Nord User Forum

Hi Guys,

I know that a lot of people on this forum favour the Fazioli above the other available grand samples. Personally I would agree that this is largely the best piano sample however there is one thing that keep me from using it. The second F above middle C and the neighbouring E and Eb notes produce a strange metallic ringing noise when played. None of the other notes in the sample appear to have this problem. Has anybody else noticed this?

I've tried all the different sample sizes with string resonance on and off as well as with and without reverb but none of that makes any difference.

Its one of those things where I cant un-hear it now that I've heard it and its driving me up the wall to the extent that I can no longer use the Fazioli sample. Its not too bad when playing some pieces where playing those notes is minimised but as soon as I get a piece where I need to repeatedly play one of these notes its a no go.

I have also noticed this in the same area on the Bosendorfer sample which brings me to my question. I dont own a real grand piano but is this a common effect of playing notes in this region on some grands?

I notice that the Studio Grand 2 and the Grand Lady D don't seem to have this issue?

Hope somebody can help me understand what might be going on here or if I am in fact doing something wrong with the keyboard settings.

Thanks,

Lee

Hi,
When the fazioli sample came out at Nord we were a few to notice this little "gzzz" sound on the keys you mentioned.
I tried all piano sizes too

You question remains : " I dont own a real grand piano but is this a common effect of playing notes in this region on some grands? "

Cheers.
Frantz.

Hi, i cant say for all grand pianos but i've played on quite a few different models different makes and for me they are a few of those that would produce some 'unwanted' noise on certain registers. You cant get rid of it because its the character of that instrument. Although with a real piano i just adjust my technique to suits that particular piano, or at least give it the best shot, unfortunately NS2 cant be dealt with in the same way. Have you try mixing multiple pianos to one particular program? I sometimes blend the Fazioli and Bosendorfer together just to get a certain sound needed. I've read somewhere on this forum about split the keyboard and use 2 sounds, that may solve your problem.

Tat P.

Hi guys,

Thanks for your input. Thats interesting that you do in fact get these kinds of noises on some grand pianos. I find it interesting that the Grand Imperial and the Faz both have the issue in the same keys which is what prompted me to think that maybe this is quite a common characteristic.

As far as combining pianos I don't really have the need because I am quite happy to play the Studio Grand 2 to be honest but thanks for the suggestion.

It may just be me that finds this noise slightly irritating, others on the forum are obviously very happy with the Fazioli sample as I've seen many glowing reviews of it.

Exactly in the same notes?? My NS2 is in the red bag, so I can't try it right now, but that is quite a coincidence.
I do remember that the Grand Lady D sample has some ringing harmonics too but in the lower keys.

The second F above middle C is the point where the top notes on a grand piano (which are not damped) begin. I would guess that around this point, the difference is most likely to be noticed. The shorter strings, with no damping higher up, do not ring on with the same intensity so the problem is not noticed.
I have a NORD Piano2, and I can hear the same effect. On my Kawai baby grand, this is noticeable when listening carefully, especially to the lowest of the undamped strings in the treble register. However, while actually playing, this is not really noticed.

Doug McKenzie

Third F, surely? i.e. roughly two-and-a-half octaves above Middle C. Not always consistent either, I had a 1920s Broadwood that was undamped from the D in that octave, and a CP70 that was damped right up to the A. Haven't loaded the Nord CP70 sample yet to see if it matches, nor the samples mentioned here so can't actually offer useful comments on the main issue yet...

No its the second F. 1 and a half octaves above middle C. I'm learning to live with it to be honest but it still grates a bit.

I meant that the third F was the point at which the undamped notes usually begin, and therefore dougmack's suggestion that the ringing was due to this didn't appear to bear out in practice.

Ah right I see, no its not because of the undamped notes because they would start further up. It does seem strange that the Fazioli and the Bosie would both have this issue which is why I was thinking maybe this is a common sound that comes from some grand pianos but I dont know now. Maybe its just something that for some reason has been amplified during recording for those notes.

I originally thought that maybe it was because it was the same sample covering those three notes however when I install the extra large versions of either (which I think contain separate samples for every key) the noise is still there. I'm not sure if possibly it could be my speakers (Rokit 5's) that are amplifying the noise as when I was playing yesterday with headphones it didnt seem to stand out as much. Although to be honest my headphones are pretty rubbish. Or possibly I'm just getting used to it.