Nord User Forum

I have had a Stage 3 88 for years. Recently got the Stage 3 Compact 73. I uploaded from a back up and the output is very different. The compact sounds thinner, brittle and not as rich.

A/B the same octave/patch through the same system and it's very noticeable. The recording studio engineer even noticed when I swapped it out and had to re-eq. Anyone else? Is there some difference from the first generation to now?

Thanks!

Have you tried A/B-ed by playing the same midi file to exclude their different actions?

I have the same two models. I got an HA88 in October of 2017 and an NS3C in September of 2019. To me, the quality of the sound between the two is the same, but I do find it easier to coax more expression on APs and EPs from the HA88 keybed.

Is there a specific program where you’re perceiving the greatest difference? I’d be happy to try it out on my rig.

Does a backup file include all system settings as well as programs and samples? If not, make sure all of these are the same. Also firmware updates might have included some relevant changes. For all I know, the internal circuitry and software of S3C and S388 are identical.

What I've read about Nord keyboards model with different keybed is Nord tweaks the trigger points to make the keybed respond to who they perceive the target user to be. So maybe what to compare the two models of Stage 3 using an external MIDI controller so the the keybeds are identical.

Really how different is the sound of the two boards all parts have tolerances and all electronic devices have parts of various limits within the tolerances so no two things are going to be exactly the same there is alway going to be some difference. Even how electronic devices age and components change with repeated use will have an effect. So I little tweaking to me is normal.

Could be also the change of D/A converters....
Can make slight dfferencies in frequency response..too.??

I'd be tempted to somehow do a null test. Not sure if any sound source would work for this though. Maybe the piano engine? If you can null the keyboards somehow, you'll know they are not different.

I'm quite sure the difference in sound relies only to the different keyboard actions. You could connect both boards via Midi and cross check.
For rehearsal I use a Roland RD-88 as Midi controller for my NS3-88. When I switch between the internal keyboard and the external the sound changes (a bit brighter) because the Roland action is harder then the Nord 88.

Any follow-up information? I'd be interrested to know if there actually is a difference.

Elias wrote:Any follow-up information? I'd be interrested to know if there actually is a difference.

No. I don't own both of them and I bet most of us here dont' have two too.

I'm replying because as far as I know all NS3 variants have the same "guts" - meaning they have the same mainboard. In addition all variants use the same sample files - so why should they sound different?
I'm pretty sure that component changes would not affect sound quality that much.

But as stated by others: An A-B comparison can only be done with a Midi Controller controlling both boards. Even better would be to send the same MIDI file to both boards. But we still need someone here who owns both: NS3 Compact AND NS3 HA88!