Yes, it's good to have him back!

Zachary, it's good you chimed in because you're the influence to move from SN Pianos to the Nord.

I don't think I'd lose technique from the Nord, even if I use it for practice. I like the weight on the keys. Substantial. Much more so than the FP7F. I think the Roland goes down too fast.

But what's forgiving about the sample is that you can't make it sound bad. There's no dynamic range that gives you poor tone (like the metallic sound at the higher dynamic ranges of the SN pianos).

I feel like I'm cheating It's too easy to sound like Keith Jarrett. If I can only do that on a real piano...LOL.

Got any recording examples from your Nord that you can share?

gotta love that fire engine red.

Congratulations Jazzwee!
Been paying attention to your other thread on sound. Don't want to muck that up with an inquiry. When you get in some good time with your new Nord. Please let me know what you think of the key action itself.
To back up a little. I haven't ever played a Nord. From my understanding. The keys on the Nord are very much like the keys on a Korg SP250. That is....both have payed attention to what is most important in the key action without having to spend a ton on an actual grand piano key action in there. Not to mention weight and size. Please correct me, anyone, if I am incorrect here?

After you trying others. Now playing this. I'd like to know what you think. Take your time. Get in experience and get used to it. I know what you have already said about easy to change back and forth from your Grand to this. I'd like to know, in the end, if others agree with me that this type of keybed in a piano keyboard is actually the best trade off. Yes, I do mean for a portable stage piano keyboard. Not comparing this to something like an Avantgrand with actual piano keys in it.

Again....congratulations...sounds like you pulled the trigger right!

Ron, I've read various comments about people wanting a "heavy" setting on keyboard. So from this I was expecting some light feeling keys.

But the opposite is true. The keys feel pretty substantial. Certainly, it is significantly heavier than the Roland FP7F. Side by side (or top/bottom in my case), the FP7F almost accelerates down as you press on key. No friction whatsoever. The Nord is more realistic to me. There's actual friction going down which is to be expected of a real piano. This allows more control to me.

I noticed my LH chords are more easily controlled with the Nord than with the FP7F.

With the keys being heavier, I thought I'd need the 'light' setting. Haven't used it once and I'm playing 16th's without any issue.

Now this is still a DP and it still doesn't compare in feel to a real Steinway. But the closeness in weight feel to the grand is reassuring. For many people, this action would be heavy and in which case they might use the 'light' setting.

Like I said earlier, the weight of the keys seem to be similar to the Casio Privias. Not exactly the same feel going down but just the general weight. I haven't played a Casio in awhile so this is just a gut feel.

In summary, I have no problem with this action at all and this is coming from someone with the new Roland PHA III with escapement right next to it. I'm actually surprised because of all the negative comments I've read.

I may change my perception as I play more but this is how it stands after a few days. I'd say that so far, I've made a perfect choice for a Stage piano.

Jazzwee, I feel the Nord Piano action, while not in the league of the MP10 or certainly not my N1 or other real grand actions, it is just as responsive and very playable. It also weighs 39lbs, and is still able to accomplish a good solid action with an amazing sound engine. I find at gigs, the longer I play on it the more I like it. I think it's a fantastic compromise for piano and EP playing.

Zachary, it's good to know I'm not alone.

I was just trying it out a moment ago and it's almost like the weight is graduated. Less at top and more as you reach bottom. Maybe this is why it works for me.

I can sense where I am. I can certainly feel where I am in a real grand action but I can't explain what allows me to feel that I'm getting the right velocity.

In contrast, I feel the weight is completely even on the Roland PHA III. Only the escapement notifies me I'm nearing bottom. Nothing tactile to alert me.

This is all a guess as it is hard to describe. I'll play around with the Roland vs. Nord tonight again some more to see if I have a better description.

Had some more time to compare the action of the Nord Piano vs. Roland PHA III on the FP7F.

I tried it several times and I really feel that the weight on the Nord keys is graded so that the first couple of millimeters seem to be lighter than when you get to the bottom.

Secondly the Nords keys are deeper than the Roland's.

The Roland hits bottom pretty hard. The Nord has more resistance at the bottom so it's hard to bang on it.

Now with power turned off, the Roland's action seemed smoother while the lack of hard contact on the bottom of the Nord makes you want to push harder. This is also the moment that it is clearly apparent that the Nord keys have more resistance than the Roland PHA III.

