Nord Stage 3 vs Stage 3 Compact Keybed/Keyboard Action

[anotherscott]

I've had both compacts. I did not notice a physical difference between the actions of the two, but I felt that the dynamic control of the pianos was better on the 3. Whether that was due to some subtle change in the action, or in the programming of the velocity curves, I couldn't say.

[Alexandr74]

Hello, sorry for my English, I am using a translator. I decided to buy myself a dream synthesizer nord stage 3. I would like to know the cardinal differences between hp76 and compact in addition to the size and number of keys. There is no way to touch, but such a tool is bought once and for a long time in my case. My tasks, use in a musical group that often tours. I will use more synthesizers, electric pianos, organs, I will very actively use the division of the keyboard into zones. I'm not a super pianist, but still a pianist, so of course I will also use the piano, especially since it is magnificent there, although the main activity is a composer. For a long time I have been using a laptop and midi novation slmk2 novation, I really do not like the keyboard, at home there is a korg extreme, it is much more pleasant. Interestingly, the compact does not have the same keyboard as in slmk2, I read on the forums that the compact is more tailored for organ playing, is this so and how uncomfortable it is for piano playing, I also heard about problems with the modulation wheel on the compact of the first versions, have they eliminated this problem now, what other differences or recommendations for choosing?

[anotherscott]

Nord Stage 3 Compact and Novation SL MK2 are in the same general category of non-hammer actions. You are correct that they are not the same, that Novation is based on a Fatar TP/9S and the Nord Compacts are based on a Fatar TP/8O. Neither is good for piano, but the Nord is a bit better.

If your Korg (Triton) Extreme is an 88 key version, then it is in an entirely different category, it is a hammer action, which would make it much better for piano, but much worse for organ, than either non-hammer boards mentioned above. Although still significantly different, the Nord Stage 3 HP is closer to the Extreme (88) in action than it is to the non-hammer actions.

[Alexandr74]

If you are going to use synths, electric pianos, and organs the most, then consider getting the NS3C and adding a weighted 88-key controller at a later date if you want a more realistic keyboard action for piano.

[Kaffimusic]

Hello,
I am not on the piano-players side, more like on the synth or organ-side. I have the NS3 compact. By the looks it´s a waterfall keybed, but I can tell the keys are harder to get down compared to a good synth or organ keybed. I guess the harder action is better for piano-oriented players, while it is still useful to play organ-slides or fast synth-stuff - or funky clavi stuff. It is more universal and flexible to use than pure weighted piano action, but a bit too hard to play for a pure synth action.
Also, this keybed means way less weight. Interesting when you think about transportation, gigging, moving around. The NS3 compact is lighter - or at least not heavier - than premium workstations with 61 synth action keybeds.

[Rusty Mike]

The action on the Stage 3 Compact will work very well for organ and synth as well as electric piano. It's not as nuanced for acoustic piano playing, but it may not matter to you as much since piano is not your primary instrument. I agree with ajstan to get the Compact and consider adding a hammer action controller later on if you really need it.

[neomad]

I have had my NS3C for 2 years, world class action, very happy with. I used to have a NE5, love it as well

[Alexandr74]

Thank you so much for the detailed answers. I decided to take a compact. Tell me please, is the problem with the mod wheel on the compact really so common before and has now been fixed?

[Alexandr74]

Of course, you know the little differences betwenn the Compact and the other two models concerning the organ engine, right?
- Drawbars vs. button emulation with pros and cons on both sides.
- Organ live mode only for NS3C, as the drawbars sit in some physical place while the drawbar settings might change with the program.
- Possibility to connect a half moon switch only for the NS3C.

And the NS3-HP76 comes with a sustain pedal, I think. The NS3C doesn't.

I'm not sure the mod wheel problem only affected the Compact in the beginning - did it? I haven't heard about that in the last months, and my Compact didn't show a problem of any sort until now (1 year of use).

[Alexandr74]

Of course, you know the little differences betwenn the Compact and the other two models concerning the organ engine, right?
- Drawbars vs. button emulation with pros and cons on both sides.
- Organ live mode only for NS3C, as the drawbars sit in some physical place while the drawbar settings might change with the program.
- Possibility to connect a half moon switch only for the NS3C.

And the NS3-HP76 comes with a sustain pedal, I think. The NS3C doesn't.

I'm not sure the mod wheel problem only affected the Compact in the beginning - did it? I haven't heard about that in the last months, and my Compact didn't show a problem of any sort until now (1 year of use).

thanks for the answer. What are the disadvantages of using a drawbar versus emulation? And the last question is whether you need to pay attention to the version of the tool or buy the one that will be in the store. I read that there is a compact version1 and version 2.1 and they have differences. Or are all the tools in the latest version now?