Nord User Forum

by **Gustavo** » 23 Jul 2013, 08:50

+1 to what costaseglezos said.

It is cheaper and more flexible to buy a Nord Stage 2 SW ($3,600 USD) and a cheap(er) weighted board. Getting a Nord Stage 2 you can do all the things the combination of NP2+NE4D can do and much more. (you can have two piano sounds, a piano and an organ, two samples, etc). Sure, you have to program on advance and consider all the real estate, but that's the reason you'd get the other weighted board, to control the "piano" sounds.

Options for the piano weighted keyboard:

Leightweight and sound flexibility: Casio Privia PX-5S
Best action: Kawai MP6 or even the Kawai VPC1

Personally though, if I was going to gig, I'd take the Casio Privia PX-5S because of its weight and sonic power. It is also very capable on its own and is suitable for those gigs you do not want to risk your pricey Nord Stage 2. BUT for studio use, I'd take the Kawai VPC1.

On the money side, if you choose the Privia, you save up to $600 USD compared to NP2HA+NE4D. With that money you can get a good small format mixer and an ok personal monitor, if needed.

Saludos,
Gustavo

by **Sleepwalker** » 01 Jan 2014, 13:37

Hello everyone,

First off: great forum here. I've been reading many posts here in the last week, and it helped me decide to purchase a Nord Stage 2 sw73. This thread here made me go for the golden combination with a Kawai vpc1. The Nord should arrive tomorrow, the Kawai next week, and I am very excited. The Kawai will never go out the door: it stays in my studio. The Sw73 will have it's place on top of it, and will be my instrument for gigging and rehearsals. Thank you costaseglezos, for your explanation of the possibilities of this combination!

Now: I have to adjust my studio a bit to make room for the Kawai, and therefore I have a question: does anybody know how long the VPC1's usb-cable is? Since it is gold-plated I would like to use it for the connection with my PC, but I need to know how far away I can place my computer.
I know this is a fairly old thread, but it's subject borders on this question, I think. But I can also make a new thread, if the moderators think that's better.

Greetings,
Martijn

by **BrainFreeze** » 06 Feb 2014, 12:57

Hey Martijn,

A bit of advice you didn't ask for (and probably don't need haha): I use my Yamaha S90 as a weighted controller for my NS2sw73, for obvious reasons. But for rehearsals or gigs, I take a cheap, light-weight midikeyboard along. So all the presets I made (dual keb mode) can be used, only now I use NS2 as a bottom keyboard and the 61-note midikeyboard as a top keyboard (slot B). Both S90 and the midiboard send their data on midichannel 16, so the only 'problem' is switching hands (and mind) as the top keyboard has now become my bottom one. But for me, It works like a charm, and is very useful.

Cheers,
Erwin

by **Raven** » 17 Mar 2014, 09:02

Can someone please confirm if there's a Keypad difference between Stage 2 and Piano 2?
I keep hearing people saying Piano 2 has better keys for Piano Playing than Stage 2. For me, money doesn't matter. But if Nord Piano 2 offer better Piano Keys then I might reconsider going Stage 2.

by **Marlowes** » 17 Mar 2014, 09:26

The best??? :crazy:

Well ... I think you can get used to almost anything, even the plastic keybed on the Lead 2X.
I used to play acoustic piano as a kid, so I instantly felt comfortable with the Stage 2, Piano88 and even the E3HP! They are all great IMHO.
Compared to what we had in the Dark Ages (the 80:ies - Junos & DXs).
The human is excellent in adapting. That makes our species ruler of this planet.
Listen to the beautiful Nord sound you are playing, and let it bring you with it ... for me it's like a drug ... i get high! 8-)