With the sound on, I felt the exact opposite. The response curve on the Nord gives you max sound without having to worry about hitting bottom. On the Roland, you always hit bottom.`

This is all theoretical at this point so I tried playing some fast lines and I floundered on the Roland but played flawlessly on the Nord. I can definitely say then that theoretical issues aside, in actual playing, the Nord keyboard is superior to the Roland.

I have no idea if this has to do with velocity response curves or the physical behavior of the action. I used the default setting for both keyboards.

I even tried a little bit of Chopin Etude 10/1 on the Nord and I had better accuracy and control (and no I will not record it... ).

Separately, I banged hard on each key and compared the tone with the Nord. The FP7F really does have a nice tone until you hit a certain velocity in the middle C octave. That's where this awful metallic sound is. It's not there in the upper registers.

It also gets harsh and thin at the higher velocities while the Nord never does that.

May I ask you to do a little test?
Just tap on a key lightly. Just enough to get it to move. Right at the very start. Do you find a realistic resistance that lets off to very light? Like a real piano picking up the hammer?

Yes I'd agree with a similar keybed that many have said is the exact same. But it isn't (korg RH3). Although I haven't said it before. It does increase resistance toward the bottom. Like pressing on a key with a real piano hammer movement.

Yes, I've heard all the whining about klunky and so forth on both. But what the heck do people expect? It's like you said: It's easy to go back to the real piano from this. Why? The feel of the resistance is true to life. And yes... I do like my CDP-100. Not as much as the RH3 action I've tested though.

I really had to stay true to myself in admitting I liked the RH3 action of the Korg. I'm expecting the same in the Nord. That Nord you got is a whole bunch more instrument.

I also have a NP and the answer to your question is no. The phenomenon you're describing is only present in DPs which simulate a grand piano escapement mechanism. The Nord is not among these.

Perhaps I am just rationalizing the heaviness of the initial feel of the key? I don't find this as a big presence in the feel. I have to keep honest with myself and say it does feel that way.

Please don't let me carry on in thinking the nord and korg RH3 are extremely similar. I can only go on what others have said on the Nord and Korg. I have only felt the Korg RH3.

I previously had a Korg SV-1 with the RH3 action. I wouldn't say they were "extremely" similar. To me, the Nord (Fatar) action is much more responsive and fluid than the SV-1's, which always felt somewhat sluggish in the return to me.

rnaple, I was a little confused by your description here because escapement is at the bottom, not the top.

But Aidan is right. Escapement is present on the Roland PHA III. It is not something you'd find on the Nord.

When playing really lightly like in classical, Escapement gives a nice confirmation of the bottom. But on anything with more velocity I need some better confirmation of where I am in the key range and for whatever reason, the Nord (Fatar) action let's me feel that I'm reaching bottom. On the PHA III, I'll just blast right through and there might be occasions that I'll play a chord louder and with less control than I would on a real grand.

Again, I'm not sure why this is. I'm guessing it's the graded resistance but all I know for sure is that it translates to better playing. Here's a Keyboard action that doesn't get much positive press and I'm playing it better than the better marketed PHA III with escapement and ivory feel.

And PHA III is top of the line supposedly. Goes to show that there's more to it and a lot we don't quite understand.

Reading all this .... I've pulled out the Nord Stage 2 and put it on a stand. I'm going to download some sounds tonight and give it another go.

I like the Nord piano sounds and the action connection better then the Kronos on both the NP88 & NS 2 88.

The Kronos is very good (if & when it's working right ) but to my ears it still has a bit of a "veil" over the sound that resembles that processed synth, digital vibe to me. Speaking only of the APs obviously-synth and organ stuff are a whole other world. The Nord sounds and feels more earthy or organic to me...

I think the rhodes on the Korg are superior in sound to the NP88 ( I prefer the Nord Wurli) but as an overall instrument, I'd still have to go with the NP.

Curious to see what you think DP. I've had some very positive live gig, and live group playing in the studio, experiences just within the past two weeks with the NP88.

Dave -

Have you ever used the Kawai MP10 as a controller for the Nord Piano? Superior keybed / action of the MP10, combined with the superior a. piano sound of the NP, methinks.

Lawrence

I greatly appreciate you all's input on this. I wasn't trying to deceive, or manipulate any thoughts. Just being honest. Also..in all honesty...I might be rationalizing? I look forward to trying out a Nord Piano someday.

I do also have to admit. From my days as an audiophile. It seems the very best is always underrated and has conservative info. advertising. They just let it speak for itself. In the end, it does so impressively. Just have to find out for yourself.

A good description!