Nord User Forum

[Happy]

Just released and price wise equivalent.
https://usa.yamaha.com/products/music_production/synthesizers/cp88_73/index.html
Sample loading via WebMIDI, MIDI Sysex fully documented. Nord listening ?
True challenger to the Electro's ?

[Michldigital]

NS3 Copy and Paste ??
B3 missing - pfffff

[spookyman]

Featurewise, it's more in Nord Piano 2 HP territory than Nord Stage/Nord Electro.
But it looks not bad.

[NoDirection]

Looks like Nord has been an inspiration for the user interface... Sounds good on the demo...

[baekgaard]

But it looks not bad.

But it's not RED

[maurus]

But it's not RED

This. And some of the knobs are just switches between a few positions...

The most important bit are the sounds and the action, and it remains to be seen if Yamaha will deliver on its promise of downloadable new sounds in the future. Clavia might have to keep thinking about improving their actions to stay competitive, though.

[anotherscott]

True challenger to the Electro's ?

Without an organ engine, it's closer to a Nord Piano than an Electro, but Nord doesn't make an HP Piano anymore, so based on size/weight, it goes against Electro... but the 6D rather than the 6D-73, because it's a hammer action board.

Yamaha advantages: a lot cheaper, presumably better action, 4-zone MIDI controller functions, pitch and mod controls, 8 patch recall buttons (vs. 4), more split/layer flexibility.

Nord advantages: clonewheel organ engine, wider range of different pianos/EPs, more complete clav emulation, much larger selection of non-piano sounds, ability to load your own samples.

Clavia might have to keep thinking about improving their actions to stay competitive, though.

Unfortunately, not being an action manufacturer, they are dependent upon what they can source from others.

[maxpiano]

True challenger to the Electro's ?

Without an organ engine, it's closer to a Nord Piano than an Electro, but Nord doesn't make an HP Piano anymore, so based on size/weight, it goes against Electro... but the 6D rather than the 6D-73, because it's a hammer action board.

Yamaha advantages: a lot cheaper, presumably better action, 4-zone MIDI controller functions, pitch and mod controls, 8 patch recall buttons (vs. 4), more split/layer flexibility.

Nord advantages: clonewheel organ engine, wider range of different pianos/EPs, more complete clav emulation, much larger selection of non-piano sounds, ability to load your own samples.

Clavia might have to keep thinking about improving their actions to stay competitive, though.

Unfortunately, not being an action manufacturer, they are dependent upon what they can source from others.

Agree, more a challenger of the Nord Piano and I see the same pros/cons.

With regards to the keybed, current Nord provider (Fatar) has better keybeds to offer (e.g. the TP40 Wood used on Studiologic SL88 Grand) so there is still room for improvement without changing the supplier; it is up to Nord and I think they should consider that, at least on Nord Pianos which require less compromises compared to Stage/Electro, imho.

[cphollis]

Not a lot of field reports yet from people who have actually played the 88 or 73. Many are hoping for a Yamaha-style weighted action. Most of the interest is in the 73, as there aren't many choices for a weighted action in that length.

I have a tough time comparing it to the Nord Piano 4, as there are no loadable samples yet -- APs, EPs, clavs, horns, etc. And that's a huge feature which I use regularly.

[anotherscott]

I have a tough time comparing it to the Nord Piano 4, as there are no loadable samples yet -- APs, EPs, clavs, horns, etc. And that's a huge feature which I use regularly.

CP73 has no horns at all, the closest is a synth brass patch. It's weak on clav, too... just two clav sounds. Nord clav could use some updating, but at least they supply all 4 basic clav sounds (pickup positions), and most of the EQs. Though the Yamaha's MIDI controller features at least make it much easier to grab your "missing" sounds from an iPad or whatever. Those sound won't benefit from the board's knobby access to effects and such, but at least you have some way to fill in key gaps.