Members ybakos Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hi there, I need to be sure I've not gone insane. It seems like my Electro 3 has been perfectly silent up until today. This morning it has been emitting a slight buzzing sound, coming from somewhere in side the unit (I can't tell from where). The buzzing does not affect audio out. My questions is: does your Electro 3 buzz or is it silent? Thanks for taking the time to reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nillerbabs Posted September 17, 2009 Members Share Posted September 17, 2009 Mine definitely buzzes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DankL Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 Mine definitely buzzes. For no reason or do you mean when you play you make it sing the buzz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mate_stubb Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 If you can hear it buzz with no cables plugged in, it is an acoustic buzz caused by the transformer vibrating at 60 hz. Harmless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nillerbabs Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 See? Harmless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -groovatious- Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joemmi Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 Yes, it is "normal" and is the case not only with the NE3 but all Clavia Keyboards.See here (http://www.laboitenoiredumusicien.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1883) for an exhaustive thread (in french though).It comes from the magnetostriction effect. Strange thing though is that in my case, it also just started after half a year or though of owning the Nord (like in your case), so another reason might be a problem or imperfect insulation (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18124336.300).And apparently different types of power supplys imply differences in the hum while the NORD one seems to be particularly "hummy". So I just turn it up a bit and it is fine ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -groovatious- Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 My NE2 is dead silent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ybakos Posted September 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 I do believe that it just started buzzing and was silent before. Hmmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mate_stubb Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 Some transformers have a copper insulation shield that gets loose after awhile and which vibrates to a greater or lesser degree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frogmonkey Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 I believe someone posted the same thing a few months ago: a buzz that started after months of quiet operation. My E3 buzzes very quietly. I can hear it if I get close and there is no other noise at all... very faint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cl516 Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 my actual NE3 unit buzzes a tiny tiny bit.but the analog signal at outputs do not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members omvibraphone Posted September 18, 2009 Members Share Posted September 18, 2009 Hi, mine buzzes also (hum?), but very quietly. More importantly, I'm having issues with the keybed on mine, anyone else? The black notes 'feel' is distinctly different to the white notes, and there's a lot of key noise when depressing some of them; whilst on the white notes I can hear the sound of the relevant spring on some notes when depressing them. Making playing the keyboard a less enjoyable experience than it should be (this is an understatement - I'm rather annoyed that such an expensive keyboard should have such a lame keybed, I don't seem to remember this being an issue with the NE2 I had...). Thinking of taking this up with Nord. Anyone else had the same problems, have I got a one off, or is it a design issue? Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ybakos Posted September 19, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 19, 2009 I just spoke with Nord support, and they tell me that the Electro 3 should *not* be emitting any buzzing sound. They suspect the transformer (obviously). I did read that old French thread (mentioned above). However, note that most $ynth$ don't buzz -- they're silent. @omvibraphone: I know what you mean about the springy sound in the action. It does occur on my Electro 3 for some, but not all keys. To be honest I don't mind it, but it does make me feel like my expensive Nord is, well, imperfect. Regarding the difference in feel between black and white keys, that's actually a bit natural... the black ones are essentially shorter levers than the white, and will feel different. They feel a little different on a piano too. Anyway, I'd appreciate other Nord Electro owners posting their experience with this buzzing. While not a show-stopper, I sure would prefer it to be silent. I will let you know what happens w/ Nord support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joemmi Posted September 21, 2009 Members Share Posted September 21, 2009 @omvibraphone: I know what you mean about the springy sound in the action. It does occur on my Electro 3 for some, but not all keys. To be honest I don't mind it, but it does make me feel like my expensive Nord is, well, imperfect. Regarding the difference in feel between black and white keys, that's actually a bit natural... the black ones are essentially shorter levers than the white, and will feel different. They feel a little different on a piano too. I have exactly the same at the Nord Stage EX Compact, some keys have this springy noise which, while not being too annoying, is still weiird since I never had anything like that on other synths I played and indeed, paying 2.5 grand you might expect a good build quality. On the other hand, it is a Fatar keybed right?? So no Nord invention, but might come from the assembling process?? No clue. But still makes me thinking... Another thing regarding the black keys, only after half a year when I had a closer look on the form of the black keys, I reallized it is not flat on top!! Starting from the lower end it ascends and then descends back towards the red part which is why I found it strange at some times. ON the other hand, isn't it again a standard Fatar?? Hmm, yeah the buzz is strange, especially sinc no other synth seems to have the same "feature". While not being a technician, it might be a different type of Power converter used by Nord (as said on a Wikipedia site on the phenomenon). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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