I was so happy with my Stage2-73 since I bought it. And I'm still. Even if I had to spend a lot of time to free the keybed from it's creaking mechanical noise (see
http://www.norduserforum.com/nord-stage ... t7647.html).
When Stage3 was announced, I thought "wow, what an improvement!" and startet to look after one who's buying my Stage2. Now I'm glad that I havn't done it.
Then the Stage3 was released and the more I read about it's issues here, the more it disappointed me.
- the massive bugs it was released with.
- the lack of the button control for drawbars (I'm not an organ player as such, so the actual display of drawbars is more important to me, as the "jump-free" changing drawbar settings after a preset change also.
Clavia could have offered both versions without any big expense.
- no preset conversion from NS2 to NS3.
Even if both having different engines it should be easy to convert the basic settings to give a good starting point for adapting. That's what I would call "user friendly".
- no sample conversion until now. Enough discussed here.
- for the money, I lose with upgrading from NS2 to 3 I better buy another synth to fill out the holes when changing presets (the most important feature live)
- at last: the lack of dedicated MIDI channels for the sections makes NS3 a "No Go" to work with at my studio.
About the conversation between Clavia and its customers:
Even if the customer is degraded to be a beta tester in "modern" times, take a look at Moog, they ask their users to join their forums "beta thread" to help making great instruments. 2-3 employees are always present there to listen and answer.
So, in the end, I will not go for an upgrade. Clavia has lost a satisfied customer.
cheers.
