Is my Stage 3 Compact defective

[Mr_-G-]

Have you tried to see what is the max MIDI velocity value? Can you comfortably reach 127?

[NordNerd431]

Finally I know what's 'wrong': The Stage 2 has a different velocity curve compared to the Stage 3. I think it would be described as more 'wide'. It impacts your perception of the sound quality enormously.

Could you elaborate on what you mean by "velocity curve?"

[MrTobbe]

Have you tried changing the velocity curve then - you do know there are four different curves to choose from, in the piano section?
Seems a little drastic to trade the Stage 3 for a Stage 2, just because of the velocity curve...

[Quai34]

I'm still surprised that people have to advice to switch to another velocity curve to "maybe" appreciate the Stage 3. I started to wonder about the velocity curve on my Stage 2 months after I bought it, it was spot on with an awesome sound just with the factory settings....I just changed the velocity for specific songs but that's it....Why you should just expect to tweak so much a flagship instrument to make it sound good??? I know it's not the first time the velocity curve issue is brought on about the Stage 3 but I still cannot understand why it has been changed a lot compared to the Stage 2, I don't recall so many complains about the Stage 2....

[MrTobbe]

I know it's not the first time the velocity curve issue is brought on about the Stage 3 but I still cannot understand why it has been changed a lot compared to the Stage 2, I don't recall so many complains about the Stage 2....

People seem to forget fast... there was a lot of complaint of the velocity curve of the Stage 2, so in 2015 Clavia made a change to the curves:

v2.10 (2015-06-22)
A new Dynamics (velocity) curve added, replacing the old "Normal" setting (no LED lit in Dynamics section). The new curve provides improved dynamic control when playing soft and makes the keyboard slightly "heavier". The old "Normal" curve is moved to position 1 and the old curves 1 and 2 were merged into position 2. Curve number 3 is the same as before. Important! Programs stored with the old "Normal" curve will be automatically re-stored to use the curve in position 1, the old "Normal" curve. Programs stored using old curves 1 or 2 will use the new merged curve in position 2 upon update.

The problem is that not everyone have the same preference about how a keyboard should feel, and that's why most keyboard today have a number of keyboard touch curves to choose from. If you feel that pushing that "kyb touch" button is too much work, well then by all means - sell your Stage 3...

[Streef]

Why you should just expect to tweak so much a flagship instrument to make it sound good??? I know it's not the first time the velocity curve issue is brought on about the Stage 3 but I still cannot understand why it has been changed a lot compared to the Stage 2, I don't recall so many complains about the Stage 2....

Fully agree, velocity curve has never been an issue with the Stage 2. Indeed for some specific sounds I would use the KBD touch function to tweak, but that's it. On the Stage 3, they changed the main curve to be less responsive, meaning that you have to play *very* soft and *very* hard to get the volume from soft to loudest (1 to 127).

I'm frustrated by the fact that I now play the Stage 3 with another keyboard (MOXF8) and it just sounds great, I can get much more dynamics (loud/soft) in the music when I play. To get this on the Stage 3, you really have to hit the keyboard hard. Using KBD touch doesn't help, as it just increases the velocity output, so you're can't play soft anymore.

And it is so very easy for Nord to put back the Stage 2 curve, or to make it at least an option somewhere in the systems menu...

[Streef]

The problem is that not everyone have the same preference about how a keyboard should feel, and that's why most keyboard today have a number of keyboard touch curves to choose from. If you feel that pushing that "kyb touch" button is too much work, well then by all means - sell your Stage 3...

If it was just using KBD Touch it would be no problem at all, specifically as this function is stored with each program. And I do agree that there will be people that like the current feel of the Stage 3, as it is a personal preference. But coming from Stage 2, it's just annoying that they made this change, as it worked fine (after they made that change to the Stage 2, you're right Well, they should make the change again on the Stage 3...

[NordNerd431]

Finally I know what's 'wrong': The Stage 2 has a different velocity curve compared to the Stage 3. I think it would be described as more 'wide'. It impacts your perception of the sound quality enormously.

Could you elaborate on what you mean by "velocity curve?"

Your keyboard detects how fast you hit a key. This is a measure for how 'hard' you play the key and is expressed in a number between 1 and 127. In principle you can directly map this number to the output volume of the sound you play (ie if you play 75, the volume will be 75).

A velocity curve maps the detected force (or actually speed) of the key to a volume (ie, if you play 75, the volume can be 89). This can make the keyboard more playable, as not all of us like to play full force to get to maximum amplitude for example. Also, not all of us have so much control that they can play very soft.

Now let's say that if you play normally (your own style), your minimum 'force' is 30 and the maximum is 90. This would mean that you can only play volumes between 30 and 90 if there was no velocity curve. But a curve can then map your range to the full amplitude range (1..127), giving you more control.

[Shamaal]

Im far from calling myself experienced in Nord, music and keyboards. Infact Im a beginner, learning the instrument. I decided to do a somewhat high level entry with bying a Nord Stage 3. After some weeks playing - and playing around -, Ive got the impression, that the Nord piano sounds are indeed very „natural“ - they dont sound processed. What I also feel is, that this fact make them somewhat „vulnerable“ with regard to both the surrounding room and the speakers used. I have my Stage positioned in my living room with a tile floor and quite reflective walls. Thats far from optimal. The speakers attached are a pair of Cerwin Wega p1000x - they too sound quite clear somewhat crisp but give a nice warm base to the sound. What you clearly can hear is the richness of frequencies and resolution of the Nord piano sounds. But how they expand and develop depends on the setup, the room etc. So my humble tip would be to try different speakers and placement of the them.

[MrTobbe]

I've got the impression, that the Nord piano sounds are indeed very „natural“ - they dont sound processed. What I also feel is, that this fact make them somewhat „vulnerable“ with regard to both the surrounding room and the speakers used.
[...]
So my humble tip would be to try different speakers and placement of the them.

Best tip so far!