Buy a stage 3 now? Or is there an EX version coming?

[Schorsch]

Good points! Buy what you want and don't worry about what might be released.

Generally that's what i usually do. But this time what's holding me back is indeed the timing.
Don't want to get the NS3 only to discover that if i have waited for another month or two i could get the EX version for the same price.
If we were a year or two after the NS3's release then i wouldn't worry too much and feel there's plenty of time until the next model comes up.

You gave the answer to your question by yourself - if you are worried about the timing just wait and see what's coming and then either buy the then new Nord Stage 3EX (or whatever it's been named) or buy a discounted Stage 3 which has to get out of the dealer's stock.

[Spider]

Something that happened with the transition from 2ex to 3 was Thomann offering huge discounts on 2ex.

Yep. I bought my 2EX HA88 when Thomann was blowing out the remaining stock, brand new for €2'499.
Exactly 1000 euros less than what the price had always been. Amazing deal, I almost couldn't believe it...and I would have surely thought of a fraud, if it wasn't from such a well-respected retailer.

But it didn't happen with the transition from 2 to 2EX, because the upgrade is almost negligible. It's literally the same instrument.
If a 3EX comes out there may be a slight drop in prices on the used market, but nothing dramatic. As said, I'd buy a 3 now without worrying at all. Or if I'm in no hurry, wait for a Stage 4 with all the latest bells and whistles (and possibly 4 synth sections, for me that's the biggest limitation still present in the Stage line).

[MartinJ2EX]

Nord is currently facing the task of redesigning their entire sound engine platform as the chips they have been relying on for their exiting products are end-of-lifed with no replacement.

I'm curious now... Tell me more...

[cgrafx]

Nord is currently facing the task of redesigning their entire sound engine platform as the chips they have been relying on for their exiting products are end-of-lifed with no replacement.

I'm curious now... Tell me more...

The DSP chips that Nord uses in all of the current products is end-of-life'd and have been for years. The extended production commitment from NXP to continue to produce the chips is coming to a close and if I'm not mistaken all of NXP's DSP56Fxx Family are either now no longer available for purchase are will be unavailable for purchase in the coming months.

There are no compatible replacement parts available from any manufacturer. This means Nord has no option but to redesign the core audio engine all of their products are based on.

While the math involved is the same regardless of chipset, the core instruction set code is not transferrable and quite honestly it wouldn't be worth the effort to try and transcode what they have. So strictly from an engineering standpoint, Nord has two choices, go out of business or evolve and redesign their products around a new architecture.

Edit: I suppose the other possibility is that Nord has stockpiled enough chips to continue using the existing architecture, but I can't see how that would be anything other than a staling tactic to delay the inevitable.

[neomad]

Nord is currently facing the task of redesigning their entire sound engine platform as the chips they have been relying on for their exiting products are end-of-lifed with no replacement.

I'm curious now... Tell me more...

The DSP chips that Nord uses in all of the current products is end-of-life'd and have been for years. The extended production commitment from NXP to continue to produce the chips is coming to a close and if I'm not mistaken all of NXP's DSP56Fxx Family are either now no longer available for purchase are will be unavailable for purchase in the coming months.

There are no compatible replacement parts available from any manufacturer. This means Nord has no option but to redesign the core audio engine all of their products are based on.

While the math involved is the same regardless of chipset, the core instruction set code is not transferrable and quite honestly it wouldn't be the effort to try and transcode what they have. So strictly from an engineering standpoint, Nord has two choices, go out of business or evolve and redesign their products around a new architecture.

Edit: I suppose the other possibility is that Nord has stockpiled enough chips to continue using the existing architecture, but I can't see how that would be anything other than a staling tactic to delay the inevitable.

Is may be the time that Nord will do the same that Korg did with Kronos: Linux...?

[fuztec25]

Is may be the time that Nord will do the same that Korg did with Kronos: Linux...?

OS side would be a valuable option for sure. RTAI drivers on Linux are awesome.

But the problem remains: which platform to run linux on? x86 and its future developments or something totally different (ARM?)

[Bjosko]

As long as they don’t go for Kronos boot time, and are keeping the simplified user interface they have today.

Crumar have something clever I would love seeing in an upcoming Nord.
Web interface from a phone, Computer or tablet, and where you are able to transfer files from a USB thumb stick.
That could been a nice option if you would like to share patches and samples from your own instrument, or “home” instrument to rehearsal or rented gear.

[MartinJ2EX]

]

The DSP chips that Nord uses in all of the current products is end-of-life'd and have been for years. The extended production commitment from NXP to continue to produce the chips is coming to a close and if I'm not mistaken all of NXP's DSP56Fxx Family are either now no longer available for purchase are will be unavailable for purchase in the coming months.

There are no compatible replacement parts available from any manufacturer. This means Nord has no option but to redesign the core audio engine all of their products are based on.

Oh my
Maybe that chipset is very stable and Nord wanted it to use it as long as possible because of that?
(And of course to avoid rebuilding their whole OSes)

But I guess the current chipset is part of the reason external apps / features are as limited as they are (Sound Manager)
I’m also seeing huuuge opportunities with a more powerful chipset for Nord...
I’d love to see a bigger screen on a Stage 4, but keeping the same approach to the interface and the monochrome OLED...
A poserful external app (iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows) like this
If a Stage 4 shows Panel A AND B settings (current piano, Synth and drawbar settings) at the same time... AND brings back sophisticated MIDI routing similar to Stage 2, the new board will be an instant purchase for me!!
Maybe some more options for effects routing, as I showed in this post and I’m sold post131738.html#p131738