This 'unofficial' Forum is dedicated to the Clavia Nord Keyboards, including the Nord Stage, Nord Electro and Nord Piano. Discuss any issues around Nord's keyboards, share your favorite patches, samples, and music. We are not affiliated with Clavia!
Everything about Nord keyboards in general; which one to choose, the sound manager, sample editor, and general discussion about the sample and piano libraries.
Some guys bring their small ear buds in. It would be a hassle though to bring a regular size pair of phones onto the show room floor. They'd pull you aside to a different line, inspect them for 5 minutes , probably give you some sort of claim ticket on them, then every time you'd leave that part of the showroom you'd have to jump through all the security hoops again. Not to mention just schlepping them from your parking spot. We park a solid half mile from the site and walk in to avoid paying for parking and parking garage gridlock. This is my 32nd NAMM and I'd guess I walk easily 3-4 miles during the day. Wouldn't want to cart them around all day through the massive crowds.
It's sad because even Kawai - who you'd think to have the best phones because they have the best action in a digital piano and they seem to be so dedicated to the "digital piano" for home-- would have great phones. But historically it's always been entry level $30-$50 quality.
Dave Ferris wrote:Do you own the NP4 baekgaard ? If so, do you feel it's an improvement over the NP3 ? Thanks.
Yes, I have and NP4 as well. I have had only limited time with NP3 boards, but from what I can tell, the NP4 is an upgraded version with better keys and some tweaks to the curves that makes it behave quite nicely, in my view. I really like it and prefer it strongly vs e.g. the Roland keys (which I've played regularly for a long time before jumping completely into the Nord camp). I also used to love Yamaha boards, but I think the NP4 -- for me at least -- strikes a very nice balance between being heavy enough for acoustic piano playing and not tiresome to play for extended periods, with a nice landing and a very "precise" feeling to it. And last time I tried an (admittedly older) Yamaha board, it didn't make me want to go back
Would be interesting to hear what you think, if you get a chance to check it out. Check out also the new EP sounds (currently only available on the NS3, but will come to the NP4 as well).
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Dave Ferris wrote:Just from a sonic perspective- the little I've heard of the CP88 pianos, I'm not crazy about. I prefer my CP4. Will get a better idea this week at NAMM, if I can hear anything in the din of the Marriott Ballroom.
At this juncture, going on the little I've heard, I'd go with the NP4. Maybe I'll be more impressed after playing the new Yamaha in person though.
Hi Dave,
Did you get a chance to try the CP88 in person? I'm trying to decide between the NP4 and CP88.
Hi!
Havent played neither of these boards. But I have had the CP 73 on loan for a while.I returned it and bought the Nord Electro 73HP. So, cant tell you anything about wich of the keys of the CP 88 and the Np4 is better. But i can say something about the sounds. Pianos Nord all the way. Yamaha felt really lifeless and boring. EP I wpould say that Yamaha is better, more realistic. Nord is far better in the organ department. Yamahas organ are terrible in the CP.
Nord has the free sound download wich is great. I also like the effects section of the Nord Electro way more than on the CP.
Just my 2 cents..
Last edited by Stian72 on 30 Mar 2019, 01:44, edited 1 time in total.
Yesterday I tried out the CP88. It definitely has the better keybed over the NP4 but as Kirsty said Yamaha‘s piano samples are kind of super-photoshoped, so that they sound very steril. They have no character and are really boring. To me it is the same Yamaha piano sound since 10 years. I‘d definitely go for the Nord.
Greets,
Eumel
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