Wish List for Nord Keyboards

[StrangeAeons]

Do not forget that there is still a big difference between a Nord Stage and a Nord Electro is the multitimbrality. Indeed, the Nord Stage allows you to have 6 parts with 2 dedicated to the piano, 2 dedicated to samples and 2 dedicated to the Organ, it's still a big difference. Basically, the Nord Stage is the equivalent of two Nord Electro, that's the big difference that remains and is consistent.

Yes, absolutely. And there's the synth section above all, with that useful OLED display showing the waveform. But Nord already increased multitimbrality with the Electro 6 to up to three parts (and there's the double-manual B3 mode too). Nonetheless, I bet there aren't many people that actually exploit the Stage's 6 parts: an Electro with the ability to load up to two samples, instead of just one, along with piano and organ would probably be enough for most of us (the best way to exploit the Stage's raw power would be a master keyboard to send three out of six parts via MIDI, but I often see Stage owners just playing their Nord with a basic split). And considering how little space for improvements, at least for now, there is, people'll soon be wondering whether to buy a Stage or not solely for the synth section, in my opinion.

[MartinJ2EX]

There is and always has been a clear distinction between their lines.

Nord Lead / Wave
Nord’s Synthesizers, including sample playback on the Nord Wave.
The Nord Wave now is their “Lead” line flagship with sample playback if you want.

Nord Electro
electromechanical and acoustic instruments with a big focus on the Organ because of the drawbars and the waterfall keybeds, also a portable hammer 73 keybed for people who want a compact and affordable all-in-one
(Organ, EPs, Acoustic Pianos) accompanied by Samples now.
Extremely portable sizes (61 and 73 keys)
Has the latest Leslie and C2D organ emulations.

Nord Piano
Big focus on Pianos, since the series 3 even more with the “virtual hammer action”
Accompanied by Samples (Piano 5 will increase the multitimbrality to 2 Pianos and 2 samples)
Good Portability with Nord’s compact dimensions - 73 and 88 keys (NP3/NP4 had only the 88 keys)
Nord Grand
Combining the Nord Piano’s Engine with the best keyboard action in any Nord keyboard from Kawai
Compromising on portability because of the bigger size needed by the action.

Nord Stage
Nord’s flagship instrument features their latest award-winning technologies including the Nord Lead A1 Synth Engine with sample playback, their acclaimed Nord C2D organ, Piano Section and extensive hands-on Effects - all in one exceptional performance keyboard.
It continues their vision of the ultimate instrument for the performing musician.
Perfect portability in 73 keys waterfall for the organ-focused (or synth) keyboard player, 76 keys lightweight hammer and 88 keys with a relatively light weighted (still fully) weighted hammer action.


While the Electros focus on a lightweight waterfall action and include also a portable hammer action, the Piano doesn’t make a compromise and only brings the best compact Fatar keybed for piano players, the Grand compromises on portability for the best Keybed for piano players.
The Stage brings either a 73 key waterfall action, lightweight hammer and a fully weighted hammer action with 88 keys, which is a actully not the heaviest action, which is good for covering all styles the instrument covers: organ playing, synth playing, and piano playing.
Some people would like to see a fully heavy weighted hammer like on the Grand in the Stage, but imho it is not very nice for synth and organ playing.
There’s are so many choices for Nord players and there’s something for everyone!

[Nico38]

Do not forget that there is still a big difference between a Nord Stage and a Nord Electro is the multitimbrality. Indeed, the Nord Stage allows you to have 6 parts with 2 dedicated to the piano, 2 dedicated to samples and 2 dedicated to the Organ, it's still a big difference. Basically, the Nord Stage is the equivalent of two Nord Electro, that's the big difference that remains and is consistent.

Yes, absolutely. And there's the synth section above all, with that useful OLED display showing the waveform. But Nord already increased multitimbrality with the Electro 6 to up to three parts (and there's the double-manual B3 mode too). Nonetheless, I bet there aren't many people that actually exploit the Stage's 6 parts: an Electro with the ability to load up to two samples, instead of just one, along with piano and organ would probably be enough for most of us (the best way to exploit the Stage's raw power would be a master keyboard to send three out of six parts via MIDI, but I often see Stage owners just playing their Nord with a basic split). And considering how little space for improvements, at least for now, there is, people'll soon be wondering whether to buy a Stage or not solely for the synth section, in my opinion.

I totally agree with this analysis, and this is the main problem with Nord between the evolution of the electro Nord versus the Nord Stage. For me, the real BIG advantage of the Nord Stage over the Nord Electro is the possibility of being able to have 2 sample sections instead of just one. I don't see much interest in having 2 organ sections or two piano sections, but two sample sections, it's a real big plus. Now, what will Nord choose for the Nord Electo 7? Add an additional section? Honestly, I would be really happy to have two sample sections on the Nord Electro 7, but the latter could perhaps compete too much with the Nord Stage 3. The only solution is that the next Nord Stage brings a big evolution compared to the current Nord Stage 3 in order to "give way" to the Nord Electro to evolve towards the proposal to bring 2 sample sections instead of just one. That is my opinion.

