This 'unofficial' Forum is dedicated to the Clavia Nord Keyboards, including the Nord Stage, Nord Electro and Nord Piano. Discuss any issues around Nord's keyboards, share your favorite patches, samples, and music. We are not affiliated with Clavia!
so I'm planning to buy a Nord Keyboard soon, and I'm totally amazed of what quality of sound they are able to produce. But I don't know yet what model I'll go for. Until a few days ago, I was quite sure I'd go for an Electro 5 73 (Not sure yet if HP) but now I found a used Stage 2 76 (not EX) online for 500€ more including Pedal and original Nord carrying case (I would have bought those seperately (to be exact, probably not the official case but whatever)). I am really into Keyboards and am willing to use the features of the Stage, but the thing is that I'm quite unsure which model I like better. I thought I'd share my preferences of both models with you guys, it would be great if you could help me out with the decision!
I like the manual organ drawer bars on the electro, I don't know how the digital ones on the Stage are... But that's kind of a minor issue
Since I was planning to play also lead synth on the Keyboard, I love the Pitch and Mod wheels on the stage, with the Electro I would have connected a MIDI Pitch Bend
The thing that concerns me most about the Stage is that it only has 512MB of piano sample memory, but as a newbie to Nord keyboards I can't tell how much of a difference this makes
Does the Stage 2 have the possibility to connect the half-moon switch? and are there any downsides apart from the memory to the Electro?
How do the Keys differ? I have played just once on a Stage 2, but I have no idea what to expect from the waterfall keys...
Please share your experiences with both of these Keyboards with me, I'd be really happy if you guys can help me
For that price, go for the Stage2. It runs circles around the Electro in any area of the instrument (synth section, effects, multitimbrality, splits and layers, morphing, extern section, pitch bend and mod wheel...), and the smaller piano memory is not a big issue. You can load different sizes of piano samples, and anyway it's unlikely you'll need 10 XL size pianos.
You cannot mount the half moon switch (but the sustain pedal can double as a Leslie speed switch, or you can have a separate pedal switch for Leslie).
As for the keys, the Stage2 76 has the fully weighted HA action. It is MUCH better than the HP of the Electro for playing piano, and a more than acceptable compromise for organ and synth.
Unless you play mainly organ, get the Stage.
These users thanked the author Spider for the post:
Klalter wrote:
[*]Since I was planning to play also lead synth on the Keyboard, I love the Pitch and Mod wheels on the stage, with the Electro I would have connected a MIDI Pitch Bend
I don't think NE recognizes pitch bend!
These users thanked the author Duplobaustein for the post:
The Stage 2 is more flexible in allowing keyboard splits. I have an Electro 3, and I miss not having a pitch bend (my previous keyboard did have pitch bend). I suggest getting the Stage.
These users thanked the author harmonizer for the post:
Hi being an ex Hammond player i couldnt get used to the digital drawbars they are not as pricise as i needed so i went for the 5d and love it just my humble opinion
These users thanked the author williehackitt for the post: