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Everything about Nord keyboards in general; which one to choose, the sound manager, sample editor, and general discussion about the sample and piano libraries.
Man, the longer I keep looking at this Electro 5 and its specs... the sexier it gets. Still have to road test my 4SW73 thoroughly to really see whether I actually need any of the new functions on the 5.
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My take on the E5 FWIW
Having studied what's on offer, I don't feel I need to upgrade from my E4SW73.
Multi-timbral, well ok, but I don't use layers and would rather have 2 or more separate instruments.
Pipe Organ - completely out of place in this instrument. There's still a lot more, important, electric/electronic organ voices missing from the palette that no manufacturer is addressing.
Tonewheel Organ - bass voice! ++Good. Yet to see how that works - is it on a separate midi channel? I see no way to edit its drawbars, so does it replace the lower manual with the B3+Bass selection?
Still no tonewheel motor pitch drop.
Effects - If the A1's new "synth" chorus types had made it into the Electro, I'd have been excited.
Sample Synth - Attack & Decay knobs. ++Good. But it badly needs pitch bend.
Panel - Only 3 Live memories? - Very bad, there should be more.
..this is the first I've seen the price (linked from that youtube video) -> http://www.kraftmusic.com/nord-electro- ... board.html
2999.99 or, $500 more than the price of the NE4 SW73 (dont' see a list price here). That kraftmusic site has a bundle going for the same amount that looks like a great deal if you are looking to buy one!
The HP version is List / actual $4,199.00/$3,499.00 vs $3399.00 / $2999.00
The price hike finally settles my mind; will stick with the NE4 and not try and swap it out for the new one..
Last edited by c0wfunk on 23 Jan 2015, 18:24, edited 1 time in total.
When you consider that the new E5 is essentially two Electro engines plus almost 3X the piano memory of the E4, it's not really so bad. It's potentially an attractive upgrade for an E3HP owner like me. The expanded piano memory would support XL versions of the Faz, Mellow Upright, Upright Grand and a bunch of other stuff without breaking a sweat.
It's not a true synth, since there's no filter on it, but it's got some expanded envelope capability for the sample library, making it more versatile. I use some lead and synth pad sounds on my 4D now pretty convincingly so the additional features would help here.
I was considering a Stage 2 76 as my next gig rig upgrade, but the E5HP is an attractive option. Lower weight, lower cost (potentially). While heavier, the Stage does have the better TP40 action and more MIDI flexibility, but those are not so important for me. I'm quite used to the TP100 action, and don't use MIDI on the gig, and my studio is flexible enough with other equipment. Most of my gigs are 99% AP/EP, so the Stage is actually overkill.
I'm sure prices will level out more toward the end of the year anyway.
Mike from Central NJ, USA
Tools: Ten fingers, two feet, middle-age brain, questionable judgement and taste Current Nords: Piano 5 73, Electro 6D 73
Ownership History: Electro 2, Electro 3-73 SW, Electro 3HP, Electro 4D, Stage 2EX 76HP