Demo and review of Nord Electro 2 rhodes, pianos and mutha funkin' clavinet

[@shauntaylor9888]

Loved the very British intro... discussion of weather, self-deprecating comment about "you probably clicked by accident", pronunciation of "funky arse clav" ... as a fellow Brit, I approve

[@shauntaylor9888]

Also I've just bought a Nord online, excited for it to arrive, and want to hear its funky EP sounds, so thanks for the video :D

[@WoodyPianoShack]

cool, congrats on your new nord and thx for the comm

[@WateringDeadFlowers]

Just picked up an electro 2 73 because of this video

[@sstark9653]

Me too!

[@foxx_plague805]

Is it still worth getting an electro 2 with all these new models?

[@christmeister]

@@foxx_plague805 I doubt it but I'm planning on getting one just because of Troy Van Leeuwen and because of the B3 sounds

[@rain_irl6460]

godammmmm that rhodes sounds nice!!! rhodes is my all time favourite sound

[@Byronic19134]

When I started my journey back into music production right before Christmas I had no idea what the difference between an electric piano, clavinet, rhodes, and Wurlitzer. Now thanks to channels like your's I understand how the tine pickup affects the sound of a rhodes from jazzier to more ambient. Nord has my fav rhodes emulations outside of Additive Keys one.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thx for the comm, yes, i still highly rate the nord eps, even compared to massive sample libraries. nord did some magic. glad you got some value from the channel.

[@robgerard]

I keep coming back to these vids Woody!! So great hearing your passion for the minor details! nice work.

[@obwanz1921]

You inspired me to program these exact Clavinet sounds in my Nord Stage 3. THANK YOU WOODY!!!!!!!

[@elsongs]

I have a NS3. For some reason the clavs on the NS3 don't quite have the same presence or bite as the NE2. I hope Clavia can update the samples like they did with the EPs.

[@mosetokuma4947]

I love the playing!!! It was also amusing to hear him swear.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

I love the swearing!!! It was also amusing to hear him play.

[@Petsublak]

Brilliant category of sounds !!! As always great commentary, great !

[@SHPIZZACREW]

I think the different rhodes sounds would be emulating the mark1 and mark2 rhodes because they have different sounds, usually the mark 2 sounds brighter and has more "bell" like sound compared to the mark 1

[@derekcrawford555]

I just bought one thanks to this video demo! Thanks, subscribed!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thx & congrats, glad i could help.

[@tragmadat]

Is it the combination with the birds, i don't know ... But that was fantastico!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

summer's here soon, so more outdoor videos to come, if that's your fancy :)

[@vibeknight]

pretty sure this video has sold more Nord Electros than any of their actual demo videos

[@PerpetualEvolution]

This video sold me on a 61! ... anxiously awaiting tracking info. Your demo sealed the deal in showing it’s capability to produce that “i grew up in the early 80s and every bit of b roll on tv sounded like New York and organs / pianos”

[@bryceheffinger8895]

The clav with the wah is instant 70s cops theme music, hell yeh just found one for a deal super stoked.

[@TheFreedomTree]

I love all this man. Sounds great. Thanks for the review and I dig the playing.

[@budharpey]

thanks a lot for the video, great clav playing

[@MattLGreer]

Love this video. You're very talented! Thank you for posting this.

[@onionhat9141]

Dude for 2002 this synth definitely kicked some ass

[@smiljanicn]

I have Kurzweil, can i turn off my effects? :) joking, great review!

[@ian757]

The Electro does sound very warm and phat I agree. I love my RD700SX and accepted your nil effects challenge. I use the SX E.PIANO 1 patch to play Dean Friedman's, 'Well, well said the the rocking chair' and it sounds perfect. 😎

[@WoodyPianoShack]

+ian757 thanks for taking the challenge! have never tried the RD but I'm glad you like it. My Rol FA also succeeds in the no-fx challenge... :)

[@archepytus8596]

Nice selection of tunes. It's not every day someone plays "We've Got A Groovy Thing Goin'" or "Who's Crying Now." I've always loved the piano on "Who's Crying Now." It was one of the first singles I ever bought.

