What is multitimbrality?

[mitya33]

Hi all

I'm new to this game and currently trying to choose between the Korg Kronos and Nord Stage 3.

One thing I've read is that the Stage had two-part multitimbrality. Now, I've looked up a definition of this but I'm still not sure what the implications are. Can anyone tell a total noob, in layman's terms, what these would be?

Thanks!

[gs]

Hi all

I'm new to this game and currently trying to choose between the Korg Kronos and Nord Stage 3.

One thing I've read is that the Stage had two-part multitimbrality. Now, I've looked up a definition of this but I'm still not sure what the implications are. Can anyone tell a total noob, in layman's terms, what these would be?

Thanks!

It has a technical explanation which you should have found online while researching... But for you, the keyboard player, the implication is that, with a Multitimbral keyboard... you can play more than one sound at the same time, either by splitting or layering.

So, for instance, you can have Bass in the left section of the keybed and Piano in the right section of the keybed... with you deciding where the split point will be. You can also play its internal sounds from another MIDI keyboard if you run out of keybed real estate.

Mono-timbral = can only play 1 sound at the same time
Bi-timbral = can play 2 sounds at the same time
Multi-timbral = can play 2 OR MORE sounds at the same time

Hope that helps.

[mitya33]

It does! Thank you.

So the Nord Stage 3 having "two-part multitimbrality" presumably means two different voices at once, right?

Presumably this has restrictive implications for its use as a sound design tool vs something g like the Kronos? (I realise they're totally different boards with different aims, but they're presently my top two I'm trying to choose between.)

Secondly, I notice you have the PC3. Hard to get in the UK. What's your thoughts on it as both a piano and a synth? The Sound on Sound review said it was great except its synth engine was quite dated, or something...

Thanks!

[Rasputin]

So the Nord Stage 3 having "two-part multitimbrality" presumably means two different voices at once, right?

I just thought I should point out not to confuse polyphonic with multi-timbral, as the terminology "voices" is fairly ambiguous.

Multitimbral is the ability to sound two or more different sounding patches/instruments at once. Polyphonic is the ability to play the same patch/instrument at two or more notes at the same time. That is to say, if you have a piano patch and you can play a bass chord and a lead line at the same time without any of the voices cutting out then you'd be dealing with polyphony (probably 6+ notes sounding simultaneously) whereas you could have two-part multitimbral and be playing that same piano lead with a tuba note down low. But that piano lead could perhaps be cutting itself off every single note, so it would be monophonic.

Pretty much anything multi-timbral would also be highly polyphonic, but hopefully you get the idea.

[moosiakdefrogosa]

I’m with you on this — multitimbrality is one of those terms that sounds far more complicated than it actually is. You’re absolutely right to ask. In plain terms, it just means the keyboard can play more than one sound engine at the same time, each on its own “part”. On the Nord Stage 3 that usually means layering or splitting two different sounds so you can, say, play piano with your right hand and pads or strings with your left. It’s a practical limitation rather than a creative one, and most players find two parts enough for live use. It makes live games more engaging and immersive in the same way combining layers adds richness to your sound, and even discussions around tools like pari foot rdc sit neatly in the middle when talking about mixing multiple elements smoothly. For anything more complex, the Kronos has far deeper multitimbral capabilities, but for straightforward performance setups, the Nord keeps things quick and clean.

[meatballfulton]

Monotimbral means an instrument capable of playing only one sound at a time...no splits, layers, "combis", etc.

That includes all monosynths by default and many polysynths as well. It's also true of most software synths, although there are exceptions like NI Kontakt, IK Sample Tank, Steinberg Halion (these are all sample players).

[V301H]

Nord has always had major limitations when it comes to splits and layers. The Stage 3 is the most flexible that they have produced so far. There are four fixed split point zones each marked by an LED above the keyboard. You can't assign an exact split point as on other keyboard brands. The Nord does allow you to fade sounds beyond a split point over a selected limited range so it can sort of fake a user defined point. Layered sounds also have some limitations. You can layer two sounds from each section since the Stage 3 has two instances of sounds from each section. You have two organs, two pianos, and two sample/synths available. As an example I wanted to set up a sample section bass sound as a split in the left hand and layer two sample section string sounds on the right. This can't be done because only two sounds from the sample section are available and all three of these sounds are from the sample section. Nord keyboards are primarily designed for live performance with lots of physical controls for setting up sounds and effects on the fly. You can also erase all the factory sounds and download only the Piano/Sample/Synth sounds you want from the Nord library.

If you need to do splits, layers or play many sounds at once over MIDI with few limitations Kurzweil has been one of the best for many years. Along with great Pianos and a dedicated Tonewheel Organ section their sound library covers a wide range of orchestral and vintage sounds not often found on other keyboards.