Some things not mentioned here yet... V-Stage has aftertouch, and its non-piano acoustic instrument samples should generally be better than Nord's because they're not limited to a single velocity layer. It looks like all 5 parts of a scene (its equivalent to a Nord program) can be set to be internaI, external, or both, though the MIDI settings do not seem as customizable. I don't think its organ has high trigger.
Personally, the fact that the 76 is 10+ lbs heavier than the NS4 Compact put it out of the running for me right there.
Roland V-Stage
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anotherscott
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voodoo
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- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 4
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Re: Roland V-S
I have seen the videos about this great sounding instrument. So yesterday I went to Thomann in order to buy the V-Stage. But I came home with a Stage 4 73.
So what happened? The V-Stage is great in theory. The did many things right.
Pro:
* Modeling Piano with infinite velocity layers and deep edits (piano designer)
* hybrid E Pianos with own effect section containing 90 effect programs
* Zen Core Synth engine, capable of Juno 106 und JP Sounds
* Sample Sounds with velocity layers (guitar glide when hitting key hard)
* well designed large Color display
* multi channel audio interface
* adapter for apple mainstage
* Scene chains (song list mode)
* less expensive
But some points disappointed me:
* Waterfall key bed very weak, totally non weighted, cheap feeling.
* Hammer Action 88 key bed very strong and heavy. Over 20kg.
* User interface not as good as Nord. Levels of the two synth layers only after a/b switching. Like before on Stage 3.
* Synth sounds mainly presets, only minimal edits (attack, release, cutoff)
* only left/right split. No four zones. No cross fading.
* No arpeggiator
* effect section capable (delay/reverb as send effect for all layers), but not as intuitive as Nord
* Layout looks quite ugly in my perception, large black panel without optical structure
* Many small features missing from Stage 4 (Solo, xfade, undo, etc)
So I fell in Love with the Stage 4. For the following reasons:
* I love the 73 hammer action keys. Perfect mix for piano and synth.
* 73 Waterfall is also great, much better than 76 waterfall from v-Stage
* very, very intuitive operation. Every button is labelled for every feature.
* the programmable synth engine is unbeatable. I created some own Juno Sounds immediately.
* and finally: the optics. On stage it has to be red. That’s the benchmark for stage keyboards.
In conclusion: could be competition only for Stage 3. Many new features from Stage 4 are missing.
Any comments and other opinion?
So what happened? The V-Stage is great in theory. The did many things right.
Pro:
* Modeling Piano with infinite velocity layers and deep edits (piano designer)
* hybrid E Pianos with own effect section containing 90 effect programs
* Zen Core Synth engine, capable of Juno 106 und JP Sounds
* Sample Sounds with velocity layers (guitar glide when hitting key hard)
* well designed large Color display
* multi channel audio interface
* adapter for apple mainstage
* Scene chains (song list mode)
* less expensive
But some points disappointed me:
* Waterfall key bed very weak, totally non weighted, cheap feeling.
* Hammer Action 88 key bed very strong and heavy. Over 20kg.
* User interface not as good as Nord. Levels of the two synth layers only after a/b switching. Like before on Stage 3.
* Synth sounds mainly presets, only minimal edits (attack, release, cutoff)
* only left/right split. No four zones. No cross fading.
* No arpeggiator
* effect section capable (delay/reverb as send effect for all layers), but not as intuitive as Nord
* Layout looks quite ugly in my perception, large black panel without optical structure
* Many small features missing from Stage 4 (Solo, xfade, undo, etc)
So I fell in Love with the Stage 4. For the following reasons:
* I love the 73 hammer action keys. Perfect mix for piano and synth.
* 73 Waterfall is also great, much better than 76 waterfall from v-Stage
* very, very intuitive operation. Every button is labelled for every feature.
* the programmable synth engine is unbeatable. I created some own Juno Sounds immediately.
* and finally: the optics. On stage it has to be red. That’s the benchmark for stage keyboards.
In conclusion: could be competition only for Stage 3. Many new features from Stage 4 are missing.
Any comments and other opinion?