Nord User Forum

Hi, I do not want to be negative, however, I'm just not getting any fun out of my Stage 3 . To me it feels that the pianos (grands/electric) sounded way better on my Stage 2 than 3 (both HA88). I'm missing depth/warmth in the Stage 3. Does anyone have the same experience?

Thx - Steven

So, I guess my questions comes down to: Can anyone do a side-by-side comparison between Stage 2 and 3 and see if they experience difference in piano sounds?

Thx - Steven

I have to disagree here.

I have about 15 hours into programming my Stage 3 with my NS2 side by side, both Compacts. Same exact audio chain. It is subjective of course, but I think the Stage 3 sounds better. Cleaner, more immediate, punchier, just overall better fidelity.

-dj

I disagree as well

Same here disagree as well
Have them both side by side...both HA88
Regards

Streef wrote:To me it feels that the pianos (grands/electric) sounded way better on my Stage 2 than 3 (both HA88).

Any chance you're using different speakers (or the same speakers, but differently positioned or in a different location)? Or maybe you had selected a different velocity curve on your NS2? Did you try the different velocity response options on the NS3?

+1
I desagree !

I've recorded a direct comparison between the Stage 2 and Stage 3, using the exact same piano sample (Grand Imperial Bdorf 5.3 Lrg — no room for the XL on the ol' Stage 2, sorry).

Methodology:
Recorded a MIDI track into Logic X from the Stage 3, played it back on both the Stage 2 and the Stage 3 and recorded the respective via the same interface at identical settings, and then normalised the audio files in Logic.
Pedal Noise switched on (but only a "regular" pedal connected), string resonance on, soft release off. No dynamics/kbd touch, no filters, no effects, no EQ, no compressor, no reverb.

I'm attaching the full recordings as .WAV files so y'all can do whatever comparisons you'd like to do.

The difference is pretty huge IMO.
FWIW, I much prefer the Stage 3. The pianos in general have grabbed me in a way that the Nord Stage 2 never did. (The B3 sim is lacking, instead — but there is hope that they'll fix that, I guess.)

No comparison. I hear the difference in all of the sound engines. This is a great example, richer and more present.

Almost like there are different DACs in the unit-

Thanks!

-dj

That's an interesting example, @analogika. The Stage 2 sounds more like my NE3 sounds, but I guess they are also about similar generations. I was never completely fund of the NE3 Acoustic Pianos, but since I have a waterfall model, I thought it was due to the difficulty of controlling the dynamics from that keyboard, or the "lack of" adaptation between my weighted controllers (Roland or Yamaha) when using those.

But now I'm wondering whether it may (also) be due to the converters -- or maybe a faster DSP that allows for improved sample processing or something else.

Thanks for sharing!

Oh, and also like the NS3 sounds a lot. The 88HA I have also has a nice key-to-sound connection in my view.