Nord User Forum

Hi all, I’m new to this forum and new to Nord. Just bought my first one. Nord piano 3. Just looking for a little guidance. I have the Nord piano 3 and I would like to add synth to cover duties for my Michael Jackson tribute band. So I need sounds for songs such as thriller, the Way You Make me feel, etc. how good is the synth in the Nord stage 2compared to the lead a1. I know it’s the same synth engine but is there an advantage to having the Nord piano 3 plus the a1 or is the stage 3 a better solution?

I prefer the piano 3 keybed as that’s my main usage, but I do NEED synth. I would like to get into more programming which is why the lead a1 seems appealing since its dedicated but if the stage 3 can do that then I don’t mind getting that instead. The cost of the piano 3 plus lead a1 is the same as a stage3.

Any help or wise words greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi,
Always better to gave 2 keys with a different keybed, the A1 will give you the Ogan/Synth keybed and you will still have a better piano action with the Piano 3 than the Stage 3. And with the A1, you have a 4 parts multitimbral engine instead of 2 with the Stage 3....If you don't bother carrying two keys, this will be a better opinion than the Stage 3 alone...And if you don't like the Synth section/sound of the A1, which I doubt, it will be easier to sell the A1 and you will still have the Piano 2 for your basic sounds. You said "Michael Jackson" tribute band, so, I'm assuming you won't need that much Organ sounds....Which is what the Stage 3 will bring to the table....

Check out this thread. anotherscott posted a good summary of the NS3 vs. A1 synth capabilities:

http://www.norduserforum.com/nord-stage ... .html#wrap

For me, the biggest advantage of the NS3 synth engine is the ability to create, import and modify samples, which the A1 doesn’t.

Also no aftertouch with a1 which you get with the stage 3.

For me, it'd be the Stage 3 Compact. The sampling capability has saved my bacon in more than a few cover bands. Often, it's easier to play samples of signature synth sounds vs. attempt to reproduce natively. Also horns, strings, vox choirs, etc.

cphollis wrote:For me, it'd be the Stage 3 Compact. The sampling capability has saved my bacon in more than a few cover bands. Often, it's easier to play samples of signature synth sounds vs. attempt to reproduce natively. Also horns, strings, vox choirs, etc.

Nord Piano 3 does that as well.

anotherscott wrote:

cphollis wrote:For me, it'd be the Stage 3 Compact. The sampling capability has saved my bacon in more than a few cover bands. Often, it's easier to play samples of signature synth sounds vs. attempt to reproduce natively. Also horns, strings, vox choirs, etc.

Nord Piano 3 does that as well.

True, but it's a very basic capability on the NP3, and pretty sophisticated on the NS3. You can morph your samples with filters, attacks, mix in other waveforms, modify with LFOs, different unison modes, different velocity response settings. As a result, I've found the sample section much, much more useful than before.

So not really the same thing ...

Hate to say it, (and at the risk of being shot down in flames) but have you considered a non-Nord keyboard to compliment the excellent Piano 3?
Maybe something like a synth from Roland or Yamaha, or used Kronos to give you that really lush strings and full on brass sounds that's arguably not Nord's main strength? Use the Nord piano for what it's best at, plus its sampling capability.

What I did was, sell the Piano 3 and get a Stage 3 88. I am very happy I upgraded. I had a Lead A1 for a while and didn't like its keybed or its MIDI implementation. The synth in the Stage 3 is good and can turn out luscious sounds, though I consider my Prophet-6 and rev2/16 to be real synthesizers, the Stage is a Nord and I love mine.

Thank you so much for all the help and feedback. What I decided to do was return the nord piano 3 and get the stage 3 88. I still want a stand alone synthesizer but for right now the a1 inside the 3 will do just fine and since Nords are all hands on control I'll be happy twisting knobs.
The mod wheel and pitchbend, the inclusion of the synth (albeit 2 voices instead of 4), organ, extra GB of piano (my main instrument) seamless transition etc were just to much to pass up...it just made more sense.
I never thought I would end up wit Nord as my master keyboard but I've finally found "the board" I've been looking for as my main board. I had a kronos but I just couldn't cinnrect with it like I do the nord. But Im not to surprised as I LOVE tactile control. I had a Roland gaia and loved it but it just didn't sound great. Anywho...Thanks for such a warm welcome, this forum has really made me even more excited to have purchased Nord products and I will upload a video or sounclip when I get up at running!