Nord User Forum

[NJkeysman88]

I'm about to purchase my first Nord. It's either going to be a 6D-73 or a Stage 3 Compact. I currently gig with my Kronos X 61 and a Hammond SK1/73. The B3 sounds on the Hammond are decent and I use a Neo Vent for Leslie emulation and I'm happy with that sound. But the "extra sounds" on the SK1 really are not usable to me. I'd like the Nord to give me good Hammond sounds AND all the other good sounds Nord is known for.

I'm looking to replace the SK1 with either a 6D-73 or a Stage 3 Compact. Which of these has a better organ sound? I heard that there are some parameters on the Electro that are not on the Stage 3. Can someone elaborate? Also, are the organs now modeled or sampled?

I understand that the 6D has some capability to load samples of strings or synths etc. Are they useful?

My thinking on the Stage 3 Compact is that it can be my all in one 1) if my Kronos fails, and 2) if I have a quick gig where I don't need the in depth layering of the Kronos and deep workstation capabilities. But if there is a significant difference between the organ sounds between the two, that would be an important factor to me.

Thank you in advance for any advice or pointers to further information!

Gene

[analogika]

One difference is the missing option for silencing the top drawbar when percussion is engaged, I believe.

Not really an issue IMO, since the percussion is a push-Button and not a rocker like on a real Hammond, and won’t trigger when the switch is engaged. Working with presets and A/B slots makes this setting redundant IMO.

There are some other details that others may weigh in with.

Having used a Kronos for a year and a Stage 2 for several years and now a Stage 3 compact, I can say that the Stage 3 is amazingly capable within its limitations. Having two synth/sample engines, two organs, and two piano engines at your disposal at all times, along with FX and a limited but very useful split/blend/layer system means it’s surprisingly complex but limited enough to be front-panel operatable, with a dedicated knob or button for every common function, and very quick (clearly labelled) shift-functions for most of the rest.

I find the synth engine on the Stage beautiful and quite deep, but I use the additional oscillator configurations a lot for my sound designs and would find plain sample playback too limited. I also find that samples will often benefit from layering (multiple string sounds blending into each other around a split point, or layered pop brass) that wouldn’t be possible on the Electro without giving up the piano or organ at the same time (seeing as there’s only two engines available at any one time on the Electro).

I do most sound design at rehearsals, because it almost never takes more than a few minutes or even seconds to dial in a nearly perfect sound — whether it’s some piano, a sample, or a synth sound, or layers of these. I’ve also added from scratch a layer of organ or synth to an existing sound WHILE PLAYING A GIG (or a harpsichord to a layered/split sound comprised of piano, organ, and two synths, while playing up to the outro chorus of a song during rehearsal last weekend).

Stuff you would never in a million years dream of doing on a Kronos. For that box, I’d take notes, and then program my ass off at home.

[anotherscott]

a 6D-73 or a Stage 3 Compact. Which of these has a better organ sound? I heard that there are some parameters on the Electro that are not on the Stage 3. Can someone elaborate?

The Electro 5 had a bunch of additional parameters that were not on the Stage 3... more settings for the key click (level and release bounce), option for higher amount of leakage/crosstalk, the high drawbar robbing for percussion, additional adjustments for the percussion level and decay. However, the Electro 6 is the same as the Stage 3 in these respects, those additional E5 options are gone from the E6 as well, making the E6 and NS3 organs almost identical. The remaining difference is that the Electro 5 and 6 both have a "B3+bass" mode that the NS3 lacks. You can kind of simulate it on an NS3 by making use of the second panel (see posts 3042345 and 3042387 http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthread ... ost3042345 ). With those other E5 options gone from the E6, I think "B3+bass" is now the only organ feature of the E6 that is not on the Stage.

Also, are the organs now modeled or sampled?

Modeled, as all Nord B3 emulations have been.

I understand that the 6D has some capability to load samples of strings or synths etc. Are they useful?

Sure. That sample section is where (as you put it) "all the other good sounds Nord is known for" reside (except for the piano library sounds which have their own section), i.e. that's where you find much of Nord's "extra voices" advantage over the SK1 that you're looking for. But these sounds do have their limitations. Unlike on your Kronos, the samples of acoustic instruments have only a single velocity layer (and the NS3 is the same as the Electro in this respect). And the samples of synth sounds, while useful, lack things like modulation, pitch bend, portamento, etc. (which you do get on the NS3).

[NJkeysman88]

Thank you! Very useful information. Is there any key click and leakage functions in the 6d/NS3 Compact? Are they missing entirely or just not as extensive as the E5D?

[anotherscott]

Thank you! Very useful information. Is there any key click and leakage functions in the 6d/NS3 Compact? Are they missing entirely or just not as extensive as the E5D?

Just not as extensive.

[DanCasdorph1]

I've had both. The actions are slightly different. The Stage compact action,due to the aftertouch, is slightly heaver and a little more shallow. The Electro 6D feels more like my A100 and Sk1. I can tell no difference in the organ sounds.

[AndyG1955]

I have an Electro5HP mainly for EP use. I like and use the organs - strong sounding and characterful. Some report there is a bit of distortion on the Leslie simulation, which is not apparent on earlier versions of the Electro. I taught a workshop a while ago and there was the 2 manual Hammond SK2 . I thought this organ was very impressive, I was inspired to play! It was for sale but didn’t want the weight. I will probably get an SK1 – I think it is great, better than Nord for organ.

[anotherscott]

I will probably get an SK1 – I think it is great, better than Nord for organ.

I compared the Electro 5 and Hammond SK1 at http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthread ... ammond_SK1 -- They're both good, but with different strengths.

[AndyG1955]

I agree. An A to B comparison will reveal differences with same amp, tone settings etc. I had that situation when teaching this jazz workshop. I must admit the Hammond sounded so good I wanted to play it constantly and not teach! However, next morning tried the Nord organ in isolation and it too is great. Thing is the Nord has great EP’s also……….. Most important is can the instrument allow you express your music successfully? The Nord can! I am constantly trying to make my rig lightweight and minimal, but if it was 20yrs ago and I had the 4 keyboard stage rig I would definitely incorporate an XK-1c - no duplicity of roles – purely an organ and 16.5lbs in weight! Damn, might get one anyway!

[neomad]

My 2 cts: former NE5 user now with NS3 since more than one year. Don't ask me why, but the B3 in the NE5 sounded way better than NS3. I tried to replicate some of my previous user patches, but I could not.
If I was you, I will go and test the NE vs NS somewhere. However, I am extremely happy with my NS3 and despite the differences, I can still play anything I want with the existing B3 engine.