Differences between V6 and V5 piano samples

[Scorps]

Hello!

I recently discovered that Clavia has released enhanced, version 6.x samples of all their sounds in the Piano Library - pianos EPs, clavinet, harpsichord and everything else.
I have downloaded a few of them. There seems to be somewhat different velocity response and different "texture" in the new sounds (especially for my all time favourite piano for solo and mellow needs, the Studio Grand 2). Not bad at all, but takes a bit to get accustomed to.

Does anyone know or have information about the technical differences between the older and newer versions?

What are your thoughts about the updated sounds? Which versions do you like more?

[FZiegler]

The *.npno version 6 was introduced end of 2018 and allowed the EP Dyno filters (for Rhodes sounds first, now with Wurlys, too).

[FZiegler]

B.T.W. there are indeed a lot of new versions of the piano samples - the ones that some guys had before discovered in the NP5 recovery file. I also updated the piano samples list here.

[JeffLearman]

The *.npno version 6 was introduced end of 2018 and allowed the EP Dyno filters (for Rhodes sounds first, now with Wurlys, too).

Thanks! Can you explain this a bit more? I'm pretty well-versed in sampling tech, having created many of my own sampled instruments, starting with a Prophet 2002 back in the 90's, then SF2, and now SFZ as well as (sadly limited) NE user samples. What are these "EP Dyno" filters? (I know what a Dyno Rhodes is/was, though I don't use the Dyno EPs on my NE6.)

[JeffLearman]

V6 piano samples also provide "Dynamic Compression" (at the moment only for the Stage 4 and the Piano 5).

[maxpiano]

The *.npno version 6 was introduced end of 2018 and allowed the EP Dyno filters (for Rhodes sounds first, now with Wurlys, too).

Thanks! Can you explain this a bit more? I'm pretty well-versed in sampling tech, having created many of my own sampled instruments, starting with a Prophet 2002 back in the 90's, then SF2, and now SFZ as well as (sadly limited) NE user samples. What are these "EP Dyno" filters? (I know what a Dyno Rhodes is/was, though I don't use the Dyno EPs on my NE6.)

They are basically a set of pre-defined EQ curves, part of Piano Section. You can find the description of those filters on the manuals of models that support them (e.g. NE6, NS3 or 4, NP5), on NS4 they are under "Timbre" control of Piano Section, for example:

Screenshot 5.png (95.01 KiB) Viewed 4669 times

[FZiegler]

V6 piano samples also provide "Dynamic Compression" (at the moment only for the Stage 4 and the Piano 5).

Yes, but I'm not sure if this is part of all the 6.x versions. That might have been introduced later on.

I'm quite confident nobody can tell the difference between the 6.0, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 standards (except Nord personnel), and I don't see any logic in the different levels of the recent piano remakes.

There's a third thing that I don't see as necessarily being related to a certain sample version: The names of the piano categories. There was a point in the past when the system of piano categories got changed due to the invention of the Layer category. I think this was already done during the V5 series.

EDIT: There is a small evidence that the compression algorithm may have changed as well - but only the White Grand and the Electric Grand Amped have taken profit through a significantly smaller size, Studio Grand 2 even having vastly encreased in size.

[maurus]

There seems to be somewhat different velocity response and different "texture" in the new sounds (especially for my all time favourite piano for solo and mellow needs, the Studio Grand 2). Not bad at all, but takes a bit to get accustomed to.

I finally got round to check out the new 6.2 version of the Studio Grand 2 (on my Electro 5), and made a direct comparison with the 5.3 version I already had. It's a very substantial and welcome upgrade indeed! Clearly it is the same piano, but the clarity has generally been improved and, most importantly, the one big weakness of the older Studio Grand 2 has been dealt with: all too weak octaves at the top. This new Studio Grand 2 shines in the top 2-3 octaves now - a joy to play.

A big change in overall character and playability. For me, the new Studio Grand 2 is among the very best pianos in Nord's library. Warm and mellow at the bottom, singing in the solo range and brilliant at the upper end. LOVE IT. Or, to put it in another way: definitely worth a try!

I'll check out the other updates to V6 (where there are) when I find the time. And even if they didn't make a lot of noise about their upgrade, Clavia has demonstrated again that they listen to musicians' feedback. This weakness of the older Studio Grand 2 was well known and talked about here for a long time...

[Spider]

There seems to be somewhat different velocity response and different "texture" in the new sounds (especially for my all time favourite piano for solo and mellow needs, the Studio Grand 2). Not bad at all, but takes a bit to get accustomed to.

I finally got round to check out the new 6.2 version of the Studio Grand 2 (on my Electro 5), and made a direct comparison with the 5.3 version I already had. It's a very substantial and welcome upgrade indeed! Clearly it is the same piano, but the clarity has generally been improved and, most importantly, the one big weakness of the older Studio Grand 2 has been dealt with: all too weak octaves at the top. This new Studio Grand 2 shines in the top 2-3 octaves now - a joy to play.

A big change in overall character and playability. For me, the new Studio Grand 2 is among the very best pianos in Nord's library. Warm and mellow at the bottom, singing in the solo range and brilliant at the upper end. LOVE IT. Or, to put it in another way: definitely worth a try!

I'll check out the other updates to V6 (where there are) when I find the time. And even if they didn't make a lot of noise about their upgrade, Clavia has demonstrated again that they listen to musicians' feedback. This weakness of the older Studio Grand 2 was well known and talked about here for a long time...

That's VERY interesting!
I went to the Piano library and noticed another thing: The Studio Grand 2 V6 versions greatly expanded in size, they are more or less twice as big as the V5 samples, and are now comparable to the size of the most recent samples.

Most important, there is an XL sample available!!! The other "old" pianos are still available only in S, M and L size with V5 versions... maybe Clavia is finally upgrading the old samples, the Studio Grand 2 was the first and hopefully we'll get the others too?
That would be amazing: people have been saying for years that samples like the Grand Lady D and Studio Grand were among Clavia's best, and it would be great if they were available in XL size. Maybe I just wasn't up to date with the new developments of the library, was this already noticed?

[Spider]

+1 the release of Studio Grand 2 v6.2 https://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-lib ... io-grand-2 is a quite relevant piece of news!

I think it deserves a thread of its own.

PS: I also see White Grand is now v6.3 on the Nord Piano library page, was this already noticed?