Clavia’s gorgeous and feature-rich Nord Stage keyboard first debuted in 2005, meaning we’re fast approaching 20 years as the Stage 4 has just launched.
Kitted out in striking red and boasting stunning piano, EP, organ and other sounds ripe for performance, they’ve become a staple part of well-off musician performers and rightly so. And for those of us with shallower pockets, they simply sit there for us to drool over and dream of owning.
There have been six incarnations of the Nord Stage, available in a variety of sizes and keybed types but usually including an 88, 76 and 73 note variant:
- Nord Stage (2005)
- Nord Stage EX (2008)
- Nord Stage 2 (2011)
- Nord Stage 2 EX (2015)
- Nord Stage 3 (2017)
- Nord Stage 4 (2023)
Nord Stage model updates
Nord Stage
Launched in 2005, the original Nord Stage offered a stunning range of acoustic and electric piano, organ and synth sounds, thanks to its three distinct dedicated sections: organ, piano and synth.
Clavia’s design philosophy was always to have the most important and frequently used controls quickly and easily accessible. They introduced the patented pitch stick and modulation wheel, plus a premium hammer action weighted keyboard on the 88 and 76 key models and medium weighted keys on the compact 73 key model.
The organ section has three different organs, including the B3, Vox Continental and Farfisa Compact. The interface uses draw buttons and LED graphs to replicate the original mechanical drawbars, making switching between presets more logical.
The piano section has six sections for grand piano, upright piano, electric grand, electric piano, Wurlitzer and clavinet. The source instruments were meticulously recorded to provide very accurate and expressive pianos, including damper sounds and sympathetic resonance.
The synth section features the “power mini synth” using a multi-oscillator concept for up to nine oscillators per voice all controlled from one button and one knob, and including classic analog synthesis, three-operator FM synthesis and wavetable synthesis.
It also has extensive external control capabilities and a range of effects.
It is available as the Nord Stage 88, Nord Stage 76, and Nord Stage 73.
Nord Stage EX
The Nord Stage EX, launched in 2008, expands upon the incredible initial offering by doubling the internal memory available, with the main additions being a doubled memory capacity for piano samples, new front panel colour scheme and labelling. Clavia also says simply there has been a “major hardware change”.
It is available as the Nord Stage EX 88, Nord Stage EX 76, and Nord Stage EX 73.
Nord Stage 2
Arriving in 2011, the Nord Stage 2 builds again on the earlier models.
The piano section has evolved from the Nord Piano, featuring state-of-the-art sampling to capture nuances and character of the individual source instruments. This includes a new Long Release function which gives a longer release more suitable for legato playing styles.
The organ section features the third generation B3 organ model, and the latest rotary speaker simulation derived from the Nord C2.
The synth section has added an arpeggiator.
It is available as the Nord Stage HA88, Nord Stage HA76, and Nord Stage SW73.
Nord Stage 2 EX
The Stage 2 EX builds on the Nord Stage 2 with 1GB of memory available for the Nord Piano Library, a 76-key model featuring lightweight hammer action keys, and factory banks featuring five grand pianos, seven upright pianos, 11 electric pianos, clavinet, harpsichords and an improved sample library selection including strings, choir and folk instruments.
It is available as the Nord Stage 2 EX Compact, Nord Stage 2 EX HP76, and Nord Stage 2 EX 88.
Nord Stage 3
The fifth generation Nord Stage has new features including seamless transitions when changing programmes, extended split functionality and crossfade options, extended morph destinations, more memory for Nord Piano Library samples, enhanced polyphony to 120 voices, creative filter presets, Nord Lead A1 synth engine, Nord C2D organ engine, two new pipe organ models, Model 122 vintage rotary speaker, physical organ drawbars on the compact model, improved effects, and a new OLED screen.
It is available as the Nord Stage 3 88, Nord Stage 3 HP76, and Nord Stage 3 Compact.
Nord Stage 4
The current flagship model in the Stage range features a new panel design for greater flexibility when creating sounds and performing live. There’s also a new preset library, Layer Scene mode for seamlessly switching between two different sound setups, powerful new effects section, enhanced piano samples, and physical organ drawbars with LED indicators.
It is available as the Nord Stage 4 88, Nord Stage 4 73, and Nord Stage 4 Compact.