[Tasten-Bert]

... many choices ... and something for everyone. Yes that‘s true, that is market segmentation, finding the right niches and offering clearly focussed products. That‘s why I love nord.

If there comes a day when the nord electro is being upgraded that much that it even gets closer to the stage, I would appreciate to make up a new basic line with 61 or 73 waterfallkeybed, Hammond, Farfisa, Vox Conti, a ‘top of the market‘ Leslie sim along with a piano section with at least one state of the art piano, no matter if the file size would be around 2 GB. Some nice Rhodes and Wurlitzers would make it perfect.

They could call this line nord 7T (not electro) or nord 70ies - and I think it would explain itself on the spot. Entry price 1.400,- EUR, and it‘ll be mine.

Cheers from sunny Germany

Edit: In deed no synth or sample section at all! Only organ and piano.

[Nico38]

... many choices ... and something for everyone. Yes that‘s true, that is market segmentation, finding the right niches and offering clearly focussed products. That‘s why I love nord.

If there comes a day when the nord electro is being upgraded that much that it even gets closer to the stage, I would appreciate to make up a new basic line with 61 or 73 waterfallkeybed, Hammond, Farfisa, Vox Conti, a ‘top of the market‘ Leslie sim along with a piano section with at least one state of the art piano, no matter if the file size would be around 2 GB. Some nice Rhodes and Wurlitzers would make it perfect.

They could call this line nord 7T (not electro) or nord 70ies - and I think it would explain itself on the spot. Entry price 1.400,- EUR, and it‘ll be mine.

Cheers from sunny Germany

Edit: In deed no synth or sample section at all! Only organ and piano.

Why create a new line of North when it would just be enough for Nord to come up with new and even higher piano samples as well as new rhodes so that all the scales of the northern keyboards can benefit from it.

[Tasten-Bert]

The reason for my proposal was that I‘ve read this thread with many ideas which would upgrade the electro range, and only in this situation I would see a market niche below. Otherwise your thoughts are fine.
Cheers

[alex78]

Why create a new line of North when it would just be enough for Nord to come up with new and even higher piano samples as well as new rhodes so that all the scales of the northern keyboards can benefit from it.

I think Tasten-Bert is speaking price-wise. The product he describes would be more affordable than any new electro and could attract lower budget customers without dropping the quality.
If you ask me, I don't believe many people would buy it as most keyboard players nowadys definitely need a synth, so they would prefer giving something more inorder to have even a sample synth onboard.
Regarding a new electro, instead of a second sample option that was mentioned before, they could probably add an ext section like the stage. That would give extra flexibility without entering too much in stage territory.

[Nico38]

Yes I understand. I actually think that there is a particular expectation on the improvement of Rhodes for example, even if those proposed sound very good but I think that the competition is present today and that Nord should propose a sampling of Fender Rhodes of new generation. Some kind of Keyscape of Spectrasonics mas in a North would be great!

[Nico38]

Why create a new line of North when it would just be enough for Nord to come up with new and even higher piano samples as well as new rhodes so that all the scales of the northern keyboards can benefit from it.

I think Tasten-Bert is speaking price-wise. The product he describes would be more affordable than any new electro and could attract lower budget customers without dropping the quality.
If you ask me, I don't believe many people would buy it as most keyboard players nowadys definitely need a synth, so they would prefer giving something more inorder to have even a sample synth onboard.
Regarding a new electro, instead of a second sample option that was mentioned before, they could probably add an ext section like the stage. That would give extra flexibility without entering too much in stage territory.

I hope that Nord will offer us more than just an external control system. I think the way to make the piano and organ sections more flexible could add a big plus.
For example, adding velocity control and attack / release in the organ section would make organ sounds much more versatile. So we could easily produce a pad sound in the organ section which would be very interesting.
The problem with the current Nord Electro is that it is impossible to make a lead sound, an acoustic sound other than the piano / EP accompanied by a pad sound. For me it is a big fault. For example the Yamaha YC61 can do this but not the Nord electro 6.

[alex78]

I hope that Nord will offer us more than just an external control system. I think the way to make the piano and organ sections more flexible could add a big plus.
For example, adding velocity control and attack / release in the organ section would make organ sounds much more versatile. So we could easily produce a pad sound in the organ section which would be very interesting.
The problem with the current Nord Electro is that it is impossible to make a lead sound, an acoustic sound other than the piano / EP accompanied by a pad sound. For me it is a big fault. For example the Yamaha YC61 can do this but not the Nord electro 6.

But the electro was never meant to be a lead sound machine, it was designed as an electromechanical instruments simulator (that is why it is called electro), for acoustic piano, electric piano and organ. None of those instruments featured amplitude envelopes so why a simulator should? They have the stage for more advanced options. Regarding the YC61, IMO it tends to compete with the stage rather than with the electro models.
Adding samples to the electro was a big step from what it was actually designed for, and the layer/split capability from E5 and on is another one. Ok, it would be a shame if a keyboard of this price range could not do a simple piano/pad layer, but there are lots o f people loving the electro for it's simplicity, so I hope they will keep it simple in the future to come!