[@desmoriderssthlm552]

Great review! Nord Stage 2 is waiting for you when ever you're ready :)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

+DesmoRiders Sthlm thanks, :) will take you up on that, a bit short of time at the moment though...

[@davidcudlip6587]

These are versatile keyboards. Would work for everything.

[@johnnyg9597]

I have this keyboard and its a keeper. I like the light weighted touch and feel, rich juicy sounds, had some trouble updating the firmware though.

[@tomlynham]

I own THE Yamaha CP70 that was used to record "Who's Crying Now". Bought it 20 years ago at Bananas at Large in Marin County. Absolute trip to hear it played in this demo - and yes, the lowest octave is perfectly out of tune.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

wow, just owning any cp is cool enough!

[@het_gele_teken]

Love your channel Woody!

[@song-mode]

great demo! what's the famous tune you plat at 12:56, I know I know it but blanking on the name and can't find it, its driving me crazy! I keep thinking of work song.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

this is moanin' by art blakey. i think i played work song also in the vid.

[@song-mode]

Woody Piano Shack if course! thnx, i even have the album, just had a brain fart! was a great demo, even though its a bit old now, still helpful. thnx again

[@Ross_Campoli]

Excellent demo, Woody!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that was a while ago! people still watching this stuff? cheers!

[@MarkusKnapp]

I was a little surprised at the really loud noises from the keyboard at 9:47 - I thought Nord would be more professional here? But I've never had one under my fingers before...

[@WoodyPianoShack]

could just be the mic i was using here... picking up a lot of clunking

[@MarkusKnapp]

@@WoodyPianoShack I see. Thanks a lot. 👍🏻

[@jonasaras]

FWIW, after trying the Roland EV-5, Yamaha FC-7, Crumar universal long throw and the Moog EP-3 expression pedal, the Moog was by far the best for organ swells. The Yahama and the Crumar are not compatible

[@WoodyPianoShack]

good observations. i made an adapter for my fc7 but have lost it sadly

[@TheCinemaEffect]

Just a question out of curiosity, are these samples the stock Nord sounds? Or are these uploaded? I heard you mention something about it, I wasn’t sure. Thanks!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

these are stock sounds, but you have to download them from Nord website and use a program to install.

[@fredlupin]

You really bring the best of this machine! According to my experiments, it's Really the worst EP i played on to be heard through little PA, like studio monitors.... I prefer the motif, the triton extreme, and even the DX7 as electric Piano instrument also in a light piano bar PA configuration...But connected to a real Keyboard Amp, or a studio headphone it's better. I use either a vintage Cube 60 or 2 big Novanex PU50. The keys are an organ kind of keys, really not the best to play piano...It's still a good compromise, especially concidering the weight, but having blindtesting it in front of 5 people using 3 "monitor" pair of speakers they all prefer the other sounds, from Logic VST to Korg Triton extreme ((mix of musicians and non musicians)) I used Fostex PM5, YamahaMSP5 and Genelec 8020 for this test. Organ section is great and clavinet is nice too and The Acoustic Piano is quite good to me. But it's really a pain in the ass to play on this frustrating instrument. The only reason i keep it is the weight...But if i have to bring a huge AMP there is no more point in chosing this for the weight....2 years i try to find a setting i really love on this machine, and allways something is missing. and it's allways covered by th eanalog lead or bass synths. So i m wondering if you noticed something listening to the Electro 2 through little monitor system....

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i've played it through a pair of powered PA speakers (12"), sounded awesome, especially the leslie simulation, You gotta run it through decent PA and in stereo, otherwise piano and organ sound terrible. e-piano sounds work great in mono, my favorite was to run rhodes through a nice guitar tube amp.

[@fredlupin]

Thanks for your answer! Yes i think i have to use it as you said, i connect it now as a live instrument, and through wider speakers! Do you have some fav Phaser? Thanks for the demo again, you might have saved my Nord from being sold! Worth the try !

