Nord Electro 6 | What's the Difference Between the Electro HP and the Electro D? 

Thanks Syed! Those are really nice things to say. Thanks for watching!

Hi Dee. No problem. Your good question sparked something which just suddenly turned into an entire video! Fun to be able to do stuff like this while the channel is small. Thanks again for your participation!

Glad you enjoyed it Michael. Lots of details in deciding which one...

Thanks for saying that. Glad it helped!

Happy to help! FYI like a lot of other keyboard manufacturers, Nord uses "Keytar" as the company that supplies the actual keys for all Nord boards except for the Nord Grand. For the Grand, it's supplied by Kawaii. As a general rule, most people are happy with the keybed with a few exceptions here and there. The hard part for people to make a decision on is to go waterfall versus weighted. Wouldn't it be great if we could just click a button and change the physical properties of the actual keybed? It's fun to dream.

Happy that this was helpful to you Kate!

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks Hitch! I appreciate it!

Thanks Lee and thanks for watching!

Thank you and thanks for watching! Neat channel you guys have too by the way...

Hi Lou! I appreciate that comment and I have to admit, it made me chuckle a bit. No goodies from Nord. I suspect that the folks at Nord have never heard of me LOL. Although I wouldn't refuse a Nord Keyboard (or goodies) if they ever threw some my way. In the meantime, we'll carry on and continue discovering. Thanks for your comment and for watching!

Thank you @Lukidoki Glad the video helped. This decision is usually one of the tougher ones to make if you're down to these two models. Best of luck!

@nahumpena1152 Nahum thank you for your comment! 👍🏻

Thanks!

Oh good - glad this helped.

Hi Cameron. Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience. I understand what you are saying here! Another option would be to get the Nord HP and then purchase a lower cost keyboard controller. Connect the controller to the Nord and use it to drive the organ in the Nord. That is almost like having your cake and eating it too. A bit less costly than purchasing a full second keyboard, a bit lighter, and potentially smaller too. Then again, it never hurts to have the options a full second keyboard gives you and it also can act as a keyboard controller itself as needed. What we really need is a button you can push, and the keybed magically changes. Maybe someday in the future?? Thanks for watching!

Hello @Caz Johnstone thanks for the comment here. Well, I listened to a LOT of Billy Joel over the years and still enjoy his music today, so perhaps there was some influence there? Thanks for watching, and good luck with your decision on a Nord keyboard.

*Thanks Jape Music!!* You are a great supporter and I really appreciate your comments and perspective. I didn't know that you always had a Hammer Action but that's good to know. I would imagine that you'd feel right at home playing on any acoustic piano as a result. I'm very happy to have the Stage 3 as a Hammer Action 76 myself and I like how Clavia offers a Stage 3 Compact because that is also a nice option. Always great to hear from you and we'll catch you on more vids soon. 😎

@@MyKeysToMusic , thank you for you reply! I forgot to tell you that I also like the melody you play in the video. What is it??

Jape Music Glad you like the melody in the video. It's something I made up on the fly but I tend to use that chord progression and vamp on it quite a bit when I'm "just playing around." I do like the way it comes out against the Nord pianos with a bit of over-exaggerated reverb added. 👍

Hi Douglas - I put a response under a similar comment you had under the Pedal Steel Guitar video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5zL5M21JATQ.html

Hi David. Thanks for sharing your experience on this. I agree (as I mentioned in the video too) that it's easier to play fast with the semi-weighted keys by far. And, you be very expressive with that keyboard type as well. I think if you ask 10 people which they prefer, you might get a 50/50 response which is likely why Nord provides both to serve the varying needs of their customers. Thanks for watching!

Hi Mike - thanks for checking in! I just grabbed whatever program I happened to be on (which must have been Wagon Wheel in this case). Then I turned on only the piano sound engine,, directed that to Grand Lady D piano and started playing. But, I can see why that would look a little strange in the video! All the reverb comes from the dial on the far right of the keyboard. There is no "piano reverb" independent of the built-in general reverb on the far right. That rule applies to all Nord Keyboards as far as I know. There is only one reverb dial/area on each keyboard. Note that on the Nord Stage 3, your reverb is independent by panel but it still uses the one dial on the right. Oh, and I was using the sustain pedal quite a bit in both song excerpts as well.

AK, Good to know! Do you travel by car or by plane?

@HarbourOfJoy Michael, You have great taste in music. So, the truth is, I was just "vamping" within one of my favorite chord progressions making it up as I go but staying within the chord progression. I use the same progression with this song, which is also largely made up on the fly (but it's a versatile chord progression used in a lot of popular music). ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bu2S8PyIrPQ.htmlfeature=shared So the magic chord progression is: C, G/B, Am, F, Fm

Hi Giuseppe di maio! Thanks for the compliment and question today. This is very interesting. I haven't heard about this anywhere. Where did you get that impression that the central octave keys are a little softer? According the the Nord videos about how they make the keyboards, the keybed is calibrated and tested during the manufacturing process to align with specific settings they are looking for. So, I suppose it's possible that an individual keyboard may be slightly different than another (but only slightly and probably something you wouldn't be able to notice? However, I haven't heard anything about this being done on purpose. If you have a link or something where I can read about it, I'm happy to explore this a bit more. Thanks for watching!

I tend to agree with this. I have gotten quite used to the waterfall (semi-weighted) keyboard and now it feels very comfortable and rewarding to me as I play it.

Hi Jeff! Thanks for the comments and support! Interesting setup - very effective. Have a look at this video first and then let us know if that answers your question. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE---ml3X1Lm-8.html Thanks for watching!

Hi Ninh Nguyen. Glad you like the video! Yes, I've decided to do an Electro 5 versus 6 at some point in the coming (several) days. Thanks for watching!

@@MyKeysToMusic Awesome! Thank you so much.

@@NinhNguyen No problem - I'll post here again when that video is complete.

