GEAR REVIEW
NORD PIANO 5 88-KEY STAGE PIANO | Chase Cummins
KEY FEATURES
• 44 Different Piano Sounds
• 205 Sample Synths
• On-Board Effects
• 88 Adjustable Sensitivity Weighted Keys
PREVIEW I have been looking for a keyboard to take with me to college to be able to record in my bedroom studio , and take to live gigs for freelancing . To be honest I was having a hard time thinking if I should save my money and just get a weighted MIDI keyboard and use my laptop , or spend the extra money for a keyboard that has onboard patches , and can do MIDI . I did think it would be interesting to look into the Piano 5 because I play the Nord Stage 3 at my church every Sunday ( and have been for the last three years ). I did do my homework of course to see what all this baby had for my needs , and to be honest , for me , I ’ m quite picky . I wasn ’ t totally wowed by what I was seeing , and for the price I was to be spending . But I had to remember that this was an investment for me and it would pay off not just in money , but in serving its purpose with ease . All doubt left when I got the keyboard in hand .
PIANOS The Nord Piano 5 has 44 different Piano patches which are , 9 Grand Pianos , 9 Upright Pianos , 10 Electric Pianos , 7 Clavenets , 7 Digital Pianos , and 2 Miscellaneous ( which are just a vibraphone and a marimba ). You have the ability to change your key sensitivity , and can choose between three different detune layers for it to sound more natural . You can change the tone of your piano , adjust the acoustics such as pedal noise , soft release , and string release , and of course , you can split the ranges .
What I really love about the Piano 5 that the Piano 4 doesn ’ t have is that Nord gives you the ability to layer two pianos at the same time with individual controls for each layer , kind of like how the Stage 3 does . So if I wanted , I can have the second layer an octave higher to give me a fuller sound . The Piano 5 also comes with the triple pedal set ( damper pedal , sostenuto pedal , and sustain pedal ) versus where the Stage 3 only gives you just the sustain pedal . The Piano 5 and Stage 3 have pretty much the same piano samples , except the Piano 5 has a few additional samples , including the White