Nord User Forum

[Obwanz]

I used it on a gig Friday night. Sounded great and everyone was blown away!! they've never even said anything about my keyboard sounds until then.

Best keyboard Ive ever had!

[Copia]

I also own the Stage 2, RD-700NX, and RD-800, and I sent back the RD-2000. I didn't feel about those boards what I do with this one.

I played the RD2000 a few days ago. Wanted to like it, but was disappointed. Action didn’t feel right to me, and the controls didn’t seem intuitive enough in a live setting. I’m leaning more to giving the Stage 3 a try, but not certain if 88 or 76 is best for me. I love using 88 boards, but the weight of the 76 is hard to pass up!

I had the RD-2000 about three weeks, but I didn't like the slightly harder action than the RD-800. It just didn't feel like the keys pressed easily enough or came back quick enough. I'm not quite sure, but the feeling wasn't there. I completely agree on interactive live use, as well. I watched every video Roland did and many others, read, even emailed and called the company. I couldn't figure out how to get it to do what I wanted, which was switch between internal and external sounds smoothly during live use. They could be saved either way, but the interactive process was much more complex than I would've thought or could figure out.

I'll be honest, I wish I could figure out how to use my full Omnisphere/Keyscape/Mainstage rig without having to bring a MPK 249 as an extra controller (which is what I bought the RD-2000 to accomplish), but I am so blown away by everything the Stage 3 does there is no loss for me. I'm even glad it didn't work out with the RD so I can center my new rig around this board. I enjoy playing it and, beyond loving the music in general, having an instrument that sings is a rare and cherished experience. I get that with the Nord Stage 3.

For me, 88 was the way to go because I wanted full hammer action and I'd heard it is slightly lighter action than the 76 (I prefer light). Having ideal action (to my tastes) is more important to me than weight, although I also like light weight for gigs. And I hear some people love the 76 as well. Good luck!

[derrellpiper]

so with no one complaining that their's is a boat anchor, I guess we have an answer to the question: does the stage 3 suck? no, it does not suck.

[NordNerd431]

The nord stage 3 is a Rolls Royce to me.

More like Apple: limited in ways that might be extremely frustrating to people with different needs, but extremely well thought-through in what it does, while priced in-line with other instruments of its class (at least in Europe), yet not without bugs to be expected within the limits of modern production, usually fixed by stellar service.

Great point about the pricing in Europe. Nords are priced much higher here in the States.

[Murphy]

I have the Compact version and it's one powerful lightweight keyboard. The new keyboard action is fantastic (for a non-weighted action), and although the bugs are frustrating at times, I'm positive Nord will sort them out. I own the NE5-73 and I love that keyboard too. At the retail price point in the USA, the NS3C is $1200 more than the NE5-73 version. Quick maths for me: I would pay three hundred dollars more for the key action (both touch and aftertouch), about two hundred dollars for the transition feature, another hundred for the one extra front panel preset, about a hundred dollars for the extra distortion on the organ, another hundred for the second pipe sound, about $150 for the selectable stereo output in the back, $50 for the extra piano EQ, another hundred for the keyboard swell CV jack, and $150 for the Extern section module. I might pay even more for the outstanding dynamic range the new algorithms give to the piano sounds on the keyboard. I am blown away by the how soft I can play using an SW keyboard. It is something else! I think they took something from the Stage Piano 3 and somehow figured out how to make an SW keyboard, much, much better. Really, I need to add another hundred for that. I think I'm up to $1350 at this point (it's late, I didn't check). Now at this point, all of the other features I haven't mentioned are useful to me, and I haven't even priced out the synth section and the extra memory. So, it's worth more than the NE5 and I love my NE5 -- and hopefully, will get to keep it. I think they don't have the Hammond sound just right yet, especially the fast Leslie simulation (haven't complained to anyone about that). I don't think the Leslie is as good as my NE5. I think I'm the only one that would notice during any of my gigs, and Nord will update that too. So I got a synth for free. Just my 2 cents and those features I like, you might not like at all. Something for everyone to sort out in their own way -- that's for sure.

[anotherscott]

I have the Compact version and it's one powerful lightweight keyboard. The new keyboard action is fantastic (for a non-weighted action)..,I own the NE5-73 and I love that keyboard too....NS3C is $1200 more than the NE5-73 version....I would pay three hundred dollars more for the key action (both touch and aftertouch)...I am blown away by the how soft I can play using an SW keyboard. It is something else!

The aftertouch difference from the NE5D is obvious, but other than that, it's interesting that you find the action better than the E5D, esp. for piano, which is very encouraging. I thought the NE5D was better feeling for piano than the NS2-Compact was, I didn't know if it was merely a difference due to aftertouch or something else, but I'm glad to hear it sounds like this is apparently something somehow new/different compared to the NS2, and possibly better than both the NS2 and the E5D actions.

about a hundred dollars for the extra distortion on the organ,,,I think they don't have the Hammond sound just right yet, especially the fast Leslie simulation (haven't complained to anyone about that). I don't think the Leslie is as good as my NE5. I think I'm the only one that would notice during any of my gigs, and Nord will update that too.

I wasn't aware of different organ distortion. As for fixing any organ differences (which there seems to be some differing opinions about), hopefully they get it all sorted out one way or another!

My own list of what most tempts me over an E5D: the ability to do a split that contains more than one sound that isn't a piano or an organ; seamless sound transition; the prospect of (as I understand it) the new sample format storing some default envelope parameters; the additional MIDI functionality (EXT); the ability to drive a piano sound from an attached 88 and still be able to play more than one sound on the Nord's own keys; the pitch stick; aftertouch; the extra sample memory; the clav EQ (though they shouldn't have removed that feature from the Electro series); more flexible output routing; the extra patch recall button (but I still miss the 4 bank buttons from the NS2); separate Amount knobs for the effects; the synth section (incl. the uncommon ability to apply the synth functions to samples); assigning effects by "instrument" instead by location (upper/lower). That's a lot of useful stuff!

[Quai34]

@Analogika:
Could you elaborate, I'm not sure I understand your comparison with Apple and the "order of magnitude"?

[GeeDeWee]

Well, maybe the OP question is two questions in one:

1. If you, like the OP, are a gigging experienced musician, but no experience with Nord, is it worth trying a Nord?
Oh yes. These machines are made for live gigging. Once I got used to the way Nord works, I never wanted anything else.

2. Is it worth getting the NS3?
Well I do not own a NS3. I own a NS2, so maybe I can't get the best answer on that.
I do know that my NS2 is an absolute dream machine to me and that Nord usually fixes bugs. I personally would not hesitate on a NS3.

An alternative could be a second hand NS2 or NS2EX. Prices should be quite attractive now with the brand new NS3 in stores.

[analogika]

@Analogika:
Could you elaborate, I'm not sure I understand your comparison with Apple and the "order of magnitude"?

People who expect Apple or Nord to be a Rolls-Royce forget that while Apple and Nord tend to be among the more expensive devices of their class (though the Nord Stage 3 is actually slightly cheaper than the Kronos here in Germany), a Rolls starts at TEN TIMES the price of other limousines.

[maurich]

I own NE5 and I love sound of organ, I use it very much at gigs...and I order a NS3 compact, because I read that keyboard has C2D organ software ( like my NE5D), but I read on that forum on few threads- different fast Leslie? Different overdrive and chorus 3? I am little confused now...

Sorry if I write on wrong topic...