Advice for a non Nord owner....Mistake to get a NS4 73 in 2025?

[maxpiano]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to get a digital piano, and came down to NS4 73, Yamaha Montage and Roland Vstage 76. I read a lot about all these 3, and truly like how compact the NS4 73 is, however I have some concerns and would vey much appreciate your experience on all these topics.

-I read there are some concerns long term with the NS keybeds (can't remember which model). Is this accurate for long time users?
-The things keeping me away from getting it, are: not having balanced outputs, outdated USB (no midi/audio) and to connect additional devices. Lastly the low memory for samples, and the fact that it seems Nord didn't really care about all these, even though there were a problem for a long time now.
-Out of the all sections, the synt interest me the most, next the organ.
-Any good place to buy a used one (like reverb in US)?

I hear that the NS4 EX is likely to be released next year, hopefully addressing some of these shortcomings, especially now after Roland released the Vstage? Would it be a mistake to get a new NS4 73 in 2025 (3400 eu tax included).

Many thanks!

Well, tell me where you can find it (new) at 3.400€ tax included and I'll get one!!

Note: no one is sure any NS4 EX will ever come and what it may add, just forum speculations, NS3 didn't get any EX version and it took 7 years before NS4 arrived...

Portugal ludimusic stores, but you would have to pick it up there...
I think with the Roland releasing the vstage, maybe Nord will wake up from their long sleep?

OK, maybe you speak of NS4 73 Compact in fact, I am aiming the HA 73 instead

[christianjwagner]

Regarding the synth section: this is a very, very, very personal thing.
Some like the endless V.A.S.T. technology of the Kurzweil, but you loose yourself if you don't hold a degree of physics or audio engineering. I gave up on my PC3K some years ago.
Some like the bling bling menus of the (Ex-)Kronos, many like the quite nice editing functions of the old Motifs. Choices are endless.
And others would never touch a HW synth given the modern sw emulations of old synths.

Long story short ... the Nord is a "nice thing in the middle". It forces you to think about the basics of a synth component (envelope curve, filters, etc... ) which makes you grow personally, and all of that giving you direct accessibility with a much improved menu than older NS's.
I love it. Simple menus white on black -> if I see what Korg (or others) do I get an epileptic attack. And most of the time I get surprised how close you get to a result with simple tweaks.
And if you want you just sample any software instrument you want and just download it to your software via the well-working and intuitive Sample creator app from Nord.

Honestly, this is a Nord Forum and I believe that asking people what they think of the synth section of the NS4 doesn't really bring you further. People like me are biased, otherwise we wouldn't be here. Better go on YouTube and watch some real-life examples so you get an impression.

And regarding the Keybed: the 73SW is not the world's best but gets the job done. The 73 Weighted is too heavy for me. Better have the SW and maybe add a weighted controller than the other way around (not speaking of the weight difference). I had a weighted one, sold it and have now a SW ... and couldn't be any happier.

[maximus]

Well, tell me where you can find it (new) at 3.400€ tax included and I'll get one!!

Note: no one is sure any NS4 EX will ever come and what it may add, just forum speculations, NS3 didn't get any EX version and it took 7 years before NS4 arrived...

Portugal ludimusic stores, but you would have to pick it up there...
I think with the Roland releasing the vstage, maybe Nord will wake up from their long sleep?

OK, maybe you speak of NS4 73 Compact in fact, I am aiming the HA 73 instead

3400 is NS473, NOT NS473c. Im still deciding between teh 2, cannot beat the size and weight of the compact, just afraid it feels like a toy keyboard with no resistance? I'm used to yamahaP515...

[maximus]

Regarding the synth section: this is a very, very, very personal thing.
Some like the endless V.A.S.T. technology of the Kurzweil, but you loose yourself if you don't hold a degree of physics or audio engineering. I gave up on my PC3K some years ago.
Some like the bling bling menus of the (Ex-)Kronos, many like the quite nice editing functions of the old Motifs. Choices are endless.
And others would never touch a HW synth given the modern sw emulations of old synths.

Long story short ... the Nord is a "nice thing in the middle". It forces you to think about the basics of a synth component (envelope curve, filters, etc... ) which makes you grow personally, and all of that giving you direct accessibility with a much improved menu than older NS's.
I love it. Simple menus white on black -> if I see what Korg (or others) do I get an epileptic attack. And most of the time I get surprised how close you get to a result with simple tweaks.
And if you want you just sample any software instrument you want and just download it to your software via the well-working and intuitive Sample creator app from Nord.

Honestly, this is a Nord Forum and I believe that asking people what they think of the synth section of the NS4 doesn't really bring you further. People like me are biased, otherwise we wouldn't be here. Better go on YouTube and watch some real-life examples so you get an impression.

And regarding the Keybed: the 73SW is not the world's best but gets the job done. The 73 Weighted is too heavy for me. Better have the SW and maybe add a weighted controller than the other way around (not speaking of the weight difference). I had a weighted one, sold it and have now a SW ... and couldn't be any happier.

Thanks! Regarding the comments about the keybed: does the compact have any resistance at all, or feels like a toy? The reason I hesitate so much is because I'm right in the middle: not just piano, and not just organ synt...

[maxpiano]

3400 is NS473, NOT NS473c. Im still deciding between teh 2, cannot beat the size and weight of the compact, just afraid it feels like a toy keyboard with no resistance? I'm used to yamahaP515...

