Nord User Forum

Hi,

Like KORG, they offer/(ed) to upgrade their PA arrangers RAM from 128Mb to 256Mb. even for KRONOS keyboards —if I'm not wrong— from 512Mb to 1Gb or so.

Now, what if Clavia would allow us to just upgrade our RAM from 1Gb to 2Gb, 3Gb or 4Gb thus allowing us to load more samples and more pianos? There will be no need (maybe) to buy a new NS or NP or NE, maybe Clavia would only release new OS updates and that's it.

Well, it's just a dream I already know it will never happen.

RAM has completely different meaning in the context of a conventional-computer-based workstation like the Kronos. They have a regular little computer inside running virtual instruments in a Linux computer OS in their regular computer RAM (3GB max on the Kronos 1). And the Kronos actually supports 1TB of SSD storage on conventional SSDs, for samples.

Nords don't have working "RAM" in that sense. Their architecture is completely different.

Hi,

@analogica: I agree with you, but my guess is that Clavia are using Unix or Linux

In my case on macOS Ventura, tried to open the UPDATE NORD PIANO 5 OS V1.24.app/Contents/MacOS/Nord OS Update with HexEdit.app it tells me that it's Unix.executable file.

So it could be possible to have SSD in Nord Keyboards even though they might have their own chipsets that hold all the data. But anyway, I might be wrong though.

Hi Nordine,

the update app for MacOS is of course a Unix app, since MacOS is based on Unix. But that’s just the program which loads the system software into the Nord, and this system software is completely independent of the update app. You also won’t tell that the Nord is based on Windows just because Nord is also offering an update app which is a native Windows application

The Nord architecture is far from anything needed to run a Unix system as far as I can tell

Yes, you're right @Scorsch.

I think the way forward for Nord would be to simply include an SSD inside. This is how the Kronos and Nautilus work, as well as the Sequential Prophet X. Alternatively they could include a slot for additional flash memory, kind of like how the Yamaha Motif XF and MOXF allowed you to purchase extra flash boards...but of course neither of these options would help owners of current models.

In reality I suspect neither of these options are at all likely, sadly. And honestly no matter how much some of us would like this, Nord probably feels it is unnecessary given how much data they've been able to fit into a few gigs of sample memory as it is.

Already discussed so many times... the current Nord architecture is not a "computer in a keyboard" like Kronos or Motif or other similar products, that use some standard HW (at least for the CPU and general processing part) running some customized Linux OS. It is a custom architecture based on dedicated MCU and DSPs and that "RAM" is fast access Flash SRAM soldered on the mainboard.

PS: in technology guessing is not a good practice, it is more about knowing and in as much detail as possible, but luckily information is not so difficult to find today , even just on NUF, for example general-nord-forum-f29/which-dsp-or-mic ... 23112.html

tsss27 wrote:I think the way forward for Nord would be to simply include an SSD inside. This is how the Kronos and Nautilus work, as well as the Sequential Prophet X.

Since an SSD is too slow to stream samples off of, this requires an operating system capable of pre-loading samples from the SSD into RAM — which requires actual RAM, and a conventional CPU to run that operating system.

Your suggestion is a bit like suggesting that the way forward for e-Bike manufacturer van Moof would be to simply include a gasoline tank. This is how Ducati and Harley-Davidson work, as well as the BMW G310.

analogika wrote:

tsss27 wrote:
Since an SSD is too slow to stream samples off of, this requires an operating system capable of pre-loading samples from the SSD into RAM — which requires actual RAM, and a conventional CPU to run that operating system.

Hi! Now I catch the idea of why they don't use any RAM or any SSD. Good point @analogica, Thanks for the good clarification.