Nord Stage 4 vs. Yamaha YC88 - Electric Piano, Clav, and Harpsichord Sound Comparison

[@furiobisotti8150]

I had a bad experience with a Nord Stage3. I bought it and sell it after 2 months. Recently I bought an YC73 to play live and I love it. I will try to test a Stage4 soon. But I think I will keep my YC. Nord gives more (synth) but costs more, no doubt. For synths and Hammond I use VSTs, and YC has a perfect audio board!

[@Notmehimorthem]

I share your opinion of the Stage 3, I could not live with the action. The Stage 4 is much better.

[@Redbuzzcut]

Thank you for these great reviews. These are both phenomenal keyboards! In 2021 I compared the Nord Stage 3 with the YC88 as I needed a good gigging board and these were the best two choices (to me) back then. Though I loved the capability of the Nord I just couldn't justify the extra $1k for what I'm doing. The Nord 3 also didn't have the organ slide bars, it had some push button thing that was rather dumb and slow, glad to see they've improved on that. That said, I am still very happy with the YC88. The sound patches are great and the dual XLR outputs make this good choice to limit some gear. Performance-wise I haven't had a single issue with the YC88. Keep up the great work!

[@lucasvicentedemorais]

Comprei meu YC essa semana e com certeza, foi a melhor escolha. ❤

[@DojoOfCool]

I am a big Rhodes fan like to try and use the stock sounds with maybe only a little reverb. Lately I've been spending a lot of time on my Stage 3 Rhodes and the new Rhodes sound Nord just released. Nord's Rhodes sounds what eight or nine now have gone from very full bottom and not to bright on top on EP01 to more and more bright over the years. They also went from a open sound to more and more in your face over the years. To me they also sound more and more compressed especially last couple. The Nord Ondre J Signature EPs package has a couple good sounding Rhodes. Looking the settings in the Ondre J sounds the the setting being used. Then checking out the settings of some people using Nord Rhodes sounds I like I come to conclusion the stock sounds need to be tweaked for a good live sound. The Nord Wurlitzer sounds to me are very weak. The YC I like the sounds and hope I can find a YC to demo to hear them in person. At this time my favorite EP sounds are the ones in Keyscape.

[@davidswan4521]

I’ve played acoustic harpsichord for many years, ( a 2 manual French double and small English bentside spinet) the Nord harpsichord samples are much much closer to an acoustic sound then any other brand that I tried. The Yamaha harpsichord sounds are too “electric” sounding to me. I bought a Nord Stage 3 for that reason. The Nord sampled harpsichords include both French Double and an Italian harpsichords including 8’, 8 + 4’, and lute stops. I will use the Nord A and B panels to combine these in different configurations that are very close to what my French double sounded like. Also much easier to move the Nord rather than a French double harpsichord. Now just need to get a Nord stage 4 so I can get back to having 2 manuals! Hope this helps.

[@DSoundman]

Nice! Great tip to layer them!

[@agusr32]

have you heard the kurzweil forte samples of harpsichords? I think they are very nice

[@1970piano]

Good comparison, but it lacks the very good new „Stockholm“ Rhodes sample from Nord. Until they released this (two weeks ago), i used my yc73 as a Rhodes substitute more than my Nord Stage. But now things changed. The new Nord Stockholm EP (EP9) is at least as good as the best Yamaha Rhodes samples.

[@DSoundman]

Thanks! I can’t wait to try that one, I just got back from vacation and haven’t had a chance to download yet!

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

Is the new Stockholm EP sound available for the Nord Stage 3?

[@1970piano]

Yes

[@RogerT-kt3zd]

Dude one sound isn’t going to save the nord in this comparison, glad i returned my stage 4 and re-bought the YC88

[@_classic_rob_]

Yamaha for daysss. Love my YC88. Only thing I want now is the new Montage from Yamaha.

[@Notmehimorthem]

Thank you. I have the Stage 4. I love the (downloadable) Stockholm with a little tremolo. It's now replaced my piano as my goto.

[@davlippo7]

One obvious point why drag a $6K unit around to get banged up on the road when you can risk half as much with the YC and get basically the same required sounds?

[@aderemyfav]

More comparison please!! Love your video and sharing!

[@Seaglass78]

Dyno on the Nord doesn’t stand for “dynamic” it imitates a common Rhodes mod - the Dyno mod which emphasizes the bell tone.

[@istominmusic]

Thanks for the comparison! But it's not quite fair because the Yamaha sounds more voluminous because of the reverb. At the same time, the NORD has a drier sound, so of course they sound different. I would do a comparison with the reverb switched off to get closer to these instruments. But of course it was very interesting to see. Thanks for your video!

[@matthewgaines10]

Both are quite usable. I would choose the less expensive of the two.

[@jhn1987]

I recently bought the YC73 and so far I’m very happy with it. The ability to adjust the depth and offset as well as the master EQ is a real game changer. I’m still learning my way around this keyboard. If you could do a video on customizing the EP sounds it would be much appreciated.

[@itsmaistro]

My only issue as to why i returned my was because the dynamics in the sounds is drastically different than the yc61. The yc61 dynamics are wider and brighter while the yc83 has a more quitter and compressed dynamic

[@jhn1987]

@@itsmaistro Did you get into the menus and start customizing the depth & offset? When I did this I went from liking to absolutely loving my YC73. It completely changed the dynamics and feel of the keyboard.

[@itsmaistro]

@@jhn1987 I didn't did that help wiring the sound? What does that do ?

