Nord User Forum

I have a Nord Piano 4, love it, but was wondering if upgrading to a Stage 3 88 sacrifices anything in the piano section. The P4 has 3 sensor keytouch, the NS3 two. Not a big deal. I miss the B-3 tonewheels with Leslie capability, and use a Yamaha MODX7 for this and layering. I am thinking the stage 3 could "consolodate" my rig, but not if the piano lacks. ? Any thoughts?
Not a fan of the Nord Grand, too big for me, I prefer the slab designs and don't like the Kawai much better.

The Stage 3 is great for me and I haven't ever felt that the piano was lacking in any way. I don't play out a lot now, but when I do this is the only keyboard I use. Here's a link to over 80 programs you can listen to that I've put together - they are all recorded direct from the Stage 3 into my laptop. I don't have any with just piano as out of the box they are all great as you know. Good luck to you. nord-stage-3-programs-ns3p-ns3pb-files- ... 15748.html

My daughter has a piano 4 and I have a stage 3. I think the piano engines are the same. I cannot tell a difference, the patches have the same names. The backing pads on the piano 4 (strings, etc) to me a very rudimentary, but on the stage 3, you can do almost anything you want with them due to the synth engine.

I guess what i'm saying is on the stage 3, you get everything and lose nothing.

There are subtle differences in the piano feel. The NP is ever so slightly heavier to the touch, and may offer a bit better control of your tone. The NS also has a softer landing due to the aftertouch.

I think the NP maybe has the edge for acoustic piano and the NS for EP.

But once you have played for a few hours on either, you get used to the feel and adjust your playing. And both are really nice instruments!

Sent from my phone in brevity

A different opinion here? I never got used to the aftertouch strip under the weighted keybed on the NS2. It was just different enough to throw me off, no matter how much I tried to get used to it. So I sold it, and now use a NP4 for piano duties. Many other people have never had a problem, so there you go.

The piano engines are identical. The sample playback engine on the NS3 is much more functionally rich, although the samples are identical. And then there's the synth section.

"Consolidation" for me means getting down to two keyboards, not one. I can't do weighted parts well on unweighted keybeds, and vice versa. I own a NP4 and it's always a joy to play, although these days it's a controller under my NS3C.

Thank you for the responses. I plan on upgrading to the Stage3 88. Will sell my Piano 4. I also miss the mod wheel and bender for samples on the NP4, awkward for midi mother board.

Well, I changed my mind. I decided to keep the NP4 and ordered an NS3 Compact for second tier. Best of both worlds...nice piano hammer action below, nice waterfall keybed above with REAL drawbars and all the other Stage features. It seems a waste having two identical piano engines, but hey, the addition of synth , second sample layers, and a B3 with Leslie engine are worth it. The P4 will remain my jazz/big-band rig and the light-weight NS3 will be handy for Blues and Rock side gigs . I'll use both in my studio. Although the Piano 4 lacks as a controller (no mod wheel, or jiggle stick) I can work around that. My MODX7 will be religated to studio only, midi'd off the Stage 3 external. So much for consolidating.

Fortunate you. That sounds like a very good decision, keeps you versatile for all styles of music and all kinds of gigs. I bet that there comes a day when you‘ll use both also in live situations, not only in the studio. The combi of a good piano plus a convincing organ in jazz and big-band will catch you, I swear.
Sunny regards from Germany, and stay healthy everybody

boxarox wrote:Well, I changed my mind. I decided to keep the NP4 and ordered an NS3 Compact for second tier. Best of both worlds...nice piano hammer action below, nice waterfall keybed above with REAL drawbars and all the other Stage features. It seems a waste having two identical piano engines, but hey, the addition of synth , second sample layers, and a B3 with Leslie engine are worth it. The P4 will remain my jazz/big-band rig and the light-weight NS3 will be handy for Blues and Rock side gigs . I'll use both in my studio. Although the Piano 4 lacks as a controller (no mod wheel, or jiggle stick) I can work around that. My MODX7 will be religated to studio only, midi'd off the Stage 3 external. So much for consolidating.

Very wise decision, although an expensive choice. Same rig that I've used for the last few seasons. I love it. And, like you, I use the pieces together or separately when called for. Use the NP4 to drive Panel B, and then use Song mode to create one setlist to rule them all