Nord User Forum

[peanutismint]

I've wanted a decent keyboard for as long as I can remember and after many years of messing around with controller keyboards and soft synths, I've decided to finally splurge and get a proper keyboard for Christmas.

Of course when I think of 'proper' keyboards, I immediately thought of a Nord. I've wanted one for ages and although technically I'm a guitarist/drummer, I play enough piano/organ/synth to justify getting an Electro. I'm pretty much dead set on one of the 73-key HP (hammer action portable) models because I love the feel of a proper piano-style keybed. I currently play a fully-weighted M-Audio KeyStation Pro 88, but it's just too big/heavy and messing around with soft synths/sound modules via iPad etc. is discouraging me from playing/practising. I just want to be able to sit down, flick a power switch and play piano/E. piano/organ/samples etc. I also have an old Korg X5D above the KeyStation that I use both for recording 'retro' synth parts and also as a nice controller keyboard for organ/synth sounds, as it has a lovely synth-style keybed.

I'm currently looking at two second-hand options; an Electro 3 for £850, or an Electro 4 for £1000. Both would be a bit of a drive to collect, and although part of me thinks that for my first Electro I probably wouldn't need all of the features offered in the 4, I do worry that I'd run out of space for sounds quite quickly on the 3.

The third possible option is that I just bite the bullet and go for a brand new Electro 5, which is a LOT more expensive at around £1680, BUT I could theoretically get a 0% interest finance deal and pay it off in around 12 months to spread the cost... Whilst I'm a real cheapskate and not sure if ~£1680 is too much for a 'first' keyboard, I do think I'd get a lot of use out of it, and also I think the extra features of the newer '5' model (the screen for selecting/organising patches and the increased memory space) would be a real boon for me starting out, as it would enable me to have a proper play with multiple sounds/instruments etc. Plus, I'm going to sell (or maybe part-ex) my current keyboard and a few other bits of music gear so I could theoretically have the thing paid off in less than 12 months.

Does anyone have any opinions on which would be better for a first-time Electro purchase, given the points I've raised? I'll be honest - my gut feeling at the moment, despite the fact that I love a second-hand bargain (!!), is to pony up and go for a brand new Electro 5 which I can treat as an 'investment', a very powerful/capable keyboard that I will 'grow into' as my skills (hopefully!) improve.....

[Arjan P]

Well, as an 'investment', I think borrowing money for a device that's bound to lose value over time - even if it's a Nord, but surely since it's new, is not wise. So financially I'd say the Electro 3 is the wisest choice since it has devalued to a point where for you it would be the most stable investment with proboably the lowest write-off over time from the three.

But ofcourse you're not just looking for the best return on investment. I'd say compare the three and judge what it is you're really looking for in the Electro. Do you need split/layer? The 5 is your only option. Do you want great Hammond and good piano/e.piano? All three would be quite good. And don't forget, memory is only a limitation if you don't like to swap sounds to and from the keyboard - or can't because you need many to chose from for live performance. BTW, I think £850 is a bit steep for an Electro 3, but maybe it's different in the British market from where I am..

[peanutismint]

Thanks; I guess it's not really the 'investment' I'm worried about, because all electronics lose value over time... But more of an 'investment' in terms of getting something that's more advanced than my current level of ability, in the hope that I will 'grow into' the extra features in time...

Features like split/layer aren't that important to me now, but they could well be in the future. I'm more concerned with the features like expanded memory and the graphic display that make me think the 5 will be more rewarding/useful.

[maurus]

If you are in doubt whether you actually need the added features I'd say go with the Electro 3 or 4. Soundwise the instruments are virtually identical and you can load the same sounds in each. The sound differences between the XL, L and M sizes of the piano sounds are smaller in practice than they seem to be in theory. Hence even with the memory of an E3 you are well equipped for many situations. The E5 is only a necessity if you want to split/layer. Given the simplicity of the user interface I found the lack of a display in the E3/4 no big deal either.

Before buying you should test-play one of the HP instruments however, these keys can be quite noisy after a while and if you are using the board in a home environment you should make sure you can live with the key noises. On stage though this does not matter.

[peanutismint]

Hmm Thanks for the key noise tip - I haven't yet been able to play one of the HP versions so I've been going off what the regular hammer-action keybeds feel like (these seem to be all they have in my local stores). So are they particularly noisy? One of the other reasons I'm getting rid of the KeyStation Pro 88 is because the keys have become noisy/sticky/squeaky. I've taken it apart and tried to clean/lubricate but still can't seem to quite pin down the source of the nuisance noises. Would you suggest playing one of the HP models before deciding to buy?

My main reason for favouring the E5 over the E4 or E3 is that it has the screen (I like to be able to see the name of the patch I'm using to get an idea of what each one is/which song it's modelled after) and also that it has the extra memory, which I mainly want for samples (over piano sounds). Is there a way to swap out piano sounds for samples if I, for instance, am happy only having one 'M size' model of piano but want more sampled instruments?

I just don't want to get it home and realise I want a lot more space for samples but can't fit them on, because even though I'll have saved a lot of money I'll probably only end up spending it again to upgrade....

Is it possible to get a general idea of how many instruments can fit on each model, E3/E4/E5?

[RedLeo]

Is it possible to get a general idea of how many instruments can fit on each model, E3/E4/E5?

Not really, I'm afraid. The sample sizes vary tremendously and there's really no average size to work with. If you know roughly the sounds you want, you're going to have to do it the hard way and count it up. Otherwise any guess is so much of a shot in the dark it could be completely misleading.

[ericL]

Go for the Electro 5. You won't regret it. That's the flagship of the Electro line and will last you for many years.

[Arjan P]

Is there a way to swap out piano sounds for samples if I, for instance, am happy only having one 'M size' model of piano but want more sampled instruments?

No, AFAIK, the memory for pianos is for pianos only, and the synth (sample) memory is also dedicated. So you can't save room in one area to be filled by instruments of the other category.

[iluvchiclets]

Personally? I would go with the Electro 4 - or wait to see if you can find a 2nd hand E4 for a little lower a price than 1000...

There are differences between the electro 4 and 3 organ engine...if Hammond organ is an important point for you, the "4" model is a fantastic keyboard. I owned the "3", and the keyclick became a bit grating for me after playing it for a while. The variable keyclick on the 4 is a small but important detail.

If you can afford the "5", simply just go for it. The extra memory is essential! You will know it the minute you start downloading piano samples...I am always running out of memory, and it drives me batty.
The E5 organ model has changed marginally (a little hotter sounding, very small amount of overdrive on Leslie or Hammond model even when drive is at 0) but it is a great machine. A very expensive one, but great none-the-less.

(I went with the 4D 2nd hand because it was the the most cost-effective - I could not afford a "5", and the "3" felt a bit outdated...

[peanutismint]

Go for the Electro 5. You won't regret it. That's the flagship of the Electro line and will last you for many years.

Thanks for this - I basically only wanted someone to validate my desire to drop a tonne of money on a new toy!!

I went and had a play with an E5 today, though not the HP version unfortunately. I also played with a Stage 2 (I think it was a 2?) and while the hammer action felt nice, it was a bit 'noisy' (as others had suggested), especially in comparison to the Korg SV1 which was right next to it and, to my fingers, actually felt a bit more 'piano-like'..... So now I'm a little apprehensive... But I guess I can always send it back if it's not right for me?