Nord User Forum

Please excuse my relative cluelessness. I'm trying to find some new sounds to improve upon my library. Is it possible to load new third party sounds, like Scarbee Vintage Keys for instance, onto the NS2? Or can they only be played while it is connected to the computer using their program (player?)? I really want to find a more pleasing Rhodes sound/collection. If this was covered in the manual, I either missed or didn't understand it.
Thanks!

Hello Hambone,

You can import new sounds into a NS2 using the software "Nord Sample Editor" that comes with the keyboard. Just download it from Clavia's web site, and have a look to the manual : http://www.nordkeyboards.com/main.asp?tm=Software_Tools
One need to say that this solution is well suited for synth sounds, not for piano / e-pianos.
A sound like those is Scarbee contains many samples for one note, a sound sampled into "Nord Sample Editor" has only on sample per note.

Please forgive me if my questions are stupid, I'm always surprised when I read someone unsatisfied with nord's e-pianos :
Have you tried all Rhodes available for download on clavia's website ? http://www.nordkeyboards.com/main.asp?t ... tric_Piano
Have you tweaked them with the effects ?

I do not own Scarbee, I play a lot with "Lounge Lizard" and "Eletric" (Ableton's modeled e-apiano) and "Tension" (Ableton again) and various audio effects.
Should I try Scarbee ... ?

Yep, Scarbee is the best in my opinion and I would love to have those samples on stage without computer.

I do think that Yamaha CP5 has great Rhodes but the weight is too much.

When I sit in my studio I really can dislike my nordstage rhodes cause it's thin and so on BUT when on stage I love to have everything in front of me. Clavs, Rhodes, Wurli, organ, synth and A pianos. And it sounds great in a band context. That's the purpose for it I think. And the weight is 10 kg! Can't find a better compromise for use on stage in my opinion.

Best regards Peo

Thanks for your prompt reply and clarification! The sounds available in the Nord Piano are the same six electric pianos that come loaded in the unit, aren't they? I didn't see any additional options available. I tried some basic, minor adjustments, but that didn't seem to bridge the gap between what I was working with and what I've heard elsewhere ( both authentic and digital). I've not heard any of these programs, but both the Scarbee and NeoSoul Keys seem to generally be most highly regarded. I'm also wondering if my opinion of the Nord sounds isn't unduly negatively effected by the unforgiving nature of my studio monitor type headphones ( Sennheiser HD380) or my single crappy sounding keyboard amp ( Peavey KB300 ).

When I jam at home I connect Shure 440 headphones direct into the stage. And I use Genelec 8030 in my studio aswell. Sounds really good.

I think the e piano 2 is decent for some funky playing and bluesy licks. I just add a bit of drive, no ampsimulation. Crank up the treble a bit and add some stage reverb and a bit of compression. Maybe try that!

Peo

Thanks. I'll try those tweeks and see how it goes. I thought the stock sounds sounded pretty good. Then I started checking out some YouTube videos and noticed how different some sounded. They reminded me of how playing the real deal sounded when I had access to one long ago and made it readily apparent how different from the real thing they are.

On the site you see all the e-pianos that are available for NP ans NS keyboards.
Only you can open "Nord Sound Manager" and check the e-piano names that are loaded into your keyboard against what's available for download on the website.

As PEO74 has pointed out, I think it's hard to compare a studio oriented solution vs a stage oriented solution. There is a "consortium" (general implied agreement) to say that the first should sound better, even if Nord's stage solution is very close and much more easy / efficient to use.

I said previously that there is a lot to do with effects and settings, we should as well feel free to layer some sound of the synth section, some FM ep for instance, filtered VA sounds.

Unfortunately I haven't found any playable demo of Scarbee, only audio to listen, it seem to have nice effects, and nice presets.