GEAR REVIEW
NORD STAGE 4 88 | Brian Fox
KEY FEATURES
• Piano , organ , and synthesizer sound engines
• 88-key weighted , triple-sensor keybed
• Seamless Transitions between program changes
• 2 OLED displays for Program and Synth sections
I was given the chance to test run the new NORD Stage 4 88 over the summer , and I ’ m now a huge fan . This keyboard provides endless options for making incredible music .
As a worship leader I use the acoustic piano in our sanctuary quite often , and at times will use an old keyboard available on the platform . The acoustic has been reliable - the keyboard , challenging to navigate . So , you can imagine how pleased I have been to experiment with the NORD .
display . However , with time , the layout makes great sense . The many piano voices alone give hours of experimentation . There are two layers of piano , with many options for adjusting the effects . Found front and center , the piano options include pedal noise , room acoustics , and variations on touch . The full-sized 88 keys have a great feel to them , making this pianist very happy .
To the left is an organ section with two layers . Complete with drawbars , B3 Tonewheel , Vox , Farfisa , and Pipes , this section provides an impressive sound . While the presets are fabulous , I ’ ve really enjoyed the many ways I can experiment and control the layers on my own . I have found the B3 voices to be especially rich and useful during worship services . Because of the layout , and many buttons , I can control layers and introduce them throughout a song . Nothing is awkward , it ’ s a smooth transition from verse to chorus if you want to add a bit of organ to fill things out . my sound , but the options are so much bigger than that . The sample library is providing me hours of experimentation and I ’ m certain I have much yet to find . The NORD lets you shape synth sounds in a variety of ways allowing for great flexibility and satisfying the creative side of the musician .
The Effect section has much more potential than I am able to use . By scrolling through the sample library , I ’ m able to watch the effects panel light up with a variety of modifications to each sound . This section will appeal to sound geeks , and I ’ m certain I ’ ll eventually learn more about how to use it to modify my music .
In all , the NORD Stage 4 88 is probably more than I need as a musician . I ’ m still at the very beginning of understanding . However , at this price I would expect something that will keep me entertained and learning for many years to come . The NORD Stage 4 88 lives up to the hype and is worth the commitment .
What an incredible instrument !
At first look it can be overwhelming . 136 knobs , buttons , sliders , and switches are on
The Synth section is enormous , with three independent layers . I haven ’ t even begun to scratch the surface of what is available here . I ’ m finding this section a great help in beefing up
Oh , and did I mention how cool the red color is ?
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