03
by catosim
Nordine wrote:Valpurgis wrote:« The Nord Stage 4 comes with a new enhanced collection of Grands, Uprights and Electric Pianos from our exclusive Nord Piano Library…»
Sorry for this question, does Nord Piano 5 features the same enhancement? I'm waiting for my NP5 to arrive o late June. Thanks.
Yes it does