Nord User Forum

[sabin333]

Hello. I'm looking to order an electro 3 HP because I want a weighted keyboard that I can carry to gigs. However, I'm a huuuuge fan of the organ, and I'm wondering how much of a compromise the HP keyboard is for the organ.

Truth be told, I'm more of a piano player, and after trying out the Electro 3 61key, I felt that the non-weighted action wasn't good enough for piano.

I've read the forums top to bottom and it seems like most people are genuinely satisfied with the new HP action for piano, but I haven't read much consensus on the HP action for organ work. So if anyone can let me know what they think before I make the purchase, I'd really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Sabin

P.S. as a longtime Nord forum lurker, I've really appreciated all the info. This is my first post!

[sabin333]

More specifically, my questions are
1) Do the organ notes trigger earlier than on the piano settings?
2) How easy is it to slide around with the HP action?

[anotherscott]

More specifically, my questions are
1) Do the organ notes trigger earlier than on the piano settings?
2) How easy is it to slide around with the HP action?

I haven't actually played the HP yet, but my understanding is that the HP has the same "high organ trigger point" option that the other E3 models have; and having played other boards based on the same underlying Fatar action, no, it is not well suited for sliding around, at all.

[Ian Hay]

I use the HP for organ regularly. There is a high trigger point option, which makes all the difference in the world. I'll differ from Scott just a bit by saying it's not 'suited' for sliding around, but with the high trigger point and the action of the HP keys sliding up and down is doable without too much adjustment.

The downside, however, is that with the combination of the high trigger point and the weighted HP keys, there is a lot of 'bounce back' when playing individual notes at higher velocities - so you get an unwanted 'double hit' as you hit the key, and the weight of the key brings it back up and down again just enough to hit the high trigger point. That's frankly more annoying and limiting than anything else.

But ideally I'd buy a second controller more suited to organ playing.

[Johannes]

As anotherscott said, high trigger point is there. And when it comes to sliding around, I would say it is definitively not optimal and will be difficult. But it is "easier" than on the fully weighted actions, but for decent palm smears I found it very difficult to not hurt your hands and get a good result. It is more for the occasional organ playing than serious hammond-like moves. Playing Solo Lines or Comping is OK IMHO. But I would definitively try to find a shop where you can try it out. From my experience it is a really special keybed and personally it is not my cup of tea nor for organ nor piano playing, but then I use a two board setup when I need both. After all it's a matter of taste.

[sus_4]

Hi Sabin. Here are my thoughts, from a previous post:

Being, primarily, an old school rock & blues piano player, I absolutely love rehearsing and gigging with the E3HP. As a budding organ player, however, I am encountering an annoying “bouncing key” issue that compromises my playing.

While playing any quick tune with fast block chords (as an example, “What Is Hip?” by Tower of Power), the keys will bounce and inadvertently re-trigger notes. This can happen while performing a monophonic solo/melody line, as well. At first I thought I could eliminate this issue by setting the Organ Trig Mode to “Low”, but it seems that the problem exists with either a Low or High Trig setting.

Is it me? . . My heavy-handed playing style? Are any there other players experiencing this issue? Is there a software or hardware solution?

Thought I’d throw it out to the lions.

Regards,
Chris

[anotherscott]

It would have been cool if they had moved the control panel all the way to the left, consolidating all the free panel space on one side. Then there would be enough room to sit a small second, unweighted board up there (something like an Alesis Micron), and you could use that to trigger organ sounds if needed, albeit only over a smaller range.

[sabin333]

Wow, thanks for all the input. But you're really scaring me about the bouncing organ keys. Does the double note problem occur all the time?

I thought someone wrote in the last posting that Hammonds do that too.

[sus_4]

Don't worry so much. With more gigging hours spent with the keybed, I find that I am slowly adapting my playing style to avoid the bounce; and, not only that. . . I can easily execute the infamous 2-finger trill, just like on a real Hammond. But, it is what it is: a keyboard with an acceptable piano-like feel (fine for acoustic and electric pianos), and not a balanced, waterfall organ keybed.

Chris

[sabin333]

That's so cool. Thanks for the input everyone. By the way, I once had Brian Auger show me how to do a trill on the Hammond. I'll never forget that moment.

I'll try to post my thoughts here on the forum if I pick up the board.