New! Nord Electro 7!

[Macsaint777]

With regard to features, I do have a few questions and a concern. If anyone is going to NAMM perhaps they can inquire.

• Soft release on the piano samples. This button has been a staple on Nord products for a while now, and it is conspicuously missing from the E7 panel. It was mated with the resonance button, where you could just toggle through the various options. My hope is that it has either been moved to the menu system as a global setting or is now just always on for the pianos that support it. This is a subtle but nice sounding feature that helps add realism to the pianos.
• Drawbar 9 Cancel. On the Nord Organ 3, the option is now right on the control panel, implying that is it a per-patch option. In prior Electros that still had this ability it was implemented globally in the menu system. My hope is that it has been restored via one of the menus.

If nobody can get an answer at NAMM, we will need to wait until the user manual is published.

As an early adopter, I have a larger concern about Nord's revision practices. When I bought my Piano 5, it came with the Rev. A control panel. A few months later, the Rev. B version came out with added buttons and functionality. I asked Nord if the capabilities that came with the new panel were available in the Rev. A version (possibly in the menu system) and they replied no. If you didn't have the button, you didn't have the feature. My worry holds with the Electro as well. I'd be rather annoyed if they upgraded the panel six months out to include things like what I described above and then I was locked out because of the earlier hardware version.

This and their occasional hubris are the few things that annoy me about Clavia.

It's ok with me if the piano memory is still 1 Gig. I only use 2 grands, 1 upright, 3 EPs, vibes and a very rare Clavinet, all of which would fit just fine. Everything else can go as far as I'm concerned. I know I don't speak for everyone here - just talking selfishly.

I am looking forward to this new product - very curious about the Kawai action. It's been a long time coming!

I will find out for you at Namm, Mike.

[be lee vit]

RE Drawbar 9 cancel - this is from AI. Take it for what it's worth:
As the Electro 7 adopts the engine from the Nord Organ 3/C2D (which has that option in the menu), it is designed to emulate the authentic Hammond B3 behavior where percussion affects the drawbar 9.

Funny quote. I'm currently trying to break the habit of logically deducing things I don't know – because whether the statement is correct or not is purely a matter of chance. Things aren't always logical. So now AI is taking over my old habits, even though it's really better not to do so. Thanks a lot for AI!

[ericL]

If nobody can get an answer at NAMM, we will need to wait until the user manual is published.

As an early adopter, I have a larger concern about Nord's revision practices. When I bought my Piano 5, it came with the Rev. A control panel. A few months later, the Rev. B version came out with added buttons and functionality. I asked Nord if the capabilities that came with the new panel were available in the Rev. A version (possibly in the menu system) and they replied no. If you didn't have the button, you didn't have the feature. My worry holds with the Electro as well. I'd be rather annoyed if they upgraded the panel six months out to include things like what I described above and then I was locked out because of the earlier hardware version.

It might make sense to wait a bit on the NE7 until a few of these things are more clear. You have a pretty killer Nord rig already, so what features are enticing you to be the first kid on the block with a shiny new NE7?

I will admit I have some interest in the NE7 in the 61 key format as I've been thinking of a smaller footprint rig for certain purposes and while I'm pretty hooked on my current NS3 situation, I think a NE7 could suffice for many of my needs in projects where I don't require the depth of the NS3. I had been thinking of getting the NE6 61 and now it's a question of do I get the NE6 on a closeout or do I wait for the NE7? Hmmm....

[anotherscott]

As an early adopter, I have a larger concern about Nord's revision practices. When I bought my Piano 5, it came with the Rev. A control panel. A few months later, the Rev. B version came out with added buttons and functionality. I asked Nord if the capabilities that came with the new panel were available in the Rev. A version (possibly in the menu system) and they replied no. If you didn't have the button, you didn't have the feature. My worry holds with the Electro as well. I'd be rather annoyed if they upgraded the panel six months out to include things like what I described above and then I was locked out because of the earlier hardware version.

I look at this differently, as I posted at viewtopic.php?p=185383#p185383

[Rusty Mike]

It might make sense to wait a bit on the NE7 until a few of these things are more clear. You have a pretty killer Nord rig already, so what features are enticing you to be the first kid on the block with a shiny new NE7?

Appreciate you asking the question Eric - it compelled me to think through it. It's as much about the schlep as the sound. I only need one keyboard and carry my entire rig by hand (keyboard, stand, amp and cables) in one trip. I play in a few places where the carry is either far walk or up a flight of crappy stairs. And as much as I got frustrated with the key action, I was spoiled with the light carry weight of the Stage 2EX HP and the Electro 3HP before that. While I really like the action on the Piano 5, there are simply places I will not carry it. In addition the P5 obviously has no organ engine. And even though I use organ a small percentage of the time, I really want as authentic an experience as possible; preset samples just don't cut it.

So, for those long carries, I've been using the Yamaha YC 73. The weight is fine and the organ engine is really good, but all of the pianos really irritate my ear, despite relentless efforts to tweak and adjust. I always knew the YC was a stopgap purchase, and I quite honestly can't wait to stop using it. My main hope in anticipating the NE7 was an improved action while maintaining the lighter weight, which they seemed to have delivered on.

The Electro just fits a sweet spot for me. It's simple enough yet very capable. I'm also very eager to just get a rig I can happily use for a few years without thinking about the Next Thing.

Now I really shouldn't complain - these are all first world problems. I will also admit that I'm fortunate in that this is a hobby and I'm a bit insensitive to the price. In reality, if there is a Rev. B version down the line, I can sell what I have and buy the refreshed model. So maybe I should just shut up about it.

