Nord User Forum

Nord Stage 3 VS Nord Stage 4

With the Nord Stage 4, in addition to the already listed and "Famous" problems regarding MIDI, EX KEY and MULTITIMBRIC management, I find myself dealing with a sound that, instead of improving, has worsened compared to the Nord Stage 3. I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to compare the sound between the NS3 and NS4, because you should have both. Luckily I have them, and I prefer the sound of the NS3 to the NS4. The differences are not minimal. If you can, try loading the same Piano, Rhodes, or Synth, setting the same parameters on both. I know that the Nord Engine is different, but it's one thing to have a similar result, it's another to have a completely different sound. Filters, envelopes, LFOs, effects and amps are very different. For me the NS4 remains a big disappointment. I hope that Nord updates the NS4 firmware as soon as possible, taking into account all the negative things on the forum, even if I have little faith. If things don't improve in a few months, I will sell the NS4 and keep the NS3, losing money, as well as the time to reprogram all my 180 or so programs and the conversion of the various samples I made.

Sorry for my bad English. I write from Italy.

So this statement is meant as a warning, I think. Is there a way to explain _how_ the sound differs? I ask because your warning is highly vague and others are happy with their NS4...

GpKey wrote:Nord Stage 3 VS Nord Stage 4

With the Nord Stage 4, in addition to the already listed and "Famous" problems regarding MIDI, EX KEY and MULTITIMBRIC management, I find myself dealing with a sound that, instead of improving, has worsened compared to the Nord Stage 3. I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to compare the sound between the NS3 and NS4, because you should have both. Luckily I have them, and I prefer the sound of the NS3 to the NS4. The differences are not minimal. If you can, try loading the same Piano, Rhodes, or Synth, setting the same parameters on both. I know that the Nord Engine is different, but it's one thing to have a similar result, it's another to have a completely different sound. Filters, envelopes, LFOs, effects and amps are very different. For me the NS4 remains a big disappointment. I hope that Nord updates the NS4 firmware as soon as possible, taking into account all the negative things on the forum, even if I have little faith. If things don't improve in a few months, I will sell the NS4 and keep the NS3, losing money, as well as the time to reprogram all my 180 or so programs and the conversion of the various samples I made.

Sorry for my bad English. I write from Italy.

I think that without any audio example it is difficult to understand why you say that NS4 sound is worse and to which extent.

Since you own both you would do a good service to the Forum by recording some examples making A/B (NS3/NS4) comparison of same samples and settings. Otherwise teh discussion will stay on just words and personal opinions or tastes, not supported by measurable or shareable facts.

I'm mainly referring to the timbre. The SN3 sounds warmer than the NS4 in my opinion. Initializing both in the Synth section and loading my own sample or one from Nord, I hear a lot of difference in the low frequencies, where NS4 is poorer and false, and where instead it exaggerates in the high frequencies. By setting the filter envelope values the same on both, it decays much sooner in NS4. The resonance filter, 12/24 db, sounds different. The Delay, Chorus and Reverb effects are much less warm in all variants. The LFO between synths is out of sync. The only positive thing is the keyboard (Fatar). Compared to that of the NS3 -76 HP, that of the NS4 73 HP is much more playable and much less noisy. Then there is certainly a personal taste. I think I still have good ears. For example, when I bought the Minimoog Model D Reissue, I compared it with my friend's old Model D and the sound was identical, or rather, better than the new model, because the oscillators are more stable. Nord continues to fool us with the story of the incompatibility of the various versions. You always have to start over. I found other differences in the Synth. The Nord Wave I own, sounds warmer. I think that Nord used not very good converters and loaded the control panel too much, however taking away a lot of personality from the sound. Features like “Song” are gone and those added are bad. Do we want to talk about MIDI and the EX KEY?
They should have released it later, without all these defects, perhaps listening to the advice of some professionals, before putting it on the market. We are now the Beta Testers. The speakers I use are Adam Audio and AKG K240 MKII headphones. The instruments are connected to a Mackie 24-4-2 analog mixer (made in USA) and the instruments are Nord Stage 4, Nord Stage 3, Nord Wave, Minimoog model D, Prophet 10 Rev4, Yamaha TX 802, Roland D550, Akai S300 XL, M-Audio Keystation 61, Cakewalk A500,
Mooger Fooger MF104 M, TC Electronic SCF Gold, Universal Audio Starlight Delay and Universal Audio Golden Reverb. I have had various Nord keyboards over the years. Nord Electro, NS2, NS3 and now NS4. In short, I think I'm a little prepared, after about 50 years of music and various Synths passed through my hands. I am convinced that this time North was wrong.

The bugs are one thing. Then there are voluntary changes that aren't appreciated by everyone. If really the sound has changed, I have no idea if that belongs to the former or the latter.

There already was a comparison of a saw sound in NS3 and NS4, so there certainly are differences. Who knows if that was an attempt to sound more modern? We now have that side chain pump effect on NS4 - that's not a very traditional effect.

Also had the NS3 for a month after buying the NS4, my experience was no degradation in sound for the NS4. Getting rid of the panel philosophy and getting independant effects for the layers alone has made me not miss the NS3 for a second. Personal opinion/experience of course.

Now that this Stage2EX88 has version 6 pianos,at least one of these Stage3's will go....towards a Roland RD2000.Once i tried it for 15 minutes,the Stage4 not for me.
Faders where cheezy on my Crumar Organizer back in 1978.Even cheezier on an 8K keyboard that has no 1' drawbar cancel like a real B3.

Valpurgis wrote:Also had the NS3 for a month after buying the NS4, my experience was no degradation in sound for the NS4. Getting rid of the panel philosophy and getting independant effects for the layers alone has made me not miss the NS3 for a second. Personal opinion/experience of course.

Same experience here. I had both models for several weeks before selling my two Stage 3s. Much better sonic experience with the Stage 4.

StuartR wrote:

Valpurgis wrote:Also had the NS3 for a month after buying the NS4, my experience was no degradation in sound for the NS4. Getting rid of the panel philosophy and getting independant effects for the layers alone has made me not miss the NS3 for a second. Personal opinion/experience of course.

Same experience here. I had both models for several weeks before selling my two Stage 3s. Much better sonic experience with the Stage 4.

+2

It means I'm the only one complaining. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. Happy North to All