Nord User Forum

Anyone care to comment on the difference in feel between my Electro 5d semi weighted and the Stage 4 Compact?

I had the electro 6d semi weighted, and can't remember that the keybed feeling was so much fun as the NS4C. The NS4C reaaally is a joy to play, even for piano sounds

jjtmd wrote:Good to know that you've found the hammer action on the Stage 4 is improved over the Stage 2 EX. But are you referring to the action itself or the triple sensor feature?

I'm referring to the the keybed (the Fatar keybed that Nord use) - The difference between Hammer Action Portable - HP - used in your current Stage 2 EX (lightweight - but "jumpy" and noisy) - And Hammer Action as on the Nord Stage 3 88 and both new Stage 4 73 and 88 - the It's much better. (but a little heavier).

It isn’t clear to me from jjtmd’s post whether they had the 76 key HP action or the 88 key hammer action in their ST2EX.

NoDirection wrote: Hammer Action Portable - HP - used in your current Stage 2 EX

Did the poster mention if he has a Stage 2 HP or HA?
jjtmd, is your Stage 2 EX 76 keys or 88?
If you have the 76 yes, the HA action is much better. If you have the 88, the Stage 4 HA (both 88 and 73) will be an improvement but not worlds apart, they have the same basic action with some tweaks.

Spider wrote: If you have the 88, the Stage 4 HA (both 88 and 73) will be an improvement but not worlds apart, they have the same basic action with some tweaks.

Correct, main one being the availability of Triple Sensor on the keybed, which is expected to be a sensitive improvement and mainly for playing pianos, as it happened when it was introduced on Nord Piano family (since NP3), even though Nord does not say if NS4 implements the same "Virtual Hammer" algorithm which was advertised for NP3 (but I would hope so)

jjtmd wrote:Good to know that you've found the hammer action on the Stage 4 is improved over the Stage 2 EX. But are you referring to the action itself or the triple sensor feature?

I think he's talking about the 2 EX 76 HP keybed (hammer portable), for sure there is big difference between HA (also older ones) and HP keybeds.

My back ground is as a pianist.

As a pianist you won’t be very happy with a waterfall keybed.
You definitely should choose the hammer action.
If needed you can add a small controller keyboard for synth leads and organs that you can trigger the coresponding section of the NS4 with.

Patschi wrote:

My back ground is as a pianist.

As a pianist you won’t be very happy with a waterfall keybed.
You definitely should choose the hammer action.
If needed you can add a small controller keyboard for synth leads and organs that you can trigger the coresponding section of the NS4 with.

I actually disagree with this. I am a pianist but prefer the semi weighted bed. I think the triple sensors are helping with the more subtle changes in velocity. As we all know the Stage is a blend of Organ, Synth and Piano. For two of those piano weighted keys are not optimal. Aftertouch doesn't work do well with piano weighted keys requiring too much force and less control of the graduation. Organ is much easier to roll up and down the keys with the compact keybed. And to.me the improved fine control with the triple sensor makes the compact the star for me.

jonstatt wrote:

Patschi wrote:

My back ground is as a pianist.

As a pianist you won’t be very happy with a waterfall keybed.
You definitely should choose the hammer action.
If needed you can add a small controller keyboard for synth leads and organs that you can trigger the coresponding section of the NS4 with.

I actually disagree with this. I am a pianist but prefer the semi weighted bed. I think the triple sensors are helping with the more subtle changes in velocity. As we all know the Stage is a blend of Organ, Synth and Piano. For two of those piano weighted keys are not optimal. Aftertouch doesn't work do well with piano weighted keys requiring too much force and less control of the graduation. Organ is much easier to roll up and down the keys with the compact keybed. And to.me the improved fine control with the triple sensor makes the compact the star for me.

I agree if you’re playing different styles and sounds live. What nuances I might lack with the TP8O keybed when playing piano my fingers appreciate the lightness. And my Wave 2 has essentially the same keybed so it’s consistent.