Stage 3 HP76

[timkeys]

Hi Nord users

I’m looking to purchase an stage 3 HP76, and am looking for some advice

Firstly, what are peoples experience in layers, splits and song lists ?
What’s it like to set up ?

So for instance, if I wanted a set up with brass in the top split, a synth sound in the middle split and a piano with layered strings in the bottom split. All in the transposed register you’d expect from these instruments

And then saved as a song in set list

How easy/ difficult would this be ?

Secondly, any comments on the action of the HP 76, particularly with fast repeated notes

Much obliged for your advice !

[harmonizer]

One thing I suggest you do is check out exactly where you would like the split points to be, and determine if the Stage 3 will give you enough "real estate" on the keyboard. I suggest you download a copy of the Stage 3 user guide and map out the details. Note this statement: "There are 10 possible keyboard split positions, ranging from F2 to C7". This means the Nord Stage does not let you put the split points anywhere. In the scenario you mentioned (brass at top, synth in middle, piano at bottom) the brass would probably not take more than two octaves, but the synth and piano sections might require more octaves. Think of the songs you want to play: is there a synth solo that will require more than 2 octaves? Will the acoustic piano part you want to play use two-handed playing? - if so, that AP part will probably require at least 3 octaves.

It might be that you don't need all these splits on the same song. If so, you can have multiple saved setups with different split setups to cover the needs of different songs. (I am not a Stage user, so I can't advise on the details). This would significantly reduce the demand for "keyboard real estate", and make it much more likely that the split capabilities in the Stage 3 HP76 would meet your needs.

I am someone who uses splits much more than other people - my needs and usage pattern are not normal. I use a Roland keyboard to handle my keyboard split needs for those songs that really need them. I also use an old Nord Electro 3 (which has no real split capability). This old Electro 3 has EP and Organ sounds that far surpass what my Roland board can create. I could not survive without the EP and Organ sounds from my Electro.

I think for most people the split capabilities in the Stage 3 will be adequate. But since you mention using 3 splits, and I am assuming you mean having all 3 of those splits available at once for use in a single song, I suggest you do some "paper exercises", based the 10 specific split points the Stage 3 allows, to see if it will meet your needs.

[Hlaalu]

I concur that it is going to be unlikely that you'll need that many splits in any common scenario. Unless your goal is to play those 3 section *simultaneously*, you can easily set up three different Programs contaning the sounds you need and then switch between them in real time with a single button press (in Song mode).

By the way, a possible workaround to have two different sounds covering the whole keyboard range, but not layered, is using a MIDI controller, and no split points at all. For example, you set up your MIDI controller to operate over Panel A with, say, organ. Then on your Panel B you turn up your piano. Both covering the whole keyboard. Now, if you leave just Panel B as the focused panel on your NS3, you'll be able to play piano through the whole keyboard of the NS3 -- and no other sound; similarly, if you play through the MIDI controller's keybed, you'll be playing organ covering the full keybed.

[timkeys]

Thanks for both reply’s
As you’ve mentioned it’s probably unlikely I’ll need all 3 splits at the same time
A quick switch at some stage of the song seems more likely

[Hlaalu]

Yes, consider that you can set it up to be literally as quick as a single button press. For example: song change, program change, panel switch or even single sound engines on/off. All these method will let you "change" your sound (in the broad sense) on the fly as straightforwardly as pressing a single button on the board.

I myself find that I seldom use splits. The only cases in which I think there is a strong point doing so are organ, where you want the two manuals (unless you are controlling one manual with a MIDI controller, in which case you don't even need splits) and possibly when using the Extern section. But then it depends on which kind of music one plays as well.

[FZiegler]

Concerning key action, I'd say the NS-76 has a lightweight, rather-close-to-piano keybed. It's highly recommended to test the action to see if it meets your needs. In my eyes, there is a considerable gap to an acoustic grand's action (even the 88, which is way better, has one) - depends on what you expect. It's certainly not optimized towards fast repeated notes.

The three keybeds of the NS3 are in my eyes optimised/compromised for:
88: pop piano
76: lightweight/transport
Compact: organ

[RichardG]

Also, be aware that you can't have 3 different sounds from the synth section.
You mention Brass (sample), Synth and strings (sample).
Unless you create your own sample containing 2 different sounds.
Or use a piano sample with layers.

[cphollis]

Also, be aware that you can't have 3 different sounds from the synth section.
You mention Brass (sample), Synth and strings (sample).
Unless you create your own sample containing 2 different sounds.
Or use a piano sample with layers.

This is only partially true. It is true that a single panel (A or B) can only produce a single synth/sample sound. But you have two panels to work with, and they each can have different split points. You can set up some pretty wild layouts, but remembering what you did in the middle of a gig is another problem entirely.

I am not a big user of splits, preferring instead to use different presets for different parts of a song. For example, in song mode a given title can have up to five different presets associated with it, all of which are a button press away. Use this feature, and you'll probably use a lot less splits. At least I do.

For example, part 1 for the tender introduction, part 2 for the verse, part 3 for the chorus, part 4 for the bridge, and part 5 for the big finale. Each of your parts can have splits, of course. Unless you're doing something super-intricate, doing this seems to be more than enough.

[WannitBBBad]

...Firstly, what are peoples experience in layers, splits and song lists ? What’s it like to set up ?
And then saved as a song in set list How easy/ difficult would this be ?
... Secondly, any comments on the action of the HP 76, particularly with fast repeated notes
Much obliged for your advice !

Hello timkeys, welcome to the Forum! Layering is easy - for each instrument available (three for Panel A and three for Panel B) you're not bound to a defined split. Say for example that you split the keyboard in three sections (two split points), each of the instruments can be assigned quickly to one or more consecutive sections, so you could have one instrument on the bottom, another instrument covering the bottom and middle, another instument covering the middle, another instrument middle and top, and so on. Besides being able to toggle between Panel A and Panel B instruments, or just layering them over each other, additional flexibility is added with the morph function where the volume of some instruments can be turned down while simultaneously turning others up, so in some cases you don't even need to set up a separate program just because you need a different sound, just assign the level to morph to the mod wheel or control pedal. The morph function adds a lot of flexiblity to the Nord keyboards, so figure on getting a control pedal when you buy your Stage 3 if you don't have one.

The song list function works great both for handling multiple programs within a single song and stepping through a night's set list. In many cases you might have one program used for multiple songs; as the song list is really just a set of pointers to the programs you have in the Stage 3 in the order you want them, and you can point to the same program multiple times as you step through your set list.

Regarding the action, I have the HP 76 and have no problem with fast passages and repeating notes, especially with the high-trigger setting for the B3. Being a piano-style keyboard, it's not as "springy" as a B3 or a good non-weighted synth keyboard, but I don't have any complaints - others may Doing a quick search you'll find a lot of posts talking about the various keyboards of the Stage 3 - your best bet is to try them out yourself. I hope this helps, good luck to you.

[anotherscott]

Also, be aware that you can't have 3 different sounds from the synth section.
You mention Brass (sample), Synth and strings (sample).
Unless you create your own sample containing 2 different sounds.
Or use a piano sample with layers.

This is only partially true. It is true that a single panel (A or B) can only produce a single synth/sample sound. But you have two panels to work with, and they each can have different split points.

Even with two panels to work with, Richard is right, you cannot have 3 different sounds from the synth section (e.g. brass, synth, and strings as mentioned). However you can use each panel's EXT section to bring in an additional sound of that type from an external source (an iPhone/iPad, for example).

But you're right, unless you need to play all three of those sounds simultaneously, it doesn't have to be a problem, as you can set things up to easily switch to different sounds mid-song.