Is the Nord Stage 3 a good fit for me?

[jfish930]

Hi anotherscott,

I’ve read some of your posts on some other forums; thank you kindly for your input!

For me personally, I think I’d be pleased with the pianos, organs and strings on either the NS3 or the Nautilus. I like your idea of having an analog synth, but was concerned that the P6 having only 6 voices would be a dealbreaker for me what with my background as a pianist. To be more specific, I definitely play synths and keyboards differently that I do a piano and I do realize I could use the NS3 or Nautilus when more polyphony is required, but I just am not crazy about the lack of polyphony in a P6 or OB6

I also thought of a Prophet x to go with either the Nautilus or NS3, love the sounds of the X! But since I wouldn’t be mangling samples, or recording my own samples, do you think the x would be wasted for someone like me? I was thinking I could download some of the 8dio patches, such as the P5 etc. Since my motive is to compose, the X would be great for that.

Was also thinking of the Rev2 instead of the X, great price, more voices (would get the 16 voice) but concerned about it possibly having a small sweet spot and maybe some harshness.

Thanks again!

[jfish930]

Hi anotherscott,

I’ve read some of your posts on some other forums; thank you kindly for your input!

For me personally, I think I’d be pleased with the pianos, organs and strings on either the NS3 or the Nautilus. I like your idea of having an analog synth, but was concerned that the P6 having only 6 voices would be a dealbreaker for me what with my background as a pianist. To be more specific, I definitely play synths and keyboards differently that I do a piano and I do realize I could use the NS3 or Nautilus when more polyphony is required, but I just am not crazy about the lack of polyphony in a P6 or OB6

I also thought of a Prophet x to go with either the Nautilus or NS3, love the sounds of the X! But since I wouldn’t be mangling samples, or recording my own samples, do you think the x would be wasted for someone like me? I was thinking I could download some of the 8dio patches, such as the P5 etc. Since my motive is to compose, the X would be great for that.

Was also thinking of the Rev2 instead of the X, great price, more voices (would get the 16 voice) but concerned about it possibly having a small sweet spot and maybe some harshness.

Thanks again!

[anotherscott]

Prophet 10 is a Prophet 5 with 10 voices of polyphony, which might address that concern.

Prophet X does look like a beast! But you are also opening up some more layers of complexity.

[jfish930]

Thanks anotherscott! Loving the idea of a Prophet 10, but read that there are no onboard effects and that is somewhat disconcerting to me. I agree that the X would definitely be more complex.
In the long run, I guess I am blessed to be given a predicament such as this one. Going to give it a rest for a few days.

[Slide]

Hi tetra,
Going to play a NS3 on Monday, so that will help as well in regards to the best decision.
Thanks again for your input! Greatly appreciated!

Hi jfish930. Playing the keyboards you are considering is really important in making a decision. Consider renting for a more in-depth trial. Some stores will apply some (or all) of a rental toward the cost if you decide to purchase. That's what happened for me: I rented an NS3 88 while my Kurzweil Artis was being repaired...and realized I could never give the NS3 back! I fell in love with the sounds, the touch, the ergonomics. It felt intuitive. It has a great combination of being easy to tweak, and deep if you really want to get into programming. (Sold the Kurz).

Naturally, this forum is for Nord fans. Everything you are considering has merit, mucho explore, and limitations that are inherent in any instrument. Enjoy the journey: do your research play the finalists, choose and enjoy.

[jfish930]

Thanks Slide!
Really liking the idea now of having the NS3 (intuitive) and combining it with the Prophet XL (great pads and can learn it in time)

Thanks everyone! A couple of major pluses for me in regards to the Nautilus vs the NS3 is that the Korg Nautilus has drum patterns, a sequencer etc. Since my main motivation is to compose and I haven’t learned to use a DAW yet, should that stop me from purchasing the NS3? I assume this will be a moot point once I learn to use a DAW. Have downloaded some free trials but haven’t had the time to really dig in yet. I used to use the sequencer on my Kronos in order to compose and the Nautilus sequencer looks very similar

[jfish930]

Thanks Slide! Really liking the idea now of having the NS3 (intuitive) and combining it with the Prophet XL (great pads and can learn it in time)
Thanks everyone! A couple of major pluses for me in regards to the Nautilus vs the NS3 is that the Korg Nautilus has drum patterns, a sequencer etc. Since my main motivation is to compose and I haven’t learned to use a DAW yet, should that stop me from purchasing the NS3? I assume this will be a moot point once I learn to use a DAW. Have downloaded some free trials but haven’t had the time to really dig in yet. I used to use the sequencer on my Kronos in order to compose and the Nautilus sequencer looks very similar

Given your background I don't think you can go wrong with the Stage 3 88, but it also sounds like you have time to perhaps get started on that, set yourself up for composing, and try out a few complementary keyboards. I wouldn't discount what you're capable of creating utilizing the dual Stage 3 synth sections, and some instant-gratification is out there by downloading pad samples (free or for a charge) that abound on the web. I have over 70 programs posted at nord-stage-3-programs-ns3p-ns3pb-files- ... 15748.html if you want to listen to some of what I've created just with the Stage 3. If I was looking for a single keyboard to complement my Nord Stage 3, I would be taking a very close look at the Nord Wave 2 (https://www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-wave-2), as I would be gaining not only a 4-part synth combining virtual analog synthesis, samples, FM and wavetable, but also the added flexibility to create/download samples that would be interchangeable between my two keyboards. Good luck to you, take care.

