What would you do?

[totheatom]

Hi! New user here and determined to become a member of the Nord family in the very near future. Absolutely love the instruments. Have a question for you all and could really use your advice and insight...

I have been all set to pick up a brand new Lead A1R at a very nice price in a couple of days. However, after much research this evening, I'm thinking that maybe I'd prefer to push all of my chips in and go with the new Stage 3 88 instead. If you were in my shoes, what would you do:

Option 1 - Go with the A1R and pair it with an 88-key MIDI controller. Then I'll be in synth lead heaven and rely on VSTs and sample libraries for the rest of my sounds. I currently use Keyscape for piano and keyboards, Omnisphere 2, Komplete, Kontakt libraries, etc. This is the most affordable option, but also the least hands on.

Option 2 - See if I can pick up a Stage 2 EX HP76 on a nice discount and pair that with the A1R, probably for somewhere in the ballpark of a Stage 3 88 though, but potentially with expanded capability because of the separate A1R module?

Option 3 - I can also get a nice price on a Yamaha Montage 8 and pair that with the A1R for something totally different, but, again, I'm at about the price of the Stage 3.

Option 4 - Pass on the A1R altogether. Sell some gear and software licenses and put together enough scratch to get the Stage 3 88 as my "all-in-one" instrument. I would still supplement this with software as needed, of course.

What do you think? I don't play live, only at home for now, so I don't NEED a stage piano. However, I just love the idea of having hands on control for most of my sounds in one unit. The Stage 3 feels like the right way to go, but it's significantly more expensive.

Also, would I be sacrificing much in the A1 department by going with the Stage 3 vs the A1R?

Appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks.

[cgrafx]

The A1 is a synth with a synth keyboard, the Stage 3 88 is a piano with a weighted piano keyboard. They are two completely different instruments. If you want to do synth or organ stuff, you are not going to be happy trying to do that on a weighted keyboard (completely wrong action).

If your primarily interested in piano sorts of stuff, then the stage 3 might be a good option, but honestly if your not going to play live you'd almost be better off with konkat or MainStage and a couple of really good controllers (one weighted and one waterfall or synth with after touch). There is a lot more flexibility with a MainStage rig and access to truly large sample libraries. Just so much can be contained in a 2gig partition on the Nord.

Don't get me wrong, Nord does a great job with the sample space they have available, but its not the same as having a couple terabyte hard drive and 16, 32, 64 gigs of fast RAM at your disposal (particularly when you don't need to change patches on the fly).

[totheatom]

I find that I prefer to go with a weighted keyboard for both synth and piano playing (maybe I'm weird that way), which is why the Stage's keybed is not a concern. If I go with an A1, it would be the rack module only because that particular keyboard's light action is actually kind of a deterrent for me.

Will definitely still be using software for a lot of sounds, but would prefer to get away from the keyboard and mouse as much as possible. Thanks for the input!

[Quai34]

I would say, you don't play live, so, you will be missing one of the greatest functionality of the Stage and his "raison d'être": being able to have easy and instant access is way more useful live than in the studio when you have time to program/search/Tweak etc....
But I didn't planned to play live at first when I bought my Stage 2 in 2011 because I bought it with the idea in mind that I would build the studio of my dream around it.... Why the Stage then.?..
Other workstation seemed to be too complicated, I knew I was going to get a computer in the future and I was not a big fan of soft synth and computer music (my last music computer was an Atari 1040 and Notator by Emagic/Clab.... The ancestor of Apple Logic (Apple bought them in 1995....).
Why also: old fashion guy, I've always loved Hardware versus software, beside the Stage 2, the rest was cheaper (Old analog modules etc....) and I was restarting completely from scratch.... At that time, January 2011, the Stage was the best option....
You are in a very different position...
1) You will stay in your studio.
I know, due to jobs changes, I ended more buying and building more hardware environment (Acoustic isolation, expanders, mixers, patchbays, preamps, effects and all cabling) before even buying the computer (as was expecting to borrow an IMac at the university where I was working...I had to give it back when they didn't renew my 3 years contract....) and Cubase
than recording stuff BUT I 've been playing in 3 bands, one after the others for the past 5 years....And the Stage was perfect for that....
2) You are not "scared" as I was with your computer, soft synths etc.... AND you already have them.... I'm not a specialist in reselling license but I don't think they hold their value as long as any piece of hardware equipment.... So, selling them Wg
Hen you are happy with will lead for you to get way more fund to cover the new purchase....
3) You said you will always have a computer and what comes with and even think to use it online If I guess...
As a conclusion, you noticed that I didn't talk about the A1R because you cannot based that kind of decision just on the difference between the A1 possibilities abs those from the Stage line, either it's a Stsge 2 or a 3....
Last question, hands on on Stages, yes, kind of sound, relatively limited:
A) A. Piano, stellar, but do you use them a lot in your music at home and do you have something that already covers it?
b) Same question with E.Piano and Clav knowing that quite a lot on the forum, who were able to compare gem with other brands think that you could find better else where, HW or SW.
c) Organ, stellar, one Of the best clone, even if for purist there is endless discussions about Leslies models, keybed, Drive etc...
d) Synth on a Stsge is just the ice on the cake even with The recent models, everyone seems to crave for the "Ice/semi A1/Samples" synth section....You have verygood synth and sound creation modules in your arsenal, if the Stage 3 will get rid you of a lot of the current set up you perfectly know, maybe a used Stage 2 will already gives you a lot in keeping mainly what you have....
That's it, I tried to be short!!!!

