Nord User Forum

[playsabadguitar]

I have a nord electro 6D, 73 waterfall keybed. Been playing it all day every day. Visited family for xmas, and I played a real piano. I was slowwwwww. Keys felt heavy. I have gotten way to used to the waterfall semi-weighted keys. I do not want this to become a long term problem, so I am in the market for a fully weighted keyboard. I do not want to buy a real piano. I do not have the money for a good one, and I practice in my basement, and plan to move in the next few years. Once I move I will get a real piano for the living room.

Can anyone recommend a good fully weighted keybed to practice on so I don't get soft?

Do I even need one with good sound or could I use the fully weighted keyboard to control the nord electro and use those piano sounds?

The nord will still be my gigging instrument, so this is for home practice only.

[FZiegler]

You want it to be played with its own sound engine - not via the NE6? What's your budget for that task? With or without built-in speakers?

If you say 4000 $, you might get proposed a Nord Piano 4/5.

Or what about a Yamaha P-515, a Kawai ES-920/520? (upper middle class)

Of course, you can use a MIDI controller keyboard, too. In that case, I'd look after a real (DIN) MIDI jack, as you can't connect a USB MIDI board directly to your Nord:
Kawai VPC-1
Studiologic SL88 (Studio or Grand)
...
There are multiple threads on this topic on the forum - search for "weighted".

[playsabadguitar]

You want it to be played with its own sound engine - not via the NE6? What's your budget for that task? With or without built-in speakers?

If you say 4000 $, you might get proposed a Nord Piano 4/5.

Or what about a Yamaha P-515, a Kawai ES-920/520? (upper middle class)

Of course, you can use a MIDI controller keyboard, too. In that case, I'd look after a real (DIN) MIDI jack, as you can't connect a USB MIDI board directly to your Nord:
Kawai VPC-1
Studiologic SL88 (Studio or Grand)
...
There are multiple threads on this topic on the forum - search for "weighted".

I do not need a built in speaker. My set up is mixing board into powered speaker. I do not care if it is via the NE6 or its own engine. Whatever is more affordable for comprable sound. Remember, this is just for practice. Feel is more important than sound. Budget is $1000. but I would rather spend less.

[playsabadguitar]

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... ck-edition

I could use this to control my nord, correct? I really love the accoustic piano sounds on the nord.

[Tasten-Bert]

Yes, you can. And you could as well use the korg D1 which I‘m about to try because the keybed feels good under my fingers.

Cheers from Germany

[FZiegler]

I only tested that keybed on some instruments at my dealer's. It's the same Fatar TP-100 as on the NS3-76HP or the Studiologic SL88 Studio (which is ~450 $).

If you want a good weighted controller for your DAW, it's good choice. Not so much if you want the best keybed for the money: It's optimised for portability, not playability - I'd only consider it for not schlepping so much. I'm sure, you've been reading the comments at Sweetwater's.

If you have the 1000 $, I'd recommend the Studiologic SL88-Grand. Or a used instrument like the Roland FP-60 (the FP-60X doesn't have a DIN-MIDI anymore). I still use my >10 years old Yamaha CP-33 as I haven't found a better keybed yet.

[FZiegler]

... the korg D1 which I‘m about to try because the keybed feels good under my fingers.

Please keep us informed about this. Even if it's always a personal thing.

[maxpiano]

... the korg D1 which I‘m about to try because the keybed feels good under my fingers.

Please keep us informed about this. Even if it's always a personal thing.

I tried the Korg D1 and was not very impressed, apart from sounds (didn't like them) the keybed is not bad but I found it a bit heavy to play (testing its internal sounds) + its pedals connectivity is limited to sustain only and this reduces its master keyboard capabilities, so I'd rather go for something else (like the SL Grand or Yamaha CPs or Roland FPs like the models you mentioned)

[MarkJames]

Casio PX-5S - should be able to find under $1000.

[MescaL636]

Another not often mentioned alternative is the M-Audio Hammer 88, for ~$450-$500. I use mine with the Electro 5D at home and really dig it for piano, especially if you want a simple keybed-only interface.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... controller