Pianos are available in multiple sample sizes so you can choose which models to load into your keyboard at any one time. Thanks to exclusive compression technology every piano sounds incredible yet uses relatively small file sizes - even compared to mega-size software libraries.
This guide will cover which Nord models are compatible, how sample sizes differ, a tutorial on how to load the pianos (it's easy!), and of course, a showcase of some of the sounds available.
All of the Nord range of instruments can load samples. The only exceptions are the Organs and the Synths. Here is a list of all the instruments that can load samples. If your model is on here, then you can add new sounds to it.
Wave - Sample Instruments only
Wave 2 - Sample Instruments only
Piano - Pianos only
Piano 2 - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Piano 3 - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Piano 4 - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Electro 3 (all models) - Pianos only
Electro 4 (all models) - Pianos only
Electro 5 (all models) - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Electro 6 (all models) - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Stage Classic (all models) - Pianos only
Stage EX (all models) - Pianos only
Stage 2 (all models) - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Stage 2 EX (all models) - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Stage 3 (all models) - Pianos and Samples Instruments
Grand - Pianos and Sample Instruments
The Sound Libraries page on Nord’s website is the place to go:
http://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-libraries
Here, you will see that it is divided into two separate Libraries:
Piano Library – this contains all Grand and Upright acoustic pianos, Electric Pianos, Digital Pianos, Clavinets, Harpsichords and Layered Pianos.
Sample Library – this contains everything that isn’t a Piano !
Once you have found the library you are after, you can choose a sound to download to your instrument.
When you start looking at the Piano samples, especially the acoustic Grands and Uprights, you will notice that they come in four different sizes – S, M, L and XL.
A common misconception is that there is a difference in recording quality between these different size files. Actually, there is no difference in quality, even between the S and XL sizes since the samples were all taken from the same pianos at the same time - the file size differences are due to other factors being incorporated into the samples:
Small (SML) is the version that uses the least amount of space in the piano memory, but still carries a big and powerful punch. This version does not contain any String Resonance samples at all. If a Sml piano is selected the String Resonance feature will be disabled.
Medium versions have pedal-down String Resonance samples in the important middle region of the range, but omit these in the lowest and the highest areas. This gives you a good ratio of functionality and size.
Large versions have the pedal-down String Resonance samples all across the keyboard, providing you with the fullest of sounds, but also the largest size.
Some pianos are available as XL versions which means that they are fully mapped across the keyboard which increases the file size.
S | M | L | XL | |
| Stereo Sampled | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Velocity Mapped | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| String resonance for middle region of the range | ✅ | |||
| String resonance for the entire range | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Fully mapped keyboard | ✅ |
For a quick demonstration please check out our 60 second Speedy Tutorial on transferring a Piano Sample to a keyboard:
If you would like a more detailed description, then read on…
Select your Piano sample of choice and download it to your computer
Connect your Nord to your computer via USB and launch the Sound Manager software. If you don’t have Sound Manager, you can download it for free from here:
http://www.nordkeyboards.com/downloads/software-tools/nord-sound-manager
Select the Piano partition of your keyboard by pressing the Piano tab on the main Sound Manager Screen.
Press the Sound Down button on the Sound Manager toolbar and navigate to where you downloaded your Piano Sample to
Select your new Piano, press Open and then press Download
The Piano should now download onto your keyboard in the first available space in the keyboard’s Piano memory.
Tip: An alternative way to get a Piano onto your keyboard is to locate your downloaded Piano sample and simply drag and drop it onto the Sound Manager Piano partition window.
I don’t have enough room to load my new Piano sample?
There is a Pie Chart in the bottom left corner of the Sound Manager window and this always shows you how much space you have available before you download anything.
If there is not enough space in your memory to fit the new Piano sample, then you would need to delete a Piano to make room. Deleting samples may sound drastic but it isn’t really.
Firstly, everything on your keyboard is always available to download again from the Nord Libraries so you can treat them as your back up.
Secondly, you could use Sound Manager’s Sound Up function to back up any sounds to your computer before you delete them.
Thirdly, the Info button on Sound Manager’s tool bar shows you how many Programs use each sample so you can see which one/s you can delete that will have the least impact on your programs.
On top of this, you could use the Substitute button on Sound Manager’s tool bar and that will allow you to replace a current Piano with the sample you are downloading. Any Programs using the deleted Piano will now use the new Piano instead.
Can I clear my Sample Library to make more room for Pianos?
No, you can’t. The memory on Nord keyboards is split into partitions. Clearing the Sample Library partition will not increase the Piano Library partition and vice versa.
Can I put Grand Pianos in the Upright Pianos section?
Sound Manager will only allow you to put Piano samples in their respective sections. You cannot mix them up. There is a very good reason for this – Nords have physical buttons on their front panels, clearly labeled. If you were able to put samples anywhere you wanted, then those labels would not be accurate and you could get into a right mess. Imagine trying to select an Electric Piano and getting a harpsichord instead!
Can I load any samples into my Nord?
Nord keyboards will only load samples in their proprietary Nord format. These files have the following suffixes:
.npno = Nord Piano
.nsmp = Nord Sample
The reason for this is that Nord use a lossless compression algorithm to make their file sizes smaller. This means you can still get loads of samples onto your keyboard, even though the memory does not appear very big when compared to other manufacturer’s products.
Can I load my own samples into my Nord?
Yes. If you do have samples in .wav format then you can load these into your Nord via the Nord Sample Editor software. We will focus on this subject in a future Musicians Blog post.
Below is a cross section of the pianos found inside the Nord Piano Library. Have a listen to these demos before you load them onto your Nord.
White Grand
Italian Grand
Royal Grand 3D
Velvet Grand
Silver Grand
Bright Grand
Grand Imperial
Grand Lady D
Studio Grand 1
Studio Grand 2
Concert Grand Close
Concert Grand Ambient
Amber Upright
Grand Upright
Mellow Upright
Bambino Upright
Baby Upright
Queen Upright
Black Upright
HonkyTonk Upright
Saloon Upright
Romantic Upright
BlueSwede Upright
Rain Piano
Nefertiti EP
EP7 Tines Amped
EP6 Sparkletop Vintage '67
EP5 MK I Suitcase, Bright Tines
EP4 MK V, Ideal Close
EP3 MK II, Shadow Close
EP2 MK I Suitcase, Close Ideal
EP1 MK I, Low Deep
Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer 2 Amped
Electric Grand Amped
Electric Grand CP80
Electric Grand Gerbstedt
Hohner Clavinet D6 (Clean)
Hohner Clavinet D6 (Auto-Wah)
French Harpsichord
Italian Harpsichord
Steinway No.1
Mozart Fortepiano
Broadwood Fortepiano
Digital Pianos
Layer Pianos
This new blog is presented by the team at Sound Technology Ltd, a leading distributor of musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the UK and ROI.