PS: Yes, I did the same, when I bought the Stage, I Was already discussing on forum AND with rep on store because I Knew that any synth section in the Stage would never replace a single dedicated unit like that my Lead 2X that was bought few months after....

[GeeDeWee]

In addition to the other replies, I think the best thing about the Stage line is that it's an 'all in one, hands on live machine'. As you will not use it live it seems you are able to choose the best hardware and software for every sound you need in your studio. Getting rid of a bunch of hardware and software seems to take away that advantage.

Of course the Stage will do a nice job in the studio also, but since you already own a lot of other gear and software, I'd go for a 88 Midi controller you like and an A1.
But if you plan on playing live in the near future, the Stage is the best you can get IMO. Buying my Stage 2 88 was the best decision I made (gear wise.. )

[Gardinen]

I'd say "stay away from the Montage". Programming-wise it can sometime be a bit of a nightmare, since most patches are multilayered. And if you want to modify the patches you'll have to go into each layer. The basic pianopatch for instance is four layers. Two layers for different velocities, one layer for the most upper notes, and one layer for release notes. So if you want to alter the sound of the piano, you'll have to alter at least three layers.

I've gotten pretty tired of my Montage 7, because of this, but mostly because of a lot of bugs and defects, that haven't yet been fixed, AND for the worst community forum website ever.

[analogika]

I haven't received my Stage 3 yet, but based on experience with the electro 2 and the stage 2, I can say that playing the stage feels like playing an actual instrument.

It sounds like you're irritated at the "removed-ness" of playing VSTs. I use MainStage in live settings that I find too complex for the limitations of the Stage 2 (mostly Top-40 gigs with very specific sounds/arpeggios/splits), and it always feels like I'm operating a piece of equipment based on knowing how it should be played -- as opposed to just playing an instrument.

Maybe that makes sense to you.

That "it's just an instrument" feeling applies to the built-in synth, as well, regardless of how limited it is. I'm quite excited to explore the possibilities of the Stage 3's synth section. It looks to be WAY more powerful than the Stage 2, but similarly hands-on.

Whenever I can get away with it, I will leave the Mac at home and take just the Stage.

HOWEVER: selling other gear to finance it seems a little counterproductive, as GeDeWee says. The Stage 3 as an option is not going to disappear, and at some point, your financial situation is going to change, and by then, buying used may be a lot more attractive still.

[kbrkr]

I'd go with a Korg Kronos. Amazing Synth features, Great Pianos and Vintage Keys, bread and butter sounds, great keyboard action, Karma, program it till your heats content, easy Combi's and Layers/splits.

[dhbp-nord]

I would spend some serious time at your nearest dealer trying out all these options in person before dropping major cash on anything - less chance of being disappointed. I spent a lot of time online researching my NP2 purchase, but did not commit until after spending some quality time with one. As a result I was aware of limitations going in (storage, looped pianos etc) - still very happy with my purchase 2 years later.

DH

[analogika]

I'd go with a Korg Kronos. Amazing Synth features, Great Pianos and Vintage Keys, bread and butter sounds, great keyboard action, Karma, program it till your heats content, easy Combi's and Layers/splits.

...and a terrible interface.