Hi Ninh! To follow up with you from your original request. Today I just released a brand new comparison video on the Nord Electro 5 versus the Nord Electro 6. It took about 14 hours between research, testing, recording, and editing but I think it came out pretty good. Enjoy! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HaFzuloOXpE.html

Hi James! I didn't use a traditional "amp" per se. I took the sound outputs (left and right) and connected that into the input of the Focusrite Scarlett 18I8 audio interface (see my affiliate link here on Amazon: amzn.to/2Qwglwd). From there, the interface connects to the computer and records everything coming through the Scarlett (which also includes my microphone).

AKMusic... Wanted to update you. Got a Nord Electro 6D 61 arriving tomorrow. Let me know what questions you have and I'll see about making videos in the near future! - Marc

@@MyKeysToMusic yes i want you to upload unboxing video of it

@@MyKeysToMusic i want you to make an unboxing video of that keyboard pls?

AKmusicproductionsOfficial Great minds think alike. Already planned. It’s coming from Reverb.com so it should be interesting as it’s used/open box.

@@MyKeysToMusic send me a link when the video its out

Hi noelzhu1986. If you're just trying to play some keys, you may just want to go with the Electro 6D 61. It's a bit less money than the bigger models and you can get them used (mint condition) on reverb.com for even more savings. The 61 keys will take you a long way - especially if you are a beginner. If you haven't already seen it, you can watch me opening up my 61 key purchased from Reverb.com here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OZ2Zd7RiHJE.html Thanks for watching!

Carl. Good point about how arthritis can play a part in this. The more I work with both types of keyboards, I do prefer the waterfall over the hammer action these days as a general rule. The action of the actual Nord Grand, however, is really nice and better than the Hammer Action in my opinion.

@Paul Campbell - I just triple checked this and yes it works fine. You can use an external keyboard to drive the piano sounds using the "External Keyboard to Low" option. You would put the piano part on the low part and you could put the other two engines on the upper part and play them directly on the Electro if you wanted to as well.

@@MyKeysToMusic You hero! Thanks so much for replying, that's an awesome feature. I'm a big rhodes guy (via SV1) but this seriously makes me consider the 6D over the HP so that I can do both! God Bless

@@paulc396 Happy to help! Good luck with your decision...

Hey Randall Pratt! Congrats on your 6D! Thanks for stopping by. So, there is no way to do this and I'm not exactly sure how that would work out. The sustain pedal can be set to hold each note of the organ (as you pointed out) along with each note of the piano and sample/synth all at the same time if you wanted. But it doesn't double up on the same note within the same sound engine in any way. Hopefully, I'm understanding your question correctly. If not, maybe ask it another way. In the meantime enjoy the channel. Here's one specific to the Electro 6 if you haven't already seen it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UD75MVVnRKQ.html

My Keys To Music thanks for the quick reply!! Yeah basically I’m trying to have the sound “build up” Start soft then build up the sound. It’s really for an intro builder or into to a chorus. It works great on the piano engine. The velocity is great and I can start soft and build it up. Just doesn’t seem to work on the organ setting. I’m 100% familiar with the organ ether, maybe it doesn’t do that. I’ve been able to achieve the same effect on my Roland Juno.

Randall. Ah, I think I now know what you're talking about. Make sure you set your organ to use the "Sustain Pedal" - it's not on by default like it is with the piano engine. You'll find that button directly under the volume knob for each sound engine. Hold the shift button and push the button called "Octave up" and go until you see the red light next to the "SUSTPDL" option. This will turn on the sustain pedal and allow your keyboard to sustain the organ. It's very powerful especially as you "roll up" on the notes while also pulling out the stops. I use this technique to build massive organ swells to support the end of a guitar solo for example. But it only works if the sustain pedal is on! 👍🏼

@Matthew Jensen I'd get the Electro 6D. Although you are a guy who grew up with an upright, the fact that you mention organ means you could very well be doing a lot of key slides up and down the keyboard. I can tell you that it is much easier/better to do this with a waterfall keyboard versus the HP. I'm not saying you can't do this with the HP, but over time, it chews up your fingers/hand pretty good. The HP throws a fair amount of resistance at you in this respect and the keys are "sharper" than the waterfall as you've seen from the video. However, you also say you'll use it mainly for piano sounds too so that could a tricky thing. It really depends on how important the "weight" aspect is for you. If you find this to be a top priority in whatever keyboard you're sitting at, then you may be better with the HP. If however, this is a smaller issue and you think you'll play well on the waterfall then I'd go for that. The waterfall is also a quieter keyboard (less mechanical noise) as well as a lighter keyboard too. Then again, I much prefer the digital drawbars offered on the HP! So, this can be a hard decision when you first start down the decision tree. Personally, I have a slight leaning towards the waterfall but I also consider myself more of a synth guy and less of a traditional piano guy. Hope that helps a bit. Feel free to drop a line on your final decision. 🙂

Hello @Daniel de Boni Sorry for the delay on this response. By now you may have already pulled the trigger on something. Personally, I think the 73 key SW keys from Clavia (which are actually from Fatar but tweaked at the Nord factory) are the best. I think it's the perfect blend of responsiveness, yet with just the right amount of resistance as well. I have really gotten used to them at this point and I'm quite comfortable - especially when I compare the keybeds of other synths/ stage keyboard brands. As far as organ versus piano - I think there is some truth to that because on the piano you get the most amazing expression out from the keys and the organ acts just like an organ. The Pianos you get with the NE3 are the same as you get on the latest boards like the NE6, Stage 3, Nord Pianos etc. The big different here is that with the Elctro 3, you're not going to be able to load a lot of them and you can't pick more than perhaps one of the really big pianos. Now, the feature you mentioned with the dynamic curves... That is just a quick EQ setting - and something you can imitate on the main EQ of the Electro 3 directly. Granted, if you do that, you can't use the EQ for the other engine in the case of a split situation. But it's not a dealbreaker I don't think. (hopefully I'm understanding what you mean by dynamic curves). You could ask this same question on the Nord User Forum to see what others have to say. Questions about keybeds tend be answered rather well (and of course everyone has their own opinion). If a Stage 3 Compact is in the budget, you might get it all in a single board - just a thought considering where you are at. Retailers like Sweetwater offer compelling financing too. By now there is a used market as well and you can check out reverb.com to see what they have. Although I have to admit. the Nord keyboards hold their used price very well. 😬 Let us know if you've decided to pull the trigger and what direction you went.

