Clavia nord stage 2 User manual

Service | Quick Guide v1.1 June 2011

This NS2 service guide shortly explains the most common issues
that might be of interest to authorized Nord Service Centers taking
care of the Nord range. The information found in this document is
not intended for end users and dealers. It may not be copied,
modified or distributed in any way.
Main features
The NS2 comes in three keyboard versions; SW73 (Semi Weighted, similar to NS/NSEX
Compact), HA76 (Hammer Action) and HA88.
The previous NS and NSEX models were rather similar, sharing the same panelboards
and power board for instance. The new NS2 is a powerful step ahead featuring the organ
section from the Nord C2, the piano section from NordPiano, a new synth section
featuring an Arpeggiator, MIDI master clock sync functionalities and improved support
for various CV pedal models such as Yamaha FC7, Roland EV-7, Roland EV-5, Korg EXP2
and Korg XVP10.
NS2 also come in two different revisions, REV A and REV B.
All units of the SW73 model is REV B.
Units made before May 2011 (HA76) and June 2011 (HA88) are REV A. The new features
in REV B enable the player to use the middle pedal of the Nord Triple Pedal for advanced
latch and sustain techniques when using multiple layers of sound. The added functionality
is located in the Organ, Piano and Synth sections, under the ‘Octave Shift’ buttons. Also,
the Arpeggiator has an added ‘Hold’ button. Some of these features are implemented in
the REV A version as well.
The same keybeds are used in NS2 as in the previous NS-series.

Identifying REV A and REV B
NS2 REV A is identified by the text “eighty eight” or
“seventy six” below the logo.
NS2 REV B units are identified by the text “Hammer
Action HA88/76” below the logo.
REV A
REV B
• Latch Pedal and Keyboard Gate added
• Arpeggiator Hold-button added
• Darker gray color scheme
REV A
PCB revision v0.8 printed on
the board.
“NS2 v0.84” printed on the
barcode sticker.
REV B
PCB revision v1.0 (or higher)
printed on the board.
“NS2 v1.04” (or higher)
printed on the barcode
sticker.

Main parts, electronics and mechanics:
Mainboard | Part#69195
Only REV B boards will be available as spare parts, as this is possible to replace broken REV A boards with.
Panel Board1 NS2 (REV A) | Part#69201
Panel Board1 NS2 (REV B) | Part#69218
Panel Board2 NS2 (REV A) | Part#69203
Panel Board2 NS2 (REV B) | Part#69219
Powerboard | Part#69093 (USA 110V)
Powerboard | Part#69094 (EUR 230V)
Powerboard | Part#69095 (JAPAN/BRASIL 110V)
Upper Lid NS2/SW73 (REV-B only) | Part#40393
Upper Lid NS2/HA76 (REV-A) | Part#40395
Upper Lid NS2/HA76 (REV-B) | Part#40455
Upper Lid NS2/HA88 (REV-A) | Part#40397
Upper Lid NS2/HA88 (REV-B) | Part#40457
Lower Lid NS2/SW73 | Part#40394
Lower Lid NS2/HA76 | Part#40396
Lower Lid NS2/HA88 | Part#40398
Keybed NS2/SW73 | Part#49266 (Calibrated)
Keybed NS2/HA76 | Part#49236 (Calibrated)
Keybed NS2/HA88 | Part#49171 (Calibrated)
Wood Panel NS2/SW73, Left | Part#40400
Wood Panel NS2/SW73, Right | Part#40401
Wood Panel NS2/76/88, Left | Part#40435
Wood Panel NS2/76/88, Right | Part#40436
Ribbon Cable, 26 pin – Panelboard1 | Part#22410
Ribbon Cable, 26 pin – Panelboard2 | Part#23810
Ribbon Cable, 10 pin – Powerboard | Part#23880
Ribbon Cables, 20 pin – Keyboard | Part#24144+24145
Clavia Service Kit | Part#13000
Two boxes filled with most common parts needed for the whole Nord range.
Connectors, push buttons, jacks, pitch sticks etc.
Clavia Service Contact Information
[email protected]
[phone]

Opening the NS2
The NS2 is opened by loosening four out of five screws on each wooden side panel.
Keeping the screw mounted in each rear down-left/right corner makes it easier to tilt the
upper lid when opening up the machine, please see the picture. After this, loosen the
seven screws on the rear side as well as the three screws under the lower lid.
!Mind the ribbon cable between the panelboard in the upper lid and the mainboard in the
lower lid, when opening the upper lid.
Compared to previous NS models, the keybed is mounted with the regular M4 screw
instead of nuts inside the bottom plate. The keybed is also a bit easier to remove from
the bottom plate compared to previous NS models due to a slightly larger space between
the keybed and the mainboard.

