NS4 Panel Versions 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3

[Mighty Motif Max]

Any additional changes anyone is aware of with panel v. 2.3, besides the analog delay labeling and possibly some keybed spring differences with the Compact? I am hoping I'll end up with the latest panel version when I buy one, but it seems like there's been quite a few revisions thus far, which makes me a bit hesitant should they add some important features that won't work on older revisions (mainly thinking about the midi stuff).

I am not aware of any. Based on posts, v2 2 was around August '24 and v2.3 was around December '24. You could very well get a v2.2 if purchased today, but the seller might be able to tell you before purchasing.

Just to follow up, I got my new NS4 (88) - it's a v2.3 Rev B, and my dealer specifically requested the newest panel version from the distributor. So as of March 2025, v2.3 is still current.

[anotherscott]

I have played a 2.2 version for a week and what I immediately noticed comparing 2.3 is the keybed.
Something changed , might be the springs or something else.
But the feel is that the 2.3 plays tighter, I personally prefer the 2.3 over the 2.2.

Can anyone else comment on this? Anyone else who has played both a 2.3 and a prior NS4 (or NS3) Compact? Any noticeable difference in pushback? (e.g. the amount of force to initially start a key moving, and how much you feel it pushing back against you when holding it fully down.)

[anotherscott]

I have played a 2.2 version for a week and what I immediately noticed comparing 2.3 is the keybed.
Something changed , might be the springs or something else.
But the feel is that the 2.3 plays tighter, I personally prefer the 2.3 over the 2.2.

I finally had the opportunity to make this comparison myself, comparing a 2.0 to a 2.3. I think the 2.3 seems to have a bit less resistance on the way down, while also seeming to snap to the top a little more aggressively on the way up. I likewise prefer the 2.3 (though I would not call it a night and day difference).

[cgrafx]

I have played a 2.2 version for a week and what I immediately noticed comparing 2.3 is the keybed.
Something changed , might be the springs or something else.
But the feel is that the 2.3 plays tighter, I personally prefer the 2.3 over the 2.2.

I finally had the opportunity to make this comparison myself, comparing a 2.0 to a 2.3. I think the 2.3 seems to have a bit less resistance on the way down, while also seeming to snap to the top a little more aggressively on the way up. I likewise prefer the 2.3 (though I would not call it a night and day difference).

What you are experiencing is the normal expected variation between keybeds and what happens when a keyboard has been played verses being new from the factory. There is absolutely no reason to believe there has been any specification or actual change to the keybed.

[anotherscott]

What you are experiencing is the normal expected variation between keybeds and what happens when a keyboard has been played verses being new from the factory. There is absolutely no reason to believe there has been any specification or actual change to the keybed.

Yes, I suppose it could be unit-to-unit variation, as opposed to rev-to-rev variation. But as far as one board having been played vs. one that is new, in this case, as it happens, both boards were new.

As for "absolutely no reason to believe there has been any specification or actual change to the keybed," the whole point of this thread is that there ARE design changes to the board over time, sometimes visible, sometimes not, but either way, significant enough in the manufacturing that they change the marking of which rev a particular board is. There is, as I see it, absolutely no reason to believe that when we see a board which the manufacturer has denoted as having been changed, we must preclude the possibility that those changes could involve the keys. About all we do know here is that, since nobody has found any exterior difference, it seems nearly certain that there is some internal difference. Once we accept the likelihood of some internal change, I see no reason to believe that the change being related to the keys is any less likely than any other internal change. That said, since unit-to-unit variation is also a possibility, I'd agree that one or two people's experiences are not conclusive.

[cgrafx]

changing a button or the labeling on the board is functionally extremely minor. changing the key bed would be a major change. Nord does not make their own keybeds. Most of them are pretty much just stock Fatar keybeds

[anotherscott]

changing a button or the labeling on the board is functionally extremely minor.

Right, but unless I missed something, nobody seems to have been able to identify any change in buttons or labeling. Which implies the change is to something inside.

Nord does not make their own keybeds. Most of them are pretty much just stock Fatar keybeds

but they can have different springs, they can have different throw distances, I don't know all the mechanics of what could possibly be altered and how... but many brands use the Fatar TP/8O action, yet a Nord TP/8O has consistently felt different from a Hammond TP/8O which itself consistently felt different from a Mojo61, etc.

[cgrafx]

changing a button or the labeling on the board is functionally extremely minor.

Right, but unless I missed something, nobody seems to have been able to identify any change in buttons or labeling. Which implies the change is to something inside.

Not sure how you came this understanding, this entire thread is specifically about documenting changes on the front panel (either labels, buttons or both).

[anotherscott]

changing a button or the labeling on the board is functionally extremely minor.

Right, but unless I missed something, nobody seems to have been able to identify any change in buttons or labeling. Which implies the change is to something inside.

Not sure how you came this understanding, this entire thread is specifically about documenting changes on the front panel (either labels, buttons or both).

I thought the thread was about identifying *any* differences between the revs, not limited to only labels/buttons on the panel. Whether or not that was the intent of the OP, the thread has included such posts, e.g.:

Following up on RevA/RevB firmware behavior differences:

I already tried Shift+”xx” … at this time, new functionality from RevB is not accessible with RevA.
This includes
* Rotary Ambient/Close stored per patch (RevA is global in sound settings)
* Poly Mode for B3 percussion

Maybe you think that info should not have been posted in this thread, since it goes beyond mere differences in labels/buttons to actual functionality, but I think it would be of interest and relevant to people who are following this thread. In that context, my point remains, if Nord updated the Rev as printed on the panel, and nobody can identify any change to the external aspect of the unit, it seems logical that the reason for the rev would then be something internal to the unit. Maybe it's nothing we'd be able to notice, like a change in the manufacturer of some internal component. But it is not impossible that there could be some internal change that actually results in something the player can notice/experience, some behavior of the board that is different depending on what rev you have. e.g. a difference that goes beyond something like "you can get the new function, the button just won't be labeled the same" to an actual functional difference (e.g. the things that Martin mentioned),

If you accept the possibility that a rev can indicate an internal change (which seems kind of self-evident, if a board with a new rev has no perceivable external change), then I think the possibility of some alteration to the action could be a possibility, whether it's due to a change that Nord made, or to a change that Fatar made. So, I reported my experience, same as superwingmore. I think it will be interesting to see if others notice a difference as well, or if others who have a chance to compare feel there's no difference.

[cgrafx]

The revs pretty much all relate to physical changes on the panels. Any change to internal functionality would be done with OS updates and would be available to all revs, with the rare but notable exceptions where functionality was added that specifically requires the button layout change to make it accessible. (I don't believe there were more than 1 or 2 of those).

There is absolutely no evidence or past history of any changes made to the keybeds between panel revs of a specific model.

The only time a keybed has changed is when a different model of keyboard is released (NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4).

But if you choose to believe there are going to be changes made to the keybeds in point releases of a product, by all means feel free to do so.