Go for NS73 (HA) then, if you are used to P515 hammer action and expect the same touch feeling, no doubts

[wivaca]

-I read there are some concerns long term with the NS keybeds (can't remember which model). Is this accurate for long time users?
-The things keeping me away from getting it, are: not having balanced outputs, outdated USB (no midi/audio) and to connect additional devices. Lastly the low memory for samples, and the fact that it seems Nord didn't really care about all these, even though there were a problem for a long time now.
-Out of the all sections, the synt interest me the most, next the organ.

I'm not sure how different the 73 key bed is from the 88 apart from the 15 keys, but I've had my NS488 for 2+ years and have had no key bed issues. Then again, the keyboard is studio-bound and the longest trip it has made since delivery is from the box to a stand.

I agree with you on the skimpy memory for samples, but to be honest with myself, it's only because I am skittish about replacing anything already on the keyboard. I'm not actually a big fan of some of the factory programs, so if I were more willing to get rid of what I don't use, it may not be a problem. With some care and research you can find out what's not being used if you run out of available space. Given that we can buy non-volatile 1TB microSD cards to put in a smartphone and that even volatile RAM for run-time at the size/speed needed for keyboards is cheap, I just don't get why limitations on sample memory is even a thing on any instrument much less on a flagship $5K keyboard.

As for the USB, I think most are running these through an audio interface for sound quality reasons. Can you comment on why USB audio and balanced outputs are both in your wants list? Are you running really long audio outs in a noisy EM environment where balanced outs help, and if so, why is USB audio important? What additional devices are you speaking of? Controlling another midi keyboard or having another midi controller play layers of the Nord shouldn't be a problem.

If synth is high on your list, I'm not sure I'd call the NS4 the best in class. It feels very limited to me versus soft synths and synth-first offerings from other manufacturers. I'm doing sound design n soft synths then making them into samples if I want to play them on the Nord directly.

[FZiegler]

I'm not sure how different the 73 key bed is from the 88 apart from the 15 keys,

It's said to be the same. And probably with the same mounting.

[maximus]

-I read there are some concerns long term with the NS keybeds (can't remember which model). Is this accurate for long time users?
-The things keeping me away from getting it, are: not having balanced outputs, outdated USB (no midi/audio) and to connect additional devices. Lastly the low memory for samples, and the fact that it seems Nord didn't really care about all these, even though there were a problem for a long time now.
-Out of the all sections, the synt interest me the most, next the organ.

I'm not sure how different the 73 key bed is from the 88 apart from the 15 keys, but I've had my NS488 for 2+ years and have had no key bed issues. Then again, the keyboard is studio-bound and the longest trip it has made since delivery is from the box to a stand.

I agree with you on the skimpy memory for samples, but to be honest with myself, it's only because I am skittish about replacing anything already on the keyboard. I'm not actually a big fan of some of the factory programs, so if I were more willing to get rid of what I don't use, it may not be a problem. With some care and research you can find out what's not being used if you run out of available space. Given that we can buy non-volatile 1TB microSD cards to put in a smartphone and that even volatile RAM for run-time at the size/speed needed for keyboards is cheap, I just don't get why limitations on sample memory is even a thing on any instrument much less on a flagship $5K keyboard.

As for the USB, I think most are running these through an audio interface for sound quality reasons. Can you comment on why USB audio and balanced outputs are both in your wants list? Are you running really long audio outs in a noisy EM environment where balanced outs help, and if so, why is USB audio important? What additional devices are you speaking of? Controlling another midi keyboard or having another midi controller play layers of the Nord shouldn't be a problem.

If synth is high on your list, I'm not sure I'd call the NS4 the best in class. It feels very limited to me versus soft synths and synth-first offerings from other manufacturers. I'm doing sound design n soft synths then making them into samples if I want to play them on the Nord directly.

Thanks for your time to answer these concerns! Most of them are just normal things to have in 21st century, some manufacturers are really slow to move to the world standards. For ex Apple it took them ages to put a USB C on their iphone, and only did it because of EU requirements.
I know it's not the best synt out there, but for all it has for 3400 eu, can't be beat, so I hear...Next week should get my NS473C. I saw a survey among a group of NS4 owners yesterday and it showed the highest number of owners was of NS473C then NS488 and lastly NS473, I was a bit surprised!

[JackD]

Hi,

You don't exactly tell what you want to get - there are two NS4 models with 73 keys: one with weighted key action (NS4-73HA) and one with waterfall keys (NS4-Compact, known also as 73SW). The former is sold around 4200 EUR, the latter around 3800 EUR.

And you don't tell what you want to get one of those models for. The Nord Stage series is certainly something that would suit best on stage or in a professional studio. Not that much for home studio use or to be played in a living room. It really depends on your use case and your expectations if a Nord Stage is the top deal in its class or an expensive old bone.

Thanks, I meant NS4-73HA. That is 3400 e tax incl vs 3500 (compact). This would be for a home studio maybe more at some point.

I did buy the 73 HA version 2 weeks ago, and I cannot be more happy.
I also have other Synths but this Stage 4 is perfect also for studio and not live only.
You can use midi from computer, or MPC in my case, to pilot each single layer indipendently, having a dedicated FX chain for each one.

The difference with other machines is on the FX as most of the other, even big ones, are non immediate to use and also are often using the Sends FX , while here you have a dedicated FX chain for each sound.

My suggestion is to give it a try