Nord User Forum

I heard that there was a Stage 4 coming out soon, i don't know the details. My wish would be for more sample memory, double it or let us use something like a DSLR SDxc card. That's the only wish i have right now. I bought my used S3-88 only a few months ago and I'm still blown away everyday by all the trouble i can get myself into. I start playing something and then i get lost in changing things and exploring. I didn't quite understand how powerful this keyboard was when i bought it, the built in layer assignable effects that are hands on immediately modifiable are a huge part of my love for this kyb. I don't know how much better Nord could make a new version? (besides some of the well known bug issues) I am guessing that the main change for the Stage 4 will be the new sample format? What do you think would be great to have?

By past history, the Stage 4 isn’t due for another two or three years, with a 3 EX model possibly coming first. Whether this was the plan or how the Covid-related delays and chip shortages are affecting those plans, nobody knows, of course.

We do know that there is a new sample format (v4) that was introduced with the latest Nord Piano and is coming to the Stage 3 in an update, but whether this means that there will be a new Stage in the near future is completely unknown.

The new format includes round-robin sample assignment and using varying samples in unison mode (my biggest issue with the sample synth apart from the lack of velocity layering), as well as true vibrato as part of the sample. These aspects should work fine on current hardware.

Further development of B3 and Leslie models in organ section. Sample format to allow higher quality orchestral instruments, option to have a small number of higher quality larger samples.

BlueKermit wrote:I heard that there was a Stage 4 coming out soon, i don't know the details.

So you've "heard something" but you don't know any details? Very curious how such stories are coming into the world

I just got my NS3 88 a few months ago and in all honesty can’t really think of anything significant enough to consider replacing it with something like a 4 or anything else. It’s already exceeded (and continues to exceed) my expectations and what I’ve learned of its features and capabilities have gone beyond my initial awareness of what this thing can do. The Stage 3 is just fine.

So far the reviews on the S4 have been pretty unconvincing. I heard that the S5 will be a significant upgrade to the S4. I think I'll wait it out.

CountFosco wrote:So far the reviews on the S4 have been pretty unconvincing. I heard that the S5 will be a significant upgrade to the S4. I think I'll wait it out.

"For my ally is irony, and a powerful ally it is" - Yoda

BlueKermit wrote:I heard that there was a Stage 4 coming out soon, i don't know the details.

You have no information, so this is just one more among the several speculation threads.
Can you please change the thread title? As it is, the title is misleading and will get people thinking that the NS4 was announced.
A title like "Nord Stage 4 speculation/gossip/hypothesis" would be more appropriate.

Unfortunately, the forum search will leave you alone if you look for "Stage 4" on the forum as the words are meant to be too common. But if you have a deeper look into the Stage subforum, you will find some points that were expected or wanted (e.g. nord-stage-forum-f3/nord-stage-4-wishlist-t20651.html). There is also a wishlist that collects desires and hopes for updates and new products in a number of spreadsheets ( Seems like nobody wants to jump back into that discussion for the moment.

analogika wrote:We do know that there is a new sample format (v4) that ... is coming to the Stage 3 in an update...

We don't know that, but I sincerely hope for it. Some (me, too, for quite a moment) just derived that expectation from the fact that in the draft of the new Nord Sample Library 4 the compatibility list comprised the NS3 among others - which might as well have been due to the fact that NSL 3 and its compatibility list was taken as a template. I'm confident about such an update but not sure, actually.

CountFosco wrote:So far the reviews on the S4 have been pretty unconvincing. I heard that the S5 will be a significant upgrade to the S4. I think I'll wait it out.

I heard that the S6EX will be the most significant upgrade, worth to wait another couple of days/months/years