@@MyKeysToMusic Thanks for the feedback, Mark! I haven't decided yet, so the impasse follows. Considering that I've already decided not to buy a piano-only keyboard, as I want a compact set of two keyboards that meet my priorities of playing organ and synths, the question remains between a 61-key or 73-key NE SW (3 or 4), forming an ensemble with an entry-level 61 or 76 key light synth. Therefore, the point of doubt that follows is regarding the playability of Nord acoustic pianos on both: is it preferable to play it in one or the other? If it's in NE, then I get NE73, but if it's better to run on a synth, it should have 73/76 keys. Can aftertouch a keyboard like Juno-DS, for ex, give me more dynamics and expressiveness on NE pianos connected to it via midi, or will NE itself give me a better performance? This is the only impasse. I understand from your comment that dynamic curves work as a kind of equalizer, not different options for speed and expressiveness when playing the piano.

Hello @Daniel de Boni - so you may be correct in your original interpretation of what you meant by "dynamic curves". I found this link on the Nord User Forum that talks about this (maybe you've read this already)? www.norduserforum.com/nord-electro-forum-f9/dynamics-curves-t4726.html So, about aftertouch. As you already know, the Electros do NOT have aftertouch built-in at all. However, if you were to play an external keyboard controller that had aftertouch AND if that same controller could assign the aftertouch to a selected MIDI CC#, then you could in fact affect the Nord Electro with aftertouch. However, your choices are going to be limited to the MIDI and sound capabilities of the Electro itself. Let me explain. Let's take for example the Nord Stage 3 which does have aftertouch. With the NS3, you can assign aftertouch to any number of options with the click of a button. Things like vibrato rate, filter cutoff amount and volume can all be assigned with aftertouch with values of let's say 0 to 100 (very high fidelity is available). Now let's take that same example with the Electro 3/4. You could assign aftertouch to a number of things yes, but filter cutoff, vibrato and volume are not available. Gain is available so you might be able to spoof volume that way. Other things on the Electro are also available such as drawbar amounts for the organ as well as rotary speed and other organ settings. For a complete list, you have to review to the Electro manuals. Here is the Electro 4 manual to get you started - go to page 22: www.nordkeyboards.com/sites/default/files/files/downloads/manuals/nord-electro-4/Nord%20Electro%204D%20English%20User%20Manual%20v1.1x%20Edition%20D.pdf If I was starting from scratch based on how you described your situation, I think I would do a 73 key Electro and a 49 -61 key synth from another manufacturer. Or maybe I'd do a Nord Lead A1 actually. This would cover all the basics and provide you with a pretty wide capability. In general, I like having more keys for the keyboard that is going to produce piano so that you can play solo piano easier when you need it. Synths on the other hand don't tend to need the wide range as much since they seem to be largely doing single-hand parts like pads, solos, etc. Good luck! 🏄‍♀️

@@MyKeysToMusic Yes Mark, I had seen this post on the Nord forum. In fact, I read almost everything I could there to help with my decision. Actually, I've been leaning more towards getting an NE 73 anyway, because, comparing it more closely with a synthesizer, with soft keys, even without an action properly suited to playing the piano, the NE should have a more comfortable keybed, and in the Overall the better. I don't know if a midi connection between it and a keyboard with lower quality keys makes much sense (which will inevitably be the keyboard I'll get to pair with it). In any case, I am very grateful for your attention and availability!

@@danieldeboni8391 All of this sounds good so far. Best of luck with your final decision. In all the people I talk to about getting a new board (or even a used board), it seems that today's marketplace has a limited supply. Guess that's no surprise but the hardest part is waiting for it to arrive once you pull the trigger. Keep in touch!

Hi Simon. I personally haven't ever played on an HA88. But from what I hear, they are slightly easier to play than the Hammer Action Portable models. The keybeds of the Nord Piano 3 and 4 feature a "Triple Sensor" keybed which allows more precision and control as well so it really is quite different than the Hammer Action Portable or the semi-weighted waterfall. So, I concur with your findings and perhaps someday I'll get to try one first-hand and review all three keybeds side-by-side! Thanks for watching!

@@MyKeysToMusic thanks

Hello @Stacy Carras - long time no hear! Unfortunately, when it comes to auto pan, the pedal adjust the amount, not the rate. When it comes to the RM effect, it adjust the rate in that case. Here is the exact details from the manual on this: _All effects in the Effect 1 section can be controlled by a pedal connected to the ctrl Ped input jack, achieved by pressing CTRLPED (shift + Effect 1 selector). For the tremolo and Pan effects, the pedal controls the effect amount - something which can not be done from the panel._ _For Wah and RM, the pedal mirrors the Effect 1 knob which in case of the Wah makes it behave as a traditional Pedal Wah, and with the RM effect provides pedal control of the modulation rate._ Sorry that I don't have better news on this. For the Stage 3, you can adjust both the rate and the amount with the pedal or any morph source.

@@MyKeysToMusic Thank you Marc

@@staceycarras3815 Happy to help - sorry it wasn't a built-in feature!

Hi Federico! For the benefit of those reading this comment, I decided to respond here. Because you are a student of the "Master The Nord Electro Course" I was able to make you a custom video on how to get the best sounds for sax out of the Electro that included downloadable Alto and Tenor saxes programs tweaked a bit using existing nord samples from the existing library. Great question by the way. I plan to have some form of future content around the notion of "sax sounds." 🎷

Using the Sample editor, it would be technically possible to have a bass in the left and some sort of synth in the right. However, I think you'd quickly find that a bit "impractical" as a solution to have to synth-like sounds as a split on the Electro. Working with the Sample Editor takes time to learn and would be time-consuming making a library of possible splits you might want to do in my opinion. Have you considered the Nord Stage 3 Compact?