[jfish930]

Hey WannitBBBad, bravo! Love some of those patches you created as well as your playing ability! Some of the patches I really enjoyed: Slot A has a wee bit of Deep Purple-ish stuff going on! Loved the LFO Filter Sweep too.

You have been extremely helpful; this is exactly the information I was seeking, Last night I looked more into the Wave 2 (watched some of the J3po tutorials) and was thinking of pairing that with the Korg Nautilus 88. This way, until I start using a Daw, I can have plenty of drum patterns from the Korg to get the creative juices flowing and to create compositions. As mentioned, I am also familiar with the Korg sequencer.

However, now that I’ve heard some of your synth patches from the NS3, I am thinking to heck with redundancy, and getting both the Nautilus and the NS3. I have a buddy who I jam with (he plays guitar) and his opinion is that the Korg can stay put at my home to use for composing and the NS3 can be used for when we jam.

So, tomorrow the place I am going to has both the Wave 2 and the NS3. Going to try both; before your post I was leaning towards the Wave 2 and the Nautilus but now I am not so sure. Thanks so much and again, great work!

[Kaffimusic]

Well, just one more to throw in opinions.
I come from the other end, I am no piano-guy and I guess pretty experienced with programming synth. And some DAW recording and mixing.
You wrote you owned a Kronos. And now you are about to get a Nautilus.
First I do not really understand why a Nautilus instead of the Kronos. The Nautilus is not so much more than a Kronos "very light". If you had problems programming synth on the Kronos, you will also have the same on the Nautilus.
You also mentioned a Prophet. Ok, from the view of a synth sound guy I can tell both the Prophet, as well as the N3 are pretty easy to program. But the N3 is way more limited in its options. A person with a little bit experience might also have a harder time to get a result from mind into reality, because of those limits. Often you can get to the thing with some tricks, on a Prophet you don´t need those tricks and just walk the way of the given options, wich are more standard and classic. I´d also say it is easier to learn understanding analog synth programming on a Prophet instead of the Nord. Because it meets more standards, options that are simply "there" and by itself sounds thicker (better) right from the start. It´s truly analog, that´s why.
I guess the Nautilus can do most of the Prohet things too, in it´s digital own way. But it´s harder to come by since it means diving into menues. If you don´t know what you are looking for, you will have a hard time.
You once owned a DW8000. Me too. It sounded good, it was somewhere between a Prophet and todays digital synths. While you had problems or no fun with programming that, you will also no fun with a todays digital synth.
But. Those digital workstation-style instruments do everything the N3 does soundwise and way more. And with way more flexibility and variety. From the standpoint of "sounds" the N3 is pretty inferior and limited to what it does good. Good, but not much. and well, build quality is way better. And you have a decent keybed with aftertouch. The Nautilus is a low budget instrument.
SO, what is my conclusion? I do not understand why you should need a Nautilus AND a N3. Somehow they overlap pretty much - exept for the organ sim in the N3. For the rest, the Nautilus can do much more than the N3. The only reason why you might get a N3 is is for the sound that you want. But you seem to be pretty fixed on the Nautilus. So you don´t want that sound(?).
And getting a N3 just for the ease of programming an analog synth, you are way better off with a Prophet. Since everything else is done with the Korg.

[Darth_V8r]

I'll date myself with some of what I might be able to add to the discussion.

My first real keyboard was a Kawai K1, which at the time felt incredibly revolutionary to me as opposed to what I'd been used to. I picked it up when I was 14 I think. played around with a emu proteus, Roland PR-100 sequencer, thought I'd hit the jackpot with Finale on Windows 3.1. Went through a Korg Triton phase, and then ended up on VST's for about the last ten years. My current church rig is Ableton and Reason with an MPK88. Overall, i find the VST's and DAW's do a pretty good job, but operating them live is rather restricting. i ended up building 5 different synth/pad patches and tying them to the faders on the MPK so I can blend them and filter them with the mod wheel to create a pretty wide range of sound. Then i run a mixed piano models patch and a Wurli via Radical Keys also to two faders on the MPK. All of this runs through a combinator in Reason, then over to Ableton via ReWire. Overall, it works pretty well, but as I said, I have hours and days and weeks behind the scenes fine tuning patches (which I know we all do).

Bottom line for saying all of that -- My family all chipped in and got me a NS3 for Christmas, which I primarily wanted for the piano and organ sounds, and which I never would have actually bought for myself. In the VST's I would swear to having a thousand hours into trying to fine tune piano and organ sounds to make them palatable and rich, and never really happy with them. In five days on the NS3, I'm doing things that took weeks and months on the VST's, and things I could never do live. Far more intuitive than anything I've had to play with before. I see what people say about better workstations out there, but for the ability to walk up to it, set it up from cold to make familiar sounds from songs I grew up with, or build very lush ambient pads at will, I'm thrilled with it. A lot of the built in patches I sort of see as "possibilities" rather than finished products.

So, for recording would I need a NS3? Probably not. but for live use, I've already found it to be a big improvement with not even a week on it.