OK. So the age old question: Stage 3 88 or Compact... but from a slightly different angle.
I've read all the posts I could find on the subject but they all end up stating the obvious:
The 88 is better for piano and the Compact is better for organ. So if you are primarily a pianist, get the 88, if you are an organ player get the Compact...
But what if you want both? What if you primary interest is piano, but you want to get into organs and clavinet. If you already have a Kawai MP11 and the main areas of interest in the Stage 3 are the organs, the clavinet the EPs, the Mellotron samples and the potential to use it as a midi controller for external synth modules? All the while the different pianos are still a nice cherry on top...
From what I read while the keys on the 88 are _better_ for playing piano than the Compact and the others, they are still nowhere near great. They certainly would not replace the MP11. Still, the MP11 is really heavy for moving around and having the full 88 keys might be useful for controlling external devices.
So what I'm trying to figure out is if the 88 would still make sense even if organs are a priority...
For those who have experiance in the area: How does it feel to play organ, clavinet, EPs and synths on the 88's keys?
Sure, it's worse than the compact but how bad is it?
On a related note, some prefer the digital drawbars on the 88 for their ability to reflect the current patch. I can see that argument. But others hate it...
How easy is it to make quick, on the fly drawbar adjustments using the digital drawbars? Especially when trying to change several of them at the same time?
This seems to be the biggest uncertainty for me compared to the physical ones...
12 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
If you are keeping your Kawai and will use it for a lot of gigs, I would add the NS3 Compact and control pianos from the Kawai. Play organs (with drawbars) and synths from the NS3 Compact.
I started my long-term Nord Stage gigging journey with the NS2 88 way back in 2011 (I had one of the first if not the very first one in the USA) and I used that for 6-7 years as my sole solution for piano, organ, EP, synth, etc. and loved it. It is a very fluid and pleasing action. Later I got the NS2 EX 76 and Compact, which were easier to move around and that became a priority for rehearsals and lots of gigs where I simply didn't feel like carting a big 88 note board.
I got so comfortable playing everything on the Compact action that I now have a pair of NS3 Compacts that are the heartbeat of my rig - one for gigs, one for rehearsal/gig backup. I love that keyboard. I still have my original NS2 88 and will bring it into the fold on some things. It sits above my Hammond A101 and is still a very relevant and musical instrument after all these years. Hope this helps!
I started my long-term Nord Stage gigging journey with the NS2 88 way back in 2011 (I had one of the first if not the very first one in the USA) and I used that for 6-7 years as my sole solution for piano, organ, EP, synth, etc. and loved it. It is a very fluid and pleasing action. Later I got the NS2 EX 76 and Compact, which were easier to move around and that became a priority for rehearsals and lots of gigs where I simply didn't feel like carting a big 88 note board.
I got so comfortable playing everything on the Compact action that I now have a pair of NS3 Compacts that are the heartbeat of my rig - one for gigs, one for rehearsal/gig backup. I love that keyboard. I still have my original NS2 88 and will bring it into the fold on some things. It sits above my Hammond A101 and is still a very relevant and musical instrument after all these years. Hope this helps!
Nords: NE2, NS2 88, NS3 Compact x 2
Live rig: NS3, Vent, Radial KL-8, Shure PSM-900 IEM Rig, UE18 & UE7 IEMs.
Studio: Hammond A-101 & Leslie 122, Yamaha CP-80, Yamaha S90, NS2, DSI Prophet-6, Vent II, Roland JX-8P.
Live rig: NS3, Vent, Radial KL-8, Shure PSM-900 IEM Rig, UE18 & UE7 IEMs.
Studio: Hammond A-101 & Leslie 122, Yamaha CP-80, Yamaha S90, NS2, DSI Prophet-6, Vent II, Roland JX-8P.
- ericL
- Patch Creator
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: 23 Jun 2012, 00:36
- Country:
- Has thanked: 414 times
- Been thanked: 603 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Stage 3
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
bjavor wrote:...On a related note, some prefer the digital drawbars on the 88 for their ability to reflect the current patch. I can see that argument. But others hate it...
How easy is it to make quick, on the fly drawbar adjustments using the digital drawbars? Especially when trying to change several of them at the same time?
This seems to be the biggest uncertainty for me compared to the physical ones...
You can't grab the drawbars and quickly make an inverted "V" shape for example with the Stage 3 88, however you can morph the drawbars to the mod wheel to get the same thing. It depends on whether your "on-the-fly" changes are different all the time, or more prescribed where you know for each song what you are after and can be programmed. With morphing you can have 4 organ settings per panel with the mod wheel also allowing changes in between.
Nord Stage 3 | SC Prophet T8 | Korg X50... In the past: Nord Stage EX, 2, 2EX | SC Prophet 5, 10 | MiniMoog | Hammond B3 & 122 Leslie | Yamaha DX7IIFD, EX5, CP60 | Hohner D6 | Fender Rhodes | Roland S-50, D-50, XP-50...