Specifications
Here is a comparison table of the main specifications for all six models of the Nord Stage.
|
|
Stage |
Stage EX |
Stage 2 |
Stage 2 EX |
Stage 3 |
Stage 4 |
|
General |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Master Level Control |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Wooden Pitch Stick |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Modulation Wheel |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Program Locations |
21×6 |
21×6 |
20x4x5 |
20x4x5 |
10x8x5 |
8x8x8 |
|
Song Mode |
– |
– |
– |
– |
8×50 |
– |
|
Live Buffers |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
2×64 organ, 2×64 piano, 8×64 synth |
|
|
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
|
Individual Panel Setups |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Morph Sources |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Program Categories |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
– |
– |
|
Program Sort Modes |
– |
– |
numerical, alphabetical, category |
numerical, alphabetical, category |
– |
– |
|
Global Mono Output |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Global Stereo Output |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
|
Programmable Transpose |
– |
– |
+/-6 |
+/-6 |
+/-6 |
+/-6 |
|
Master Clock Functionality |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Internal and MIDI clock source |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
MIDI over USB |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Level Control |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
|
Aftertouch |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Split Points |
– |
– |
– |
– |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Organ Section |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B3 Tone Wheel Organ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
– |
– |
|
Nord C2D B3 Tone Wheel Organ |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
|
Vox Continental Organ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Farfisa Organ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Digital Pipe Organ |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
2 |
|
B3 Bass mode |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
|
Drawbars |
9 digital |
9 digital |
9 digital |
9 digital |
9 digital |
– |
|
Physical Drawbars |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y (compact model only) |
Y |
|
Percussion |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Vibrato/Chorus Control |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Drawbar Settings per Program |
– |
– |
2 |
2 |
– |
– |
|
Drawbar Settings per Slot |
– |
– |
– |
– |
2 |
– |
|
Multitimbral |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Piano Section |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acoustic Grands |
2 |
2 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Upright Pianos |
2 |
2 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Electric Pianos |
3 |
3 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Synth Pianos |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Wurlitzer A200 EP |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Clavinet D6 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Harpsichord |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
CP-80 Electric Grand |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Polyphony |
40-60 |
40-60 |
40-60 |
40-60 |
120 |
120 |
|
Velocity Curves |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
|
Clavinet EQ Controls |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Multitimbral |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Piano Memory |
– |
– |
500MB |
1GB |
2GB |
2GB |
|
String Resonance |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Selectable Piano Release |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Pedal Noise |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Slot Detune |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Dedicated Piano Filters |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
|
Piano Timbre Control |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
|
Dynamic Compression |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
|
Unison Functionality |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Synth Section |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Analog synthesis waveforms |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
– |
9 |
|
FM synthesis operators |
2/3 |
2/3 |
2/3 |
2/3 |
– |
– |
|
Wavetable synthesis waveforms |
32 |
77 |
62 |
62 |
– |
– |
|
Sample Playback synthesis |
– |
– |
360MB / 999 samples |
380MB / 999 samples |
480MB |
1GB |
|
Nord Lead A1 Synth Engine |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
– |
|
Nord Wave 2 Synth Engine |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
|
OLED for oscillator section |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
– |
|
OLED for waveform/sample |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
|
Oscillator Types |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Classic, Wavetable (Wave), Formant, Super Wave (S-Wave) and Sample |
Analog (incl. Super, Noise and Misc waveforms), Digital Waves, FM and Sample |
|
Oscillator Configurations |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Pitch, Detune, Shape, Sync, Sine, Triangle, Square, Saw, Bell and Noise Mix, FM and Ring Mod |
|
|
Classic Transistor Ladder Filter |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
|
Filter Drive |
– |
– |
– |
– |
3 level |
3 level |
|
Filter Tracking |
– |
– |
– |
– |
3 level |
3 level |
|
Arpeggiator |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
|
Polyphony |
16 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
34 |
46 |
|
Unison Control |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Timbre Controls |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
– |
– |
|
Amplitude Envelope |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Modulation Envelope |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
12/24dB LowPass Filter with Resonance |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
12/24dB High Pass, Band Pass, Notch Filter |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
LFO waveforms |
– |
