I'm slowly breaking into Keyboards (still mainly Guitar/Bass), that Nord you bought is the Ultimate Maximum Supreme of KeyBoard Quality, not that i have one yet. Anything you think they could improve (hardware or software)? Did you add to or replace a previous keyboard with the Nord Stage 2 EX 88 HA ?? Thanks !
Some background info:
I started to play the (acoustic) guitar around the age of 7 with a teacher, and I started to press some keys on a toy keyboard even before that. I got a very basic keyboard at the age of 8 or so and even had a teacher for some years, too, but I quit 'cause had only time for one instrument along school and guitar was always my favorite.
After that, I always kind of regretted that, because whenever I sat down at a decent keyboard or piano, I had ideas and realized that it'd take only some regularly playing for me to get better. OTOH, I never intended to write songs on it or even play keys in a band. So I spent my money on guitars and guitar gear, knowing that I'd have to shell out some serious ca$h if I ever decided to get a keyboard that would satisfy my spoiled ears
I always had an eye on the Nord stuff, too; my "The Doors" band's keyboard player has been playing a Stage for years.
You ask about a previous keyboard: I had a Korg T2 (big brother/successor of the famous M2, if I'm correct) from my cousin, who's a keyboard/piano/organ player by trade, that I'd take out of the case every other year if I had the desire to play or record some sounds, but the fun was quite limited: dated onboard sounds, synth keybed (yes, it's easier to play, especially for someone without practise like me, but playing grand piano stuff on this? Come on. Also seemed pointless to me starting to practise on that.) and hooking it up to a PC for VSTi and effects was just to much hassle with still subpar results.
So fast forward to 2016: the desire bit me again, I had the money (and nothing better on the guitar side to spend it on) and along came an opportunity that I could not ignore. I had some guilty conscience, as I never spent as much even for something guitar related (except my Strandberg), but as I said, it proves worthy and is fun everytime I sit down and play.
Answering your question what could be improved, you may consider that so far I only play and record at home no rehearsal or gig experience yet. I've got a few, mostly subjective things that could be improved on, IMO:
- a dedicated stage keyboard (notice the name?!) that has no XLR or even balanced 1/4" outputs? That's over my head, especially in that price range.
- even though I got the EX with 1 GB of memory for piano samples alone, it's just not enough with Clavia's awesome and constantly growing library (that is for free!) at hand.
- the same goes for the 384 MB of memory for other samples. There's so much fun stuff in Clavia's library (Mellotron mastertapes, e.g.), but the available memory feels limiting.
- I'm a fan of the simplistic and easy approach, but I think the bigger screen and setlist mode of the recent Electro models would be nice on the Nord Stage, too.
- I'd welcome more effects parameter and flexible signal chain routing, but I'm totally spoiled after 8+ years of using Axe-Fx and this would be opposite of said simplistic and easy approach. No real complain here. Sounds are stellar and everything is perfectly usable.
- That said, the overdrive of the rotary effect could be improved (a lot). Still I am spoiled
- Despite being no keyboard player, I have to agree with what I read, that the Wurlitzer E-Piano sounds are weaker than the other electric piano sounds and sound less inspiring.
Don't get me wrong, those "complaints" are rather nitpicking and don't bother me as much as it might seem. The Nord Stage plays and sounds just awesome and I really enjoy editing and operating on it - didn't need the manual a single time, which also is a big plus in my book; I've learned how to use guitar gear and effects over the years, but I neither have the time nor the nerves to "learn" a keyboard, just to get the sounds I want. The Stage excels at that.
At the moment I even think about getting the triple pedal for more authentic sounds and feeling.
BTW, the constant and free firmware updates and sample library additions remind me of my favorite guitar gear company
and put the high price of admission somewhat into perspective.
Sorry for going offtopic in a guitar gear thread...
