Nord Stage 3 versus Nord Stage 2 Comparison and Feature Details

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In this video, we compare the Nord Stage 3 and the Nord Stage 2 side by side, feature by feature. If you are in the market for a new Nord Keyboard or already own an Nord Piano, Nord Electro or Nord Wave 2 and are considering a move to the Stage family, this video may help you with your decision.

These two Stage keyboards are brothers from the same Nord family with many similarities and share most of the same great Nord features and capabilities. Yet, there are a few key differences that can affect your purchase decision and may make it challenging to choose which one you obtain.

I also touch upon several other Nord features, many of which I already have a dedicated video for on the channel, where I explain what a given feature is, provide some background and history, and then finally show you in great detail how to use a given feature.

It's possible that I missed something along the way, but I did my best to include all the most important items (or at least the ones that were a factor in my decision/research early on). Thanks for watching! 🎹

*Other links mentioned in this video*

* Some links above are affiliate links providing me a small commission to help support the channel. The price is the same to you even if you use the links for your purchase. Thank you! 🙏🏻

[ldifalco]

One mistake: The Stage 2EX HP76 does have a hammer portable action. The EX HP76 is 27 pounds, the Stage 2 76 weighs 36 pounds because of the action. The chart is wrong. If you look at the Stage 2EX chart comparison you'll see the action comparison is different.

[darrickkeels]

Another nice practical video that can help a person make a buying decision. I already own the Stage 3 but I still watched this entire video for the education. Well done Marc!

[teashea]

Another great video Marc. I was playing my Electro 6 yesterday and was thinking about your videos.

[gorapopkin]

Congratulations Mark !
You're doing an incredible job!
Good luck with your Sweetwater journey!

[davevaebutuoy]

Your mention of people spending crazy amounts to buy old synths is definitely true. In 1981, I bought an analog Roland SH-3 synth for something like $100. Two years ago, I sold it online for $800! It had extra LFO's which made for some nice sounds, but it had some issues too (could only play one key at a time, and it drifted out of tune from left to right on the keyboard -- some analog part had obviously failed). There's no way it replaced $800 of functionality on my NS3! It did help to pay for it though!!

[WayneConrey]

Would love a comparison video of the stage 3 vs Stage 4

[Cyan]

There are seamless transitions on the Stage 2. They don't even know their own products it seems.
All you have to do is switch between slot A and B while playing. No abrupt disconnects there.
I understand that this is about program switching but still, the Stage 2 does have seamless transitions.

[haroldA]

Can't imagine buying a Stage 3 and then they release Stage 4 any moment from now. Cos Stage 3 certainly needs some improvements in a few areas such as the storage available for the piano and synth samples. And of course.... the keybed

[MinheeJones]

Hi Marc! Thanks for all the amazing Nord insights!! I have a quick question that I think I sadly know the answer to :( I am doing a fly show in a remote place where the festival can only get a hold of Nord Stage 2s and I am a Stage 3 user. Can I just change the filenames on my .ns3f program files to .ns2p and load them onto the NS2s? Or, if I sample all of my sounds in the Nord Sample Editor, can I export those to the Nord Stage 2? Is there a less annoying way to do this or am I screwed haha. Thanks in advance!!

[jaydezproductions]

Great video Marc, I ask you about these two boards Friday and wow you have a full video today, It really helped me out a lot! Still waiting on that Piano 5 vid though!! LOL!!

[Gordon]

I had to Pause this video and add that, for someone like me, who is looking to purchase either a Stage 2 73 Maybe76 OR a Stage 3 73 Maybe 76 (If I'm lucky enough to find one in my budget price range)... This Video is absolutely Golden. Great job!

[jpag]

Hi Marc and thank you again for your detailed presentations.

I hung onto my NS2 HA88 when I migrated to the NS3 88 back in 2017. The NS2 is my backup - which has come in handy on a number of occasions. I also have a (no longer functioning) NS1 HA88 that was my primary keyboard for about a half dozen years prior to purchasing the NS2.

There’re a good many anecdotes and adventures to share re my NS1, 2 and 3 - though today I’m going to investigate using an iPad Pro, a MacBook Pro and forScore to send program changes. Although I like to change sounds on the fly, this feature could come in handy nonetheless.

Have you noticed that the NS2 seems to be built a little more solidly than the NS3?

Thanks again!

[OrangeTreeChannel]

wow! That is very detailed, exactly what I need. I'm considering buying a keyboard more acquainted to stage.
Thanks a lot!

[danielmikkelsen]

So great to watch this comparison! i was wondering about that, and I think I will hold out for a Stage 3. But I'm finally getting to a point of investing in a Lead A1, some time soon. That is a bit more realistic these days with energie prices here in EU skyrocketing, and I'll still look forward to a Stage 3 some time later. So I think that great Lead A1 synth capability would be fine for me now. By the way, hope you make a video some time about it's synth engine 😀

[rijschoolgeluk]

Hi Marco. I am sandra from Holland. I have a nord stage 2 ..
There is no steedrum in it.
Can you help me where i can download and inserts the file #😅 i don't know if i White it down correctie...#
Into my nord stage 2 .
Thanks for all the video's. Great job .😊

[eutet]

you compared the Nord stage 3 with the Nord stage 2 EXm which is from 2017, it's an update from te version of 2011. so you did not compare it with the first Nord stage 2's

[JaK]

I wonder how many years it'll take for the Stage 4!