Nord User Forum

I currently have a Piano 5 for home use. I do not currently "play out". I was thinking about selling my Piano 5 and picking up the Stage 4 for the Organ and synth sounds. Would the Stage 4 be a good choice or would I be better off looking at a Yamaha Montage M? I currently also have a Korg Kronos 73. Let's here some opinions. I would like to get into recording as well but have heard that the Nord Stage 4 isn't the best for recording.

I have both an older Nord Stage and a Yamaha Montage and I keep both because the are two very different boards.
I suggest you watch some videos on YouTube or go to a music store and try them out.
When it comes to recording and integrating a DAW (Like Cubase or Logic-X) , the Montage is better on that with audio over USB and integrated sound-card etc...
So if music production on a DAW is your goal - go for a Montage... If you play with a band and need a "Swiss-army keyboard tool" go for a Nord Stage...

Hmm... just personal opinion, but with your Nord PIano 5 and your Korg Kronos 73, you seem to me to be all set already... the Nord PIano 5 for piano sounds and the great keybed, and the Kronos for the rest...

NiCoX wrote:Hmm... just personal opinion, but with your Nord PIano 5 and your Korg Kronos 73, you seem to me to be all set already... the Nord PIano 5 for piano sounds and the great keybed, and the Kronos for the rest...

I agree, even if I just see an overlap of keyboard type, both are Hammer Action, maybe the OP is looking for introducing a non-HA in the setup?
In that case a NS4 Compact or Montage M 61/73 would be possible targets (but considering the synth power of Kronos, maybe even just a NE6D would be sufficient, if not just an external non-HA master keyboard to play some Kronos parts).

maxpiano wrote:

NiCoX wrote:Hmm... just personal opinion, but with your Nord PIano 5 and your Korg Kronos 73, you seem to me to be all set already... the Nord PIano 5 for piano sounds and the great keybed, and the Kronos for the rest...

I agree, even if I just see an overlap of keyboard type, both are Hammer Action, maybe the OP is looking for introducing a non-HA in the setup?

Exactly my issue. The Kronos is weighted keys also and only 73 keys. It has served me well for 11 years but I wanted 88 keys, so I bought a Nord piano 5. Now I drooled over the Stage 4 and I thought this was the one that I wanted but I haven't played in a band for almost 30 years. So I wondered if the Nord was the right keyboard for me.

Thanks for the responses.

The Yamaha Montage M8x including case is a heavy beast I think it’s unlikely to carry around for occasional gigging. For home use I would trade in the Nord piano and Kronos for an M8x and eventually use an iPad or PC for VB3II if the Yamaha organ is not good enough to your liking. For gigging I prefer NS4 Compact on top of a 88 keys hammer action controller even when I then miss the benefits of the tripple sensor when playing the Nord piano samples from the 88 controller. By the way I don’t know if the M8x has tripple sensors, doubt it.

Valpurgis wrote: By the way I don’t know if the M8x has tripple sensors, doubt it.

Montage M8x GEX keybed is much more than that in fact.

The model MONTAGE M8x features a newly developed, special keyboard called “GEX”, which supports Polyphonic Aftertouch. Unlike other keyboards, the GEX keyboard does not use conventional key contacts, but electromagnetic induction. With this technology, each individual key position can be continuously scanned. In addition, the keyboard supports software updates, which enables the future development of further techniques and articulations beyond Polyphonic Aftertouch.

https://sandsoftwaresound.net/montage-m8x-key-notes/

Interesting, also interesting if this action also allows for repeats and restrikes when the keys is only partially released.

Valpurgis wrote:Interesting, also interesting if this action also allows for repeats and restrikes when the keys is only partially released.

Yes it does, if you check the article I linked it says that it is the same technology used for latest Yamaha Hybrid and Silent pianos and Montage M8x page is more explit GEX also provides key repetition behavior typically found in grand pianos.

NiCoX wrote:Hmm... just personal opinion, but with your Nord PIano 5 and your Korg Kronos 73, you seem to me to be all set already... the Nord PIano 5 for piano sounds and the great keybed, and the Kronos for the rest...

Especially if the OP has conquered the learning curve of the Kronos. The Kronos does it all its the one true workstation or as one person put it, it's a recording studio inside a keyboard.