Nord User Forum

Some of the latest version of piano sounds (v6.x) have a functional or feature flaw, when compared with their respective previous version (v5.x).
This has been reported through various topics.

This topic aims at capturing these flaws in a single place.

String Resonance
* Available for medium/large/XL Grand Pianos and Uprights, and Harpsichords.
* Not available for small Grand Pianos and Uprights, and the Electric, Digital and Layer pianos.
"If a piano is selected that isn’t compatible with the String Resonance feature, this function will be disabled. This applies to e.g. small (Sml) versions of the grand pianos and uprights, and the electric, digital and layer pianos." (Piano 5 User Manual , Electro 6 User Manual)

Soft / Long Release
* Supported on all Grand Pianos, Uprights, Electric Pianos and Electric Grands
"Piano samples from version 5.3, adds support for the Long Release feature on all Grand Pianos, Uprights, Electric Pianos and Electric Grands."
(https://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-lib ... nformation)
* Unsupported on Clavinets and Harpsichords
"Some Piano types, such as Clavinets and Harpsichords do not support the Soft Release feature." (Piano 5 User Manual , Electro 6 User Manual)

=====
As of February 15th 2024 :

Acoustic Grands :
- Grand Imperial XL / Lrg / Med 6.1 : Soft Release unavailable
- Bright Grand XL / Med 6.1 : Soft Release unavailable
- Studio Grand 2 XL / Med 6.2 : Soft Release unavailable

Acoustic Uprights :
- Romantic Upright Med 6.1 : Soft Release unavailable
- Black Upright Med 6.1 : Soft Release unavailable
- Honky Tonk Sml 6.1 : Soft Release unavailable

Digital Pianos :
- Ballad EP1 Med 6.0 : String Resonance (incorrectly) available

NB : The piano size (e.g Med) is indicated for each confirmed flaw.
But other sizes (Sml, Lrg or XL) may also be affected.

=====
Let me know your findings (other piano sounds, other sizes) so I can update this topic.

(Edited : information on piano features and piano sizes added)

Glad I'm not currently using any of those pianos LOL. Thank you for sharing this.

i never used the M or S pianos, and I recently stopped using L. I don't see the point. Nord is known for their high-quality acoustic piano samples, and we pay a premium to own their technology. So why would I not take advantage of that tech and use the best samples possible.

Several arguments have been put forth on the merits of using the smaller samples. I don't find any of them convincing:

"Your audience can't tell the difference between the larger and smaller samples when you play in a large group."
That's true, but most of my playing is either alone for myself or for others as a solo performer. I want the best sound possible. And even in group environments, there are times the piano is featured alone for a bit. I want the fullest sound possible then too. And if you play in a jazz combo, you will definitely want the XL.

"With S and M you can have a lot more acoustic pianos loaded on your Nord."
That's true but it calls the question - if you have eight or ten acoustics on your board, are you really giving them all equal time? How many almost never get used at all? I have found that having a couple Grands and one good Upright are meeting my needs. Hey, Ahmad Jamal only had one piano when he performed. Why should I downgrade the good pianos so I can have some of the older or weaker ones taking precious memory space?

"Pianos like the Saloon and Honky-Tonk don't need the features that the larger samples include."
That's true, but ask yourself why. It's because these are the "garbage pianos" that we might turn to for a cute moment, but are never going to treat seriously. And if I did need a Saloon for a full performance (say, an old-timey musical), then I would still want the best sample available for it. Since I use a Saloon/Honky sound once in a blue moon, I just use one from the Sample Library and don't bother with Nord's acoustic piano sample.

Nord Acoustic Pianos are like cars - you can only drive so many in your life. Might as well drive the best ones possible.

Gambold wrote:i never used the M or S pianos, and I recently stopped using L. I don't see the point. Nord is known for their high-quality acoustic piano samples, and we pay a premium to own their technology. So why would I not take advantage of that tech and use the best samples possible.

The topic was not meant to be a discussion on the benefit or not of small vs medium vs large vs XL sample.

It is just a list of recent version of piano sounds with the corresponding size that have been verified to have a flaw like lacking the soft release.
When I mention medium for a given piano, it's just because this has been verified on the medium size.
E.g. the Studio Grand 2 v6.2 medium lacks the soft release, but the Large or XL versions probably also.
I will edit the topic to make that more clear.

@Gambold,
As you are using Bright Grand XL 6.1 and Studio Grand 2 XL 6.2, could you tell me if these XL versions support the Soft Release feature ?

I agree fully with Gambold this time! I always use the XL pianos, except where they are unavailable, like with some digital EP sounds etc. I don't need 10 pianos that sound pretty good, rather have 2 or 3 top class ones.

tsss27 wrote:I agree fully with Gambold this time! I always use the XL pianos, except where they are unavailable, like with some digital EP sounds etc. I don't need 10 pianos that sound pretty good, rather have 2 or 3 top class ones.

That's fine. And if you don't use any of the piano sound from the list, that's also fine.
But that's not the point of the topic.

Gambold wrote: Nord Acoustic Pianos are like cars - you can only drive so many in your life. Might as well drive the best ones possible.

Well, it’s relevant in the sense that your functional flaw samples are almost all the smaller sizes. My point if you don’t use these, the flaws become irrelevant.

Gambold wrote:Well, it’s relevant in the sense that your functional flaw samples are almost all the smaller sizes. My point if you don’t use these, the flaws become irrelevant.

I've made the list for the benefit of the whole community.
I haven't restricted this list to the piano sounds I like or use.
Personally, I only use the Grand Imperial from the list.

Again, that's fine if you don't like some of the sounds or you prefer the XL size version.

By the way, would you mind checking whether Bright Grand XL 6.1 and Studio Grand 2 XL 6.2 support the Soft Release ?

PS : I'm surprised that you only use the Large version of the Stockholm EP and not the XL version.