Hi. In regards to the sample editot, I habe asked someone to give me professional help in creating this via gumtree ad app. The studio boff has said he has used similar programme and can create bass sound to load into the Electro 6. Fingers crossed I have not come across the Stage 3 Compact. Does it have lighter keys? Also 2 panels to split? The other issue, The other electro’s apart from the 6 cut sound when changing a patch/programme. Does the stage 3 sound change ‘cut’ when changing? Sorry once again for asking too many questions. Appreciate your help.

​@@kaykayco Ok good about the pro help - let us know how that goes. The Stage 3 is lighter and smaller (73 keys) but provides all the same features as the other Stage models. It does have physical drawbars instead of digital ones. For a comparison chart, check this out: www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-stage-3/comparison-chart The Stage 3 does not "cut" sound when switching programs. It provides the "Seamless Transitions" feature just like the Electro 6. In fact, this was first introduced on the Stage 3 model. Hope that helps! Let us know how it goes.

Hello @Mary Ann Conklin thanks for your question. You can join the Nord User forum (free) at the following website: www.NordUserForum.com You can read things without joining but you'll only need to sign up if you want to do a specific search or you want to post a question. Good luck and feel free to ask a question here if you think it's applicable...

@georgesfromsouth2991 The Electro HP action is actually heavier than a real piano in my opinion. It's certainly a lot closer to a real piano feel versus the Nord keyboards with the waterfall keyboard. You'll find that the keys are longer and more "piano-like" with straight edges and a very "think" resistance when played. Some people are fine with the HP and are completely comfortable with it. Others find it a little "too resistant" and tiresome to play. Nord seems to have improved on the feel, starting with the Nord Piano 5 and the Nord Stage 4 (weighted). I have a Piano 5 and the feel is terrific (compared with the HP feel I had with the Nord Stage 3). I believe the NS3 uses the same keybed as the Electro 6, and therefore, I want to caution you that it may be "too resistant/heavy" for you if you are particularly sensitive to keyboards and how they feel. If, however, you've been playing acoustic piano your whole life, you may not be troubled by having a keybed that leans on the heavy side. I did a speed/resistance comparison between the HP and Waterfall keybeds here if you want to see my take on it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qHyrFF_0xb4.htmlfeature=shared

Hello @Marcos Rogers I haven't played on a Stage 2 HA so I don't know what that's like. I have compared the Stage 3 88 with the Stage 3 HP and there is a pretty big difference in feel on those. In my opinion, and perhaps it's shared by others as well, the HP keybeds are the "'most resistant" of any of the ones they make. The size and length of the keys are great, but there will be a noticable diffeence in the effort it takes to play the HP. Now, some people absolutely love this while others are critical about and and don't like the HP at all. Unforunately to really know if you will like it or not may mean an trip to a music store to do that first. I realize this may be a tall order these days as local availablity is not always easy to come by. I also realize that buying something used may not be easy to "try out and return" if it doesn't suit your needs so this is quite a diffucult situation. I do have one other video comparing the HP with the Waterfall keybeds here which may not help you too much but it does provide some interesting facts about what you can expect from a resistance standpoint: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qHyrFF_0xb4.html

@@MyKeysToMusic thank you so much. Your opinion is very important to me.

@@marcosrogers8858 Happy to help!

@Marcos Pintor Well, if history says anything, yes, Nord will most likely eventually come out with a Nord Electro 7. And it has been a while since the last one but it also takes them a while between versions. Here is complete Nord Electro release history: E1: 2001 E2: 2002 E3: 2008 E4: 2012 E5: 2015 E6: 2018 Unfortunately, I don't have any inside information on any of this. And even if I did have inside information on future release dates and offerings, it's likely I wouldn't be able to share it here on RU-vid. Any case, it feels like we are getting close - but how close is the big question! Marc

@@MyKeysToMusic thanks for all that info! I might just go for the 6D even if a possible 7 is nearby. Because how much can be improved?Mod wheel? The little wooden wiggle stick that’s on the stage 3? More memory? Idk it’s kinda hard for me to see how much better it could actually be improved, and I know going too far with it wouldn’t be realistic

@@marcospintor1333 I agree with your statement. I highly doubt they will include a pitch stick or mod wheel in future versions of the Electro. More memory, yes, most likely. but not sure what else they could or should do...

I believe there is some truth to what you are saying here although technically speaking, if you have set each Stage to play with the same settings and use the same exact piano sample, there is no difference in sound at the source. The end result may be different in the way that a piano is performed relative to the keybed being used (and the performer themselves), that's true. Owning both keyboards, if I were to take a MIDI file and have that MIDI file perform a piece on the 76 and then on the 73, they would sound exactly the same. It's only when you actually play one from the another where the subtleties may come out. Looking at this another way, you could say that the Stage 3 Piano Engine is the baseball, and the keybed being used is the bat. One bat is made of wood, and the other of Aluminum. They are both starting with the same ball, it's just a matter of the mechanism being used to hit it. I know, comparing baseball with music is a faux pass, but it gets the point across I think. The two keyboards start with the same sound source, engine and effects. It's only when you perform it where you might hear the differences. And then of course there is the musician themselves. Given a challenge, an advanced player could play far more expressive on the 73 than a novice on the 76. Now, could the advanced player play even more expressive if offered to also play on the 76? Probably yes, they could. But here again, it really depends on the player. Put 100 musicians in a room and you'll get about half the room say that the 76 is too hard to play and they prefer the softer touch of the 73. The other half will say that the 73 is way too soft and they need the 76. The ones that tend to prefer the 76 are the ones that grew up playing an acoustic piano where they have the strength, dexterity and ability to handle the weight difference and key resistance the 76 offers. Taken a step further, those same people will say they prefer the 88 version of the Nord keyboards (Stage 3, Piano 4/5, Nord Grand) far more than the 76. But with 88 keys, you are talking a price jump, more weight to haul it around, and more room needed for the keyboard itself. So much to consider! Great observation about this and glad I got a chance to reflect on it here a bit with you! 🎼 The opinions regarding Nord keybeds are widely varied and highly debated in the Nord community.