-
WannitBBBad - Patch Creator
- Posts: 1795
- Joined: 25 Jul 2011, 03:36
- Country:
- Has thanked: 1039 times
- Been thanked: 1527 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
It's quite simple; The compact is made for "organists" and the 88 is made for the "pianists". Both the kay-action and the physical drawbars on the compact makes the organ-feel better.
These details aren't possible to achieve on the 88, but the sound is still the same though.
No matter what you try to adjust on the 88 to get it closer to the compact, you can't alter the tactile differences related to the key-action and drawbars.
I've had the 88 for several years, and added midi-drawbars in order to get closer to the "real-thing-feel", but now I've accepted and settled with the differences.
Been thinking of adding a compact (NS2 or NS3), but come to realise it's really not THAT important for me, I'll manage with the 88.
These details aren't possible to achieve on the 88, but the sound is still the same though.
No matter what you try to adjust on the 88 to get it closer to the compact, you can't alter the tactile differences related to the key-action and drawbars.
I've had the 88 for several years, and added midi-drawbars in order to get closer to the "real-thing-feel", but now I've accepted and settled with the differences.
Been thinking of adding a compact (NS2 or NS3), but come to realise it's really not THAT important for me, I'll manage with the 88.
Gear: Nord Stage 4, Nord Stage 3, Nord Lead A1, Ensoniq TS12, Roland D50, Roland D05, Roland JD08, Hammond A100, Hammond M100, Yamaha GT2, Yamaha Motif 6, Virus B
- catosim
- Posts: 423
- Joined: 06 Nov 2017, 22:58
- Location: Norway
- Country:
- Has thanked: 52 times
- Been thanked: 104 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 4
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Stage 3
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
Hi bjavor,
no matter if you decide on an 88 HA or on the Compact‘s keybed - it will remain a compromise only in any one of the directions. Your organ and synth expectations may also depend on how fast you play or what kind of music you make.
If it organwise comes to solo playing for Deep Purple tunes or Bands like Uriah Heep, Kansas and so on, I could not imagine doing so on a keybed other than a semiweighted one. Some years ago I had a studiologic master (with HA Fatar keys) only, but a „Highway Star“ or „Easy Living“ or Bonjovi‘s „Runaway“ was tremendously painful.
On the other side if it comes to piano ballads my favourite keybed would be a Kawai or nord Grand with no aftertouch ribbons, but so far I‘ve managed quite good on a semiweighted, if I set the volume lower to enable me playing with great dynamics without running the risk that the piano sound gets barking.
So from your words, with a little more priority on organ, I‘d recommend the Compact.
Cheers from Germany
no matter if you decide on an 88 HA or on the Compact‘s keybed - it will remain a compromise only in any one of the directions. Your organ and synth expectations may also depend on how fast you play or what kind of music you make.
If it organwise comes to solo playing for Deep Purple tunes or Bands like Uriah Heep, Kansas and so on, I could not imagine doing so on a keybed other than a semiweighted one. Some years ago I had a studiologic master (with HA Fatar keys) only, but a „Highway Star“ or „Easy Living“ or Bonjovi‘s „Runaway“ was tremendously painful.
On the other side if it comes to piano ballads my favourite keybed would be a Kawai or nord Grand with no aftertouch ribbons, but so far I‘ve managed quite good on a semiweighted, if I set the volume lower to enable me playing with great dynamics without running the risk that the piano sound gets barking.
So from your words, with a little more priority on organ, I‘d recommend the Compact.
Cheers from Germany
Last edited by Tasten-Bert on 19 May 2022, 08:27, edited 1 time in total.
| nord electro 5D 61 and korg X50 on k&m 18880 or 18950 stand | iPad mini 5 with Set List Maker | phonic AM120 submixer |
... and I loved these of my former stuff: nord electro 3, Roland VR-760, Fatar Studio 1100, korg 01/W, Roland U-20
... and I loved these of my former stuff: nord electro 3, Roland VR-760, Fatar Studio 1100, korg 01/W, Roland U-20
-
Tasten-Bert - Donator
- Posts: 837
- Joined: 17 Feb 2015, 11:57
- Location: Where there is friendship, love and music ...
- Country:
- Has thanked: 152 times
- Been thanked: 359 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 5
- Your Nord Gear #2: Other Brand
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
Is there no way to get a NS3-HA88 and a NS3C or NE6D (which feel quite the same) under your fingers to see yourself? In my eyes, it's absolutely worth spending some hours on that.
I won't be able to give any advice in your direction as you seem to want either or. But as a piano player, I went for a dual keyboard setup with a NS3C expanded by a weighted 88-keys controller: I wasn't at ease with the NS3-HA88 key action. I'm fine with my solution and carrying around both instruments every couple weeks. And wouldn't know what to do if it needed to be only one instrument.