The Keybed
All keybeds used in the Nord range are from the Italian manufacturer, Fatar. Except for
single keys and complete keybeds, Clavia does not do any other spares related to the
keybed such as rubber/contact strips, pcb’s etc.
Each individual keybed is calibrated, key by key, in the Clavia factory and the IC holding
this information is attached to the keybed.
!When replacing spare keybeds it is crucial to work on a stable and flat surface when
mounting the keybed into the lower lid. Always start mounting the screws on the rear
side and then, on a flat surface, the screws inside the NS2.

REV A
REV B
The Mainboard
The NS2 mainboard is equipped with seven 1Gb flashes where the OS and all samples
are stored. The flashes are controlled by one of two DSP’s (U16+U18).
Pos. U27-30 store all piano samples, pos. U54-56 samples on the synth section.
The DSP (U13) takes care of the SRAMs (U14+U15) which handle the FX section.
Claims regarding “noisy reverbs” etc. might be caused by problems found in this area.
One hardware difference between REV A and REV B is the MUX logic, controlling the
improved support for various CV pedal models on the Control + Swell jacks.
Boot up problems
For incoming service cases claiming any kind of “boot up problem”, “error codes at start
up” or various problems on the panel board, it is always worth trying to go into TEST
MODE and perform individual tests on the main and panelboards, depending on each
individual case. See next page for details.
!Always try this first!
Even if the NP is reported to have boot up problems, try to boot up in test mode and then
erase all data stored on the flashes, followed by a complete install of latest OS version
and samples. Applications and updates can be found on the nordkeyboards.com site.
After erasing the flashes, always install the OS first, followed by restoring the NS2
Factory Backup file using the latest Nord Sound Manager version. These files can be
downloaded from our website. If the problem persists, or if the NP doesn’t manage to
reach the test mode at all, please contact Clavia for further assistance at
[email protected].

Test mode
Like all Nord products, the NS2 holds an internal test program that is mainly used in the
production line and as a guide for troubleshooting at service centers.
Test mode
Test mode (early revisions)
Confirm (for erasing Flashes)
Power off the NS2, press and hold
SHIFT + KB ZONES 2 before
powering the NS2 to reach the test
mode.
After the initial RAM tests the NS2
screen looks like the picture to the
left.
Each sub menu corresponds to each
button describied in the picture.
Navigating within the sub menues is
performed using the big data entry
wheel, or KB ZONES 2/3.
The individual tests are executed by pushing “RUN”/PROGRAM 1.
To erase flashes etc there’s a “confirm command” needed as well, see below.
* Pushing PROGRAM 4 is similar to “cancel” or “back to main menu” while running the
tests.
* Pressing and holding SHIFT while powering on the NS2 will display the hardware
revision in that particular unit.
* For early revisions (pre v0.62, TestProgram revision) the key combination to enter
testmode is SHIFT+MST CLK (see picture above).

MNB
1. Mainbd Mainboard test used in production, automatically runs DSP/Flash tests.
2. Final
3. EEPROMQ
4. EEPROMT
5. DSP DSP tests, including external memories.
6. FlSynQ Flashtest of the synth section, quick version.
7. FlSynT Flashtest of the synth section, long version.
8. FlPnoQ Flashtest of the piano section, quick version.
9. FlPnoT Flashtest of the piano section, long version.
10. DAC
11. Audio Various audio tests – WARNING – LOUD levels!
12. USB Quick test of the communication between the main CPU/USB IC.
13. MIDI Connect a midi cable between MINI IN/OUT before running this test.
14. ADC P
15. ADC F Pedals and Aftertouch tests.
16. PnoPdl (REV A: “P.Pedal”)
17. MuxCtl (Not available in REV A)
18. MuxSwl (Not available in REV A)
PNL
1. Panelbd Complete test of both panel boards, both boards need to be connected.
2. Panel1 Test of Panel board 1 (Left).
3. Panel2 Test of Panel board 2 (Right).
4. Btn&LED Buttons test of both panel boards, both boards need to be connected.
5. LCD Check all pixels in the LCD.
6. Enc&Dial Encoders test.
7. PSBaseV Pitch Base Value test, shall stay within value “52-74”.
8. PSCalRn Pitch Calibration Range, shall stay within value “36-48”.
9. Knobs ADCheck of all knobs, pitch stick bend range and mod wheel.
KBD
1. KbdCal (Keyboard calibration, only used in production)
SYS
1. Serial
2. Checksum
3. Er.E2P
4. ErP.OS
5. ErP.Pno
6. ErP.Pdl
7. ErP.All* Erase all data on flashes, piano section.
8. ErS.All* Erase all data on flashes, synth section.
9. TrP.OS
10. TrP.Pno
11. TrP.Pdl
12. TrP.All
13. TrS.All
14. Upd.Chk
* There’s no “Erase ALL” command erasing all flashes at once in the NS2.
Both SYS:7 and SYS:8 need to be executed individually.