Hi Tafka92! Thanks for your question. In your situation, since you are thinking of switching to an electronic keyboard, I might stick with the HP keys (since you are accustomed to playing piano) and don't worry about the keys for organ so much. Like you said, you can always plug in a MIDI keyboard to play the organ sounds later down the road if it comes to that. I think you may find that the single keyboard will do just fine for Piano, Synth and Organ sounds from the Nord. And if you switch to an electronic keyboard instead of a piano, you'll have some neat options such as wearing headphones, controlling a MIDI device or DAW and many other distinct advantages. Beware that if you want to "hear" the music outside the headphones, you'll need some sort of amp/PA/keyboard speaker system.

My Keys To Music thanks. That is good advice. I’d love to see a video like this one one comparing the action as it relates to organ and synth comfort. I am a church musician and so am interested in pipe organ sounds, but also like the B3 sounds as well for funky stuff. I have read in my recent research that you can make the HP keys trigger closer to the top of the press than the bottom. That way it doesn’t affect your organ playing as much when using weighted keys. Given your advice, I’m thinking the HP is the way to go, but I’m just getting excited about the prospect of getting one of these keyboards that can do so much and exploring some things I’ve wanted to try for a while.

Roland atelier 350 c

Hi AKmusicproductionsOfficial. Yes, I do agree that it's better to place the keyboard in the bag when not in use - especially if you don't have a dust cover. By placing it in the bag when not in use, it not only keeps the dust off, it provides protection for the keyboard and gets it out of the way too. I do however find that I use my keyboard sometimes several times a day on most days and I don't always bag it up unless I'm heading out for a gig or if I don't plan on using it for a day or two. And finally, because I do have a dust cover, I use it as often as possible and cover it when not in use. With that said, there are still days when I either forget to cover it or leave the cover off if I plan on using it later. Hope that helps! Thanks for this question.

@@MyKeysToMusic thank you for the answer

Hi J.D. Leslie! I think this will be the perfect board for you because it can emulate a lot if not all that stuff from the early rock and roll and newer. There are even some mellotron samples licensed exclusively to Nord which can imitate Strawberry Fields and things like that. If you are not wanting a full-blown synthesizer, then the Electro will give you what you're looking for I think. It has all the great sounds without a lot of the complexity of other boards (in my opinion). I have the 61 key and it's super light and a joy to play. I think as a secondary instrument to your main axe (your guitar), this is perfect. I also have a pro training course for the Nord Electro 6 if you end up getting one which might be a good companion resource for you and your new toy: www.mykeystomusic.com I put links in the description if you want to check out current pricing. Sweetwater.com is also a great resource for the gear as well and I can send you contact information if needed. Perhaps you have your own favorite place to shop already... Good luck on your decision!

@@MyKeysToMusic Wow. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. I buy all my stuff from Sweetwater so I am set. The Nord is already in my cart😁 I just wanted to ask someone like yourself to be sure. So much misinformation out there -must have fully weighted keys, must have 88 keys-61 keys not enough, etc. You know what I'm talking about.

@@j.d.leslie8458 I know exactly what you're talking about. When and if you want to upgrade to more keys at some point, you can consider an Electro 7 (not released yet, of course, but a good thing to work towards or a lower cost 88 key controller and simply connect via MIDI). You could also work your way up to a Nord Stage 3/4 down the road too. You have a ton of choices. Nord seems to hold their value pretty well from what I've seen too. How exciting! The hardest part now will be waiting for it. 😊

@@MyKeysToMusic Thanks again. When I get it I will purchase your tutorial.

@@j.d.leslie8458 Thank you J.D.!

@joaovalterf João, yes, you are correct! I've learned so much about Nord keyboards over the years, and when I first started using them, I didn't realize that D was for physical drawbars, I think. Today we don't have to worry about that as much since all Nord Stage 4 versions come with both the LED lights and the physical drawbars. Let's hope they do this on the next Electro as well!

@@MyKeysToMusic Thank you so much for your answer! I'm from Brazil and I've just bought my first nord, with a hard help from your channel!!!! Now, I have an Electro 61. But my hope is that they increment the phisical drawbars on a electro HA. To me it would be the most ideal kbd.

@@joaovalterf Having the LED lights as drawbar indicators is a big benefit. In fact, on the Nord Stage 4, all versions have both the physical drawbars as well as the lights at the same time - and I think it's quite effective. By the way, the HA has a very different feel compared to the compact - the action is much heavier. For some this is a good thing, for others it may be a little too heavy. Perhaps the next Electro (the Nord Electro 7) will focus on using the same weighted action as the Nord Piano 5 or Nord Stage 4 but with the 73 key - I think that would be ideal... Glad you are enjoying the channel - and remember I have free and paid courses at www.MyKeysToMusic.com which all go quite a bit deeper than anything here on RU-vid if you want the complete training. 👍🏻🎶

Hi Russ! Thanks for your question... Yes, the 6D 61 has the classic Hammond B3/C3 sound. I've taken this excerpt from the manual here: "The dedicated Organ section, with its nine drawbars for real-time adjustments to the organ sound, uses our latest B3 tonewheel organ model, as found in the acclaimed Nord C2D combo organ." So that means is uses the same organ emulation as found in the Nord Stage 3 as well. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!

@@MyKeysToMusic thanks for the info. That made my mind up about purchasing the Nord 6D 61. I was leaning towards the Hammond SK1. But I like that the Nord has more options.

Hi Tony. Great questions! Did you happen to see my comparison between the Stage and the Electro yet? That video is here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-av3GxXakeaM.html If you still have questions after that, let me know.

@@MyKeysToMusic I actually did! I remember posting a question on that video. I was hoping to know if the feel of the Nord Piano 4 (Fatar Weighted Action I think) would translate to an Electro Hammer Action Portable.

