Nord User Forum

Our Tribute band, Journey Jukebox, is doing well and we have had a couple of offers to travel for events (beyond our 4-6hr driving range). I don’t quite know how to practice backing up my Nord Stage 4. I also have never tried to rent a Nord Stage 4. They are becoming more available, but what are the odds you can rent one where you travel. Any fly in gig advice on these issues and any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Very interested in replies!!

Regards,
Billy Mack
Band Mgr
Keys/Vocals

Hi Billy,

I can’t comment on renting a Nord in the US or flying with one, but regarding backups you should take care of the following:

- backups are time consuming for both creation and loading onto another instrument, so make sure you have enough time available to load a backup on another Nord Stage 4 before you start the gig, don’t do this only 30 minutes before

- both your own Nord and the Nord you are going to rent should have the same version of the Nord OS loaded as otherwise the restore of your backup might fail. It’s therefore a good idea to update your own Nord Stage 4 to the most recent OS version and save a copy of the OS version on your computer which you take to the gig, to be able to update the Nord Stage 4 you have rented if necessary before you load the backup

- not a must have but I would advise you to always rent the same type of Nord Stage 4 which you own and use yourself, means a NS4 Compact, NS4 88 or NS4 73 since you are used to one type

Using the Nord Sound Manager, it's trivial to backup your entire setup, or the sounds needed (as bundles, which include samples).

If you only have a dozen or so programs, restoring them to a rental unit is fast and simple. The programs from a compact work seamlessly on the larger keyboards; going the other way may obviously cut you off from needed keys or sounds that are programmed outside the key range.

I would definitely organise an hour or so alone with the machine, well ahead of sound check, just in case you do need to do a full restore (which you should have on your laptop, as well), or you need to apply a firmware update. (Or, worst case, it gives you a bit of time to reconstruct makeshift versions of your programs if it turns out your laptop's USB broke, or the thing got lost or damaged during travel. OR if the rental company confirmed everything several times in advance and STILL managed to supply the wrong model. It happens.)

If it only takes you five minutes and works immediately (as it has several times in my case, though with the Stage 3 generation), all the better.

You should have on your laptop:

a) the latest firmware update installer — or at least the one you have installed on your machine

b) your programs as bundles

c) a full backup of your machine

I also threw all of that on my server, and into iCloud, just in case my laptop s*** the bed before I got there.

FWIW, your scenario would make me seriously consider building a laptop + midi controller rig vs traveling with my beloved NS4C.

Things can get broken, lost and stolen, especially $5k luxe keyboards. If you get there and your Stage is borked, there won't be a backup available.

Logistically, nothing is simpler than a midi rig -- you can walk into any music shop and buy a decent midi controller if needed, and there's usually plenty of backline choices. Everything else fits in your backpack and is recoverable from the cloud if needed.

I'd save the NS4 for the local gigs if it were me.

If you plan on flying often. Maybe useing an Elecro 6 61 could work for you. I've sampled any special sounds needed.
I've flown all over europe with one and asked for a weighted board as a second on the rider. And sometimes the weighted board its even usable.
An E6 61 in a full flight case under 20Kg.
But I use my Stage 4 or Stage 3 for UK gigs.

cphollis wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025, 15:31 Logistically, nothing is simpler than a midi rig -- you can walk into any music shop and buy a decent midi controller if needed, and there's usually plenty of backline choices. Everything else fits in your backpack and is recoverable from the cloud if needed.

I'd save the NS4 for the local gigs if it were me.

Really?! Technically I consider a MIDI/VST solution much more complicated and difficult to maintaine? First you have to decide for a host, collect, buy, install und setup all necessary VST. Then you have to configure a decent, reliable and flexible hardware. If you are like me, and need to have all recent software and updates, you may have to start over again.

I tried this bevor I took the plunge into the investment for a NS4 73. Because I came to the conclusion that I want to play an instrument, rather than operate a computer (though there may not be much difference under the hood).

I‘m very happy, but sometimes I also wish it was possible to mirror my NS4 setup and patchws as an iPad app, to be able to always take it along. But I‘m not willing to maintaine a MIDI/VST of 40 songs. I rather consider an additional NS4 compact. Though this only saves approx. 5kg and a few centimeters…

So I‘m curiously following this interesting thread, to also get sone cheaper and more conpact ideas…

Regards,
glombi


P.S.: What really would be my perfect solution, is a conpact NS4 Desktop Module that is easy to carry and could be combined with any size and flavour of keyboard…

glombi wrote: ↑19 Aug 2025, 14:38

cphollis wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025, 15:31 Logistically, nothing is simpler than a midi rig -- you can walk into any music shop and buy a decent midi controller if needed, and there's usually plenty of backline choices. Everything else fits in your backpack and is recoverable from the cloud if needed.

I'd save the NS4 for the local gigs if it were me.

Really?! Technically I consider a MIDI/VST solution much more complicated and difficult to maintaine? First you have to decide for a host, collect, buy, install und setup all necessary VST. Then you have to configure a decent, reliable and flexible hardware. If you are like me, and need to have all recent software and updates, you may have to start over again.

I tried this bevor I took the plunge into the investment for a NS4 73. Because I came to the conclusion that I want to play an instrument, rather than operate a computer (though there may not be much difference under the hood).

I‘m very happy, but sometimes I also wish it was possible to mirror my NS4 setup and patchws as an iPad app, to be able to always take it along. But I‘m not willing to maintaine a MIDI/VST of 40 songs. I rather consider an additional NS4 compact. Though this only saves approx. 5kg and a few centimeters…

So I‘m curiously following this interesting thread, to also get sone cheaper and more conpact ideas…

Regards,
glombi


P.S.: What really would be my perfect solution, is a conpact NS4 Desktop Module that is easy to carry and could be combined with any size and flavour of keyboard…

It depends on how often (and far) you travel, also how you'd feel about breaking or losing your Nord. A lot of touring keyboardists rely on Mainstage (Apple) which works great for everyone. Get a Mac (even a well used one) download Mainstage and you've got 90% of your rig ready to go. Easy peasy.

I keep my band to gigs within driving range, but if I had to fly, I wouldn't hesitate to switch over to a midi rig.