Korg NC-500SW

The beautiful piano sounds of the NC-500 is derived from stereo digital recordings taken directly from a concert grand piano. The sound is clear and well defined. From the initial strike of the key to the natural resonance as the sound decays, the piano sounds have been sampled lavishly and carefully to faithfully capture the depth and tone of the original piano instrument. The full dynamic range is preserved, from the delicate crispness of softly played notes, to the rich full character of sustained tones.

Experience Dynamic Piano Sound

The NC-500 has been equipped with a robust sound system capable of reproducing a rich and vibrant sound and uses a pair of 13 cm speakers that are built into the stand with a resonating port to further enrich the low end. Left and right 3.5 cm tweeters are recessed in the top of the instrument, which reproduce the higher range. The low and high ranges of the sound reach the player independently, providing a more dynamic sound. 

The Feel of a Grand Piano

The NC-500 uses our top-of-the-line Real Weighted Hammer Action 2 (RH2) keyboard. Just as on a grand piano, the key resistance varies across the length of the keyboard, with heavier action in the low register and lighter action as you play toward the upper register. Key touch control lets you select how your playing touch will be translated into the dynamics of the sound. You can choose from light, normal, and heavy response to match your playing style, the character of the piece you are playing, or the nature of the selected sound.

Pedal Unit Included

All of the pedals of a grand piano ” damper, soft, and sostenuto ” are provided, a necessity for truly expressive piano performances. The three piano-style pedals are housed in an attractive unit that matches the piano's finish and style. Half-pedaling effects are also supported.

Twenty-four Sounds in All, Including Eleven Pianos

The eleven built-in piano sounds range from a beautifully spacious stereo-sampled concert grand to a variety of other pianos suitable for different genres or for ensemble playing. In addition, there are thirteen sounds from other categories, including organ, harpsichord, vibraphone, strings, choir, giving you a total of twenty-four built-in sounds, all instantly available using the front panel switches. Layer mode lets you play two sounds together, as well as adjust the volume balance between them.

Built-in Effects

Reverb and chorus can be added independently to each sound. Reverb adds the reverberation quality of a performance in a concert hall. The chorus effect adds a spaciousness and motion to the sound quality. Three variations of each effect are available per sound.

Versatile functions for performance or for learning

Two-Part Recorder function: This function lets you record your performance as you play on the instrument. You can record two parts ” each with a separate sound ” and play them back together. You can even play along! Each part can record up to 10,400 notes (20,800 notes max.). You might use this capability to practice the right-hand part while listening to the left-hand part, or vice versa. Or you can record your performance using a piano sound, and then use a different sound to play an accompaniment.

Forty built-in demo songs: Eight of the built-in demo songs are designed to showcase a variety of the sounds. There are an additional 32 classical pieces that spotlight the beautiful piano sounds. The scores for these 32 classical selections are included. On the Korg NC-500, you can play back the right and left hand parts separately for these 32 classical pieces, providing a convenient way to practice. 

Audio IN and OUT jacks: The audio OUT jacks let you listen to the instrument's sound through an external amp and speakers. A dedicated switch on the NC-500 allows you to turn off the internal speakers, and listen only through your own external speakers. There is also an audio IN jack (stereo mini jack) that lets you play an external audio device (such as a computer, CD player or MD player) or electronic musical instrument through the built-in speakers.