Thanks for watching the other video and sorry that I didn't cross-reference your comment there. In any case, what you'll find is that the hammer action keybeds are much "heavier" (more resistant) than any other type sold by Nord. The Piano 4 by comparison will be a "better" keybed in the opinion of most people who play it. It is still weighted of course but less resistant than the hammer action (in a good way). Not only is the feel better for most, but you also get the advantage of the triple sensor which you don't get with the hammer action. So, if you ask 10 people which keybed they prefer (hammer action versus the weighted keys of a Piano 4), I would say that 8 out of 10 (total guess) would prefer the Piano 4. Now even better than that would be the Nord Grand which uses the keybed of a Kawaii which I can attest is awesome because I have a Kawaii digital piano that uses the same keybed. In any case, I believe you can't go wrong with the feel of the Nord Piano 4 and in most cases, people prefer it over the hammer action in just about any scenario. Here is more discussion on this topic if you haven't already seen this: www.norduserforum.com/general-nord-forum-f29/electro-6-hammer-weighted-vs-piano-4-t16785.html

@@MyKeysToMusic Hey Marc, you really outdone yourself! So I see, the Piano is a really nice board to have. However, I thought the Electro would be a good intro to the Nord keyboards because they have everything without the VA, so I wanted to have the best "compromise" by having a Hammer Action board. 😅 I thought I'd get a similar experience but you highlight something here very important, the feel will be different, ie, Piano vs Electro. Now is it true that the Electro had limited midi capability?

​@@tonylancer7367 I think an Electro is in fact a good intro into the land of Nords. The Hammer Action will provide a closer to real piano feel than the waterfall keybeds. However, some find it too heavy while others absolutely love it. I think the more acoustic pianos you've played in your lifetime, the better you like the hammer action portable. Electros have what I would call "Basic" MIDI capability. They are not as powerful as Nord Stage 3 or a workstation from another manufacturer. (FYI, none of the Nord keyboards would be considered a workstation by any means). And MIDI implementation is not what I would consider a Nord strong suit compared to other manufacturers. But the Electros do have some features beyond just a simple connection such as the option of "Exteral to Low" which allows an external keyboard to play just the engines assigned to the lower zone. By doing this you can have an external keyboard control pitch bend as well: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YRYJf2J4fO4.html. The Electro is a good live gigging keyboard. It will play the great piano and organ sounds from the Nord library and you get the ability to play samples as well. The Electro is also easier to operate compared to a Wave 2 or a Stage 3 because it has fewer features and layer capability and of course no advanced synth components, etc. Of all the people I work with and talk to, once they get an Electro, they love it. However, more than a few have traded it in for a Stage 3. One or two of the bunch actually went back to the Electro because they felt it was a bit easier to use - and it is for the most part. However, 9 times out of 10 people want "more synth" and more features so they trade up to the Stage 3. With all that said, for years, I've played performances with just an Electro and an external sound module from Roland and did just fine. However, now that know more about the Stage 3, it would be my first choice on a gig especially considering the onboard pitch bend and mod wheel allowing you to do songs like this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UtKZhMQTjSM.html (which you may have seen). I hope that helps clarify a few things. In today's world, we are lucky to have so many choices for keyboards, but it does make the buying process difficult at times!

@Sphinx951 Great question and let me do my best to answer it. The Nord Piano 4 has 88 fully weighted keys and is purpose-built for those who need a piano emphasis. The Electro line is geared for those that are looking for pianos along with electro-mechanical sounds that include the organs like the B3. You have the optional waterfall keys for the Electro which are geared towards organ players. The Electro is an all-around good keyboard and can be the main instrument for most players playing live for a basic gig setup and who need organs, pianos, and basic sample playback. The Piano 4 is designed for the dedicated piano player who might like to add sounds from the synth/sample engine as a layered accompaniment. Yet the Electo 6 has pretty much the same synth/sample capability as the Electro 6. The Electro is also far more portable than the Piano 4 because of the smaller size and weight. Those are the primary differences. If you are looking for more overall capability in all areas along with some strong synth capability as well, consider the Nord Stage 3 which incidentally also provides an 88 key version. If you were to compare the Piano 4 with the Stage 3, the Stage 3 wins in almost every category but does come with a bigger price tag too. Hope that helps get you started. I compare all the latest Nord Keyboards here (except for the Piano 4): www.mykeystomusic.com/pages/nord-keyboard-buyers-guide

Hello @Felipe Cachate I used to own an Electro 3 (waterfall) and I currently own the Electro 6D61 and the Nord Stage 3 HP 76 which I assume has a similar feel to your Electro 3 HP. So, your question resonates with me. I think this could potentially be a very tough decision for you and one that may be difficult to make. In fact, you may not really know which you like better until you play them both side by side. I realize too that doing that is nearly impossible these days for various reasons. 😅Both keybeds have their advantages and disadvantages. I think the "elephant in the room" here is the fact that you'd be going from 73 keys down to 61 keys. I assume you no longer need the 73 keys or are you trying to keep the cost down? I think this is a noticeable difference right there. There are many days I feel "limited" by not having all 73 keys. Although, even though I just said that, I have used the Electro6D 61on gigs and I managed fine for the most part. But I like having the extra keys in general and for me, 73 keys come in handy especially when playing solos during a performance where you have those extra keys on top (and/or the bottom). At first, I liked the Hammer Action Portable of the Stage 3. I was able to play pretty much anything and I didn't feel it held me back. But then there are situations where your arms/hands may actually get tired on the HP - such as the case during a long solo or a long night of freestyle hard playing. I suppose this is no different than what happens when playing on a real acoustic piano but it happens (to me) never the less and I like to have my hands able to play fast all through a song and through the evening. I have grown accustomed to the waterfall keybeds now and It is by far my preferred keyboard. It has less resistance than the HP yet at the time time, it has some resistance - perfect for me. If you ask 10 people this question, you'll get 10 different answers because it really does come down to personal taste and how you play and what you expect from your instrument when you perform with it. I created this video as well which compares the two keybeds in a unique kind of way: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qHyrFF_0xb4.html Yes, I love my Electro 6D 61 and if it was my main keyboard, I would have selected the 73 key instead. I already had the Nord Stage 3 as my main board so getting the 73 Electro wasn't as important to me - but it may be for you. Wherever you purchase this, you may want to let them know you are also considering the 73 and may want to upgrade after you give it a test spin. I think that would be the best option for you (to find a dealer willing to let you try it and flexible with a possible swap). By the way, I made this video about where I purchased my Nord Electro 6 and provide a brief flyover on the features if you haven't already seen it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OZ2Zd7RiHJE.html Best of luck! - Marc

@@MyKeysToMusic thank you so much Marc! I was thinking about the 61 because of the cost, in Brazil nord keyboards are so expensive! But as it will be my main keyboard, i'll buy the 73 version!! Thank you, u helped me a lot!!