[@mrmixalotcreative5847]

I recently had a gig come up where I needed to play Rhodes, organ and synth, and I got out my old Nord Electro 2 to practice, fully expecting to have to buy or borrow and up to date keyboard for the tour. Nope. The Electro 2 organ, Rhodes and CP-80 electric piano sounds are just fantastic. My only issue with the Electro 2 is the piano sound, which I find pretty lacklustre, although I think a like reverb pedal might wake it up a bit.

[@mrmixalotcreative5847]

And great playing, by the way!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

so kind, yes, for me the E2 is still the sweet spot in the range, due to simple controls and no-nonsense features.

[@dukof8942]

It would be interesting to hear the best piano available for the NE2. Do you have a recording with the "Nord Electro 2 AcGrand6 v1" sound?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

acoustic pianos on NE2 were and are really rather bad, don't by a 2 for the acoustic piano! I think I demonstrated already on one of my NE2 videos

[@jamesbeckerton1730]

Try the clav on the Kawai MP8, amazing with either Phaser or Overdrive.

[@dennisbebebebe8707]

Important to me........What do you think of a Yamaha Mx 61 Thats all I can afford right now and YES I want to get a Nord Electro 5 d When I can afford it.

[@finnsainty7177]

I have a nord electro 2 with all the effects turn on.

[@horowizard]

It would be helpful if you say which Pianos in the Nord Library that you've used.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

there actually aren't many that are compatible with the NE2, it was in later models that Nord really invested in their library. the NE2 has a tiny flash memory, only good for some small EPs and a really crappy piano! here i'm just playing teh factory installed sounds. cheers

[@FrozenLonesome]

Hi Woody, just found your channel and I have been enjoying your videos and playing. I'm fairly new to piano and last summer I got a Korg SP-250 (88 weighted and graded keys) which I love and play more than my synths. A Nord Electro 2 just came up for sale in my area for $800 CDN and I'm thinking of buying it. What should I be on the look out for with an used NE2? Will this be a good replacement for my Korg? Thanks Steve

[@WoodyPianoShack]

kinda depends how you like the keys. but i'm sure you'll enjoy the organ, clav and epiano. but the acoustic pianos much better on your sp. $800 seems steep, over here the E2 is a couple of hundred cheaper.

[@FrozenLonesome]

Woody Piano Shack Thanks for the quick response. I really like the keys on the SP and some of the e-piano sounds are really nice too. Recently started using it as a controller for some iPad synths and pianos as well. Considering that I'm currently not playing outside my studio, might just stick with what I have besides it would just further the delay in getting a Novation Peak which I have my eye on. Also not reply from the seller after two days so that's never a good sign. :)

[@nicodemus_316]

Review the worlds best keyboard. The Korg Stage Vintage 2 73

[@MarkFeaGuitar]

Woody... love this video - I'm a sucker for a Rhodes and a Clav... but, would you be able to tell me... What's the difference between all these Nords? Stage, piano, 4, 5... 2...? Cheers dude! Love your channel btw

[@WoodyPianoShack]

you can find all the nitty gritty details about the instruments in the sample library on the nord webpage

[@MarkFeaGuitar]

Woody Piano Shack ok lol. I get confused when I look at their website 😂😂 too many options ! Cheers !

[@javisrodriguez]

Excelente review!! Because of this I will one now!! Just a question. What recorder do you use? Thanks!!! =)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

glad you liked it, this was a zoom h4n!

[@mobileoscar]

Was lucky enough to be able to buy a NE2 73 key back in 2016 for around $350.

[@kalmandavid3669]

Oscar Toft thats a steal man! Where did you buy it?

[@mobileoscar]

@@kalmandavid3669 For more than 10 years the company that has been supplying most of the sound equipment and sound services during the yearly Molde Jazz festival has used me as their IT consultant. That was where I got it from. I think it had been in use in a congregation that returned it as past of the deal when buying something new. On my NE2 there also is a tape label saying "Spalding", so I suspect that in between the return from the congregation and me buying it, it had been used by someone during the 2016 trippel, outdoor concert where Esperanza Spalding, Joss Stone and Ane Brun took part.

