Nord User Forum

Hi all,
This is my first post, although I've been following the forum for some time. I have a question that I'm sure has been asked before but any advice is welcomed. I know the answer will be subjective, but here goes anyway. I'm trying to decide between an Electro 6D/OB6 (or Prophet 08) desktop and Stage 3 Compact...or now, hold off for a while to see what is revealed after the first of the year since the Stage's are on sale now.

I currently have a Subsequent 37, Minitaur and an old Ensoniq SQ1 (highschool kid's PPG back in the day). I'd like to replace the SQ1 with something for organs and pianos (hence the Electro 6D) but would also like to have analog poly of an OB6 or P08 to complement the Sub 37.

My dilemma is this, the Electro 6D and a desktop poly would be awesome IF the Electro had an Extern feature, but since it is a bit cumbersome as a midi controller, it really makes sense to get the Stage 3 Compact, using the extern feature to play the Minitaur pretty effortlessly. However, the synth section on the Compact isn't as inspiring to me as an OB6 BUT now the price of the Compact and the functionality make it almost impossible to pass up.

My pockets aren't quite deep enough to get the Compact and an OB6 at the moment, but just curious if anyone is running an Electro 6D with a desktop module and how that works in reality? I guess an Electro 7D with an extern section, aftertouch and mod wheel would be the perfect mate, but I'll keep dreaming for that one.

BTW, I just saw an open box Compact for $3149...only $150 more than an Electro 6d...

Hi and welcome to NUF.

Have you considered going for NS2/EX instead of the NS3, to stay within your budget and be able to include also the desktop polysynth?
Anyway, if you are not in a hurry, maybe better wait for the NAMM and see what happens

Thanks maxpiano. I'm certainly not in a hurry, although the deals of the Compacts are tempting...I looked at the NS2/EX but the prices didn't seem far off from the current NS3 Compact...but I'll look again. I forgot to mention, I'd prefer waterfall keys instead of the hammer action portable...so was leaning toward the Compact. I'm sure the synth section on the NS3 is really capable, but the OB6 just really connects with me in a way that is hard to turn away:)

I know NAMM is usually in January but I thought I saw where it was going to be in April this year. I talked to a person at Nord headquarters in CA a few weeks back and the person mentioned Nord will usually announce new products in January, but of course, they couldn't confirm anything new. Hopefully an announcement of new products will be right around the corner. Cheers!

maxpiano wrote:Hi and welcome to NUF.

Have you considered going for NS2/EX instead of the NS3, to stay within your budget and be able to include also the desktop polysynth?
Anyway, if you are not in a hurry, maybe better wait for the NAMM and see what happens

Certainly great advice. The Stage 2/2EX is a great option. If you are in a hurry, the Stage 3C would be the preferred option for the longer term. It not only has the External section, but aftertouch and pitch & modulation controllers. No telling if the next Electro will have these; if Nord stays true to their heritage it will most likely not.

You can always add a desktop synth down the road.

I’ve augmented the synth section on my Stage 2EX with a Moog Minifooger Drive pedal and its own delay pedal. Unfortunately no longer available, the Minifooger includes the Moog filter and adds some nice body to anything coming out of the Stage’s synth section. I usually send the synth through Output 3 and bypass the internal effects on the Stage, hence the delay.

Perhaps there is a similar type of stomp pedal that can do something similar.

gtholden wrote:Thanks maxpiano. I'm certainly not in a hurry, although the deals of the Compacts are tempting...I looked at the NS2/EX but the prices didn't seem far off from the current NS3 Compact...but I'll look again. I forgot to mention, I'd prefer waterfall keys instead of the hammer action portable...so was leaning toward the Compact. I'm sure the synth section on the NS3 is really capable, but the OB6 just really connects with me in a way that is hard to turn away:)

I know NAMM is usually in January but I thought I saw where it was going to be in April this year. I talked to a person at Nord headquarters in CA a few weeks back and the person mentioned Nord will usually announce new products in January, but of course, they couldn't confirm anything new. Hopefully an announcement of new products will be right around the corner. Cheers!