@@felipeecachate Sounds good. Best of luck with everything!

Hello Federico. Are you playing through speakers or headphones? If playing through speakers, make sure you have a true stereo setup if you can and leave the EQ fairly flat. Experiment with different pianos too. Here is some reading to get you started. It may be in the setup of your amplification: www.norduserforum.com/nord-electro-forum-f9/nord-grand-piano-samples-sound-tinny-help-t5280.html

@@MyKeysToMusic Great. I did a flat EQ with headphones and it's way better and it's better. I'll check the link. Thanks a lot.

@@federicomelo1853 Glad to hear it! Good luck with the setup!

Hi Russ. Congrats on your purchase! Well, the Hammond setting isn't a single setting per se. You need to start by making sure the organ engine is on. Then you can adjust the drawbars to taste. Click on the button labeled "zone select" to turn on the organ engine. There you can also adjust the volume. Then make sure at least one drawbar is out. Start by pulling out the first three drawbars on the left and go from there. Each of the many drawbar settings adjusts the timbre of the organ - lots of possibilities. Then experiment with the "rotary speaker" settings on the far left too. Watch this video for a basic organ setup for a famous song to get you started: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K6FlcfBT29U.html

My Keys To Music thanks a lot. I actually like the sound you have there with Roll With The Changes. Is it basically the same concept in the settings but just tweaked?

@@RussTobin Happy to help.Yes, "Roll with the Changes" is the same concept with tweaked settings.

My Keys To Music thanks you’ve been a big help!

Hello @Federico Melo - unfortunately, the NE6 does not have this capability. That option does exist on the Stage 3, Lead A1 and the Wave 2 for example.

@@MyKeysToMusic Thanks for your response. That would have been a nice sound to have.

​ @Federico Melo I agree!

Hi Mike. Yes, this is completely normal in fact. The reason for this is that there is "zero" that you can select on the number keys. You only get numbers 1 through 5. (that also explains why you don't see an A:16, A:16, A:18, or A:19 either). Thanks, Mike for another very good question... If Nord someday comes out with a full-blown numeric keyboard with numbers 0 through 9, I suspect that would change things. * For those reading this for the first time, I explain the Nord Stage 3 Program sequence scheme a bit lower as a response to another question.

My Keys To Music I just saw a RU-vid video though through Bonner Music that showed A:01 in the example though

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YTkkv7OAazY.html

@@mikecampbell4349 Hi Mike! What you see in that video is true and accurate for the time it was created. But back on April 10, 2018, Nord released an OS update which recalibrated the entire numbering system on your Stage 3. You can find the version update history here: www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-stage-3/nord-stage-3-update-history Scroll down and read the release notes for version v1.40 and you'll see the following: "In order to facilitate the optional Numeric Pad program selection mode (see above), the program bank structure of the Nord Stage 3 has been modified so that banks now contain 25 programs (5 program pages): The programs within each bank are numbered 11-15, 21-25, 31-35, 41-45 and 51-55. The total number of Program banks is 16, labeled A-P The total number of program locations is still 400 The order in which programs are placed on the Nord Stage 3 is not altered by this update, and Song lists will remain intact." Hope that helps clarify this. You were not seeing things! hehe :)

My Keys To Music thanks again Mark!!

Thank you Gerardo. I just now added "chapter markers" to make this easier to find the sections one might be looking for.

@@MyKeysToMusic No need to say thank you. On the contrary, I am trying to decide between the Nord Electro 6D and the 6HP and this video has definitely helped me make the decision. You are a great professional and your explanations are clear and concise. Thanks to you, this is an outstanding video. Finally, I will buy an Electro 6D 73, I think it is the most suitable to go to rehearsals with my band and also to play live. Later on I will buy a master keyboard with weighted keys to play live, I'll use the master keyboard with the piano sounds of the Nord Electro 6D (very high quality piano sounds, I have to say) and also I'll use it to control other keyboards and sound modules via MIDI. I think it's great that Nord offers the possibility to load new piano samples and even to create your own samples and load them in a very, very easy way. This is for me the aspect that sets Nord apart from other manufacturers. Greetings from Madrid, Spain!.

@@gerardosantiago9317 Greetings from So. Cal USA. I think you are making a good decision here with the master controller and then the Nord 6D as the main keyboard as well. The Electro 6D is really easy to move around and take on gigs and such. I have used the Electro 5D for years and it was a workhorse for sure. The 6D should be no different. The swappable pianos and sample capability has been very useful indeed. Best of luck! 👍🏼

@@gerardosantiago9317 Hello from Greece. Since I play with a band, I'm between Electro 6d 61 and 73. What was your reasoning for choosing the 73 keys over the 61? Thanks also to "My key to Music" channel for such accurate videos. Thanks

Hi Aloha Mark (great name by the way). Well, if you already have a weighted keyboard with the Korg, then having the HP may not be much different (a good thing)- but I really don't know for sure. I find that I can go back and forth between the weighted and semi-weighted pretty well. This question really is a personal one. I can tell you that I much prefer the digital drawbars over the physical ones because I think it looks more high-tech. But then you'll meet several people that love the physical ones too. It would be lovely if Clavia could "custom build" Nords to taste with the following options: 1) Keyboard size: 61, 73, 76, 88 2) Drawbar configuration: Digital or Physical 3) Half-moon Switch capable: Yes/No A guy can dream... I guess I'm wishing for the Dell computer model website configuration. ✌🏼

My little office is so full of musical gear and computers that I will probably order the Nord Electro 6D. Since I work on only one instrument at a time, I'll manually set the drawbar positions. I can understand how a professional would prefer the digital readout since it would be easier to save presets. Thank you for the useful information.

