Nord User Forum

It appears that Long Release has been removed from the front panel of the Piano Section. I wonder what that means.

Is it now in the menu system somewhere? Is it now just turned on for any piano sample that has it? Has it been removed altogether?

Wow, just in time for NAMM! No pricing information yet that I can find, and it's not yet listed on places like Sweetwater.

For first-time Nord buyers, this is an awesome and amazing board, far better than the competition, even with the higher price you'll pay compared to Yamaha or Korg. That's how I felt when I bought my Electro 4, and that doesn't change here. If you are looking to buy your first "serious" post-Casio keyboard, look no farther. Get an Electro!

For those looking to update an existing Electro, the excitement might be more tempered. There's no memory listing but others have said that hasn't changed. I'm also not seeing USB audio, but I could be misreading the specs. The new synth stuff - not something I personally care about but it does add functionality that wasn't there before. I'm suspecting that the abysmal "base 4" preset structure hasn't changed - I know, that's just my personal issue, no-one else here cares

I'm also the only in the universe who preferred the digital drawbars - sorry to see those go, but the market has spoken.

Interesting that the main photo features the Stockholm Rhodes as the A11 piano. Maybe Nord was actually embarrassed to trundle out the White Grand yet again. It sure wasn't going to be the Astoria.

It's looking like a good update if you have an Electro 5. If you've got a 6...maybe not, unless you want the new synth features.

So....better NORD Electro 7 for 3000 euro or a semi new Stage 3 for 2500 euro?

blacklodge wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 17:41 So....better NORD Electro 7 for 3000 euro or a semi new Stage 3 for 2500 euro?

Stage 3 in my opinion.

-dj

DJKeys wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 17:45

blacklodge wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 17:41 So....better NORD Electro 7 for 3000 euro or a semi new Stage 3 for 2500 euro?

Stage 3 in my opinion.

-dj

Depends on what you're looking to get out of it. If you need deeper synths, aftertouch and more complex splits/layers, the Stage is still the way to go. Be aware that the Stage 3 HP uses the TP100 keyboard action, which is considered a bit sluggish.

Stage 3 is a great instrument!

I would prefer a NS3 in good condition or a Yamaha YC73. The NE7 will never be my choice.

Gambold wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 17:32 Wow, just in time for NAMM! No pricing information yet that I can find, and it's not yet listed on places like Sweetwater.

See bottom of the first page of this thread for pricing info (if you want to faint fast )

After a quick check:

This is not really the new product that many people were waiting for.

– no engine-based layer update (still only 1 organ, 1 piano, and 1 synth layer)
– no sliders for controlling the layers
– no update to the memory size
– no pitch bend wheel
- no USB-C either ( in 2026 ! )
- the price was increased by around 30% compared to the predecessor. (EUR 1.899,- to EUR 2.499,-)

All in all, it’s somewhat disappointing.

When you compare product development at NORD with YAMAHA, for example, the gap between the MONTAGE M and its little brother, the MODX M, has become increasingly smaller.
With NORD, it feels like the opposite: the gap between the NS and its brother, the NE, keeps getting larger.

Rusty Mike wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 17:31 It appears that Long Release has been removed from the front panel of the Piano Section. I wonder what that means.

Is it now in the menu system somewhere? Is it now just turned on for any piano sample that has it? Has it been removed altogether?

It's still there on Stage 4 ("Soft Release"), but it can't be activated on some newer Grand Piano samples ... I liked this feature and I don't get why it's being removed... quite useful for some songs where you want a softer release...