Nord Stage 4 pt 1: First test, all Programs Bank A sounds demo 1/3

[@Drum2]

a thing of beauty :)

[@patsonmusic]

It is an excellent keyboard, great first impression! Build quality, layout of different sections, layering possibilities, direct access to controls, it is very well laid out! Also the 73-key keybed is great, really a huge improvement over the old Nord Stage 2EX I had for 4 years. I liked the sounds of that one, but the keybed was not inspiring at all. This one is, a pleasure to play!

[@Latrix33]

I wish I could afford this, I really envy you. Enjoy it!

[@patsonmusic]

Thanks! I understand you completely. When this new Stage 4 was announced I felt that it is priced out of my league. Then I brought my Stage 2 EX in for a service and I had a chat with the sales guy about the Stages and other keyboards and how they felt to play. He demoed both the Stage 3 (since it was on sale) and the Stage 4. One thing led to another after I had sold off some of my keyboards including the 2 EX I was able to accept the offer I had. I'm not sure if it is worthwhile to upgrade from a Stage 3, since that is also a great keyboard, but upgrading from Stage 2 EX to the 4 brings so much more to the table. And the keybed is much, much better!

[@Drum2]

some classic 80s vibes going on in those tests ;)

[@patsonmusic]

Oh yes, I have a soft spot for 80s and 70s sounds 🙂

[@Drum2]

@@patsonmusic me too

[@patsonmusic]

@@Drum2 Then you will enjoy my Behringer Pro-800 videos, check them out! I see from one of your vids, you have a Juno-X. How do you like it? I have the sister model Jupiter-Xm, and also the JU-06A, both are really nice!

[@lollebolle8]

Great buy.

[@amirprog]

How is the keybed compared to stage 2 88? I find the stage 2 88 not responsive enough in fast repetitions, the black keys are too light as opposed to the white once, and its too easy to achive ff - harsh sound

[@patsonmusic]

I've only had the Stage 2 EX HP76 before, and they were not really good. Lots of mechanical noises and pretty light for piano-touch keys. I've never played a 88-key Stage 2. I really like the keys on my HA73, they felt a little bit heavier than I wanted them to, but after the first impression I've really come to love the feel. They feel slightly lighter than on my Yamaha P80 (a more than 20 year old epiano with a great touch).

[@stuartevans5112]

Fantastic demo nice playing thinking of buying one can't make up my mind between weighted and waterfall always played semi weighted do they have a soft feel to them , and is that 73 or 88 ?

[@patsonmusic]

Thank you very much! I was jumping back and forth between HA73 or waterfall myself. It depends if you think you will use it more for piano/synth or organ. I think it is easier to play organ on piano keys than the other way around. And it is a little bit harder to do sweeps on these keys, but you can do it with your fingers/hand on top of the keys (instead of sweeping along the sides of the keys). This the 73-key version with hammer-action keys. I wanted the piano feel and this is much lighter than the 88-key version. That said, the 73 is still 4kg heavier than my old Stage 2 EX 76 so it feels in your arms, if you have to carry it up and down stairs etc. I have the soft bag for this, but the appropriate thing would be to get the flight case (but that adds to the weight even more). And these HA keys are a little softer than for example Yamaha P80 or Clavinova piano keys. But they are not as light as the old HP76 (hammer action portable) keys on my old Stage 2 EX, which where a little bit jumpy and more Rhodes-like. Hopefully this helps you to make up your mind! I still suggest, that you go to a store where they have both the waterfall and piano versions on display, sit down for half an hour with both of them and play the styles you want to play on both keyboards!

[@stuartevans5112]

Thanks for your advice something to think about . How many layers for external voices and can you use internal and external together on one channel like roland fantom ?

[@patsonmusic]

@@stuartevans5112 You're welcome! The setup differs from Roland's. I have the FA-07 which have a similar setup with soundsets or livesets of 16 sounds. The NS4 offers 7 layers, 2 for organs, 2 piano and 3 synths. Synth layers can also be so called Extern, where you can control an external device directly from the Nord. I haven't used that feature. You can also set different MIDI channel to each layer so you can in theory have slight control if 7 external devices, I think. I've only used mine with one synth layer set to Extern so far.

[@stuartevans5112]

Thanks again I think your demos have made my mind up , will let you know !

[@stuartevans5112]

Hi i finally went with N S4. Compact 73 waterfall keys, only thing I am finding is that the keys are slightly noisy especially after my fantom 7 is that the same with the weighted keys

[@anonymous_friend]

So the stage 4 has a weighted key or synth action?

[@patsonmusic]

Both the 73 and 88 have hammer action keybed (not the hammer action portable of previous Stage models). Then there is the Stage 4 Compact with 73 key waterfall organ action keys

[@anonymous_friend]

@@patsonmusic That's the toughest choice ever. I think I would choose organ action since it has draw bars and synth patches.

[@patsonmusic]

@@anonymous_friend All Stage 4 versions have drawbars (differs from the Stage 3 where only one version had drawbars), so it is more of a matter of taste. After a few weeks I have no problem playing both synth and organ stuff on my Stage 4.

[@anonymous_friend]

@@patsonmusic That weighted action would be best suited for acoustic pianos. I'm sure its doable though.

[@patsonmusic]

@@anonymous_friend I was actually considering the waterfall keybed version, because of synth and organ, but I'm very happy now with having this version. I wouldn't want to get any other now.