@@alohamark3025 Happy to help! Hey, your office sounds a bit like mine haha. Stay safe and good luck with your final decision.

Hi Mai. I think it's worth it and that's why I purchased one, well I actually purchased two Nord Keyboards. I own a Nord Electro 5D and a Stage 3 HP 76. The keyboards have a lot of options and nice features. Nord is also some of the easiest keyboards to use by having most everything available to you on the front panel as a knob or button. So for me, it's worth it. I work with computers all day and know the challenge of having to dig deep in menus on a single screen or two to find the info you need which is what you typically find in some other keyboards of this caliber. The Nord keyboards allow you to make quick adjustments on the fly which is one of the strong suits of this brand. The sounds are also very high quality and easily changeable using the software and free sounds/samples available on the Nord website. With that said, there are lots of keyboards out there and many are less expensive and some that challenge the best features of Nord, so shop around if budget is a concern relative to the amount of use you plan on having with it. But for Pop, or jazz music, it has just about everything you could ever need - especially in the areas of vintage keyboard emulation. Hope that helps! Thanks for your comment today.

My Keys To Music Thanks a lot for your help ;). I love your video!

@@maikungsa Thanks Mai! They have been fun to make. Good luck with your decision!

Se você tocou piano tradicional e prefere isso, considere o HP. Em quase todas as outras situações, você deve escolher o D. O D é mais leve, mais fácil de tocar, possui o teclado em cascata para o órgão e é um ótimo teclado geral. Tudo se resume a se você precisar mais do piano. Espero que ajude um pouco. Assista a este vídeo para ajudá-lo a decidir entre o teclado em cascata e o teclado HP: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qHyrFF_0xb4.html Boa sorte! - Marc (In English) If you have played traditional piano and prefer that, you may want to consider the HP. In almost all other situations, you should pick the D. The D is lighter, easier to play, has the waterfall keyboard for the organ and is an all-around great keyboard. It all comes down to if you require more of the piano feel. I hope that helps you a bit. Watch this video to help you decide between the waterfall keyboard and the HP keyboard: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qHyrFF_0xb4.html Good Luck! - Marc

Erique! This is too funny. I've heard some Phish songs before but never this one. Now that I've listened to the Phish version, I see it's almost identical. I think there are times I go to a diminished chord at the end and I think they go up to a G on the end of their phrase or something like that. Anyway, as it turns out, this particular chord progression is quite popular and used on all kinds of songs out there. Good ears man! My Fav Phish song is the 2001 and that's really the only one I'm familiar with actually. Thanks for the comment.

@@MyKeysToMusic I think its a sign i've been noodling to too much Phish and I need to balance it out with some more straight ahead playing like yours, you sound fantastic BTW.

@@afxmnstr Thanks Erique!

That's hilarious. Was just watching this & noodling around while he was playing and started playing the melody and going into the song once the video was done. 🤣Glad I'm not the only one who always thinks of Wading with that progression.

Thanks Roger!

Ah ok good. I think the case holds up very well in the car. I try to keep very heavy things off the top of course and place the keyboard on its side when possible.

Hi Zaki, Thanks for your comment here. I've heard quite a few people not very pleased with the HP action (and key noise it can generate as well). I purchased the Stage 3 76 partly to compare with the waterfall and I like the digital drawbars. I think at the end of the day however, I do prefer the waterfall (purchased with my Electros) because it is easier to play and I'm not really a true piano guy at heart. Always been more of a synth guy. Thanks for watching!

Hey Kanal. There are a lot of people who agree with this. Yet, I come across a lot of people who prefer the waterfall too. Good that they offer both I guess! What would be really interesting to me is if they gave you the option to configure the number of keys as well as the keyboard type at the same time. That way you could get the exact size you're looking for with the exact type of keybed you prefer. But I assume that would add to the manufacturing complexity and cost as well and probably easier said than done... Thanks for stopping by.

Luis - I can attest (and I agree) that playing organ with the HP is not ideal by any means. 😬

@thecarlstervlogs6933 Korg is a great brand indeed. I currently own a Korg Minilouge XD but have had several Korgs over the years including a Poly 800 and a Triton. The first synthesizer I ever saw in person was the Korg Poly Six which started my career in music and put me on the path I'm at today. Love Korg.

@willyburtz7299 Hey Willy. I have. Stage 3 HP, which is a similar (if not identical) to what they use in the Electro 6 HP. I have an Electro 5 and 6 waterfall. All the keybeds with the exception of the Nord Grand are made by Fatar FYI.

@@MyKeysToMusic Ok, i reverse my thumbs down.

@@willyburtz7299Awesome!! Are you thinking about getting a Stage 3 at this point or an Electro 6 perhaps? Let me know if there are any questions...

@@MyKeysToMusic Was actually thinking nord 6 but really, i need a great portable keyboard to play in bed or couch. ANy suggestions?

@@willyburtz7299 The smallest thing Nord makes it the Nord Lead A1, but that is a "synth only" (having no organ, no piano). I don't have any direct recommendations. I think first you may want to decide on what "type" of keyboard you want, then focus on the size and features. There are hundreds of choices today (as you already know), and I think the easiest way to tackle this is to first decide what kind of music you want to play with it and what you hope to accomplish. If it's just for fun, maybe a small keyboard controller (there are dozens of tiny controllers that would work best in bed or on the couch and then connect this to the computer). That way, you have almost no limit in choice as to what you can do once you introduce the computer. Granted, now you must deal with the computer in bed or on the couch as well - so perhaps that's not ideal in that situation after all. You can place a call to Sweetwater or a retailer like that and have a conversation with those people - they may be able to walk through the decision process with you and find a board that fits your needs (and fits on your lap)! P.S. I have a Korg Minlouge XD which fit on the lap and is fun to play and a good way to learn subtractive synthesis (if this is something you're interested in). There are dozens in this category that fit that bill. There are also a ton of "boutique" synths (check out the boutique series from Roland). These boards are tiny but pack a punch and the keyboard part can be purchased separately.