This 'unofficial' Forum is dedicated to the Clavia Nord Keyboards, including the Nord Stage, Nord Electro and Nord Piano. Discuss any issues around Nord's keyboards, share your favorite patches, samples, and music. We are not affiliated with Clavia!
AlexTognam wrote:Yes, I meant the nord would translate the effects to the midi controller.
I still don't get what you mean, but the Nord never sends anything TO the midi controller. It only goes the other direction, the controller sending data to the Nord.
AlexTognam wrote:Any suggestions beside the Numa Organ 2 that is outside my budget
For something with no sounds, I mentioned the Samson Graphite 49 and Behringer... there are others... just make sure it has 9 faders, and then t's a matter of whether you like the action. Aftertouch can be a nice bonus, though, depending on what sounds (besides organ) you intend to trigger from the controller.
Take a look at the Novation Impulse, it has all you need and a "quasi waterfall" keybed. Anyway also non-waterfall master keyboards are OK (Hammond spinets don't have waterfall keys...) provided they have a good keybed, best if with aftertouch (I currently use a Novation X Station with my NS2).
PS: a master keyboard never "gets the sounds/effects" from anything, rather it "sends its notes and controllers" info via MIDI to the connected device (NS3 in your case).
Last edited by maxpiano on 28 Oct 2018, 16:06, edited 4 times in total.
I use a “Hammond-ified” Doepfer D3m, and I just love the waterfall action
Besides missing aftertouch on it just a little bit, I really don’t miss a Pitchbend or Mod Wheel, since I use that solely on my Nord, and by having them stacked there’s no problem reaching those controls on the Nord Stage
I also thought of getting a Stage 2 EX compact and using a 88 key hammer action controller back in 2015, but now I’m glad that I have my HA 88, since I’m using it very often solo, and couldn’t imagine playing piano sounds only with waterfall keys...
Since the S3 has been released, I’m now playing with the thought to get a S3 compact and replacing the D3m.
nord stage 4 88 | nord stage 2 EX 88
SYSTEM-8 x 2 | JX-08 | opsix | DX7 IIFD Numa Organ 2 | d3m custom | SL mkIII
maxpiano wrote:Take a look at the Novation Impulse, it has all you need and a "quasi waterfall" keybed.
Just for curiosity: the Notation Impulse has 9 faders, it seems natural to use them to control the drawbar settings. Is it possible in general to control the Nord Stage drawbars via midi?
Hervshahn wrote:Is it possible in general to control the Nord Stage drawbars via midi?
Yes. The only issue is that the MIDI values are fixed on the Nord, so you have to be able to change them on the controller. But any soundless controller lets you map its faders to whatever MIDI CC you need. It's more of an issue on boards with their own sounds, where sometimes that option isn't supported, and you'd have to use some other device to remap.
These users thanked the author anotherscott for the post:
Thank you for the clarification on how data are being transferred between the controller and the master keyboard. I would stacked them up with the smallest keyboard on top.
Keeping the RD300NX and using it as a controller for a compact NS3 definitely sounds like the best option for portability, price, and not having to sell my RD300NX. If I do so, I have to make sure of a few things:
Is there a big difference on the keybed feel between the RD-300NX and the NS3 HA88? Comparisons against the RD2000NX or 800NX could help as well. One reason to get the 88HA NS3 would be to improve hopefully the keybed action. But if this is not the case, then making the decision of getting the NS3 compact and using the RD300NX as a controller makes more sense.
If I use the RD300NX as a controller for the NS3 compact - would I experience any sound delay?
At home, I mostly use grand piano acoustic sounds to practice - It is therefore strange to me to get a $3500 keyboard that I would not play directly on it but just use for its sounds. I would definitely use the NS3 for other things.
Last edited by AlexTognam on 28 Oct 2018, 22:45, edited 1 time in total.
AlexTognam wrote:If I use the RD300NX as a controller for the NS3 compact - would I experience any sound delay?
Probably only minor delays; MIDI sends one byte every 1/3 ms, and one note-on message is 3 bytes IIRC, so one tone takes 1 ms to transmit. Sending a chord may thus be around 5-7 ms, which is not really an issue. As long as you're below 10 ms or so, it's not noticeable for most people (sound travels 3.4 meter pr ms, so 5 ms is like playing with a speaker that is maybe 17 m away).
I would, however, recommend that you test this before buying. I've used previously a RD-700NX with the old NE3, and never found a good velocity-curve in the RD700NX that suited the NE3 for acoustic pianos. It may work better between the RD300 and NS3, but I would test before buying...
As for the keys, then the RD300 is probably closer to the HA88 than the RD700NX is -- but you should really test them next to one another.
I don’t have a NS3 88 (just the NS3 Compact) but I do have a NS2 88 (which seeems to have the same keybed like the new NS3 88 if I’m correct) as well as a Roland RD800. I am a fully teached piano player and as such always compare 88 keys hammer keybeds against a real acoustic grand and upright, and I can tell that the NS2 88 is really fine for playing piano, but the RD800 is way better. It’s heavier and it feels more like a real acoustic piano to me, but that’s of course a very personal impression. I use the NS2 88 if I need organ and synth as well but can use very limited equipment only (usually for relatively short gigs like 30-45 minutes amongst other bands with very few time to bring all on stage). If we do full night gigs I take my complete equipment (RD800, NS3 Compact and Motif XF7) and use the RD800 for all piano parts, partially playing the NS3 pianos with it - that’s by far the best combination
MartinJ2EX wrote:
I also thought of getting a Stage 2 EX compact and using a 88 key hammer action controller back in 2015, but now I’m glad that I have my HA 88, since I’m using it very often solo, and couldn’t imagine playing piano sounds only with waterfall keys...
Since the S3 has been released, I’m now playing with the thought to get a S3 compact and replacing the D3m.
That's exactly how I feel. Even though it's more practical, cheaper, and best for my situation to get the Compact one. It is just best overall to get the HA88.
Unfortunately I couldn't find the NS3 for testing in my area. The good thing is that I can always return my purchase if I am not happy with it.
