Nord User Forum

Hello! I recently got a nord electro 6hp, and am loving it! Through headphones it sounds great, but When in a band setting it sounds meh. Especially the piano sounds. I use two 6meter long trs cables that go from the nord directly into the stereo line in the mixer. Often i feel im not loud enough compared to the band and end up having to turn the volume on the nord almost all the way up which makes it sound slighty distorted/amplified. Do i need a di box? Different cables? Im pretty the nord isnt the problem as it sounds great through headphones. I use a allen&heath ZED-10 mixer, and use rhe ST-2 channel. Thank you in advance..

Well, don't do that!!

The ST-2 channels on the ZED-10 mixer are expecting +4dBu and you're generating -10dBu. 14 dB is a lot of gain to lose!

- try coming in on a pair of instrument/vocal channels, save the ST-2 for home audio gear and similar
- if you stay on the ST-2, buy something to boost your signal (inexpensive powered stereo DI, e.g. Behringer or similar)
- if you use separate channels, don't forget to pan each channel L/R
- if one channel is mis-wired for phase, you'll completely nuke your sound

Properly configured in a band setting, my Nords are plenty loud!

You didn't mention what speakers you are listening through, and that makes a *huge* difference.

1. the outputs on the nord are not balanced, so you should be using TS cables not TRS cables
2. the is a gain knob on the mixer to set the input sensitivity of the channel on the mixer, you should be setting/adjusting that level so you don’t have to push the nord outputs to max.

Thank you so much man!!! Ill try it in a few hours when im back! Is there anyway to run stereo through the instrument/vocal channels? Should i use two different channels?

cgrafx wrote: 28 Oct 2025, 17:33 1. the outputs on the nord are not balanced, so you should be using TS cables not TRS cables
2. the is a gain knob on the mixer to set the input sensitivity of the channel on the mixer, you should be setting/adjusting that level so you don’t have to push the nord outputs to max.

Thanks! I’ll try that. I though it made no difference..

Nux2208 wrote: 28 Oct 2025, 17:35 Is there anyway to run stereo through the instrument/vocal channels? Should i use two different channels?

cphollis wrote: 28 Oct 2025, 17:25 - if you use separate channels, don't forget to pan each channel L/R

Panned hard left and right, your two mono channels are in stereo configuration.

Nux2208 wrote: 28 Oct 2025, 17:38

cgrafx wrote: 28 Oct 2025, 17:33 1. the outputs on the nord are not balanced, so you should be using TS cables not TRS cables
2. the is a gain knob on the mixer to set the input sensitivity of the channel on the mixer, you should be setting/adjusting that level so you don’t have to push the nord outputs to max.

Thanks! I’ll try that. I though it made no difference..

TS cables are ideal, but TRS can work as well in many situations.

As above, if you use two instrument/mic channels, pan one of them hard right, the other hard left. Put your Nords at maybe 1-2 o'clock, and crank the gain up on the mixer. You should be good.

Part of your challenge is the mixer, it's a very old analog design. The ZED-10 looks to have 4 suitable instrument/mic channels (-4dBu), the rest are for devices etc. and all look to be be expecting +10dBu -- all of the latter would require something like a powered DI to boost levels.

Some what tangential, the Behringer XR-18 is the current "go to" digital mixer for small bands. Lots of inputs, lots of outputs, mix from a tablet, plenty of gain, nice FX -- all for around $500 USD new, much less used.

cphollis wrote: 28 Oct 2025, 17:56 Part of your challenge is the mixer, it's a very old analog design. The ZED-10 looks to have 4 suitable instrument/mic channels (-4dBu), the rest are for devices etc. and all look to be be expecting +10dBu -- all of the latter would require something like a powered DI to boost levels.

Warning, don't confuse dBV with dBu, the difference is actually smaller and just some attention with levels/gains is needed to use a consumer device on a professional Line input or viceversa https://audiouniversityonline.com/consu ... ifference/

On Zed10FX the Stereo Line inputs ST1/2 are 0dBu nominal (Professional Line level) and ST1 has a Gain control too. https://www.allen-heath.com/content/upl ... asheet.pdf