NS4 - limited effect routing ?

[analogika]

All good. I absolutely understand your question and, as mentioned, have myself been frustrated occasionally by the limitations.

The advantages of Nord's approach by far outweigh its restrictions, IMHO.

[cphollis]

If you compare the Nord Stage with a workstation like Yamaha's Montage/Motif or Korg Kronos/Nautilus of course the latter are much more flexible, but as Analogika pointed out it is because they serve a different purpose and are designed for that, with many parameters requiring menu diving, while Nord Stage is aimed at the opposite i.e. simplicity and direct panel controls as much as possible (with the well known compromises).

If you instead compare NS with similar products, like Yamaha CP88/YC88 for example, you will find maybe more similarities (also in terms of limitations and compromises)

Of course we can't really compare the NS with other keyboards/workstations, but we can do this with the new Roland V STAGE, for example, and here CLAVIA NORD can learn quit a lot, especially in terms of connectivity, routing, effects and interface etc.

See the following videos:

PRESSING a Roland Employee on the New V-Stage! Feat ‪@EdDiazKeys‬ |Keys & Conversations Podcast EP. 2


This Game-Changing V-Stage Feature Will Blow Your Mind! Feat ‪@EdDiazKeys‬

I took a very close look at the V-Stage (against the NS4) and also the new Legend One (vs the NE6). I think the NE6 has a real competitor, but -- for me -- the NS4 does not. Loved the V-Stage I/O and the big color screen. I couldn't get past the synthetic-sounding APs, and noted that it didn't have a full synth section exposed -- so no further consideration from me.

However, if I was looking to upgrade a NE4 or 5, I'd definitely take a hard look at the Legend One.

[maxpiano]

I took a very close look at the V-Stage (against the NS4) and also the new Legend One (vs the NE6). I think the NE6 has a real competitor, but -- for me -- the NS4 does not. Loved the V-Stage I/O and the big color screen. I couldn't get past the synthetic-sounding APs, and noted that it didn't have a full synth section exposed -- so no further consideration from me.

However, if I was looking to upgrade a NE4 or 5, I'd definitely take a hard look at the Legend One.

I would agree, V-Stage is basically an adapted Fantom with a lot more panel controls (but still no direct controls for most synth parameters), so it has of course retained most of the workstation concepts in it as they were coming for free, from the Fantom HW/SW architecture.

In any case V-Stage is a 2025 new product, arrived 2 years after the NS4, so we will have to see if Clavia will react to it in some way or not.

I agree with you also that Viscount Legend-One vs NE6 is a much direct and tough battle with Legend One having USB Audio on its side as a not negligible plus.