Nord User Forum

Can someone tell me what the difference is between a stage 88, stage 88EX and a stage 88-1? I can't find a manual for the stage 88, only the stage 88EX is listed.

The stage 88EX is an upgrade of the 88(classic). I think (correct me if I'm, anyone) the only difference is the memory size.
The original Stage Classic manual did not cover the added Sound Manager functionality, that is why the EX manual is available at the classics site...

Differences between revisions of the Stage, and between the Stage and Stage EX, can be found at the bottom of this page:
http://www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-stage-ex

Yes, the only difference between the NS2 and the NS2EX is the memory: you get 1Gb of it on the NS2EX (which is barely enough) instead of 500Mb on the NS2 (which is not nearly enough). The new NS3, among other diffences, now has 2Gb (which at last is enough). But consider yourself lucky: the NS(1) had even less memory.

I upgraded from NS2 to NS2EX just for that, and am now considering the NS3...

To be clear: what I mean by "enough" memory is enough memory to load up every piano I like to play at the same time. If you're ok with only one or two high quality pianos, or more pianos at a lesser quality (which could be fine in a live rock band), or with connecting to the computer and go through the simple but rather slow sound loading process every now and then, then a smaller amount of memory could be fine for you.

For example: The best grand pianos in top quality weigh over 200Mb each. The upright pianos are under 100Mb. The EPs are about 15Mb each and the Harpsichord and Clavinet are under 10Mb. And Clavia's website provides so many great pianos and EPs, it's very hard to choose from.
They provide up to 4 quality levels for each piano, enabling you to save more than 75% space at the expense of realism: When you go down in quality, first string resonance disappears at both ends of the keyboard, then it disappears entirely and the low and high-end of the keyboard sound more like pitched samples, then finally your Nord sounds like a Casio across the entire keyboard.

Personally, once I've heard the top-quality versions, I can't bring myself to bear the lesser ones. Those top-quality pianos are the reason I bought a Nord in the first place !

trumelpuut wrote:But consider yourself lucky: the NS(1) had even less memory.

Didn't the OP ask about the difference between NS(1) and not the NS2 models? So he may be less 'lucky' in your book