Buying a Nord on a budget

[nubis99]

Hello all,
I'm currently working towards upgrading my keys/piano rig and I've been considering getting a Nord.
only problem is, coming from my Yamaha p105 88 key stage piano, I'd like to keep my 88 keys but I would like to add decent organs sounds and a sample synth for versatility.

The logical option therefore would be the stage 3 88.
Unfortunately that's not going to happen due to budget constraints. So I've been looking into the Nord Electro 6. The electro 6 seems to have all the functionality I'd like to have, but it's lacking the weighted 88 key option I'd like.
So here's my question, are there other options in the Nord range to consider for wanting 88 keys while not immediately going over like €2k total?
I've already considered buying an electro 6d 61 and just adding an 88 key midi controller later, any experiences with that would be appreciated.

thanks in advance!

[nubis99]

I was in a situation similar to yours, but it turned out differently.

I wanted a new stage piano with some more organ + synth and tested the Nord Electros as well as Yamaha CP88 or 73, but in the end, I had a new Stage 3 Compact which I play together with my old Yamaha CP33 (all sound from the Nord), a soft case, 3 new pedals (triple, expression, program change) and new monitor boxes as the Nord piano samples demand a very flat frequency curve. As you can imagine, the bill wasn't below 2k EUR. But I really made a step forward.

The only way I see to get a budget Nord, is via second hand - and even then you won't get a cheap offer.

In my eyes, the Electro is a very nice 1-manual organ and e piano, but it totally lacks synth capabilities.

[Hlaalu]

Well but... that's at least *twice* as expensive as 2k my friend! Plus he said a synth with sample playback capabilities would suffice.

I would go towards suggesting the E6 plus a 88 key MIDI controller... in this way you'd have the best of the pianos, the same organ engine as the NS3, plus a possibly better piano action than the NS3, depending on the controller you'll get.

[nubis99]

The OP said he would like to keep his 88 key yamaha, so by adding an electro 6 or a second hand electro 5 and midi it to the yamaha, that would be a good solution. He would play the pianos through the yamaha and the organ and sample synth from the electro. And he could also also use the yamaha as a second manual for the organ if he wanted to.

[cphollis]

The good news is that you've decided to get a wonderful keyboard. The bad news is that Nord keyboards are not inexpensive. Even older, used ones. A used Electro 3 will set you back $1400 in the US for a keyboard that is over ten years old (!)

A significant component of cost for a keyboard is the keybed. Weighted keybeds cost more (and weigh more) than unweighted (or semi-weighted) keybeds. A Nord with a weighted keybed (such as an 88) will generally cost more than one with an unweighted keybed.

So you might want to be thinking about the shorter Electro and Stage models, if possible. Many of us use a weighted keybed action via MIDI to a Stage 3 Compact, for example. I think it's the best of both worlds, really. One keyboard controls all your sounds, and you play on either a weighted or unweighted action depending on what the material calls for.

The price of used, older Nord models is usually high enough that I instead go for a lightly used model of whatever the current generation is via an online dealer. I call and ask for demos, used, B-stock, whatever and have saved big $$$ using this approach.

[nubis99]

The OP said he would like to keep his 88 key yamaha, so by adding an electro 6 or a second hand electro 5 and midi it to the yamaha, that would be a good solution. He would play the pianos through the yamaha and the organ and sample synth from the electro. And he could also also use the yamaha as a second manual for the organ if he wanted to.

thanks for the replies! I was planning on doing this before, but unfortunately my Yamaha doesn't support that option, it's midi over usb only, and yamaha's weird non-standard midi over usb at that. so I'm planning on trading it in for the electro to help with the budget. Otherwise this would've been a shout!

[nubis99]

maybe there is an interface that can allow such a connection.

[JohnT]

You should be able to use Cantabile to route the USB MIDI back to the Nord. Very powerful routing capabilities, I use it to route MIDI to and from several keyboards as well as VST instruments. It can do splits, layers, multiple outs as well as program changes.

[anotherscott]

Yes, you can use the P105 to trigger piano sounds from an Electro. Three ways:

...as JohnT mentioned, a PC or Mac program, like Cantabile or Gig Performer or Mainstage should be able to do it
...similarly, an iOS program like Keystage, Camelot Pro, or iMidi Patchbay
...a standalone USB Host adapter like the Kenton or any of a number of others

[nubis99]

Hi nubis and others,
I hope you all are alright. Lots of good ideas in the answers. I‘m just about doing the same - enlarging my rig, only difference that I‘m probably coming from the other end of the line, but I can imagine that it helps as well. I already have a NE5D 61 and a korg X50 which has good synth, brass and string sample sounds. I tend to add a piano keybed, not too expensive, and want to try a korg D1 and a Fatar SL 73 Studio once I get to musicstore again. If I would start from scratch and buy used or B-ware I would choose a NE6D or 5D 61, a korg kross 2 61 and one of the above mentioned Masters, and would surely remain under 2.500 €, right now I could get all at around 2.300.
Even the MIDI connections would be easily done just with cables, no additional interfaces or software needed. And sometimes, when I‘m lazy, I only take one of the boards to rehearsal. Kind regards from Germany.

I may add that I play in a rock covers band (Purple, Toto, Bonjovi, Foreigner, Journey etc.) where I need Hammond, Piano and Rhodes as well as in a „Schlager“-Band where I need lots of strings and brass combinations.