Aidan Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Well, with something new shiny and red imminent, I've been looking through the sample library on the Nord site and my mind is duly boggled. So I was just wondering what those of you who already have the relevant machines have and are finding useful onboard? Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 While I'm not an owner of either machine, last week I auditioned a NE3 at my local GC, and I must say I was underwhelmed by most of the non-piano samples. To my ears, many of them sounded thin, flat, and lifeless. I wish I could recall more specific examples, but many of the string samples seemed to exhibit these features. I'm sure it does not help that my "strings reference" are those in my PC3X, which may be Kurzweil's strongest suit. But I largely did not care for the choirs and brass either. Of course, IMHO, YMMV, one man's meat...., etc. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ferris Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Have to agree with Chris. I've played the NS 2 at least 10X , granted through phones not good speakers, but I felt brass, strings were thin and more grainy sounding compared to the Motif XF which is always in close proximity for A/Bing. Synth and Organ are the strong suits of the stage I think goes without saying.. Now that bit of edginess or graininess might be a good thing live in a band within a louder rock context. Often the sounds that come across most pleasing through phones in the store don't cut the mustard live. I have no live experience with the stage so I can't say there... https://soundcloud.com/dave-ferris 2005 NY Steinway D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I wouldn't even bother with the acoustic strings and brass. Most of what's loaded into the Electro's sample section at the factory does the library a disservice. I think the Mellotron/Chamberlin/Optigan, string machines, and vintage synths are way more fun and inspiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoodyBluesKeys Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 One more in agreement with Chris. I no longer have the E3, the PC361 replaced it. In the pianos, I do really like the Bosie Upright and Grand - although they are not the best cutting sounds through a band. In the EP's - I REALLY liked the Silvertop - it nailed the 88 key Silvertop I played some in the 80's. Howard Grand|Hamm SK1-73|Kurz PC2|PC2X|PC3|PC3X|PC361; QSC K10's HP DAW|Epi Les Paul & LP 5-str bass|iPad mini2 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 I wouldn't even bother with the acoustic strings and brass. Most of what's loaded into the Electro's sample section at the factory does the library a disservice. I think the Mellotron/Chamberlin/Optigan, string machines, and vintage synths are way more fun and inspiring. Yeah not really that interested in the imitative sounds more samples which are interesting in themselves. Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jyrkik Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 For me the Mellotron and Chamberlin samples are propably of most use (though cannot say if they really are "good" as have never heard the real things live..). And some of the synth samples are quite good also. I don't generally care about acoustic sounds beyond piano/EP/Hammond and cannot therefore comment the quality of Nord samples of area. However, after owning the NS2 since last autumn, I just recently started to experiment with the Nord Sample Editor. I've now created samples of the favourite sounds of my Prophet 08, NL2 and Voyager OS. And added also some Solina samples of certain sample library. For me those are currently the most usable synth samples for now as they allow me to really scale my live rig down. I recommend every NS2 owner to get familiar with the Sample Editor. But in general, I can also hear certain level of grainines in the Nord sample quality which you either like or not. Jyrki Nord Stage 3 88, Prophet 6, Moog Voyager OS, Moog Little Phatty TE, Crumar Mojo Classic Suitacase, Kawai US-50 upright, Beltuna Studio 3 and Fantini cassotto accordions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I wouldn't even bother with the acoustic strings and brass. Most of what's loaded into the Electro's sample section at the factory does the library a disservice. I think the Mellotron/Chamberlin/Optigan, string machines, and vintage synths are way more fun and inspiring. Yeah not really that interested in the imitative sounds more samples which are interesting in themselves. I'm not sure what the difference is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I'll have to look at what I have loaded, but I have found a lot of great sounds between the Nord library, some I've created on my own and some I found in one of the Nord forums. There's a guy there that has a user name like "HanonCTS" I think and he has sampled a bunch of D50 and Motif sounds...all very solid. I like the JX3P library from Nord and I've only dabbled into the newer ones like JP4 and CS80. A sample on its own is usually a bit thin, but in the NS2 doubled up with a VA sound is great. I'm not much