[@jhn1987]

@@itsmaistro I’m not sure what you meant by wiring. I spent some time experimenting with the depth, offset, & master EQ and IMO, the dynamics of the YC 73 really came alive. It also changed the feel of the keyboard. If you ever have the chance to experiment with these settings on a YC keyboard, I would be interested in hearing your opinion about what you think.

[@itsmaistro]

@@jhn1987 I'm sorry, typo, I meant with not wiring

[@orevaefeturi5306]

Awesome demo...I am a fan of the Yamaha and Nord keyboard...for me both keyboards are awesome...if you ask me to pick I take both...For those ballads and cool R&B music the Nord will do well...for the funky groovy R&B the YC will be cool...thanks for the demo...for me it also depends on one's pocket getting the Nord but if you can get Nord Stage 4,ll tell you is worth getting due to its new tech and new features which I believe Yamaha will be cooking something soon(appreciating the CK series that just came out)

[@ubrhsjvrkskbdkabaoehdnxk-xh5bq]

Not surprised at all the nord should sound better than the yamaha as it should cosidering the price.

[@sollymolete1015]

I love th Nord Stage4 guys but on this one the Yamaha is just Better Maybe due to the light reverbs it comes with. you wont suddenly rock up and play on the Nord without making adjustments. with the yamaha yes

[@oleandersrberg8061]

Yamaha all the way

[@Daring2Win]

The YC sounds a lot more sanitized. I love the rhodes sounds on my Tyros 5 (factory and expansion), but they have a sheen that a real rhodes can't achieve unless expertly voiced, setup, & mic'd.

[@agartthamishkan2054]

YC is brighter and more expressive than Nord in EP

[@Bashanvibe]

The YC is brighter!!! I wonder if the Nord can EQ to get the same effect!!! But out of the box the YC is brighter but not a deal breaker!!!

[@agartthamishkan2054]

@@Bashanvibe in certain situations EP's can turn out to be quite small as a sound in YC, in that case in addition to "dumper resonance" try adding the internal effect "comp/EQ compressor" but at or near 0, it sounds like heresy but in this case it greatly increases expressiveness and warmness

[@Daring2Win]

You have obviously never played a nord. You can get WHATEVER tone you could imagine from their rhodes samples. I was able to mimic a couple of famous recordings ('Lovin You' & 'Angela'). I'm nit sure about the YC, but there is no way to generalize the character of any of the Nord ep's. The acoustic pianos do suffer from a bit of ambient murkiness, but this also lends a great deal to the authenticity. I do wish Nord would add a couple of sterile Yamaha-esque sample sets with Nord's release samples.

[@agartthamishkan2054]

@@Daring2Win dear, i just played nord for 10 years

[@agartthamishkan2054]

which effect do you use on the YC?

[@DSoundman]

I didn’t purposely add any effects, but I realized after making the video that the reverb effect was on even though the amount was set to 0 there was still a little bleed through.

[@agartthamishkan2054]

@@DSoundman YC EP works much better with the 'damper resonance' effect on

[@DSoundman]

I think that was on as well, I’ll have to check when I get back home. 😀

[@calebrabion]

The YC gets me in my feels. The Nord snaps me out of my feels... Out of the box, Yamaha eats the Nord for breakfast.

[@nostandingonlydancin]

Nord has no effects or eq. The Yammy is smothered in reverb, soI feel the opposite. The Nord gets me, and has more range than the Yamaha which is super boosted in the upper mids. Very useful for live use I guess. All that can be achieved on the Nord too. For me the Yamaha is left sounding dated. Funny how we all feel so differently! 😊

[@RogerT-kt3zd]

@@nostandingonlydancinYou can’t be serious? i had my stage 4 for nearly 2 weeks before i returned it, The YC destroys the nord in piano & EP Sounds it’s not even close if you want to start talking about which sounds more authentic. Nord has a great organ & synth but when it comes to any kind of piano, no contest.

[@kennethmuiruri4794]

Yamaha wins today.

[@Seaglass78]

Nord demo is dry, Yamaha has effects all over it and is louder.

[@nostandingonlydancin]

Coreect

[@RogerT-kt3zd]

Yamaha just sounds better if we are being completely honest, i’ve heard better EP sounds off $300 keyboards than what the nord has, i returned mine after 2 weeks

[@alllanlevi16]

Yamaha melhor

[@earlsignar4105]

Yamaha forever

[@costrow3100]

Big difference. The Yamaha is tinny and has too much noise coming off the individual keys. I play a Mason & Hamlin piano and the Nord French harpsichord would blend for baroque composers like Rameau. I’ve been looking for an antique harpsichord but it’s even difficult to find in NYC or New England so looking at alternatives. Thanks for the demo.

[@diyez5bemol9]

Acoustic Pianos Nord>Yamaha Rhodes Yamaha>Nord

[@JohnAReese]

Yamaha Rhodes, Nord Pianos

[@ytpremium7649]

18:50 Yamaha failed, Nord eats it for lunch with the most amazing Rhodes Affair Luis Miguel style Dyno EPs

[@johnscott4693]

Unimpressive and illogical as: 1. Out of date 2. Doesn’t consider effects & adjustment 3. Doesn’t consider cut through in a Band.

[@matthewgaines10]

We could be here all day considering effects and adjustments. You comments are illogical and are an irrational expectation. I don’t see how it’s out of date being that these are setting currently available on two currently available models you can buy. Again, your comment is illogical. Considering we’re not doing a house mix, that seems out of scope. Why don’t you do the comparison video on these units and show us how it’s supposed to done. Otherwise, save your condescension for another outlet.

[@johnscott4693]

@@matthewgaines10 Grow up.