NS4 and Nord Synth

[Arni61]

1.
Is there any indication whether the organ section of the Nord Stage will be improved with an update in the direction of Nord Organ 3 ?

2.
Second question: I am looking for a second keyboard for my Nord Stage4 and would like to buy a Nord Synth. So Nord Lead or Nord Wave. Which synth would you recommend to complement the NS4? I would like to choose a Nord Synth because of the special and easy handling? But does it make sense if a Nord Wave is already installed in the Nord Stage4?

[ericL]

1.
Is there any indication whether the organ section of the Nord Stage will be improved with an update in the direction of Nord Organ 3 ?

2.
Second question: I am looking for a second keyboard for my Nord Stage4 and would like to buy a Nord Synth. So Nord Lead or Nord Wave. Which synth would you recommend to complement the NS4? I would like to choose a Nord Synth because of the special and easy handling? But does it make sense if a Nord Wave is already installed in the Nord Stage4?

1. Anything could happen, though the NS4 has been out for two years with no indication of any kind of organ engine upgrade. None of the prior NS units were given an organ upgrade, as far as I can remember. Therefore, I'd say it is a lower likelihood.

2. I'd suggest a Nord Lead, even one of the older models like NL2 or NL2x, though the NL A1 is pretty nice and is the most recent NL. There has been speculation that a new Nord Lead is long overdue, though no current signs of a new one at least this year.

[Nordlicht]

1. Let’s hope and dream, it would be awesome.

2. Adding the Wave 2 doesn’t make sense sound wise, there is too much overlapping. It might be reasonable if you have a Stage 4 with hammer action keyboard.
The A1 would be a good addition, but its poor keybed (without aftertouch) and the missing proper display are a pain.
I am too desperately waiting for a new Lead 5/A2.

[cphollis]

I agree with the others that an organ model upgrade isn't likely for the NS4. That being said, I'm quite happy with the current one!

As Nord re-uses its tech across products, you've already got all the good synth bits, so another Nord synth would be very duplicative.

You'd probably be better off going in another direction?

For example, adding another type of keybed via midi can unlock all sorts of goodness from your current instrument. Adding a weighted controller to the NS4C unlocks a lot of AP and EP capabilities, and adding an unweighted controller to the weighted NS4 versions unlocks all sorts of organ and synth fun.

I think a single NS4 has more than enough great-sounding capabilities on its own without needing yet another sound-making engine.

[Mr_-G-]

If I already had a NS4 with weighted keys, my next synth would be the Osmose (a completely different machine). Of course it depends what do you want it for.

[anotherscott]

If you wanted a Nord synth that still really offered something different from what's in the Stage, I'd suggest the Nord Lead 3, which has the best interface I've seen on any synth. Not just all the dedicated controls, but that their status lights and LED rings always indicate the current "correct" position with every patch you bring up, so you can see exactly what everything is doing to the sound, and every parameter can be smoothly edited/manipulated in real time.