NS4 compact vs NS4 73

[backbeat]

Hi everyone!
After much deliberation and comparisons with Yamaha, decided to buy a Nord, but can't decide between NS4 compact and NS4 73.
Unfortunately, i have no possibility to plya on both by myself, so i need some advice.
On the one hand sometimes i missing that piano feeling, so i think Hammer Action keyboard of NS4 73 could be nice for me,
even though it adds extra weight, which is the case due to spinal issues.
But on the other hand i'm not sure how it feels to play organ on NS4 73 - is it convinient or there are some hidden pitfalls?

[MrLeoMadrid]

Hi, it's really hard (at least for me) to play organ with the NS4 73 HA keybed, I must use my upper synth for that. On the other hand, the aftertouch it's also barely usable because you need to press with an insane amount of force the keys to activate it, but for piano playing it's awesome.

[NoDirection]

Is it possible for you to try out another (older) Nord Stage - Like ha Nord Stage 2 HA 76 or 88, Nord Stage 2EX 88 or a Nord Stage 3 88 - The keybed "hammer feeling" for playing organ is very equal to the new NS4 73. And how are you playing your organ - slow ballads or rapid playing with crazy glissandos?

[backbeat]

Is it possible for you to try out another (older) Nord Stage - Like ha Nord Stage 2 HA 76 or 88, Nord Stage 2EX 88 or a Nord Stage 3 88 - The keybed "hammer feeling" for playing organ is very equal to the new NS4 73. And how are you playing your organ - slow ballads or rapid playing with crazy glissandos?

maybe in a month or two, but not sure...
well, i used to play both from time to time, guess you're about to say that for ballads it can work just like piano?)
But i need to play rapid solo sometime, is NS4C much better with this?

[NoDirection]

Yes for rapid playing and glissandos the NS4C is better. But for piano (in my opinion) much worse. So it's a trade of - what is most important for you. Guess there are others on the forum with more experience that can help you out here...

[spradders]

I went for the Compact - I find it surprisingly expressive for piano. Of course it isn't weighted, but I found I got used to it and now I absolutely love it because it is so small and light.

[Nico38]

I moved from the Nord Piano 5 73 to the Nord Stage 4 Compact. Even if the latter does not have a heavy touch, the semi-weighted touch of the Nord Stage 4 Compact offers for me expressive playing for the piano with quite good. For me, this compact Nord stage 4 is the best compromise because in addition to being lighter and more compact, a little less expensive, its touch allows you to have a really very versatile keyboard and which also responds really well for piano playing. I didn't feel such a big loss of sensation in the end for piano playing. In my opinion, I'm not really sure if any other semi-weighted keyboard on the market offers this.

[superbender]

I switched from a Roland RD-2000 to a Nord Stage 4 Compact. The main reason for the Compact at the time was to significantly reduce the weight. I also only wanted to take one keyboard with me.
My fear was that playing the piano on an NS4C would not be as good and realistic. But after 10 months with the NS4C, I can say that I feel no compromise when playing the piano. In addition, the instrument is extremely versatile, as you can of course also play organ and synth better than on a hammered keyboard.

The most important questions you need to answer yourself from my point of view are:
- Do you play a lot of gigs? If so, then the reduced weight of the NS4C could be a reason to buy it.
- Do you play a lot of organ and synth sounds? If so, then the Compact might be better.
- Will you only be travelling with one keyboard? If so, then the Compact is more suitable. If not, then you could take the Nord Stage 4 73 (in which case I would go for the 88) and take another instrument for organ/synth on top.

[fabiokey]

After NS ex 76 and NS 2 76 , I have compact since around 10 years now.....Much lighter and portable....I have NS 4 Compact....and the piano feeling as said before , with this triple sensor , is much better.
And if need a piano-like keyboard in addition to nord , I have a Yamaha p 121 , 73 keys and 10 Kg....I connect it to NS 4 ( with a midi box) , use aux keyboard function to play NS4 on it.

[ericL]

I'm another convert from playing 88 key weighted boards to using Nord's Compact. I toured with the NS2 88 HA from 2011-2018 and along the way picked up a NS2 EX Compact that started to become my gigging board...then I updated to NS3 Compact, which I currently use from 2018-present and absolutely love the action for everything. It is the most versatile and absolutely a joy for organ, synth, clav, Wurly. Sure, digging in to big piano songs from a weighted 88 note action is a bit more satisfying, yet the small tradeoff to get such a lighter weight for transport and smaller footprint really makes the Compact compelling to me.

It took a little getting used to playing big piano songs on the Compact and I am fully comfortable with it. I keep my chops for 88 keys in shape playing other weighted boards at home (NS2 88, CP80, Kawai grand, etc.).

If and when I update to the NS4, I will stick with the Compact.