[@kalmandavid3669]

Oscar Toft Great! If you decide to sell it, im willing to buy it from you! :D

[@mobileoscar]

@@kalmandavid3669 Good to know, but I think I'll stay with this one :-)

[@ezekieltacsuan351]

I wanna buy it too Oscar toft just let me know

[@LCMUSICSTUDIOS]

great video woody!!!!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

+LC MUSIC STUDIOS thanks for your support!

[@ldifalco2010]

Hmm, I actually still have my 34 year old Yamaha PF10 in a closet. This thing breaths new life into that old dog and I am referring to the keyboard. Nice!

[@NathanChisholm041]

Maybe its time for it to come out off the closet! lol

[@ldifalco2010]

@@NathanChisholm041 Hmm, I can't for the life of me remember why I commented about my PF10 on this video however, a year later, it's still in the closet :)

[@zapphoddbubbahbrox5681]

This would be so Monty Python if not for the pants.

[@mcvitieskb]

please do a juno 106 review! great work btw

[@WoodyPianoShack]

don't have a 106, but might see a juno 6 one day.

[@anos80nunes80]

👏👏👏👏👏seus vídeos são muitos bons !!!!!🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@johncitizen8828]

Thanks for this video (and your email!) Woody. This demo has influenced me to chase one of these down. I was going to get something cheaper, but damn, the sound of this has me sold. Currently looking for a second hand one... fingers crossed.

[@GerenM63]

Hey, I know it's been a few months, but if you haven't found one, I think there's one sitting at Coffey Music in Westminster, Maryland.

[@johncitizen8828]

Geren W. Mortensen, Jr. HeyGeren - thanks for the heads up, but I was able to find one second hand at a reasonable price here in Melbourne, Australia. It’s been keeping me sane during lockdown. 🙂 I’ve only had it for a few months, but my playing has improved in leaps and bounds since. 😀

[@GerenM63]

@@johncitizen8828 Glad you found one. But, damn, I guess I'm going to have to buy the one here (I was in the store today, and it's still there....). ;) I was actually in there looking for something else (an old Casio XW-G1 or XW-P1 from about 8 years ago, and to see what he has in the way of overdrive pedals). Damn if he doesn't have an XW-G1 new in the box. The shop owner say's he'll make me an offer I can't refuse... LOL!

[@johncitizen8828]

Geren W. Mortensen, Jr. Well, I can report that I am VERY happy with my Nord Electro 2. I was a little worried about getting something that nice (coming from using a terrible 32 key MIDI keyboard), as I wasn’t really sure that I had the skill level to justify the outlay of cash. I shouldn’t have worried. Having an instrumental that feels like quality to touch (in terms of build and responsiveness) and, of course the SOUND has just meant that I am playing it more and more, and that naturally has translated to an improvement in my skill. My initial goal was to simply be able to ‘improvise’ somewhat in a jazz style, and I am now able to do that in several different keys (with a few hiccups, for sure!) - so I’m very happy to have achieved that base level of ability. Now, just to build on that foundation and become more fluid.

[@GerenM63]

@@johncitizen8828 That's awesome! I've been playing off-and-on for a long time (almost 50 years), but I just don't get the time to practice like I'd like to, and I've lost a lot of my chops. I'm sure my bandmates wished I'd practice more, too! LOL! The important thing is to have fun. I have a few touring keyboard friends, and when I talk to them and tell them how mediocre I feel sometimes, they look me in the eye and tell me that as long as I'm having fun, that's all that matters.

[@lizsings70s]

Are there strings and harpsichord sounds which I can layer?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

no layering on the older electros, on the new ones, yes.

[@asimpletune]

What kind of keyboard stand is that?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

roland

[@asimpletune]

@@WoodyPianoShack thanks! I love the Rhodes look that it gives. It’s hard to find information it online though. Does it fold down in any way, or is it meant to be setup once? Also would it be good for a nord stage 3 compact? Also is it heavy? Like heavier than a double braces x stand?

[@Mistériosdostempos]

The big sond Man, thanks

[@indiefilmcomposer]

Is this your favorite Electro of all time? Good deal used .....

