Nord User Forum

[pauleway]

Is my 5HP keybed touch the same as the new Nord 3 stage-76, and the new Piano-3 or do they all differ?
I know it is a weighted touch, but I am curious if it is different than the fully weighted key bed!

Thank You!
Paul

[pauleway]

OK, I just did a little homework and I think my 5HP touch is same as the Stage/76 feel but not like the new Piano-3!

[Lee Batchelor]

Paulway, I played the Electro 5HP and found the weighting to be very heavy and totally unrealistic. In fact, I am still to understand why electronic weighted keyboards are SO heavy compared to their real world counterparts. It takes x number of Newtons of force to press a Steinway or Yamaha baby grand piano key. Why can't Nord, Roland, or Yamaha use that same Newton force in designing their electronic keyboards??? I've talked to several pro players. When they play an electronic weighted keyboard for a three hour gig, their wrists are shot. Meanwhile, they play a grand piano in the studio for 9 hours and their wrists are fine. It's simple math. Why can't Yamaha, Roland, and Nord get it right??????????

[criss]

@Lee: that's why I'm preferring SW keybeds.

[Quai34]

I've never played a Nord HP keybed but I'm ok with the HA of my Stage 2, I don't have any issue with my wrists even after a 4/5 hours of practice....

[Rusty Mike]

Paulway, I played the Electro 5HP and found the weighting to be very heavy and totally unrealistic. In fact, I am still to understand why electronic weighted keyboards are SO heavy compared to their real world counterparts. It takes x number of Newtons of force to press a Steinway or Yamaha baby grand piano key. Why can't Nord, Roland, or Yamaha use that same Newton force in designing their electronic keyboards??? I've talked to several pro players. When they play an electronic weighted keyboard for a three hour gig, their wrists are shot. Meanwhile, they play a grand piano in the studio for 9 hours and their wrists are fine. It's simple math. Why can't Yamaha, Roland, and Nord get it right??????????

The more I play the HP action, the better I understand it.

I think the biggest misconception is that it requires a heavy playing style. I have found that the exact opposite is true; the lighter I play it, the more expression I get out of it. I bought the Electro 3HP back when it first came out, and upgraded to a Stage 3EX 76 last year. Early on, I played it using a heavy handed approach, did not get the dynamics out of it that I wanted to, and had tired hands at the end of the night.

Over time, I worked on taking a much lighter approach, and have found nuance in the piano samples that make them much more fun to play. I'm also not tired after a few hours of playing.

I'm going to equate this to playing actual acoustic pianos. We've all been on instruments with "light as a feather" action, as well as those we felt just beat us up. I remember the old Mason and Hamlin grand in my high school (many years ago) that required ridiculous hand and finger strength. Each piano has a distinct feel, different escapement points, different dynamics, etc. Adapting to the HP action is really no different.

I'm not sure we will ever get to a point where an electronic keyboard has an ideal action, partly because everyone's definition of "ideal action" is unique. I think it's simply a matter of practicing with the instrument you have a learning how to get the voice out of it.

[Lee Batchelor]

Interesting thoughts, Mike. I may need to reconsider my approach to weighted keys .

[Quai34]

Guys, Mike has already got the NEW Stage 3, the Stage 3EX....How about memory? 4Gb of memory for the Piano? And who said there is some delivery problem? He got his LAST YEAR!! Is there something we don't know, like, you are the owner of Clavia?

[Rusty Mike]

Guys, Mike has already got the NEW Stage 3, the Stage 3EX....How about memory? 4Gb of memory for the Piano? And who said there is some delivery problem? He got his LAST YEAR!! Is there something we don't know, like, you are the owner of Clavia?

Good catch!

How embarrassing - it's a Stage 2EX.

[pauleway]

@Lee: that's why I'm preferring SW keybeds.

I DO NOT like the feel(touch) of the waterfall(Hammond B-3) keybed, even when I play organ songs. I much prefer the weighted (piano) touch.
I have a Yamaha CP-4 that I use for piano songs, and use my Electro 5HP for organ songs. I do have a Hammond XK-3c but prefer the feel of the 5HP over the Hammond!