Nord User Forum

[CountFosco]

What are you actually talking about? (The OP left a week ago)

[ChuckB]

Great thread! I have a 5D which I love, its only shortcoming being a lack of pitch wheel. I've looked at a Stage 3, but current financial considerations make spend an additional $2K for a pitch wheel not practical. The Yamaha discussed here seems nice, but IMO doesn't hold a candle against the Nord in the general B3, piano areas. Educate me as where my conclusions are wrong!

[orcoaffamato]

This year, on february, I swapped my almost three years old Yamaha Montage 8 with a new Yamaha P-515 and a new Nord Stage 3 HP76 'cause I was really tired of how, everytime, I had to dive into the Montage OS menu to do everything. Some things were also impossible to achive due to some weird limitations. Most of the time I was using it just for piano practice (I really loved the Bosendorfer sound) and as a MIDI controller (but Yamaha's messed up MIDI implementation in the Montage is really annoying). So I let it go.

I bought the Yamaha P-515 to have a better keybed and still have the Bosendorfer sound (even if I needed to tweak it a bit 'cause the sound out of the factory isn't so good).

I bought a Nord Stage 3 because:
- It's simple to use (the first time I tried it I didn't even need to search into the manual how to do this or that... unlike in the Montage's case where you have also to check the manual and youtube videos to understand how it works);
- It has the little A1 synth section;
- I can use the Nord Piano Library sounds;
- Sampling and uploading samples with the Nord Sample Editor 3 is really easy (unlike the messy combo Montage + Sample Robot);
- Managing sounds and patches is really easy too with the Nord Sound Manager (unlike in the Montage that's a real nightmare if you don't buy the John Melas Editors to do that).

[AndyG1955]

I have been through a similar process. The part exchange value of my immaculate Nord E5 was an insult. If you think the cost to for a Stage 3 is viable it’s a valid choice. Many on this site like the multi functional abilities of the Stage keyboards. I also see an alternative.
I have lots of synths and am very used to bringing out the best of their characteristics. I like to take out products by different manufacturers they offer sonic variety. I don’t know the Little Phatty, but it is analog - I think it will have a lot of character compared to the Nord virtual synth. You are for keyboard player travelling pretty light, could you add a couple of modules to your rig? Layering sounds fat!
I like having a second or third keyboard I love the sonic flexibility.
Next point of concern - if you rely totally on the one keyboard and it goes faulty you are silenced mid gig! That’s why I always keep backup boards in my van. I couldn’t afford two Stage 3 s! Yes I moan getting in the venue – large X stand, several boards, and I like what the Nord offers as an integral part of my whole sound. Good luck with your choice

[anotherscott]

I have a 5D which I love, its only shortcoming being a lack of pitch wheel. I've looked at a Stage 3, but current financial considerations make spend an additional $2K for a pitch wheel not practical.

Check the threads below for some pitch bend considerations...

nord-electro-forum-f9/ne5-beginner-t14524.html

general-nord-forum-f29/electro-5d-vs-stage-3-t13667.html

The Yamaha discussed here seems nice, but IMO doesn't hold a candle against the Nord in the general B3, piano areas.

See also the thread at general-synthesizers-keyboards-forum-f6/new-yamaha-yc-61-vs-nord-electro-t18900.html

[bartley99]

S3 Cons:
- The S3 organ sucks compared to previous Nords and needs way too much tweaking and outboard fx to make it acceptable. Just port the danm E5/E6 organ code over to the S3. Sheesh.
- The clav blows. No release and the attack aint right when it comes to velocity response.
- Not the biggest fan of the keybed feel on both the HA88 and Compact. Prefer Electro and Stage2 over Stage3. It's personal preference.
- I didn't get a Nord Christmas present in 2019. wtf.

S3 Pros:
- Made by a great company and built by even more awesome people
- Extremely reliable and gig friendly (the reason I spend big $$$$$ on Nords).
- S3 is well designed. Ahead of the curve with the a perfect feature set on a stage keyboard. Not the entire universe of feature but the most important to a typical keyboard player.
- Pianos simply can't be touched unless you want to drag a laptop along with you.
- The synth engine is cool. Sounds good. Great feature set. Not perfect but all synths have design sacrifices. When I want to get picky about my synths, I pull out a synth.

[anotherscott]

Those S3 pros and cons really shift depending on what you're comparing it to, e.g. pros and cons compared to an Electro are different than pros and cons compared to a Stage 2. But to a couple of your specifics...

re: " Just port the danm E5/E6 organ code over to the S3" -- Are you sure the E6 has the E5 organ and not the S3 organ? Because other than the B3+bass option, the E6 organ only has the same available parameters that the NS3 organ has, and not all of the ones the E5 has. (That said, I like the organ on the S3.)

re: "The clav blows. No release and the attack aint right when it comes to velocity response." -- well, I think it's the same sample set that Nord's clavs have always been. The E5 was weaker because it eliminated clav EQ options. Most (though not all) of the EQ options returned with the NES and E6. I like that the note-off point is pretty low in the key travel (at least in the E5 and NS3), it helps them feel snappy to play.