The "shiny" and "red" stuff doesn't matter to me at all; I just seem to resonate with the Nord products. I've tried other brands and they all fall short in one aspect or another. A quality piano experience is most important to me and these products bring that satisfaction. Other people are impressed by the "red" but I couldn't care less. Enough about me.

I will admit I have some interest in the NE7 in the 61 key format as I've been thinking of a smaller footprint rig for certain purposes and while I'm pretty hooked on my current NS3 situation, I think a NE7 could suffice for many of my needs in projects where I don't require the depth of the NS3. I had been thinking of getting the NE6 61 and now it's a question of do I get the NE6 on a closeout or do I wait for the NE7? Hmmm....

I guess that depends on whether any of the new NE7 features are necessary for your purposes. The NE6 is a great instrument. The pianos play fine for light duty and the organ is great. It's a handy, versatile and terrific sounding rig. I'd guess we'll start seeing great deals on closeouts and used models. If you're looking at B-stock or close-outs, ProAudioStar has done me well in the past.

[Gambold]

>I've been using the Yamaha YC 73. The weight is fine and the organ engine is really good, but all of the pianos really irritate my ear, despite relentless efforts to tweak and adjust. I always knew the YC was a stopgap purchase, and I quite honestly can't wait to stop using it. My main hope in anticipating the NE7 was an improved action while maintaining the lighter weight, which they seemed to have delivered on.<

I'm currently a YC88 user and it's too heavy for my old bones. And yes, the acoustic keyboards are not as good as Nord's...none are. The organ is fine and the Rhodes/Wurli stuff - well, I think too much can be made of the quality or lack thereof of vintage electric piano samples. They are certainly good enough on both Nord and Yamaha (and Korg), and if one really needs better, than one should buy the actual instrument. If you're that much a purist, then you can lug a Rhodes or a Wurli to a gig. You can't lug an acoustic piano, and packing in a Hammond B3 with a Leslie is basically a deal-breaker too.

I don't think I'll sell the Yamaha - it's a great home board, full 88 keys, nice action, perfect for practice or studio work. I would like a Nord to gig with and I was greatly looking forward to the Electro 7, having owned a 4 and a 6.

I now greatly regret selling my E6. The cost for the Electro 7 is just too high - sure, I could take one of those Sweetwater deals and pay it off over three years with low or no interest, but there's a principle here - from everything I've read so far, the "improvements" don't justify spending over $1000 more than I would for a soon-to-be discounted E6. I'm open to being told otherwise, by people in the know, but the improvements I wanted (more memory, USB audio, a new preset system, split points anywhere, the ability to layer two samples and/or pianos - none of that is there.

Couple that with Nord's inability or refusal to release updated, improved versions of their best acoustic Grand pianos (Bright, Imperial, Lady D, Italian, etc), and there is little reason for me not to simply stick with an older board, and use their aging samples on that.

[Wolfgang T]

NORD is making history :

With the NE7, Clavia Nord is writing a new chapter — though not a positive one:

For decades, it was taken for granted that each new model in the Nord Electro (NE) and Nord Stage (NS) series would come with an increase in internal memory.

With the Nord Electro 7 (NE7), Clavia breaks with this long-standing tradition for the first time. Despite a new model, the internal memory remains unchanged — a step that is difficult to justify in light of ever-growing sample sizes and expanding sound libraries.

[analogika]

NORD is making history :

With the NE7, Clavia Nord is writing a new chapter — though not a positive one:

For decades, it was taken for granted that each new model in the Nord Electro (NE) and Nord Stage (NS) series would come with an increase in internal memory.

With the Nord Electro 7 (NE7), Clavia breaks with this long-standing tradition for the first time. Despite a new model, the internal memory remains unchanged — a step that is difficult to justify in light of ever-growing sample sizes and expanding sound libraries.

Not really a new thing, NS3 and NS4 for example share the same amount of Piano memory of 2GB (and Nord Electro 5 and 6 as well, both 1GB)

[Wolfgang T]

NORD is making history :

With the NE7, Clavia Nord is writing a new chapter — though not a positive one:

For decades, it was taken for granted that each new model in the Nord Electro (NE) and Nord Stage (NS) series would come with an increase in internal memory.

With the Nord Electro 7 (NE7), Clavia breaks with this long-standing tradition for the first time. Despite a new model, the internal memory remains unchanged — a step that is difficult to justify in light of ever-growing sample sizes and expanding sound libraries.

Not really a new thing, NS3 and NS4 for example share the same amount of Piano memory of 2GB (and Nord Electro 5 and 6 as well, both 1GB)

I meant the total memory (Piano and Synth section) …

[analogika]

NORD is making history :

With the NE7, Clavia Nord is writing a new chapter — though not a positive one:

For decades, it was taken for granted that each new model in the Nord Electro (NE) and Nord Stage (NS) series would come with an increase in internal memory.

With the Nord Electro 7 (NE7), Clavia breaks with this long-standing tradition for the first time. Despite a new model, the internal memory remains unchanged — a step that is difficult to justify in light of ever-growing sample sizes and expanding sound libraries.

Not really a new thing, NS3 and NS4 for example share the same amount of Piano memory of 2GB (and Nord Electro 5 and 6 as well, both 1GB)

I meant the total memory (Piano and Synth section) …

OK but physically there is nothing such as "total memory" in the Nord hardware architecture, the sample memory is separated and dedicated by section, some examples and pictures in this old thread viewtopic.php?t=2647

As far as Synth section is concerned only NS4 has 1GB at the moment (in any case you would not be able to load the whole Nord Sample Library in it) and 512MB on the NE7, considering the added VA+FM capabilities, to me seems still adequate for its typical usage so I am not surprised that Nord didn't increase it but YMMV