Is my Stage 3 Compact defective

[analogika]

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...

That’s amusing. I find the Stage 3 (compact) MUCH more responsive and enjoyable to play than the Stage 2 (also compact). The pianos seem far more natural to my playing style than they did on the 2.

[MrTobbe]

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...

That’s amusing. I find the Stage 3 (compact) MUCH more responsive and enjoyable to play than the Stage 2 (also compact). The pianos seem far more natural to my playing style than they did on the 2.

This is exactly what I mean - what is an improvement to some, is a step in the wrong direction for others. It is impossible to keep everybody happy.

[ADSRLFO]

Even if the velocity on the compact is not ideal...there's a big difference between acoustic and eletric piano, acoustic ones have surely more velocity layers than electric ones... more difficult to have soft playing whith them ..

[analogika]

All I know is that on acoustic pianos, the compact keyboard is now eminently playable, while it was difficult/unpleasant for pianists on the Stage 2 (not just for me).

I'm hoping it's not changed back to what it was.

[Quai34]

+ 1 on this one:
It seems that people are very happy with the new Stage 3 Compact velocity curve for A. Piano but anytime they try to control the Stage 3 Compact from an 88 notes weighted keyboard, it does work well....

[Quai34]

@Mr Tobbe:
Yes, I remember this one, the update....It's at that time that I finally started to play with the different curves....
And I don't need to sell my Stage 3, I haven't bought one yet. I'm participating in all these threads just because I'm already sold for my next set up: Kawai MP11 for the best weighted action BUT controlling also the AP's of the Stage 3 compact that will be on top of the Kawai....And then get all bonuses: best weighted action, best AP with Nord ones, waterfall for Organ with the Stage 3 and portability when I take the Stage 3 only....But the issue of not having the possibility to practically play Nord AP from another 88 controller is a big one, thus my concerns....
@Analogika:
For the reasons above, yes, I hope they won't change the velocity curve on the Stage 3 Compact has it seems to be very playable on its own, which will be great when I will be carrying/using the Compact only....But the issue with another controller still seems not to be addressed, am I right?

[analogika]

I can’t judge whether there is anything to fix. I never use an external keyboard with the Stage - if I have a second board along, it’s to control MainStage.

[Quai34]

So, you never tried to control your Stage 3 with your Yamaha or your Elctro?

[MrTobbe]

@Mr Tobbe:Kawai MP11 for the best weighted action BUT controlling also the AP's of the Stage 3 compact that will be on top of the Kawai....And then get all bonuses: best weighted action, best AP with Nord ones, waterfall for Organ with the Stage 3 and portability when I take the Stage 3 only....But the issue of not having the possibility to practically play Nord AP from another 88 controller is a big one, thus my concerns...

Now I'm not sure I follow anymore... I thought we were discussing the velocity curve of the internal keyboard, but ok... I play the acoustic pianos of my Stage 3 compact, from an external keyboard (a Korg M3-88) all the time, and it seems perfectly ok to me. Who's saying that this would be a problem? And if you are planning to control the Stage 3 from a Kawai MP11, doesn't the MP11 have a number of velocity curves for external gear, to choose from? I can't really see what the problem is here.

[analogika]

So, you never tried to control your Stage 3 with your Yamaha or your Elctro?

No, I never have. That’s why I wrote that I never do.

The only thing I have done is to record a MIDI track of myself playing a piano on the Nord Stage 3, and played back that MIDI track on both a Nord Stage 2 and the Nord Stage 3. Sounded a lot better on the 3.
But that’s not what we’re talking about here.