Clavia Nord Piano

The nord Piano has 88 keys, stretching all 7 octaves. It has a stereo/mono output, headphone output, 3 pedal sustain input, 1/8" stereo audio input, midi in/out and usb. The keyboard has 500mb of memory that you can store any of the Nord Piano Library samples in. The great thing is they are always releasing new samples and you can keep them all on your computer and swap the internal sounds at your leisure via the software included with the keyboard. There are several effects including tremelo, phaser, auto wah, chorus, amp simulation, reverb and EQ. Yes, they can all be edited via the front panel.

UTILIZATION

The general setup of this keyboard is very basic. It's only function is to emulate traditional piano style instruments. These include Grand Piano, upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzers, Clavinets, and Harpsichords. The effects are all manipulated via the control panel and most have dedicated knobs while others have small, easy to use buttons that cycle through the options. Setup is as easy as plugging the audio output into an amp or sound system and powering on. The manual is well written and runs through the basics of what this keyboard can do. In all honesty though, there aren't any hidden features or anything that you won't notice after using this board for a half hour. The LCD display is kind of small which can be a pain, but NORD included a 5 button preset selector that lets you switch between instruments quickly and painlessly live. This is extremely handy for any performer who needs to be on his toes.

SOUNDS

The samples in this keyboard are literally the best I have ever heard. I own a real Rhodes keyboard and the sound difference between the two is almost imperceptible. In fact, the nord sounds better right now because my Rhodes needs to be tuned and have a tine replaced. The Piano samples are amazing. I admit that they don't sound as good as the Steinway in the studio I work, but they are far better than any other keyboard I have used and are extremely well received by audience and fellow musicians. We also have a Whurly A200 in the studio and Nord got that one right on too. The expressiveness of this board is really one of the biggest selling points. In one word, AMAZING! I used a cheap Maudio Keystation Pro for so long, I forgot how much expression I was missing. After sitting on the NP 88 for 1 minute, I was reminded what it feels like to play a real instrument. My love for Piano has been rekindled thanks to this board. You get a couple of options for velocity settings but I still have mine on the default and love it. The effects are fantastic. The reverb is full and lush and the amp simulations are really really good. My only beef is that the effects are not in stereo. It's not a total loss as I run my rhodes patches in mono and I don't really use effects except for reverb with the piano but it would have been nice to have stereo effects, especially for the Chorus. All the sounds on this board are excellent. It is absolutely amazing when you look at the size of some of the samples then hear them. I have huge samples of pianos on my computer that don't sound as good as these tiny (in comparison) samples.

OVERALL OPINION

What I like most about this keyboard is the sound quality, the expressiveness of the keybed and most of all, it only weighs 40lbs. Now I can have a top notch rhodes sound without killing my back every week. On top of that, I also have a spot on clavinet, whurly and harpsichord and an extremely beautiful, full, well rounded piano without having to tax my computer's CPU. The only thing I don't like is the fact that there are no Organs on this board. I guess you need to buy the "STAGE" nord keyboard for that, but it would have been nice. I paid under $2000 for a used one which is a lot of money, but, for a performing keyboardist, this is worth every penny. The sound quality is unbelievable and will impress everyone you play it for. I have used a few different keyboard from Kurzweil, Roland and Korg. The Roland boards I have used have really good actions, but I never really cared for the sounds. The Kurzweil's are aslo good but not as good as the Nord. The Korgs I have used don't come anywhere close. Yes, I highly recommend this keyboard for anyone who wants to sound amazing, have all the keyboards you wish you could have on stage without the need for Roadies and have seriously good expressive samples.

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UTILIZATION

The feel is correct (I think this is a Fatar), but it suffers from the same inherent limitations of MIDI than its congeners: a palette of nuance and velocity very limited.

SOUNDS

This is the highlight: a sample of outstanding piano, and above all original. The texture and the choice of sound make a piano unique is clearly distinguished from Japanese competitors.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it on stage for 2 years. He travels with the rest of the backline well protected in its flightcase, and for now, no faults are reported.
The keypad is embedded in a cabinet that production was custom made, and that gives the illusion of a real piano on stage!
I am regularly amused, at the end of concerts, to ask my fellow pianists - and not those of the glue in my ears! - "Then the sound of the piano, what do you think? "
The answer is always the same: "The piano? Mortal, the sound! What is it? A Yam? Stein?
- No, it's a clavia. A sample.
- What! No, you kidding here? ...

That, I think that sums up a lot of things ...

Features: nothing to add, everything has been said

UTILIZATION

light enough to touch but very nice.
simple manual but not much to say, having said that the French version is very cheap.
I do not use the South

SOUNDS

You should know what we buy: grand piano, upright piano, Rhodes, Wurly, Cp,
clavinet, harpsichord period.

This is what I wanted, so no points.
I loaded several pianos, just to compare before you choose, it's super simple. I connected the NP on the HS speakers, sound is excellent throughout, except for the mark2. I can not understand the need to propose two detuned pianos but good.

OVERALL OPINION

Bought a week ago, I had a SV1 I liked but I separated (his acoustic pianos are difficult to ring group). The NP is superior in acoustic pianos for Rhodes is about on a par (very good for both).

Even for me swells in the North: you have to pay the desk (60 € for a piece of plastic), add € 230 to cover and it is already expensive to begin with. Limit foutage of mouth, if not right into it.

The look in red, in the end I do not like.

However the sounds are at the top, nice touch, hoping that Northern provide regular new sounds (other than pianos).

How would you rate the quality / price?

Very expensive, but we know

With experience, you do again this choice? yes, but you know what you want

No possibility to connect the expression pedal, no XLR connections
USB to use North Soun Manager. MIDI control via USB untested.
Triple pedal very effective.

UTILIZATION

Touch to tame, which is easy. Provides excellent expressiveness. Everything is very easy to use.

SOUNDS

Excellent expression, samples of acoustic pianos and Wurlitzer are the best market I think hyper realistic. I appreciate the ability to adjust finely the sound, depending on the frequency, allowing for virtually created his own piano sound. The mono sound is very good. Rhodes a lot of fun to play but sounded "a little flat" compared to SV1, MK2 and clavinet zero.
Good effects, but not great wah. I much prefer those of SV1, be.aucoup more efficient, though less fine.

OVERALL OPINION

about 2 months to jazz and jazz fusion.
I like the ability to download new sounds for free (not on the SV1) and the surprises in store Clavia on its site. What bothers me is the limit of 500 MB flash memory that will quickly be exceeded by the sample size of newly proposed (and therefore "political Clavia") I can save the 120 + programs programs live, very convenient. It is true that the North is great expressiveness Piano true inspiration in jazz, which is not the case of SV1.
BUT this is not the ideal keyboard: a mixture of SV1 (effects, rhodes, clavinet, connections, look) and Northern Piano (expressive, acoustic pianos and Wurlitzer), that would be the top. Overall I prefer the SV1, more versatile, more effective for my personal use. Northern Piano may seem superfluous next, as the sounds of pianos and wurli SV1 are excellent in stereo, but thanks to its excellent expressiveness (the SV1 is expressive but after several weeks of adaptation, not easy) and original samples of acoustic pianos, North Piano is actually completely indispensable.