of a pro on sampling myself, but I think the sky is the limit if you know what you're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I don't use too many of the samples from the library (E3), but the mellotron strings tend to be my favorite of the lot. However, I can't say enough about how happy I am with the pianos, EPs and B3. The bright grand is fantastic. For me, it's been the most satisfying digital piano sound for live use that I've played. I've gotten many compliments from other musicians and sound guys on the Rhodes and B3 as well. I tend to hold those opinions a little higher than the average listener. Makes me feel good. Anyway, enjoy the NS and I hope you are as satisfied with it as I am with my E3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Thanks for the feedback, guys. For those unaware, I'm currently a Nord Piano owner so know all about the samples for that section - and ABECK, I agree on the Bright Grand, it's my goto sample for live performance, albeit roll about 6db off the top. Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Mullins Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I have an E3 and since there is no pitch/mod/pressure modulation, it makes the choices a bit different than if I had a Stage. I tend to load up sounds which don't depend on those mod parameters. For example, I focus more on organs/odd vintage keys/synth pads rather than solo accoustic and synth leads. I also tend to do the quirkier things I don't have on other keyboards. Anyway...a few ideas: Chamberlin Alto Sax - has that cheesy vibrato which is good for quirky Jon Brion type arrangements. Mellotron Flute - an iconic sound Some of the cathedral and pump organs - don't remember which Wine Glasses - makes a really nice icy/transparent pad. Hohner Pianet - you can get this one at the User forum Yamaha CK88, Arturia Keylab 61 MkII, Moog Sub 37, Yamaha U1 Upright, Casio CT-S500, Mac Logic/Mainstage + plugins, iPad Camelot + plugins, Spacestation V.3, QSC K10.2 www.stickmanor.com There's a thin white line between fear and fury - Stickman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick w Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I have the Electro 3 unweighted.Right now I am using the Steinway close miked grand with the max resolution. I had to bump a few other things out of there to make room for the sample. I tried the Lady D which others raved about but it didn't catch my fancy. I'm addicted to that bite I get from the close miked sound.You can't beat it for the last 16 bars of Sweet Home Alabama.I wasn't crazy about the brass patch that came with the board- it had to be fattened up with chorus and EQ'd. Just recently downloaded the brass section from the website and having used it on tunes like Smooth in a live setting, I'm happy with it.Mellotron strings with the right amount of chorus are a killer.Used them on strings solos in My Girl and Stand By Me and got some nice compliments.Just downloaded some saxes but they seem kind of static/lifeless.I have been using the brass section for the horn calls in Into The Mystic but that was a little harsh sounding.I will try those new saxes out at gig in a couple of days.Right now I'm a little disappointed in the saxophone offerings.There doesn't seem to be anything with a tailing vibrato. The cheesiest Yahama home keyboard offers that.I've spent the past week transcribing the flute solo to Locomotive Breath so I went on the Nord site and dug around for a decent flute sound since the Mellotron flute (although really nice) wasn't going to cut it.Found a sample that was lively with plenty of breath attack but seemed to have too many upper harmonics when struck rapidly. We'll see what happens. In a band setting it may work fine.When I get that solo under my fingers well enough I'll see if I can record it live and post it up here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 If you're interested in analog sounds - I really dig the Oberheim library. Other than that, I mainly use what's installed from factory - a good thing is they left about 30% of the wave memory free, so you don't have to replace installed samples when loading other sounds. I used the sax sounds yesterday at rehearsal - more specific the barytone in the "Sax Sus_S_F" sample. Sounded quite convincing together with a Ventilated organ. Other than that the horn samples are so so. Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 a good thing is they left about 30% of the wave memory free, so you don't have to replace installed samples when loading other sounds. Ah, that IS good to know. Thanks, Mr T! Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 When is your Stage arriving? Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Thursday is scheduled! Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I had a NE3 for six months and it was the Mellotron samples that I enjoyed the most. Traded for a C2....Kinda miss the size and weight however!! http://www.michaelwwright.com https://www.facebook.com MPN Paetron https://www.patreon.com/musicplayernetwork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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