Nord User Forum

[GeeDeWee]

After reading about the 2.0 update, I checked what I would get for my Stage 2 88 and what I would have to pay for a Stage 3 88. The deal was quickly done!

Now waiting for my brand new Stage 3 to arrive.
So no question or tip, just wanted to share my exitement

[RichardG]

So no question or tip, just wanted to share my exitement

And excited you should be !
Congrats on your Xmas present

Another Dutchie

[leonardo 1]

'm happy for you .. But I think that I will return to Ns2. For me it is better for the use I have to do

[23skidoo]

Just got my Stage 3 a couple weeks ago. Absolutely love it, far better than anything else I've owned before. Welcome to the party!

[IanzKeys]

I've had my stage 3 for a couple of months. No regrets here

[Copia]

Let me tell you: you are going to have fun. This instrument is a blast to play.

[emmrecs]

I've had my stage 3 for a couple of months. No regrets here

Ditto from me, even to the length of time of ownership! One of the best purchases I ever made in the field of music keyboards, though I'm not sure my bank manager would agree!

[GeeDeWee]

Got my Stage 3 HA88 a few days ago. What an amazing machine... Some first reflections.

Because I had a Stage 2 HA88, most of it is familiar of course, but I think I need quite some time to get the most out of the synth section.
The synth presets (sorted by category) are very useful and a good starting point to create something else.

At first I was reluctant to pull the trigger on the Stage 3 because of the lack of 'Instrument-MIDI' which I used quite a lot on my Stage 2. But the Dual KB feature on the Stage 3 works well for me. My 'synth style' MIDI controller (Roland A-37) has two parts that can send on different MIDI channels. One is set to the Dual KB channel (for playing just the organ or just the synth in Dual KB mode). The other is set to the global MIDI-channel for playing a layered Panel A+B synth. IMO there is less need to put all the sounds used in a single song in one program, because of the Song Mode, the seamless transition and the 'program up by pedal' function. Connected a simple Roland DP-2 for 'program up'. Works well!

It seems to me the overall sound is 'better' than the Stage 2. The B3 and rotary sounds a bit more 'in your face' (Vintage 2, 122 close, 50/50). The pianos sound less bright/harsh to me (maybe because of a little heavier velocity curve or another keybed?). Originally I'm a piano player, and I like it a lot. If I do need a bit more bright/bite, the piano filters are right there.

I love the OLED displays. Gives a lot of info. The number of controls that can be morphed is great. Not tried all of them yet . Also I have not extensively tried the new filters in the amp sim and delay yet.

So I believe I have bought a great machine! The Stage 3 synth provides me a learning curve, but I got that right with my Stage 2 sooner than I thought (and found it to be great fun).

[Adovbush]

Got my Stage 3 HA88 a few days ago. What an amazing machine... Some first reflections.

Because I had a Stage 2 HA88, most of it is familiar of course, but I think I need quite some time to get the most out of the synth section.
The synth presets (sorted by category) are very useful and a good starting point to create something else.

At first I was reluctant to pull the trigger on the Stage 3 because of the lack of 'Instrument-MIDI' which I used quite a lot on my Stage 2. But the Dual KB feature on the Stage 3 works well for me. My 'synth style' MIDI controller (Roland A-37) has two parts that can send on different MIDI channels. One is set to the Dual KB channel (for playing just the organ or just the synth in Dual KB mode). The other is set to the global MIDI-channel for playing a layered Panel A+B synth. IMO there is less need to put all the sounds used in a single song in one program, because of the Song Mode, the seamless transition and the 'program up by pedal' function. Connected a simple Roland DP-2 for 'program up'. Works well!

It seems to me the overall sound is 'better' than the Stage 2. The B3 and rotary sounds a bit more 'in your face' (Vintage 2, 122 close, 50/50). The pianos sound less bright/harsh to me (maybe because of a little heavier velocity curve or another keybed?). Originally I'm a piano player, and I like it a lot. If I do need a bit more bright/bite, the piano filters are right there.

I love the OLED displays. Gives a lot of info. The number of controls that can be morphed is great. Not tried all of them yet . Also I have not extensively tried the new filters in the amp sim and delay yet.

So I believe I have bought a great machine! The Stage 3 synth provides me a learning curve, but I got that right with my Stage 2 sooner than I thought (and found it to be great fun).

Glad your having fun, mate!