Goodbye Nord Stage 3

[jdahms]

I have to call a spade a spade here. I feel like you are upset about something else and taking it out on Nord. Or you are trolling. Or you work for a competing brand. The Stage 3 is a great board and you are picking nits.

I don't think anyone is trolling here. I certainly don't work for a competing company. Let me be clear ... I still have an NS2EX and I love it. So Nord really hasn't lost a customer. Just a sale. But I think Nord really dropped the ball here. REMOVING A FEATURE AFTER RELEASE is unforgivable. Imagine if your car manufacturer rolled out a firmware upgrade that disabled your cruise control. Nord is not being transparent. They aren't even replying to my support queries. So I'm taking the only remedy I can. Returning the product for a refund.

Fit for purpose? Let's see... Does it play music when I use it? Yep! That was my purpose. What was your purpose other than that?

Jonnie, It may be fit for your purpose, but it is not fit for mine. I use Dual Kb a LOT. And I have a pedal attached to each keyboard to do morphs on both keyboards. For example, my band plays Have a Cigar by Pink Floyd. On my NS2 I have a patch that has a Clav/Solina Strings split on the Nord and a Rhodes/Synth split on the external KB. We also do Double Vision by Foreigner. Horn/Organ split on the Nord and a Piano with a pedal Morph to fade in strings on the external.

[jdahms]

Let's see... You bought the Nord knowing there was no sample editor released yet. I think that one is on you.

Yes that is on me. Because I pre-ordered the Stage 3 before I'd even seen the spec. I have always been an early adopter of Nord. Trust me, I will not make that mistake again. If and when I do buy another Nord it will not be until the product has been on the market for at least 6 months.

I can't speak to the comparison of the Hammonds since I haven't played the Stage 2, but to my ear, it sounds pretty freakin' awesome on the 3.

I have played them side by side with identical settings. I think the NS2's hammond sounds better. I have seen other posts on this board that agree. I'm sure Nord will fix this. Had I not already been pissed at Nord, I could have lived with that.

[anotherscott]

If the board isn't doing what you want and it isn't the best choice for you out of available options, returning it is a good idea, regardless of whether or Nord was more communicative (which is something they could be better about, I agree). You can always buy it again if/when the stuff you need is implemented.

[jdahms]

Or Nord takes another 6 months to release the sample editor and has a structural issue that can't be resolved with just software and needs to physically rework system boards requiring a full recall.

Exactly my concern. If NS2 is any example, they will roll out a RevB, but they will not recall the RevA boards. You'll be stuck with your hardware.

The issue here is nobody knows, because the people that know (Nord) are not saying anything.

Exactly. That was the main reason I took the board back. They are totally ignoring my support questions.

[jdahms]

If the board isn't doing what you want and it isn't the best choice for you out of available options, returning it is a good idea

That's what I thought. It's too expensive to keep around unless it's doing exactly what I need it to. As I said in an earlier post, Nord hasn't really lost a customer, just a sale. I will look at NS3 in 6 months and again in a year and if they ever roll out the NS3EX or NS4 I will look at that too.

[Gospelkeys]

While it seems premature to return the board based on bugs - the lack of communication is unfortunate and somewhat puzzling.

I can understand the op's frustration with that.

If you put a "contact us" link on your website and a customer uses it - they deserve a timely response.

Like many on this forum - I am a long time software engineer. For us - every customer contact is logged and responded to within 48 hours. Even if the question needs further research. It would be unacceptable to not respond to a customer.

Hope Nord addresses that issue.

Also, frankly, removing a feature that people are clearly using is a big deal. I'm sure there is a reason, but they really should let people know if this is temporary , or they do not intend to support this going forward. Maybe why?

I can't even imagine what would happen to me if I removed a useful feature and gave no explanation.

[harmonizer]

.....Let's see... You bought the Nord knowing there was no sample editor released yet. I think that one is on you......

I would respectfully disagree with this statement. Here is the Nord product announcement, posted in April or May (I am not sure whether the date "05-04-2017" I read in the USA has been translated to US date format or not). Here it is:
http://www.nordkeyboards.com/about-us/i ... rd-stage-3

"...it is even possible to create and transfer your own samples using the Nord Sample Editor. "

The statement in the Nord announcement could not be any more clear.

[RichardG]

I can't even imagine what would happen to me if I removed a useful feature and gave no explanation.

I can tell you that, being an IT-guy myself : Pitchforks, tar and feathers ... for starters !

[kbrkr]

I back the OP 100%. I'm on the fence about returning my NS3C. Other than Ergonomics, there is nothing in this board that is wowing me. My Kronos blows it away. I wanted something lighter and more tweakable live.

I don't need the Panel Issue the OP has fixed, but:

I am underwhelmed with the Organ section
I am underwhelmed with the sonic ability of the sound generation, other than the Synth Section. (I am spoiled by the Kronos). Pianos
I can't run my own samples at this point which is HUGE for the type of music I play.

Perhaps a 61 key Kronos is in my future? I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude, how much longer I wait is the kicker.

[brane]

.....Let's see... You bought the Nord knowing there was no sample editor released yet. I think that one is on you......

I would respectfully disagree with this statement. Here is the Nord product announcement, posted in April or May (I am not sure whether the date "05-04-2017" I read in the USA has been translated to US date format or not). Here it is:
http://www.nordkeyboards.com/about-us/i ... rd-stage-3

"...it is even possible to create and transfer your own samples using the Nord Sample Editor. "

The statement in the Nord announcement could not be any more clear.

Me to (disagree with Jonnie Cache statement) - see my post at nearly same time:
http://www.norduserforum.com/nord-stage ... tml#p92876