Nord User Forum

[rockymtnnord]

I own the Stage 3 HA88 and am finding the action a bit too heavy for organ stuff. I'd like to buy something as a top keyboard that fits the bill for an "organ" action without having too many redundancies with the Stage 3 (a Stage compact, or even an Electro, would be way overkill for my needs for a 2nd board).

Rather than just buy a basic MIDI keyboard though, I'd rather get a 2nd instrument that can make sounds. I was thinking about going for a used Yamaha DX7, but I've never played one. Would a DX7 have the keybed action I'm after? Any other recommendations? (Thinking DX7 because they're reasonably cheap and would fill a gap with the Nord Stage's sound palette with that FM goodness.)

[anotherscott]

DX7 would be fine as an organ controller. Though I'm not sure how easily you could switch between playing its own sounds and using it to play Nord sounds. It may require some gymnastics if you're trying to quickly go back and forth between the two scenarios. The DX7's front panel volume control might be the easiest way to silence it when you don't want to hear it (i.e. you're playing it only to trigger the organ), assuming that that control does not send MIDI (volume controls usually do not). Inserting a MIDI kill switch between the Yamaha and the Nord might be the easiest way to make sure the Nord doesn't play from the DX7 when you're trying to just hear DX7 sounds from it.

[Rusty Mike]

Or just create a patch on the DX7 that plays no sound.

[MartinJ2EX]

I’ve had a DX7 IIFD for about half a year now, I’ve never actually tried to play organ with it... If the gigs come back, I might try it just out of curiosity instead of my D3m controller, which has a Fatar TP8o with waterfall keys, which is really aimed towards organ playing (because it’s inspired by Hammond keys)
I love the TP8o for hammond smearing, because it has a rounded front edge on the white keys and the typical rounded black keys (these are the same on modern synthesizers)

Btw - please search the forum before creating a new thread, there are already tons of threads regarding the exact same topic

[Schorsch]

my D3m controller, which has a Fatar TP8o with waterfall keys, which is really aimed towards organ playing (because it’s inspired by Hammond keys)

The D3M is interesting and I did look into it when I was choosing which controller to buy for organ. What I was puzzled about though is why they didn't implement drawbars on it. If it's meant as a controller specific for organ, wouldn't that be the first thing to put in?

That's exactly what I also though about - just providing a waterfall keybed does not make it an organ controller from my point of view. But it's a quite good keybed to play organ or synth as I found some years ago when I was testing it, so if one accepts to still control the drawbars from the main board it would be a good addition - but it's not build anymore by Doepfer unfortunately

[rockymtnnord]

Btw - please search the forum before creating a new thread, there are already tons of threads regarding the exact same topic

Sorry about that, I did search the forum but most of the threads were either people looking for the opposite (fully weighted keybed for their NS3C) or just really old threads from a decade ago recommending (now) old synthesizers from Kurzweil.

I may just buy the cheapest used keyboard I can find that has 61 keys and use that until I figure out what the best action is for an organ (I'm not an organ player by trade but I'm trying to learn).

[Tasten-Bert]

Yep, that sounds like a good option to start with. You may end at around 100 - 150 USD which isn‘t that much that it would ruin you but will let you try faster organ-like playing. Fun is unlimited. Cheers from Germany

[MartinJ2EX]

Sorry about that, I did search the forum but most of the threads were either people looking for the opposite (fully weighted keybed for their NS3C) or just really old threads from a decade ago recommending (now) old synthesizers from Kurzweil.

I may just buy the cheapest used keyboard I can find that has 61 keys and use that until I figure out what the best action is for an organ (I'm not an organ player by trade but I'm trying to learn).

Oh, didn’t realize that ) searching the forum can be tricky, too - so everything’s alright

I mean, there is one controller really aimed at organ playing... even with 2 manuals
https://www.thomann.de/at/gsi_dmc_122.h ... 1616148799

Although, at this pricepoint you could probably already look at those organ emulation keyboards...
Studiologic Numa Organ 2 even has the inverted keys which I totally dig...

Legend Solo truly has the better organ emulations, though
https://www.thomann.de/at/viscount_lege ... 1616149338


At the time when I built my D3m with custom chassis (ordered Fatar TP8o from Doepfer, got a D3m mainboard used, but had to buy an exchange from Doepfer because the used one had some issues), I wanted to keep the budget low...
At the time of my build, it was about 220€ for the keybed and cables + 40€ for the used mainboard (My dad had some walnut wood at home)

The spare part electronics then cost me about 250€

[Alaskanulu]

I came across the same issue and needed up getting a Nord Wave 2 and use it as a MIDI for the stage 3. Worked in my favor because the wave is an AWESOME synth and I love the keybed for playing organ. I use Dual KB mode.

[MartinJ2EX]

I came across the same issue and needed up getting a Nord Wave 2 and use it as a MIDI for the stage 3. Worked in my favor because the wave is an AWESOME synth and I love the keybed for playing organ. I use Dual KB mode.

I actually already thought about the same thing, because the Wave 2 has the 61 waterfall keys (different playing feel though because of different springs probably as far as I’ve read by users).^^
I might be getting a Wave 2 instead of my controller and keeping my Stage 2 EX 88 instead of upgrading to a Stage 3 or 4


In any case... AWESOME setup - Wave 2 + Stage 3