Nord User Forum

[ericL]

NS3 is a great instrument and a solid upgrade from NS2 series. I have several NS2 variations I've used since 2011 when they first were released (I had the first one in the USA) and I was slow to upgrade to NS3 as I wanted to see some of the very early bugs resolved. Those are mostly done and NS3 is a pretty sweet machine. I am having some random issues with mine, but not enough to deter me from recommending it and I'm ultimately planning to get another one because I love having duplicative gear for backup purposes.

Things I love about the NS3 that are not in the NS2:

- OLED screen and Songlist organization makes things a lot easier for gigs
- Seamless transition is amazing
- New synth engine is way better
- Separate reverb/compression per panel
- Actual drawbars (on Compact)
- More split flexibility
- Though I use a Ventilator, the internal simulation on the NS3 is far better
- Larger memory holds all the pianos and samples I need

Just a few thoughts from a longtime NS2 user and more recent NS3 user. The only feature from NS2 that I really miss is Pending Load. I hope that may eventually make it to the NS3.

[Music*aL]

One thing that is not as good on the NS3 as it was on all previous Stage models is the midi implementation. It is nowhere near as flexible as my NS2 and my classic NS. I won't go into the details now as there are many threads on the topic. It wasn't a deal breaker for me, but, I was disappointed.

That said, I love my NS3 HP, and I concur with all the previous comments. It is a significant improvement in all other areas of the board, the Pianos, the new filters, B3 simulation, the synth's strengths, and the efx, etc.

aL

[soultrane]

Ok I just got a chance to play the 88. Yes I love all the new features, the OLEDs, the synth etc. HOWEVER as a pianist, I do note the action, at least on the one I played, seems a little stiffer and it doesn’t seem like the keys depress quite as far (shallower key dip). Is it supposed to be the same action as the NS2? I also note my NS2 keyboard is quite a bit noisier than the 3, which makes me think it’s somehow a different action/keybed. Am I imagining things? Or maybe my NS2 Keyboard is just “broken in” more?

EDIT; OK, comparing both a little bit better, I took the same pair of headphones on both, and the same samples on the Stage 3 sound quite a bit better to me than they do on the 2. As far as the action, it's not that big of a difference, it could be age, but the NS2 88 keyboard is noticeably noisier...

[baekgaard]

I think the keybeds in both models are based on the same (or very similar) TP-40 actions from Fatar (IIRC). The NS3 is quite a bit newer, and may likely have received some engineering modifications to make it better and more smooth.

The NS2 keys are also noisier to me; even if my NS3 is now 2 years old and has been played well, it is far from as noisy as the NS2. To me, the NS2 feels more "clunky" compared to the NS3.

As for depth, the keys on a well-used NS2 travels 12.0 mm. On a well-used NS3, they travel 12.2 mm. So from a practical point of view, they are very similar and within my measurement precision; I don't think the 0.2 mm longer travel on the NS3 is noticeable For comparison, the NP4 is around 12.7 mm; that could be due to the missing aftertouch on the NP. So they are pretty similar all 3 in terms of the how far they travel -- at least according to the measurements I just did for you

[anotherscott]

I am having some doubts about switching now, when I see all the bug reports, the problem w the velocity curve especially

PIcking up from what baekgaard said... not so buggy, and I think you'll find more people who prefer the NS3 velocity curves to the NS2, compared to the other way around.

Other than the name, the NS2 and NS3 are two different instruments. They have no relationship to each other in the way a new version of software would have to the previous version.

I wouldn't go quite that far... there are definitely substantial differences, but I think that fundamentally they are still more alike than different. Or to put it differently, the NS3 is still closer to the NS2 than any non-Nord board is. The basic panel layout and operational ergonomics are almost the same, as is the fundamental 3 engines (+EXT) * 2 panels architecture.

As a NS3 owner, the synth engine is decent but not as complete as an A1 (although it does do some things the A1 won't)

Overall, I think the NS3 implementation is more capable, based on the info at post95442.html?hilit=a1#p95442 etc. though even one of the A1 advantages listed there (bigger pitch bend range) has subsequently been addressed.

I don't think there's a feature NOT on the Stage 3 that's a deal breaker for me, I just don't want any aspect of it to perform WORSE than on the Stage 2.

Yes, some things will be worse (or missing). It's most-but-not-all of a Stage 2, plus a whole lot of better stuff that, for most people, would make it the better choice overall. A list of things that you lose is at nord-stage-forum-f3/could-i-should-i-upgrade-to-ns3-t14451-20.html though there is a bigger list of new things you get. (And one of the things listed there that you lose is partially offset by the subsequently added Numeric Pad mode.)

As for the actions, I've only played the SW versions, but I find piano dynamic more controllable on the NS3 than I did on the NS2.

[soultrane]

Yeah, I like the 3 quite a bit... just a few minutes staring at those OLED'S made it tough to go back to my Stage 2, lol....

I guess the option would be to wait and check out the Nord Grand's action, but then you're out on the pitch bend, mod wheel, etc, which would make it useful as a controller for VST's.

PS the retailer (Guitar Center NYC) said they aren't expecting any Grands till October.

[anotherscott]

I guess the option would be to wait and check out the Nord Grand's action, but then you're out on the pitch bend, mod wheel, etc, which would make it useful as a controller for VST's.

You'd be out the whole A1 based synth engine, which was originally your biggest motivation for the change! Also the organ, the ability to split/layer more than two sounds, etc.

NS3 = piano, organ, sample playback and VA synth, ext MIDI controller, x2
Grand = only piano, sample playback, x1 - but a better piano action.

[baekgaard]

If your main focus is (acoustic) pianos, the Nord Grand will be stellar (or the Nord Piano, which is no slouch either). You could then add a Nord Lead A1 and whatever VST's you'd like, and/or an Electro for the organs...

Or instead of the 3 keyboards and a computer, the NS3 may work as an acceptable compromise I'd put it this way: If you've been happy with the NS2, you will get improvements in just about all areas and I don't think you'd make any substantial compomises with the NS3; you'll get used to the keybed.

My current "dream" setup would be a NG plus a NS3-SW, but that is twice the price and double the instruments to drag around...

[cgrafx]

Its always a balancing act, as no single keyboard will get you everything in one package. The NS3 does go a long way, but your still fundamentally compromising in one form or the other.

Just from the physical keys alone, a single keyboard will only ever have a single key bed. Weighted, Semi-weighted, Waterfall, or Synth. All serve different playing styles. There are simply things you can't play on a weighted keyboard, and vice/versa trying to play a nuanced jazz or classical piece on a synth keyboard would be complicated to say the least. The feel of the instrument is also very much a part of the music it produces.

The NS3 ticks off a lot of boxes. It clearly still has some limitations (and a few nits), but overall its a solid and in many ways unique keyboard, that is much more accessible than most other current offerings.

Its definitely important to know whats most important. Are you primarily a piano player, a synth player, an organist -- or are you doing things that are more rounded and need all three.

In my case I'm in 4-piece band that covers a wide range of material. So my end goal is to end up with three physical key beds (Weighted, Waterfall and Synth) in as compact a form as I can get. I come from the old school CP70, Hammond, Oberhiem/minimoog days and while I don't want to carry that sort of gear around, I appreciate the versatility having those tools provides. Its mostly the physical key beds that define those instruments and how and what you can play on them. So, in the end I'm back to three keyboards and/or controllers.

[baekgaard]

Grand = only organ, sample playback, x1 - but a better piano action.

Minor typo, I'm sure: The Grand does obviously have a piano section, but no organ section

[This post just in case someone reads the quote above out of context and thinks there is an organ built in to the Grand.]