Nord User Forum

I think that even if they move all of their instruments to the multi-multitimbrality they will still have their clear distinction...
As I wrote in my post on the previous page, each one of their product lines has their strengths imo.
You get the whole package, depending on what you need/want.
And if you like it simple, you can keep it simple. You can use a Stage just for Piano&Sample, and you can use an Electro just for Organ if you like - no one forces users to use split points
Supposedly, if they upgrade all their products with more layers, they might as well do the same with the Stage, even though it has the Synth engine and the morphing functionality, which beside the Stage only the Synths (Wave 2) have

And on the plugin / computer debate...
Sure, if you want to have 99,9% authentic sounds and don’t care as much about hands-on live control, this is the way to go.
I think that Nord’s strategy is still the best, because they give you the best they can offer in the best package just for you (product lines) - combined with hands-on control for EVERY parameter
To be honest, I think that products like the Kronos, will have it more difficult in the future... As PCs, especially laptops get more and more powerful (and smaller, if we take in smartphones/tablets), a 1500$ laptop with MainStage/Live/etc., a 800$ MIDI controller and free-300$ sounds CAN (imho, CAN!) get you further than a ~4000$ Kronos... Some people might find the included presets nice - but the Nautilus for example is imho not much more than a computer with a touch screen, sounds/plugins and a keyboard... (a heavy one!)

Tasten-Bert wrote:The reason for my proposal was that I‘ve read this thread with many ideas which would upgrade the electro range, and only in this situation I would see a market niche below. Otherwise your thoughts are fine.
Cheers

From what I’ve heard from Nord employees, their company is small (<40 people), everybody knows each other’s families, and their order books are full for years with the products they make.

They have absolutely no interest in growing their sales to a point where this is no longer possible. Same reason they never moved production to China.

They have no reason to enter a lower tier of the market.

Wishlist for C3D:
console like a B3
radial bass pedal
more bass response

For the Nord Electro 7, I would like to see the ability to load any kind of sounds, either from the Piano Library or the Sample Library in each of the two sections (as the Yamaha CP73 / 88 allows with its "Advanced Mode"). This will greatly extend the possibilities of sound combination which would be really good because it is one of the main deficiencies of the Nord electro compared to the competition.

For me, the missing combo has always been an organ/synth. There are some really nice retro-y pianos around - Grand, Legend 70s, SV, Seven - with actions that suit that kind of instrument. A rig based on a nice EP, plus one other lighter action keyboard for everything else, would be ideal. I know, the Stage, but $.

GREAT list. Absolutely fantastic.

The Nord Stage 3 would be a perfect live synthesizer if it had two XLR outputs and two 1/4 "jack inputs.

sirtobi wrote:The Nord Stage 3 would be a perfect live synthesizer if it had two XLR outputs and two 1/4 "jack inputs.

Sure, that could simplify a rig by a couple of cables, but it wouldn't be my basis for choosing one keyboard over another. A cheap and simple sub-mixer solves that limitation.

Would be great to have built in soundcard like on Montage/ Modx. Since Nords have so much limited sample memory onboard, the possibility of connecting Ipad as a sound module via Nord Usb is the best. Rather then using Analog outputs from ipad to analog inputs+various cables as midi.

The announcement of the new Nord Piano 5 is very interesting, it allows us to see what the future Nord Electro 7 and Nord Stage 3 EX could be.

According to my analysis, I can see a Nord Stage 3 EX with as new features the 2GB of memories for the samples and the reverb section of the Nord Waves 2 whose Cathedral algorithm is really excellent (at the level of some high-end pedals dedicated, I also think that Nord will offer the best reverberation of stage pianos on the market, the Yamaha CP and YC will be strawberry at this level).
Concerning the Nord electro 7, I see a second section of samples like on the Nord Piano 5, the 2go for the samples, the new reverb section of the Nord Waves 2, the new filters and other small things like a novelty on the effect of delay. In any case, it goes in the right direction according to me, I hope to be able to acquire a future Nord Electro 7 to the extent of what I wanted at the start, Nord would have laid an almost perfect machine in my eyes, I speculate but that's what I expect.

In addition, it seems to me that the new Nord Piano 5 could overshadow the current Nord Stage 3 a bit and Nord may have to announce the Nord Stage 3 EX within the year so that the latter regains a significant advantage over the Nord Piano 5.

All this seems to me in any case more coherent than before concerning the difference between the Nord Piano and Nord Electro ranges: greater differentiation and specialization in each area. Indeed, for me the Nord piano range was not very relevant because it was a kind of Nord electro without the organ section and more expensive (while offering a better keyboard), it was a bit wobbly. Now that he has 2 piano sections, we're going to really stand out from the Nord Electro more and that's a better thing.

The segmentation will be relevant, I summarize:

Nord Piano 5: 2 piano sections / 2 samples section
Nord Electro 7: 1 piano section / 2 samples section / 1 organ section
Nord Stage 3 EX: 2 piano sections / 2 samples section / 2 organ sections

Well done Nord, your offer is clearer and a good response to the growing competition.