Strange, here a used NS2 Compact can be found at half the price of a new NS3 Compact (a bit more for NS2 EX), not easily as there are not so many around but that's the usual price asked for; maybe it is not the same everywhere and/or you need to catch the good opportunity as it comes or... wait till April

Rusty Mike wrote:

maxpiano wrote:Hi and welcome to NUF.

Have you considered going for NS2/EX instead of the NS3, to stay within your budget and be able to include also the desktop polysynth?
Anyway, if you are not in a hurry, maybe better wait for the NAMM and see what happens

Certainly great advice. The Stage 2/2EX is a great option. If you are in a hurry, the Stage 3C would be the preferred option for the longer term. It not only has the External section, but aftertouch and pitch & modulation controllers. No telling if the next Electro will have these; if Nord stays true to their heritage it will most likely not.

You can always add a desktop synth down the road.

I’ve augmented the synth section on my Stage 2EX with a Moog Minifooger Drive pedal and its own delay pedal. Unfortunately no longer available, the Minifooger includes the Moog filter and adds some nice body to anything coming out of the Stage’s synth section. I usually send the synth through Output 3 and bypass the internal effects on the Stage, hence the delay.
Perhaps there is a similar type of stomp pedal that can do something similar.

This is great. Thanks for the detailed response.

It seems like most people sell an Electro to move to a Stage, but I've found few (if any) on the forum that have gone the other way. I guess besides price, the thing that gives me pause is I really like how simple the Electro is on front. Coming from Mainstage/soft synths and menu diving, I LOVE my Subsequent 37 because all the knobs are right there...no menu diving...it seems the same with an Electro...maybe the same with the Synth engine of the NS3?, but what I've seen online, looks to be a some menu diving for oscillator types, etc. in the synth section...can anyone speak to the ease of which the synth section is to navigate on the NS3? Thanks again for your help... There aren't any stores close to me that have the Nord line for me to try, so I'm relying on info here... and of course YouTube.

gtholden wrote:It seems like most people sell an Electro to move to a Stage, but I've found few (if any) on the forum that have gone the other way. I guess besides price, the thing that gives me pause is I really like how simple the Electro is on front. Coming from Mainstage/soft synths and menu diving, I LOVE my Subsequent 37 because all the knobs are right there...no menu diving...it seems the same with an Electro...maybe the same with the Synth engine of the NS3?, but what I've seen online, looks to be a some menu diving for oscillator types, etc. in the synth section...can anyone speak to the ease of which the synth section is to navigate on the NS3? Thanks again for your help... There aren't any stores close to me that have the Nord line for me to try, so I'm relying on info here... and of course YouTube.

The "My Keys to Music" channel on YouTube will give you the best overview as to how to operate an NS3, including sound creation in the synth section. Marc has done a fantastic job with it. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/c/MyKeysToMusic

Another great aspect of the Stage synth engine (both Stage 2 and 3) is that sounds from the sample engine can be used as waveforms in the synth. There is a library of synth samples here on the forum as well as directly from Nord (and you can make your own samples). This includes some OB waves, Deckard’s Dream, Prophets, etc. You can use these as the oscillator and then apply the Nord synth goodness to them. Really extends the synth capabilities of the Stage. It won’t completely replicate the sound and full functionality of the OB6, but should hopefully hold you over until you can afford to expand your arsenal.

The Electro is a great instrument, but for your purposes it seems the Stage is the better investment.

Rusty Mike wrote:Another great aspect of the Stage synth engine (both Stage 2 and 3) is that sounds from the sample engine can be used as waveforms in the synth. There is a library of synth samples here on the forum as well as directly from Nord (and you can make your own samples). This includes some OB waves, Deckard’s Dream, Prophets, etc. You can use these as the oscillator and then apply the Nord synth goodness to them. Really extends the synth capabilities of the Stage. It won’t completely replicate the sound and full functionality of the OB6, but should hopefully hold you over until you can afford to expand your arsenal.

The Electro is a great instrument, but for your purposes it seems the Stage is the better investment.

Thanks again for the thoughtful response. I agree...just getting trying to get comfortable with the purchase:)