Nord Stage 4 - Speculation/gossip/hypothesis

[Spider]

As far as I can tell, on the original Stage, the EX version really was just a cosmetic update with doubled storage for pianos.

Not just that, the EX also introduced String Resonance that was not supported on Classic:

https://www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-stage-ex
A great addition - the String Resonance feature - was added as a free-of-charge OS update in 2009 exclusively for the Nord Stage EX.

(but overall it was a minor update, mostly memory yes)

[changearound]

As far as I can tell, on the original Stage, the EX version really was just a cosmetic update with doubled storage for pianos.

Not just that, the EX also introduced String Resonance that was not supported on Classic:

https://www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-stage-ex
A great addition - the String Resonance feature - was added as a free-of-charge OS update in 2009 exclusively for the Nord Stage EX.

(but overall it was a minor update, mostly memory yes)

Piano Unison was also added with the EX.

[M1tsos]

In my opinion, Nord is closing its business. The last product was made over two years ago. The company does not respond to requests sent to them on support. It no longer develops the operating systems of its products. There are no fixes for found bugs.

They are not closing.. they just slower than the others because they are low amount employees

[ericL]

and please, please, please: an up to date organ engine.

And wouldn't it be nice to have physical drawbars on all 3 models, regardless of key action?

This is an intriguing consideration. I don't know if I've ever seen a keyboard with drawbars along with a weighted action.
I think the general consensus has been that those who care about physical drawbars the most are also more comfortable with an organ-type keyboard with waterfall keys. While the piano players that prioritize a weighted action are less interested in the drawbars or they have a separate instrument dedicated as a clonewheel.

I suspect that adding the drawbars is a cost consideration and if the customer would be willing to pay the extra money to have them, they would include them. I'd be happy if that was an option, having using a NS2 88 for many years and getting used to the drawbuttons/LEDs plus using an Ocean Beach drawbar module.

[M1tsos]

and please, please, please: an up to date organ engine.

And wouldn't it be nice to have physical drawbars on all 3 models, regardless of key action?

This is an intriguing consideration. I don't know if I've ever seen a keyboard with drawbars along with a weighted action.
I think the general consensus has been that those who care about physical drawbars the most are also more comfortable with an organ-type keyboard with waterfall keys. While the piano players that prioritize a weighted action are less interested in the drawbars or they have a separate instrument dedicated as a clonewheel.

I suspect that adding the drawbars is a cost consideration and if the customer would be willing to pay the extra money to have them, they would include them. I'd be happy if that was an option, having using a NS2 88 for many years and getting used to the drawbuttons/LEDs plus using an Ocean Beach drawbar module.

The main reason of no drawbars at weighted action instruments is the weight…

[Hlaalu]

This is an intriguing consideration. I don't know if I've ever seen a keyboard with drawbars along with a weighted action.

The Yamaha YC series has physical and LED drawbars for all their 3 incarnations! Which is a clever solution to have the best of both worlds. I think on this forum I was among the ones to have dreamed of such combined solution, and I am glad it has become real.

I think the general consensus has been that those who care about physical drawbars the most are also more comfortable with an organ-type keyboard with waterfall keys. While the piano players that prioritize a weighted action are less interested in the drawbars or they have a separate instrument dedicated as a clonewheel.

I agree with this, but I see it from the other end of the argument: if a keyboard has a Hammond engine in it, I would by default assume it should have drawbars. Critically, it's not that weighted action "better suits" LEDs and waterfall action suits physical drawbars, in which case there could be an argument for it.

As you say, manufacturing cost could be the reason. Personally I can't imagine any other reason off the top of my head. Difficult though to imagine the maths behind it: the NS3C costs about a sixth less than the 88, but action itself is part of that. Also, it's debatable whether "drawbuttons" actually cost less than physical drawbars.

[FZiegler]

A missing sustain pedal is part of the reduced price of a NS3C. So I think they implemented the draw-buttons in the piano oriented models assuming they'd be used primarily with organ presets instead of drawbars.

[ericL]

The main reason of no drawbars at weighted action instruments is the weight…

My guess is that the weight difference between LEDs and drawbuttons vs. drawbars is going to be very minimal, maybe a fraction of a pound? I believe it's more about a combination of instrument focus plus manufacturing cost. Though as Hlaau points out, the cost to have LEDs/drawbuttons vs. drawbars could be a wash in terms of cost. Perhaps they could standardize this...which they had done prior to the NS3. All the Stage instruments before the NS3 had only LEDs/drawbuttons.

[redisred]

I'm actually in the minority (perhaps) that really likes the LED drawbars. I like being able to see where the drawbars are set as I change patches, and on a weighted keyboard I'm not often playing organ parts that require a lot of quick drawbar changes.

On that note, I miss the LED encoder on the filter frequency from the stage 2 for the same reason!

[analogika]

I'm actually in the minority (perhaps) that really likes the LED drawbars. I like being able to see where the drawbars are set as I change patches, and on a weighted keyboard I'm not often playing organ parts that require a lot of quick drawbar changes.

I'm with you on the LEDs, but I need to be able to grab a handful and let her scream a bit when I'm riding the groove.

I like how Yamaha has combined the two on their YC series.

On that note, I miss the LED encoder on the filter frequency from the stage 2 for the same reason!

Absolutely. Switching from an endless rotary encoder with LED ring to the absolute-value pot for the filter in particular is problematic.