Samples and pianos

Sample instruments (.nsmp) and piano libraries (.npno) hold encoded audio. Both move to and from the instrument with get and put, like a program. The verbs below reach the audio.

Samples

nord sample decode inst.nsmp -o out/                 # every zone as a WAV
nord sample verify --deep inst.nsmp                  # decode every recording too
nord sample project new --zone a.wav=C3 --zone b.wav=C4 --name Marimba -o marimba.nsmpproj
nord sample build marimba.nsmpproj -o marimba.nsmp   # render a Sample Editor project

encode turns a single WAV into an instrument, and build renders a whole project, loops and stereo included. --generation 2, 3 or 4 picks the layout. Only v2 has been played on an instrument, so v3 and v4 require --unverified.

Pianos

nord piano inspect grand.npno                      # roots, layers, keys, tuning
nord piano inspect grand.npno --keys               # every key, its root and fine tune
nord piano decode grand.npno --key C4 --layer 0 -o c4.wav
nord piano edit grand.npno --name "My Grand" --tune C4=-2 --map C8=C7 -o out.npno
nord piano trim grand.npno --drop-bank release --layers 3 -o small.npno
nord piano split grand.npno --at C4 -o halves/
nord piano verify --deep grand.npno

edit, trim and split rewrite the library without touching its audio: rename it, retune or reroute a key, drop a bank or the quieter layers, narrow the range, or cut it in two. trim and split never write over their input. edit does only with --yes.

Building a piano library

build makes a library from a directory of WAVs, one per stroke, named <root>-b<bank>-l<layer>.wav. 060-b0-l00.wav is MIDI note 60, the attack bank, the loudest layer. Banks are 0 for attack, 1 for pedal resonance and 2 for release. Any sample rate is accepted.

nord piano build strokes/ --kind mallet --name Marimba -o marimba.npno
nord piano build strokes/ --template grand.npno --name Marimba -o marimba.npno
nord piano rebuild grand.npno -o again.npno        # re-encode a library's own strokes

Every key up to a semitone above the highest root plays the nearest root above it. Keys beyond that are silent. Within a root, velocity picks the layer, with the layers spread across the velocity range in order. Write -v12 instead of -l00 to set a layer’s velocity value directly.

Whatever the audio does not decide, such as decay and per-note tables, comes from --template when you give one, and from neutral defaults when you do not. Both kinds of library have been played on an instrument and sound the same.

What has been played

Libraries drawbar has trimmed, built or rebuilt play on an instrument: mono and stereo, every key including the lowest and highest root, all three attack layers, the release stroke, and a vendor library re-encoded and indistinguishable from the original. Renames, retunes, remaps and a narrowed key range have not been played. See What is supported.