Stage 4 piano sounds brighter

[audiophil]

Actually, I just tried the pianos in my loudspeakers and they do sound richer 'live'. For some reason in my headphones there's too much low-mids, as opposed to my previous NS3 that had a perfectly clean and airy sound. I'll probably get used to it, and maybe just cut some frequencies.

Phil

[Lumserei]

Without additional EQ most pianos sound more pleasing on the NS4 e.g. the 704Hz coloration is missing the 546Hz coloration is slightly lower but 4 ..5KHz is more boosted. But since I spent the last 2 years on the NS3 straightening out all my EP and pianos with an EQ 2 (Source Audio) so they sound perfect on all monitoring and PA, these tweaks are virtually useless on the NS4 and I have to start everything over. The NS4 pianos definitely require less narrow EQ bands in the mid and low mid bands compared to the NS3. Once I get some pianos from the NS4 sounding identical to my optimized NS3 in the next few months with another EQ 2, I hope to be able to locate the delta between NS3 and NS4 more precisely and in the best case find 3 or 4 defined EQ frequency bands that define the exact difference between the 2. I have already measured and compared the electrical frequency response of the synth engines and the D/A converter/output circuit, which is absolutely identical except for the filter of the synths.

[Klondyke77]

Other people also wondered what "new enhanced" means. As far as I know the piano samples are the same (files). Maybe they are optimized in some way in the board itself.
But: Timbre of Nord Pianos is all about key velocity and so quite dependant which keyboard you are using. On a lighter keyboard (Waterfall) pianos will sound different (brighter) as with Hammer-Action keys. The keyboards on NS4 and NS3 are different so even if you try it side by side they may sound different.

[Lumserei]

I have both NS3/NS4 Compact and the D/A converters behave identically, but the NS4 has slightly different EQs applied to the piano sounds. Unfortunately, I have not yet found a way to measure the differences exactly and whether the change is the same for all piano samples or whether each has been individually re-EQ'd. But I'll keep at it ... the Waterfall triggers a slightly higher velocity with the same playing style, so the sound is naturally a little brighter and louder with the same sample.
So far, a transfer measurement doesn't give a meaningful enough result, but maybe it works if both Nords are fed with the same notes in the same millisecond by a midi DAW ...

[catosim]

I have both NS3/NS4 Compact and the D/A converters behave identically, but the NS4 has slightly different EQs applied to the piano sounds.

I don't think that's the case. The NS3 and NS4 uses the exactly same samples, but they differs slightly sound-wise.
Based on this, the differences isn't the EQ, but the DACs

[Lumserei]

The EQ'ing I mean is invisible in the NS4 DSP signal path on the pianos and is either a static frequency response correction or individual per piano sample, but I'm still finding a way to measure that. I have already successfully measured the D/A. It is possible to upload the same MLS measurement signal to both - the differences between NS3 and NS4 are less than 0.2dB over the entire frequency range. Even the filters behave almost identically, even when boosting at high Q (identical behavior with the same numerical values). The only thing that is not measurable is that the filter cannot be switched off completely on the NS3.

[Lumserei]

The difference between the pianos is unfortunately not measurable, as NS3 and NS4 do not play the identical sample with identical midi note on command, apparently the NS3/NS4 multisample velocity/key assignment is also different for the same White Grand XL. Since the internal Mid EQ degrades the sound of the NS3 extremely and the NS4 also, I optimized both with an external SA EQ2 and needed these different settings. The second EQ is for a mixed Grand: below C4=White Grand above C4=Royal Grand 3D - Blue curve=NS4 (it seems that there is no static frequency response behaviour between all NS3 and NS4 pianos -> they are enhanced individual)

[Lumserei]

There are also small differences between the versions In the Royal Grand 3D, for example, the V6.1 has a little too much in the 4 Khz range compared to the 5.4 - I like the 5.4 better, for example, as it is a little warmer and more pleasing.

[Lumserei]

I have now found another reason why the identic sample is not played on both instruments: NS3 has 4 dynamic levels: LED Off,1,2,3 and the NS4 has only 3: MED, LIGHT and HEAVY. My most feel-good reaction of the NS3 keyboard is no LED on on the NS3, not adjustable on the NS4 and would lie exactly between the MED and HEAVY settings.

[rullgardin]

« The Nord Stage 4 comes with a new enhanced collection of Grands, Uprights and Electric Pianos from our exclusive Nord Piano Library…»

Sorry for this question, does Nord Piano 5 features the same enhancement? I'm waiting for my NP5 to arrive o late June. Thanks.

Yes it does

Hi! How do you know this for sure? I can't find any info on the nordkeyboards website. Thanks!