Nord Stage 3 - best amp setup

[mhuk01]

Hello,

I currently have a Nord Stage 3 HP76 and have been using a Hartke KM60 amp for all gig situations. However when playing in bands it becomes woefully inadequate, especially when I have to compete with a guitarist!

I don't have a huge budget, and therefore am thinking to go with a QSC CP8, and to potentially buy a second CP8 in the future to get the stereo sound. I keep reading how some use a mixer as part of their setup. I really want to have the simplest setup possible, therefore is this necessary or can I just go from output 1 to left CP8 and output 2 to right CP8? When playing in a band we use a stereo DI to the board (the DI has pass-through outputs), so the pass-through would goto the CP8s.

Anyway if anyone has any suggestions as to this setup, that would be great.

Thanks,

Martin

[danrv]

Hello,

I currently have a Nord Stage 3 HP76 and have been using a Hartke KM60 amp for all gig situations. However when playing in bands it becomes woefully inadequate, especially when I have to compete with a guitarist!

I don't have a huge budget, and therefore am thinking to go with a QSC CP8, and to potentially buy a second CP8 in the future to get the stereo sound. I keep reading how some use a mixer as part of their setup. I really want to have the simplest setup possible, therefore is this necessary or can I just go from output 1 to left CP8 and output 2 to right CP8? When playing in a band we use a stereo DI to the board (the DI has pass-through outputs), so the pass-through would goto the CP8s.

Anyway if anyone has any suggestions as to this setup, that would be great.

Thanks,

Martin

Hi
If the band PA has a monitor system, the guitarist shouldn’t need to be that loud on stage and even the Hartke KM60 should be enough for nearfield monitoring.
For general use, yes you need something with more power.
I use a pair of Yamaha DXR10s running off a stereo mix on our A&H QU16 desk. This way, I have my own onstage level control, seperate from FOH.
Maybe you could run your keys like this if your band mixer has the facility.

With the DI setup, you would need to use the CP8 volume control for adjusting onstage level. Ok if just using one but not ideal when using two.
For separate volume control for your own stereo mix, the cheapest way would be to add a small mixer if the band PA doesn’t have sufficient aux’s.
The Yamaha DXRs have a useful stereo link feature where both speakers can be controlled from the master speaker.
No mixer needed and can accommodate two stereo keyboards with individual volume controls.

[leonardo 1]

I do not know how to do. I have two monitors for my ns3 88. I would like to hear stereo and at the same time hear the other instruments of my band from at least one of these monitors .. We have a system with two ksc k. 2 12 and a mixer with 3 aux .. I can only use an aux ... How should I do? Do I have to buy a mixer with two personal aux? Or ..... Do I use my two monitors only for the Ns and a third monitor to hear the other instruments?

[ajstan]

I do not know how to do. I have two monitors for my ns3 88. I would like to hear stereo and at the same time hear the other instruments of my band from at least one of these monitors .. We have a system with two ksc k. 2 12 and a mixer with 3 aux .. I can only use an aux ... How should I do? Do I have to buy a mixer with two personal aux? Or ..... Do I use my two monitors only for the Ns and a third monitor to hear the other instruments?

A little more information will be helpful to see what can be done with what you already have. What monitors are you using and what inputs are available for them? Also, how are you currently sending your NS3 to front-of-house and hearing it through your monitors?

[cphollis]

So, let's take this in pieces?

I'm assuming you're playing "stage sound" gigs, e.g. the PA does vocals and not much else, every musician is responsible for bringing enough sound for themselves and the audience. Yes, you're passing DI signals to FOH, but ??? who knows what the sound person is doing with them. So I defend myself.

I've played dozens and dozens of these, so I know them quite well! The basic decision is -- do you trust your FOH to make you sound good, or do you take matters into your own hands? Either way, you end up with great gear, and you love how you sound on stage.

First, your Hartke KM60 is what I would charitably describe as "entry level" gear. I sort of cringe at the thought at playing a Nord Stage 3 through it, but I guess you've got to start somewhere. No worries, that was me a long time ago.

Second, you've got to take a hard look at your finances, and decide how important stage amplification is in your life scheme. You've got a super high-end board, but no one is going to hear it (including you!) unless the amplification is there. Trust me, sounding good is worth it. At least for me?

Look at that picture over on the right. That's me playing happily with a crap band at a crap gig several years ago, but I didn't care, as I was playing gloriously through a very expensive pair of speakers. You don't want to know.

Third, if budget is an issue, you should be thinking "very used", not new. Although you'll have to be careful, because I often find people advertising used gear for more than new after a bargain is struck. And you'll have to know your gear

The CP8s are adequate (nothing special), but you won't find them used as they are too new. Better to find a used pair of QSC K8s (the first generation) for something like $350 each in the USA. Also popular, the Yamaha DXRs, the EV ZXA-1 and so on. A nice pair of 8" PA units will completely blow away your current rig. Put'em on a pair of poles behind you, stereo bliss.

Now that I think about it, if you can find a good used CPS SSv3 (usually $400 here in the USA) it'd be a HUGE upgrade to your sound. Single unit, stereo goodness, and loud enough to fend off all but the loudest guitarists. Placement takes a bit of work, though. It still remains my bread-and-butter unit for smaller gigs, even though I have tons of other fancy amplification gear.

Do you need a separate mixer? Not usually if you're playing a single board. The NS3 has plenty of line level, so you should be fine running R and L into individual PA units. Yes, it's better if you bring a small mixer (gain staging, more sound shaping), but not essential. Save it until later.

BTW, I have some great stories about having to conquer super loud guitarists. Like this one guy really upset me, so I went out and spent a lot of money and brought 10,000 watts to an outdoor festival gig. He got loud, I got louder. The organ and synth solos were searing all around. Very unprofessional, but hey? He finally gave up. Not recommended without serious ear protection. But I did make a point.

You've purchased a great board. Now go figure out great amplification to go with it.

[jeffkeys]

Just picked up a Motion Sound KP-612S for use with my NS3. It’s absolutely a state of the art combo! Best sound by far I’ve ever had, especially when using the new White Grand!!

[white elefant]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Does anyone has an idea how to purchase the new Motion Sound keyboard amps in Germany. It seems to be no distributor. I specially interested in the new 610.

[Schorsch]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Does anyone has an idea how to purchase the new Motion Sound keyboard amps in Germany. It seems to be no distributor. I specially interested in the new 610.

The only way is ordering it from their European master distributor in the UK as it seems: https://www.motionsound.co.uk/online-store.html

Shouldn’t be too complicated I think

[white elefant]

Thank you Schorsch

Does anybody has experience with this here? It´s a german manucfactor but only with direct Distribution. You can customize mixer and fx section:
http://cromacord.de/eng/CROMAcord-Produ ... XVS-Stereo

[cphollis]

White Elefant ...

I would expect only mediocre results from a unit like this. Despite having a nice mixer/fx section, the fundamentals just aren't there for me. Bring more watts to handle transients. Tell me about your DSP. Small, unknown manufacturer. No real spec to dig into. Etc.

My advice would be to get a nice, small mixer with the FX you want, or get a simple mixer and use the on-board FX on the Nords like I do. You'll have to spend a lot to get better FX than your boards.