– |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
Memory Locations |
300 |
300 |
300 |
300 |
400 |
– |
|
LFO /Arpeggiator Sync |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Equaliser |
2-band |
2-band |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
Multitimbral |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effects |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compressor |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Reverb |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Instrument Effects 1 |
Ring Modulator, Tremolo, Pan, Wah 1, Wah 2, AutoWah |
Ring Modulator, Tremolo, Pan, Wah 1, Wah 2, AutoWah 1, AutoWah 2 |
Ring Modulator, Tremolo, Pan, Wah 1, Wah 2, AutoWah 1, AutoWah 2 |
Ring Modulator, Tremolo, Pan, Wah 1, Wah 2, AutoWah 1, AutoWah 2 |
Ring Modulator, Tremolo, Pan, Wah 1, Wah 2, AutoWah 1, AutoWah 2 |
Tremolo, Auto Pan, Ring Modulator, Wah-Wah, Auto-Wah, Pump (Sidechain modulation). Variation for each effect |
|
Instrument Effects 2 |
2 Flangers, 2 Phasers, 2 Choruses Delay – includes Ping Pong and Tap-Tempo Function |
Flanger, Vibe, 2xPhasers, 2xChoruses |
Flanger, Vibe, 2xPhasers, 2xChoruses |
Flanger, Vibe, 2xPhasers, 2xChoruses |
Flanger, Vibe, 2xPhasers, 2xChoruses |
Phaser, Flanger, Vibe, Chorus, Ensemble, Spin. Variation for each effect |
|
Amp/Speaker Simulation |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Rotary Speaker |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Delay |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Tube amp simulation |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Effect syncing |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Equalizer |
– |
– |
3 band |
3 band |
3 band |
3 band |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keyboard |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of keys |
88/76/73 (Compact) |
88/76/73 (Compact) |
88/76/73 |
88/76/73 (Compact) |
88/76/73 (Compact) |
88/73/73 (Compact) |
|
Key action/weight |
88/76: Hammer Action 73: Medium Weight |
88/76: Hammer Action 73: Medium Weight |
88/76: Hammer Action 73: Semi Weighted Waterfall |
88: Hammer Action 76: Hammer Action Portable 73: Semi Weighted Waterfall |
88: Hammer Action 76: Hammer Action Portable 73: Semi Weighted Waterfall |
88/73: Hammer Action 73 (Compact): Semi Weighted Waterfall |
|
Aftertouch |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Connectivity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assignable Audio Outputs |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Stereo Headphone |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Monitor input |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Sustain Pedal jack |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Rotor Pedal jack |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Organ Swell Pedal jack |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Control Pedal jack |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Program Change Pedal |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Y |
Y |
|
MIDI In |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
MIDI Out |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
USB |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Power |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dimensions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Size |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88 note |
1297 mm (51″), 121 mm (4.5″), 334 mm (13″) |
1297 mm (51″), 121 mm (4.5″), 334 mm (13″) |
1287 mm (50.7″), 118 mm (4.7″), 334 mm (13″) |
1287 mm (50.7″), 118 mm (4.7″), 334 mm (13″) |
1282 mm (50.5″), 121 mm (4.7″), 342 mm (13,5″) |
1282 mm (50.5″), 121 mm (4.7″), 349 mm (13,7″) |
|
76 note |
1132 mm (45″), 121 mm (4.5″), 334 mm (13″) |
1132 mm (45″), 121 mm (4.5″), 334 mm (13″) |
1121 mm (44″), 118 mm (4.7″), 334 mm (13″) |
1122 mm (44″), 127 mm (5″), 347 mm (13,6″) |
1120 mm (44″), 127 mm (5″), 354 mm (13,9″) |
– |
|
73 note |
– |
– |
1105 mm (43,5″), 106 mm (4″), 302 mm (12″) |
– |
– |
1069 mm (42″), 121 mm (4.7″), 349 mm (13.7″) |
|
73 note compact |
1111 mm (44″), 102 mm (4″), 297 mm (12″) |
1111 mm (44″), 102 mm (4″), 297 mm (12″) |
– |
1070 mm (42″), 104 mm (4″), 302 mm (12″) |
1066 mm (42″), 106 mm (4,2″), 312 mm (12,2″) |
1066 mm (42″), 104 mm (4,1″), 322 mm (12.7″) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88 note |
18,5 kg (41lb) |
18,5 kg (41lb) |
18,5 kg (41lb) |
18,5 kg (41lb) |
19 kg (41.8 lb) |
19.6 kg (43.2 lb) |
|
76 note |
16,5 kg (36lb) |
16,5 kg (36lb) |
16,5 kg (36lb) |
12,4kg (27,3lb) |
12,5 kg (27.5 lb) |
– |
|
73 note |
– |
– |
9,7 kg (21lb) |
– |
– |
16.7 kg (36.8 lb) |
|
73 note compact |
9,7 kg (21lb) |
9,7 kg (21lb) |
– |
9,7 kg (21,4 lb) |
10 kg (22 lb) |
10.4 kg (22.9 lb) |
Should you buy a Nord Stage keyboard?
There’s no denying that Nord branded instruments are expensive, but that’s generally because they are built extremely well and have a lot of superb, reliable features on them.
Whether you buy the latest version will depend on what you want to do, and of course whether you have the funds for it.
It may be worth seeking out older versions (everything before the Nord Stage 3 is now considered to be discontinued) — because the quality is so high the instruments have good longevity. That said, you still need to check for damage and functionality, especially if the instrument has been on the road or treated badly by previous owners.
It’s highly unlikely you’ll be disappointed by a Nord Stage keyboard, which seems to strike a great balance between piano, organ, and synth sounds. Later models also have the benefit of accessing the Nord Sample library which makes them even more versatile.
The piano and organ sections are excellent, and the synth section has also been expanded massively over the years. Some musicians may not need all the functions and could suit a simpler digital piano or arranger workstation. And on that note, you can’t use the Nord Stage instruments for direct recording, sequencing, and the like, although of course you can link it to other instruments or a DAW just as many other keyboards can be.
For many, sadly, a Clavia Nord keyboard remains an out-of-reach dream purchase, but at least they are premium for good reasons and not simply because they are ‘trendy’. Although they definitely have style.
