Nord Piano 88 [Video Review]

The Nord Piano 88 is a professional stage piano with 88 keys, designed with the performing musician in mind without compromising quality or means of expression.

The Nord Piano comes loaded from the factory with 19 different piano and harpsichord sounds. The program memory is filled with 120 programs that showcase the possibilities you have with the selection of pianos and the Nord Piano effects.

Additional sounds are available for free on the included DVD.

Acoustic, electric, vintage or contemporary piano sounds - it's all here. And with unique features like String Resonance, totally replaceable sounds from the extensive Nord Piano Library and the dynamic Nord Piano Pedal, the Nord Piano delivers in every aspect.

More details: Visit Nord Piano 88 homepage

The included Piano Pedal offers an unprecedented functionality, with the addition of a dynamic control of the mechanical noise during operation, and the ability for you as a player to use half-pedalling and ''release and catch'' techniques.

The right pedal is the sustain pedal. When the sustain pedal is operated on an acoustic grand or upright piano, many different sounds are produced by the mechanical components, several of the sounds can be reproduced by the Nord Piano.

When the dampers are lifted from the strings when the sustain pedal is pressed down, a beautiful sizzle can be heard. When you remove the foot from the pedal, the dampers are returned on to the strings, which creates a different, muted type of sound.

Since the pedal is dynamic, you can experiment with various forces in pressing, and also in releasing the pedal. If you just slip your foot of the sustain pedal, allowing the return spring to spring with full force, a noticeable sound will appear.

The ''floor sound'' is heard when the pedal reaches the bottom of its travel. You can expereince this in isolation if you press down the pedal completely, then lift it less than halfway back up and then press down again.

If you lift the pedal and immediately press it down again, a very rich sound will be heard. Another big sound is 'The Stomp', which requires you to start with your foot above the actual pedal, in order to be able to reach the high velocity that is required to get this sound.

The left pedal is the soft pedal, also known as the Una Corda. When you press this pedal, all the notes you play will be slightly lower in volume and also have a slightly more subdued tone quality.

The middle pedal is the Sostenuto. By using this pedal, you can sustain selected notes, while other notes remain unaffected. Only the notes that are held down when the pedal is operated will sustain. Other notes that you play while keeping the pedal down will sound as if no pedal was operated at all.