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yes it still is, but part of that might be nostalgia for all the great gigs and times I had with the 2. there are more features now, primarily better acoustic pianos, but the core sounds of rhodes and hammond are much the same. $450 for an E2.

[@indiefilmcomposer]

Woody Piano Shack good to know as i have good vst grand pianos and want this for the rhodes, organs, etc.....my roland integra just doesnt cut it for EP and neither do the VSTs......thanks

[@adamf.4823]

Where can I find one for $450?

[@anthonyparks505]

probably in Norway, impossible to find this cheap in the US

[@spectralknights2]

cool. have u tried the yamaha reface electric piano and organ?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

no i have not, have not appealed to me so much.

[@ado.9364]

Hi ! What stand is this ? Its nice :D

[@johncitizen8828]

No Delay or Reverb on the NE2, though? Thats a bit of a bummer.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

john, that's actually what appeals to me, especially playing live, the sound is not muddied up, those clean sounds punch through so much better for it! I don't really like lashings of verb and delay on my epianos and organs :)

[@johncitizen8828]

Woody Piano Shack Fair play. I like a bit of both - as it’s fun to make bellowing psychedelic soundscapes with delay and verb! 😀 Nothing that couldn’t be sorted out with a couple of pedals plugged into the Electro 2!

[@LuisFlores-xr5bu]

name of the keyboard stand?

[@instrumentalistjade8367]

i used to have a nord electro 2 rack, and i also tried a 73 electro and a 61 keys twice. 😀😂

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that makes it 8 for us combined then :)

[@TheFreedomTree]

Also. Are these stock sounds to this Nord keyboard?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yeah. the stock samples, although I've adjusted the FX to taste

[@youmilkpack]

I got my rack for 160usd. Sounds like I might keep it then :)

[@TransistorBased]

Good Lord that's one hell of a find

[@tobiasweiss847]

Hi, I am considering buying a Nord Electro 3 61. The offer is 750 Euro. Anybody any things I should consider? Kind of pros and cons...

[@s1kru963]

Tobias Weiss Hi. I bought an Electro 3 73 for 700 Euro a month ago. It sounds great! You can load all Sounds from the nord library. The only argument against it is that it hasn‘t got 88 and no hammer Action, and maybe that you can‘t Play 2 or more Sounds at the same time. But if you don‘t want an actual epiano then the e3 is the right choice.

[@bencheshire]

looks like the action doesn't really support clavinet play need a way quicker action, less weighted.

[@bencheshire]

also sweet playing with the distortion there Woody. 8:40

[@trappersounds1308]

Why do I keep getting piano app ads while I already have been playing organ for 9 years

[@WoodyPianoShack]

always more to learn... :D

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Nice.

[@MrCaptk7]

What type amp are using?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

would have been my roland cube (guitar amp)

[@brianwolle2509]

yeah i just got a used one for $600... i wish mine sounded that good... sounds a little muffled. i turned off all the effects. i dunno. something going on.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

weird, though the instruments that this board emulates are not very hi-fi anyway.

[@mobileoscar]

@Brian Wolle It might help doing what I did this spring. I bought mine back in 2016. This spring I used some time upgrading the OS to version 3.04. Then I reloaded everything else to. I'm not sure what made the difference, but somehow it feels like my keyboard sounds better after the upgade and reloading.

[@deanthornemusic]

@@mobileoscar Hi Oscar, would you mind helping me with that? I can't find any info on it

[@mobileoscar]

​@@deanthornemusic I'll have to do some thinking back. It was not easy at all until I found out how to do it. Lots of searching in the Nord forums and combining information. Didn't find all the info in one place. At the time I thought about writing a thorough post about it myself, but it got lost in a lot of other, at the time, more important tasks. As far as I remember it was three step job. 1. I upgraded the OS using the tool that you find for it on the web site of the company. I think I used an USB cable. 2. I used the Nord Electro Tool for loading the pianos. Think I used an USB cable for that too. 3. I used a MIDI cable connected to my computer through my USB based Focusrite sound card to dump a MIDi file, or two, to the keyboard using the program MIDI-OX. It's important to use a MIDI cable. These keyboards are so old they don't have MIDI through USB. Important for all, or at least some, of the above steps are that you use a Windows computer with a 32 bit version of windows. I also don't quite remember if it had to be Windows XP or Vista, or if you could use a 32 bit Windows 7. Lots of steps. I'm also not sure whether I remember wrongly and have switched step 2 and 3 above. I think the factory piano banks are loaded by one file in step 3, and other programs by another file. You then may manage them, and download alternative pianos, in step 2.

