Nord Stage 2 88 vs. Nord Stage 2ex 88

[Spider]

yeah I don't see that many NSC on ebay, in Italy there's a specialistic website for musical instruments that sees much more traffic, I suppose there will be something similar in the UK (it's in Italian only and many buyers-sellers don't do international shipping, but anyway if you want more info feel free to PM me)

I fully agree that if you have to make the jump, a used or discounted Stage2 is the best choice, the ClassicEX is only a marginal improvement, while the 2EX is awfully expensive. The 2 gives you the best bang-for-buck right now, by far.

1 x LARGE grand, 1 x the LARGEST CP80, 1 x the LARGEST WURLI, plus the CLAV and a couple of RHODES (the latter two are both under 10MB each).

large grand = 80-100 Mb
CP80 = 60 Mb
Wurli 2 amped = 24 Mb
Clav = 6 Mb
Rhodes = 10-15 Mb each (only #7 is significantly larger at 30 Mb)

The total of your wishlist is 200-230 Mb, barely half of the Stage2's piano memory.
You can fit all you want, add all the other Rhodes models, AND still have room for an XL piano (or two Large, or 3-4 Medium...)!
You can breathe freely, you definitely don't need the 2EX dude!

[monsterjazzlicks]

Spider,

Thanks for doing the MATHS mate! I spent nearly a whole 5 x days experimenting with what I liked and did not like, and what I could and could not fit on (because I obviously have to LOAD the sounds on to actually PLAY and COMPARE them). I can not even begin to describe what a cumbersome and exhausting task this was, believe me!!!

In hindsight 5 x years ago, I should have bought the NSC EX. It is my most biggest regret to be quite honest. But at the time, I thought that 128MB would be enough, and I was also assured that it would be!

What I don't get though, is why are 90% of the RHODES samples so damn SMALL? They sound ok, but would they not be better if they at least tripled the SIZE? For instance, to include more VELOCITY LAYERS, or whatever?

I don't mean to keep jumping topics here, sorry!

Paul

[monsterjazzlicks]

Hi,

Is the NS2 only in HA and not SW please?

Do you think it would be wise and also permissible on eBay to place a NSC at a BUY IT NOW price of 1100GBP, and a STARTING BID (also) at 1100GBP?

Cheers,

Paul

[pablomastodon]

All Nord Stage models are available in 73-note SW action. During the Classic years, this was referred to as COMPACT. For NS2 the designation was changed to SW73. I believe that with NS2EX the COMPACT name has been resurrected.

Bless,

Pablo

[monsterjazzlicks]

Pablo,

Sorry, I should have mentioned, I am only interested in the 88 notes model.

Thanks a lot mate,

Paul

[pablomastodon]

88 notes = HA keybed (and no other)

pablo

[monsterjazzlicks]

Hi,

I have RELOCATED this discussion I started of recent to my thread of last year:

http://www.norduserforum.com/post60477.html#p60477

I am concerned about detracting too much from the OP's topic.

Thanks,

Paul

[igotudave]

Pablo,

Sorry, I should have mentioned, I am only interested in the 88 notes model.

Thanks a lot mate,

Paul

I wish they made the Electro 5 in 88 key HA...It would be lighter and cheaper than a Stage 2 88

[wruess]

Back to the OP's question. There IS one other slight, obvious hardware difference between the Stage 2 88 and the Stage 2 EX 88 - the latter has a real, grounded power cord. Don't know if this translates into anything significantly different inside the power supply, but it is a slight change from the Stage 2

[offrhodes]

Hi,

>> What I don't get though, is why are 90% of the RHODES samples so damn SMALL?
an acoustic piano has an extremely complex sound, from three strings per key that are tuned to a very slow beat note. It's near-impossible to loop, because the ear is very good at spotting the artificial periodicity caused by looping.

A Rhodes, on the other hand, uses only a single tine. Except for the lowest keys, there is a single "dominant" beat note and that can be looped easily.
It's also by design mono, since there is only a single pickup, and I think it has overall less sustain than a 16-ton grand piano.