Organ Section Quiet

[herdy]

First, let me say that you folks are wonderful. Thank you for jumping in to assist - very much appreciated!

I will try digging in the system and adjusting the settings as suggested.

Here is a complicating factor.
In gigs I am running the NORD along with a Roland RD 300. I use the Roland for piano because the touch on the NORD Electro 6D is just a wee bit too light for me when playing piano. Typically I put both through my Motion Sound amp. In small gigs I use the amp direct to the audience. For larger gigs I use the PA system and let the sound tech do the work, however, I typically keep my amp as my monitor (yes, I need volume because the guitar player is inevitably are loud - surprise!).
The issue is that the output from the NORD Organ is quite low relative to the Roland output. So I end up with the Roland main volume down to about 1/8'th, and the NORD cranked up. That does not leave a lot of headroom on the NORD. Moreover, I need to keep cranking up my amp to get the volume I need. Strange. I did not experience this when I used my old Hammond keyboard along with the Roland. I can manage the difference in outputs, somewhat, but it does have me wondering whether the NORD Electro 6D output is simply low by industry standards?

Again, thank you for your advice.

[Hlaalu]

Just as an aside: from what you say it seems you need both piano and organ simultaneously, right? Because if not so (or at least for the songs in which you don't need them at the same time), a possible solution could be to MIDI the Roland into the Electro, benefiting from the Roland keybed and the Nord pianos (which, as much as tastes differ, are possibly objectively better than Roland's).

[cgrafx]

Try this to balance your two keyboards.

Start with the Nord since it has a lower output than the Roland. set the Nord master output at 2 or 3 o'clock. This will give you the ability to adjust the volume up if needed. Then adjust your Amp in a similar way. Set the Chanel volume at 3 o'clock and adjust the master volume to get the level that you need. If needed bring up the channel volume.

Once you have the Nord level set, then add the Roland. Start with the roland master output around 70%, then bring up the amp channel level (for the Roland) to balance the two keyboards.

[ogunter]

Interesting to read this issue about organ volume. I have posted twice previously about it and was offered suggestions on how to deal with it.
I have tried these suggestions.e.g, save the piano programs at a much lower volume and so on. The bottom line is all these work arounds are
a pain in the neck and I think it is an issue Nord should deal with.The organ volume issue kept me from buying a Electro 5 or 6, after owning a 2 and a 4.
I hope it is something they have worked out when a 7 comes out. I love the Electro but the organ volume issue is very difficult at gigs, even
with the work arounds.

[cgrafx]

I've owned the following Nord Keyboards

Electro 2, 3, 5 and currently have a Nord Stage 3 compact. I haven't had any difficulty in getting the levels correct. They all vary depending on the piano sample/program and specific organ settings.

There is no specific output volume in any one section that will be correct for all variations of piano and organ settings. Every single one of them has to be considered independently.

But its really not that hard to get them to balance.

[be lee vit]

Another thing to consider is that drawbar position has a dramatic effect on the volume. It's possible that what people are experiencing as a quiet organ is a result of their programmed drawbar settings. I bet they'd get MUCH more volume if they just yanked all them things out all the way . I think using them to set and vary volume was a more common way to do things when players were sitting at real Hammonds.

[Tracii]

On my Electro 3, the organ program has a gain of 10 (i.e. max) and all others are around 5. On my Electro 5, an organ/piano split has a 50/15 volume ratio.

So both is true: the organ is notably quieter AND it is not that hard to balance.

[FZiegler]

There seem to be different issues handled in one thread: a) the output of the Stage 3 organ is low in comparison to other instruments; b) the organ volume of the Stage 3 is very low in relation to the piano section of the same instrument.

And there seem to be different explications: drawbar settings or headphone adapters. Plus maybe the swell pedal: Is the volume too low if no or the wrong swell pedal is connected?

In any case, I'm attentive, but a bit puzzled about part of the descriptions: on my NS3C, it's absolutely fine to have most organ sections on 10 and piano sections on 7~8. Which is not the same level, but not too far apart. I have to add that I always have a dedicated swell pedal (+ extra control pedal) attached.

[herdy]

To add a bit the Organ output level challenge...

I have found that relative to my other keyboards (e.g., Roland RD300) the overall output level of the NORD organ part is very low. So the organ output levels are not just a Nord Organ Part versus the Nord Piano or Synth Parts. To balance across instruments, I need to run my NORD Electro 6D mains very high and the Roland at about 1/4. (into the same amp or into the PA). This can be "managed" but it is not a practical setup as it leaves very little head room on the NORD and very little floor on the Roland.

[Mr_-G-]

Hi,
Hm... puzzling. Some ideas:
Does this happen with headphones as well?
Is this with any program with the organ sound or just a particular one?
Do you have the Level and Master levels both set appropriately?
Do you have an expression pedal that you can try? Set it to Swell and see if that changes anything.
Can you make a recording for others to compare using a particular factory program?