[@sean-fw7zi]

the kronos x has a great rhodes

[@johanneisgruber5918]

I Want Do the sound of organ better. With Drawbar 800000008 there is a Strange sound on the highest A and G. Try to send a video to you but your Adress didnt match

[@MrRyancangri]

We didn't hear the Fack sounds.

[@maximenicolas54]

ahahahaha did you ever played on a real rhodes?? ^^because it feels very different than the Nord one, once you tried the read rhodes you actually realize that clavia one seems to be "dead" ^^

[@WoodyPianoShack]

as sampled rhodes go, i think the nord is great! but no match for the experience and sound of playing the real thing of course. it's all about compromise, i can't put a rhodes on my back.

[@maximenicolas54]

Of course, nothings is better than an original ;) did you try the Keycap Rhodes? I know it is not a real one but the feeling is just awesome and the mechanical sound is.... wow ^^ if you have the chance to try it, play on it, it is surprising :o

[@NURREDIN]

There are three important things to remember about the Rhodes.1.Every day the tines deteriorate. It NEVER sounds consistently the same. 2. It's a b*tch to carry to gigs,and unless you use effects pedals,it only has ONE SOUND.3.The most important ....When you're playing for a thousand drunks in Vegas,they can't tell the difference between the original and the Nord.

[@maximenicolas54]

Hi! I agree, it is not that easy to take a 110kg suitcase Rhodes on stage hahaha! ^^ and public won't make the difference, not only in Vegas but everybody! I use to play visual rhodes on stage, but sometimes i had the opportunity to play on real ones, and i do remember that there was something really different about the feeling, i was a bit impressed the real Rhodes seemmed to be "alive" under my fingers... "It has one sound". Yes, but WHAT A SOUND!!!! :D I know that it is strange but there is something magical in a real rhodes piano... If the public won't make a difference, I, as a musician, enjoy myself by playing a real Rhodes electric piano, but I totally understand your opinion! ;)

[@NURREDIN]

I agree with you it is a great instrument. I just needed something that has more sounds and is more portable.I gave mine away and i wish i had it back to keep in my studio. .It's so hard to get parts,and I only know of one competent repair house in America called Vintage Vibe Electric Piano and they do work on Rhodes and Wurlitzer pianos.

[@______BS______]

Sheesh

[@williannascimento5245]

Fala demais

[@Razerblue6]

Why are you exactly reviewing with an Electro 2 in 2016? If it was an Electro 4 or 5 I'd understand, but could you please elaborate?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

glad to! 1) samples are the same, they sound the same, 2) i like to highlight older gear that can be found cheap and still sounds great, 3) the NE2 is still my favorite keyboard, this is my tribute, 4) I don't have a newer electro!

[@staceycarras3815]

@@WoodyPianoShack Answered like a BOSS !, 10/10 Response, you rule Woody, keep up the good work :), after all, how can your average working class good boy afford a brand new NORD ?

[@dougkelly7325]

Wish more playing less talking. Thank you for the video

[@thebigvoro]

the piano sound sucks a lot

[@thebigvoro]

@Dandre Jefferson all sounds r great in this keyboars, and i love the hammond and the ep's, but the piano...I dont know what Nord deed, but they sound just like plasticky, midi poor soud...maybe it is just me, an I am used to play Roland sounds (specially the RD700, 800 and 2000)...But I am not the only one who thinks like that. Anyway, no personal problem with Nord, they deed a cool job, and maybe the red pianos r a little bit overprised, but they r also great.