NUX - NCK 430 Black

The Nux NCK 430 Black delivers a rich, dense sound from the very first note, powered by 256-voice polyphony and a library of 150 sounds, including 20 pianos crafted down to the finest detail and 130 textures drawn from an entire orchestra. Twenty effects chains, developed in collaboration with artists, add colour to every performance with reverb, chorus, vibrato, tremolo, flanger, phaser or delay, whilst the echo from neighbouring strings lends a natural halo to every sustained chord.

The WKJ-03 keyboard features three sensors per key and a graded, weighted hammer-action mechanism with escapement across all eighty-eight keys – a mechanism that replicates the rebound of an acoustic instrument. The weighted action can be adjusted across ten levels, separately for black and white keys, whilst the ivory- and ebony-effect finish ensures a secure grip even during long, sweaty sessions. The three pedals cover sustain, soft and sostenuto, complemented by modulation, volume and pitch bend, whilst half-pedalling allows for nuanced control between a firm press and a light touch, whilst the sustain pedal allows each string to vibrate for a moment longer after it is released – a vibration that extends to the split keyboard, octave shift, transposition across twelve semitones and tunable pitch between 425 and 455 Hz.

Fifty accompaniment styles follow single or multi-finger fingering, with synchronised start-up and one hundred demo pieces for learning by ear. Sound layering adjusts its own volume balance, and the metronome offers four sounds and nine time signatures ranging from 40 to 240 beats per minute, before the five-track recorder stops automatically at the end of the piece.

Bluetooth transmits audio and MIDI wirelessly, the USB audio (with adjustable level) and USB MIDI connect to a computer or tablet, and the OTG port enables mobile apps, whilst also providing up to 10 watts to charge a phone. Two headphone outputs, two line outputs, an aux input, a microphone input and a pedal connection complete the rear panel of the unit, which is powered by 10-watt and 7-watt amplifiers in stereo to two 5-inch and two 2.5-inch speakers, all controlled via a 320 x 170-pixel display, with five room EQ settings and a compressor/limiter. The NBT-1 module, the mains adaptor and the user manual are included with the instrument in its box measuring 1395 x 950 x 486 mm, weighing 56.6 kg.