Nord Stage 4: Exploring the organ settings and creating a crunchy B3 sound 🎧

[@ArnoHoogwerffotograaf]

Very nice, thanks! Gonna put this in a B3-program on my Stage 4

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

Thanks for your kind feedback!

[@marcoballa]

sounds good! 👍

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

Thanks! OK, it's no HX3 and no XK5, but in rock music context I actually prefer the Nord "B3" to my UHL organ.

[@marcoballa]

yeah! I always use my tube amped Tornado (or Motion Sound rotary) on stage, so almost all (not all🙂) clones sounds good 🙂

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

@@marcoballa Nothing beats a real "Leslie" 👍

[@maxremigio21]

No Close Mic nor Poly B3 percussion functions in prior NS4 versions :(

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

Oh, I didn't know. And I assume there is no possibility to access these functions in another way (menu)? Whereas the poly percussion is some kind of "gimmick" (because classic Hammonds don't offer this), the close mic is really helpful - almost necessary - to get a more present Leslie effect. And I totally agree that it's a shame that Clavia offers less possibilities to adjust the organ sound in their "flagships" than in the Electro series. Never understood this limiting decision.

[@itsmaistro]

Did they ever add back the rotor/horn balance setting ?

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

No, unfortunately not (until now). There are only settings for horn/rotor speed and acceleration, key click and leakage, and in the latest revision a "close mic" button. I never understood why they limited the organ settings so extremely in their "flagship". At least the organ does sound quite well despite these quirks.

[@benallen5967]

Yes.

[@boilinabag]

good! just go thru settings and let us see the display. v4 is killer!

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

Yes, thanks! I hope you’re able to see the parameters in the display. The video is unfortunately not as sharp as I hoped.

[@JC-td4gg]

Needs to add different Leslie speaker sounds. Control of Leslie speed or variations.

[@steveraschella8233]

I was wondering how Nord left the organ on this one…and its nice

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

Thanks for you comment. Although I'm not sure I've understood what you mean. Are you wondering why Nord did not improve the B3 organ compared to the Stage 3?

[@steveraschella8233]

@@Spektralfarben-Music wondering if they had improved on the stage 3…mostly the rotary

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

@@steveraschella8233 Well, I had the Stage 3 before but couldn't compare them side by side (I had to sell it to be able to buy the 4). Anyway, the basic tone/sound is basically the same (incl. percussion, chorus/vibrato section, rotary drive). They even limited the global organ settings compared to the Stage 3, but added the "close mic" button and the "Angle" function. All in all most listeners wouldn't notice any difference at all. I'm slightly happier with the overall B3 sound of the NS4 when using the "close mic" with the right EQ settings than I was before with the version 3. But perhaps this is "psychological" ;) I often wanted to tell the people at Clavia/Nord to implement the HX3 engine from Keyboardpartner into the Stage, Electro and also a new Nord C3D organ - this would be a real game changer and again a much more serious competition with Hammond and Viscount.

[@steveraschella8233]

@@Spektralfarben-Music that rotary change is profound…gotta sell some keyboards!

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

@@steveraschella8233 I actually sold 3 keyboards to buy the Stage 4 Compact - I don't regret it.

[@mikeshank3879]

No keyboard will ever replucate a tone wheel B3 with an old Leslie.

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

I totally agree!

[@h88sixtyone38]

Nord C2 organ is out dated and not amongst the best in 2024. I don’t know why Nord hadn’t updated the organ yet. Imagine Hammond selling the skx pro with Hammond xk2 or xk3 tone wheel tech. That’s about the same concept.

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

I totally agree (and Clavia calls it their "flaghip")!. I ordered the Lester K Leslie sim pedal a while ago (although I already have the Ventiltor 1), and it raises the rather "boring" Nord B3 sound into new spheres and a much more realistic and organic experience (watch my other video). While the default organ may work in band context, it's only usable with a real Leslie or a decent Leslie sim.

[@planetdog1641]

Very Pricy... off the charts, unfortunately can only consider yamaha.