The Nord Electro - a boon for keyboard players

Here is my Nord 2 from 2003: why would I demo a 15 year old bit of kit? Well...
These can be had for a good price, and the sounds have to be heard to be believed. No silly menus or navigation through displays - you turn the knobs and play. The sounds on it total seven: two Rhodes, a Wurli, Clavinet, electric grand (Yamaha CP-80), an acoustic piano, and the Hammond organ. Is there anything else you need? Nah...
Awesome bit of kit...
You'll probably realise why I'll never sell mine..

[@HyraxEC]

Dan, this is a valuable demo for all Nord Electro users. The older Nords are more basic and simple to use than the latest models and are still fantastic musical instruments. They keep their value and are light, durable and handy. Compliment and thanks for your clear analysis and sound illustrations! (I owned NE2-63 today NE5-73HP).

[@cmpretlove]

Every single one of your videos is an absolute joy to watch. Thank you so much.

[@DanBakerMusic]

Cheers Chris and sorry for my late reply.

[@gordonbainbridge8371]

This is an incredibly good video. It is comprehensive, clear and useful. Thanks.

[@atomboyd]

Much appreciated. Just came by a 73 key version of this for a steal and am totally in love. Really appreciate anything so good that I don't care if I have the latest and greatest.

[@dougallmark4198]

Hi Dan, thank you kindly for this wonderful demo and explanation of this awesome pieceof kit. Only those who (1) have a good ear and (2) have the experience to "hear" the different sounds used on those classic recordings can fully appreciate this instrument.

[@jonnno243]

Hi Dan.I have an electro 2 rack. And I have enjoyed it for years. Recently, I have been looking for a good Yamaha CP80 sound.I didnt really find what I wanted.Then I thought about the electro 2. Using the Electric Piano, and careful adjustment of chorus ,presence, and other parameters, I have come up with, to my ears, a VERY good CP80 sound.

[@DanBakerMusic]

It’s amazing how this unit still stands firmly on its feet, 20 years on...

[@michaelhagglund7136]

Hi Dan, thanks for the informative video! I'm happy to say that I picked one of these up a week ago, and am enjoying it! Being able to use a midi keyboard of choice with this Nord is perfect. Guitar Center here in the US neglected to mention that they were selling me a 230 volt module not compatible with US voltage, so I ended up with the module along with a ten pound transformer brick. Fortunately, I knew how to change the fuse and internal voltage, so all is well.

[@phoenixs0und]

You're are right about the upright piano- thanks for the vid- helped me decide on a cheap electro 2 instead of an expensive electro 6

[@clearlyepic9958]

Wish I had your jazz knowledge Dan! You’re a great resource brother!

[@DanBakerMusic]

Thanks!

[@steveburholtkeys]

Great video Dan! Although the rotary simulator is definitely better in the later Nord models, the electro 2 hammond sound (and the Rhodes) has got great character.

[@SuneSchack]

I have one. Best thing EVER 🎹💫🎶⭐️🙏

[@steveraschella1878]

PLEASE tell me where I can find one of these. I left Nord (electro 4,5 stage 2) because I dislike the stock fatar8O keybed. Using my current keyboard w this Nord Electro Rack 2 would be heaven

[@kiko1935]

The website reverb

[@TimHuffman3]

Great video of the electro rack. 🔥🔥

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

Fantastic video!

[@Oliver_Lingard]

How did you connect the rack 2? Is it just plugged in through keyboards MIDI, or through something else? Also, would this work on a Nord Grand, as the Grand dosnt have an organ engine?

[@DonaldWaughmusic]

I just got the Nord Electro 2 Seventy Three a few days ago (2021) and I was unable to get the free sounds on to it because my computer is 64 bit. I had to borrow my wife’s old acre laptop (32 bit) to add the sounds. This is how the Electro 2 won’t evade obsolescence at least with the switching of sounds… darn. Any how, I got it work and it sounds amazing.

[@edwarhotchkyss4197]

Vale a pena hoje um nord electro 2 com 61 teclas? Consigo por 1300 dólares na Argentina.

[@nickbaigent2714]

Many thanks for making this. Will the rack 2 work for all 88 notes of a controller keyboard?

[@therogueasian]

Hi Dan! I need to update the operating system on my nord electro rack 2. Did you ever have to do this? My computer isn't recognizing the instrument through the MIDI port (which is used for updating instead of the USB). Any advice? If you ever did this, I'd love to know what midi-usb adapter you used. Thanks!

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

I don't know why Clavia didn't make more of these brilliant modules with later model Nords.

[@Funkybassuk]

What about the clavinet sound?

[@darrenbrock8372]

Hi Dan. I would like to ask you a few questions regarding the Nord Rack. Any advice or help will be greatly appreciated if you have time. I need a stand alone module purely to generate an acoustic piano sound. I have no desire to start using lap tops and VST samples as this is just for live gigs and will be carted around in a flight case so needs to be tough and simple.I have been gigging for over 43 years and my music tech is stuck i the 80's!! Your Nord rack is no longer a budget option for sounds and like a lot of older gear is now in demand again. I intend to trigger the Nord with either my old Rhodes Mk1 or a Vintage Vibe. Both have QRS Midi kits installed. I am aware the Nord Electro 2 is an older bit of kit and the factory acoustic pianos do not appear to get a very good reception. The acoustic piano sound you played in your video is great. And on stage in a mix will be as good as any 2024 digital sound. I have been on the Nord website and can not find any downloads for this older bit of kit? Unless I miss understood you say the piano sound was a download and not one that came with the rack? Thanks again. Regards Darren

[@DanBakerMusic]

Hi Darren, I reckon the Nord piano sounds are good but they don’t get a particularly good reputation because they’re quite a lot quieter than other patches and do lack a bit of mid range-that said, if you store other sounds on the Nord at a lower output level, then the piano balances out. I haven’t been on the Nord website for years, but the sound I downloaded was their upright piano model, a welcome sound in my view… Yes, my module is 20 years old, but really stands up well and it’s great for live work as there’s no computers, fragile USB sockets or problems with OS!

[@darrenbrock8372]

@@DanBakerMusic Thank you Dan for the reply. I have just found and purchased one no longer a "cheap bargain" but will do exactly what I need. Like all old gear these now seem to be sought after!! Regards.

[@Jim_KYB]

Never understood why they put the power button on the back of a rack unit?

[@DanBakerMusic]

Yes. That is a little bit weird when it comes to racking one up..

[@cbolt4492]

I want one of these 😎

[@faisalfouad2145]

I have been looking for one of these for a whole month now and I still can't find a single one for sale any where in the world!! Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance

[@DanBakerMusic]

Yes-I’ve had a look too and I can’t find one. If I do come across one I’ll contact you..

[@faisalfouad2145]

@@DanBakerMusic Thanks Dan, great review btw

[@musique4581]

Great video. Seems that these rack versions are hard to come by these days.

[@darrenbrock8372]

3.50 secs Street Life ???

[@swagbro88minecraft20]

Do you have a recommendation on a midi keyboard to use for it?

[@DanBakerMusic]

It’s a tricky one given that there are pianos (that need weighted keys) and organs (that need non-weighted). If you can get used to weighted keys for the organ, I’d go with weighted keys and anything MIDI will work fine. You can’t use USB keyboard though...

[@carlopolli3995]

Because you just want reverb?

[@carjepseb]

What are you connecting til Nord 2 rack into?

[@DanBakerMusic]

I use a Roland FP-4 to control the Nord and the audio just goes straight into the mixing desk..