I won't be able to give any advice in your direction as you seem to want either or. But as a piano player, I went for a dual keyboard setup with a NS3C expanded by a weighted 88-keys controller: I wasn't at ease with the NS3-HA88 key action. I'm fine with my solution and carrying around both instruments every couple weeks. And wouldn't know what to do if it needed to be only one instrument.
Stage 3 Compact (Rev.B 2.1 - OS 2.60) - Kawai VPC1 / Yamaha CP33 - Hall of Fame & NeoVent2 - Behringer Flow-8 - K&M stands 18820+18811 / 18953+18952 - Samsung tablet with MobileSheetsPro & AirTurn Duo200 - QSC K8.2s / Fischer InEars
-
FZiegler - Donator
- Posts: 2351
- Joined: 15 Dec 2019, 02:41
- Location: Germany south-west
- Country:
- Has thanked: 618 times
- Been thanked: 787 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
OK. Many thanks for the replies. The Compact it is then
- bjavor
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 18 Sep 2016, 13:44
- Country:
- Has thanked: 0 time
- Been thanked: 0 time
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
Good luck!
Last edited by WannitBBBad on 19 May 2022, 13:23, edited 2 times in total.
Nord Stage 3 | SC Prophet T8 | Korg X50... In the past: Nord Stage EX, 2, 2EX | SC Prophet 5, 10 | MiniMoog | Hammond B3 & 122 Leslie | Yamaha DX7IIFD, EX5, CP60 | Hohner D6 | Fender Rhodes | Roland S-50, D-50, XP-50...
-
WannitBBBad - Patch Creator
- Posts: 1795
- Joined: 25 Jul 2011, 03:36
- Country:
- Has thanked: 1039 times
- Been thanked: 1527 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
I have both the HA88 and the Compact.And a C2D.The old C2D still better than either Stage3 organ.I still use either a Leslie or Neo Ventilator simulator.Gain staging on the Stage3 organ is wimpy compared to the StageEX organs.Not improved over previous models is my opinion.Still in need of a decent Leslie sim,Nord just never gets me there.
The C2D gets more love from me than the Stage3 organs.
The 73 Compact does play EP's just fine.Synth too.Falls short on acoustic piano sounds though.Used the 88 for rehearsal,played 'organs' on it without destroying my hands.Palm smears and swipes drew no blood so they are quite safe to mash B3 swells etc on.
Have already replaced the pitchstick on the Compact that is now three years old.And cleaned key contacts when the pianos would not respond to 'light' playing.The 88 has had NO issues!
The C2D has never had an issue.Tonight at Blue Frog Studios I am using the 88 and the C2D,the Compact not needed.
Enjoy your 73 Compact!
Edited my spelling.
The C2D gets more love from me than the Stage3 organs.
The 73 Compact does play EP's just fine.Synth too.Falls short on acoustic piano sounds though.Used the 88 for rehearsal,played 'organs' on it without destroying my hands.Palm smears and swipes drew no blood so they are quite safe to mash B3 swells etc on.
Have already replaced the pitchstick on the Compact that is now three years old.And cleaned key contacts when the pianos would not respond to 'light' playing.The 88 has had NO issues!
The C2D has never had an issue.Tonight at Blue Frog Studios I am using the 88 and the C2D,the Compact not needed.
Enjoy your 73 Compact!
Edited my spelling.
Last edited by LeftyBass68 on 19 May 2022, 23:33, edited 3 times in total.
NS3C NS2EX88 C2D Yamaha MOX8 Behringer Model D (5) Behringer Neutron (5) Roland Lucina AX9 12 Hammonds/Leslies.(BV/BCV/B2/3 A100's/M3/M102 etc.
- LeftyBass68
- Posts: 289
- Joined: 10 Jul 2018, 03:58
- Location: Vancouver
- Country:
- Has thanked: 64 times
- Been thanked: 68 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2 EX
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Stage 3
Re: How does it feel to play organ and synth on the Stage 3
I had the same doubts, but finally I went for an HA88.
Didnt like the HA action at the beginning, as it is not the best piano action you will find out there, but it is sufficient to play well both piano and organ.
I also considered to buy an external master with Piano action, but I hate to bring 2 keyboard with me when with 88 key I really can do whatever.
3 split points and 2 panels are more than what I would be able to play.
Didnt like the HA action at the beginning, as it is not the best piano action you will find out there, but it is sufficient to play well both piano and organ.
I also considered to buy an external master with Piano action, but I hate to bring 2 keyboard with me when with 88 key I really can do whatever.
3 split points and 2 panels are more than what I would be able to play.
- JackD
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 27 Apr 2022, 21:27
- Country:
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 15 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
12 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2