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Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 08:03
by Topcat
Hello

I recently had a request to share some insights into how I achieved some sounds on my new album, so I've decided to post them here for other users to freely use too.

Here's some Nord info from a few songs on the album:
* Song 07 "Defining Moments"
I created an arpeggio rhodes sound on one of the tracks in this song. This sound uses the EP3 Mk11 Shallow rhodes.

* Song 11 "Rustic Road" -
PIANO: is the Studio Grand 2 YaC7 with onboard EQ set to: Treble -5.5db, Mid 0db, Bass +1.5db, Reverb: Stage, Dry/Wet 2.5, String Resonance: ON.
ORGAN: is the B3 with various settings (attached 14.3 Organ - MASTER)
PAD: this was a sound within Logic using the EXS24 "Big Pad MW" plugin

* Song 13 "Resonance"
* LEAD: (attached 16.2 Lead&Chords)
* PIANO: this was the Studio Grand 2 YaC7 with above EQ settings + arp settings (attached 13.2 UROG)
* ORGAN: same as above (attached 14.3 Organ - MASTER)

Overall, I used plugins on the album to achieve the smooth pad sound. However, I've attached another sample (19.6 Pad ATMOSPHERE), which is the best smooth pad I've been able to achieve on the Nord.

We had to do some EQing within Logic, to mix the album and pull down some of the MIDS and LOW MID frequencies. On top of that, the album has been professionally mastered, to smooth out some of the harsh top ends and bellowing bottom ends.

I've learnt a lot through the recording process and still have many things to learn ahead in future projects.

You're able to check out the 13 x track album samples at: http://www.traceychattaway.com OR you can listen to full length samples at http://traceychattaway.bandcamp.com/.

Thanks for allowing me to share and I hope some of you find the samples helpful.

Kind regards

Tracey Chattaway
Organ - MASTER.nspg
14.3 Organ - MASTER
(426 Bytes) Downloaded 1015 times
Lead and Chords.nspg
Lead and Chords
(426 Bytes) Downloaded 910 times
Pad ATMOSPHERE.nspg
Pad ATMOSPHERE
(426 Bytes) Downloaded 1053 times
UROG.nspg
Arpeggio/ping pong Piano
(426 Bytes) Downloaded 830 times
Walk On.nspg
Arpeggio/ping pong rhodes
(426 Bytes) Downloaded 875 times

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 09:08
by pablomastodon
wow...

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 12:02
by Santa
Sounds awesome. Bravo, and thanks for sharing.

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 21 Nov 2012, 22:08
by titanium
Was going to ask you how you made some of the sounds and this is How!You know what I what I was thinking! :clap: :yourock:

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 24 Nov 2012, 14:51
by Totmusic
Great sounds & music.
Nice looking website 2.
I´ll dowload these right away and hope the studio´ll B as turned on by it as I am!
TNX a lot!

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 22 Dec 2012, 06:50
by monsterjazzlicks
Hey Topcat,

Thanks for sharing your Programs etc.

On your recordings, did you play all the keyboard parts LIVE ?? Or were some of the sequenced ??

i to have a Stage Classic. Do you find the lack of memory (for downloading Grand Pianos into) frustrating ?? Like you can't use the XL versions or have more than 1 x Large Grand Piano onboard at one time ?? i was wondering if you regret (like i do !!) not having bought a Stage EX, or something else ??

Best,

Paul

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 31 Dec 2012, 03:12
by Topcat
Hi Paul

I've just seen your message today, so apologies for only responding now.

I hope you've enjoyed some of the patch samples and managed to use them all ok on your Nord Classic.

99% of what you hear on the album I created note by note, including the subtle background arpeggio-type sounds, using my Nord EX. I did route everything through MIDI, in order to save and create loads of ideas whilst composing songs. This way I was able to quantize the arpeggios and experiment with different sounds, before finalising each individual recorded track. The pianos were "live" but were also recorded via MIDI. I changed my mind several times about which pianos samples I wanted to use and was also able to use the smaller file samples loaded on my EX while composing. When outputting final recordings I uploaded the XL file sizes to my Nord, one by one :)

My first Nord was the classic, and then I upgraded to the EX a few years later, so I currently have enough memory to load some of the XL pianos. Mind you, it still doesn't seem like enough memory any more, as I have to continually delete and upload the Nord piano samples (depending on the song I'm writing). I don't regret buying the EX, as it was the best that Nord had on offer at the time. It's only now, that they're creating bigger file samples, I'm beginning to feel the age of my EX. However, I bought it with the intention of keeping it for decades .......in 50 years these original Nords will be sought-after classics :)

It would be brilliant if there was a way to connect an external hard-drive/flashdrive directly to the EX/Classics, so that the memory capabilities wouldn't be an issue.

Can you load any of the XL files onto your Nord Classic? Are you doing some recording yourself?

Kind regards

Tracey

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 31 Dec 2012, 03:21
by monsterjazzlicks
Topcat wrote:in 50 years these original Nords will be sought-after classics :)
Ha ha, yes !! Like the MINIMOOG is now !!

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 31 Dec 2012, 03:24
by monsterjazzlicks
Topcat wrote:It would be brilliant if there was a way to connect an external hard-drive/flashdrive directly to the EX/Classics, so that the memory capabilities wouldn't be an issue.

Yes, that facility would be a dream come true !! No, i can't use the XL Grand Pianos, just the Large. i am thinking of upgrading to an NS2 and so i started a thread on it last week.

Re: Nord StageEX - Samples you may like

Posted: 04 Jan 2013, 06:22
by Topcat
An NS2 would be brilliant....especially for that extra memory!