Keyboard test: Grand 2 vs. Grand 1

[danielnc]

I own both a Nord Grand (for a little while longer) and a Nord Grand 2. Overall, very happy with the upgrade. My key positives (top of mind):

* The keybed is so much quieter so not as disruptive at night when I play at lower volumes. It's also less "clicky" and has a slightly better feel overall.
* The ability to layer more sounds, including two pianos, makes me able to e.g. keep a piano with a crisper bass tone on the lower half and one with a brighter timbre on the upper half (mostly needed due to speakers, see below). Also able to create more cinematic padding.
* New and improved effects, like heavily used reverbs

I do still wonder if I would have rather wanted the Kawai CP901 which I absolutely adored playing on in the store due to 1. even better keybed and 2. better sound from internal speakers making the bass less "muddy" (I now use Nord studio monitors, which aren't treating e.g. the White Grand bass nicely in the lower register), but I definitely am pleased with the switch from the Nord Grand 1!

[RJoudrey]

I use a 12" powered bass woofer for lower end.

[tkzic]

Just recently traded-in Nord Grand 1 for Grand 2.

After almost 4 years, the keyboard of the NG1 was worn out and plagued with the problem where notes would randomly play at full velocity. Should have had it repaired - but we learn to live with stuff. In any case...

The difference in the action is remarkable. Feels mechanically solid and responsive, slightly heavier (or just new), but in a good way for dynamics and articulation. No clunking at the bottom of the action. The key travel on the NG1 seemed to shallow. That seems better now. But could be my imagination?

My gigs are mostly jazz on acoustic pianos. The NG1 was great for practicing, but with the NG2 I just want to stay home and play it all the time.

Additionally the new tilt angle of the control panel solves the annoying problem of accidentally hitting buttons while playing.

Mostly things that others have already said. But I would recommend the upgrade just for the keyboard alone. Even though there are other great features.

Tom

[ziozeus]

I try again to ask... Would you say it is a graded action? (Lower keys havier than higher ones?)

[rottenernie]

After playing my new NG2 for the last week and comparing to a Baldwin grand and RD2000, it allows for something thats been missing in the others, a wide dynamic response with less velocity. Its important to me since I dont play with loud bands where everyone is getting lost in the mix no matter what the volume is. Graded? I am not sure what to look for but it suits jazz/ classical style just fine. I do wish there was more piano data to capture some of the finer points of this action, mic placements etc.

I will also be working on velocity curves with Ivory VST german grand and see how it interacts with this Kawai action. Its my first Nord but so far, impressed with the overall experience of interacting with a "not real" piano

[Jerry Huber]

I recently got the NG2, have a NG1 which I intend to sell. The keyboard action is better than the original IMO. It's hard to describe how, but "more responsive" sort of covers it. The sound of the keys not through a sound system is quieter. I'm happy with it EXCEPT for one thing. On the original you could output in stereo or split the piano and synth section (bass) into the two separate outputs. This was a major reason for me to buy the original because I could send the acoustic piano into a powered speaker (Yamaha DZR) and the bass into a bass amp (Mesa Boogie Subway).
Unfortunately, the NG2 outputs can only be configured as stereo or two mono outs. You cannot separate them as before. This seems like a software issue, I don't understand why Nord would disable that function. I wouldn't have bought the NG2 if I'd known that before hand. I bought the Piano 5 and returned it before I got the original NG because it couldn't split how I wanted it.
Since I like the action so much, I'm keeping it. My solution was to buy a low/high signal splitter (Rolls SX 21 Crossover) and use a mono out as a source. Very disappointed with how a newer model does less.

[maxpiano]

I recently got the NG2, have a NG1 which I intend to sell. The keyboard action is better than the original IMO. It's hard to describe how, but "more responsive" sort of covers it. The sound of the keys not through a sound system is quieter. I'm happy with it EXCEPT for one thing. On the original you could output in stereo or split the piano and synth section (bass) into the two separate outputs. This was a major reason for me to buy the original because I could send the acoustic piano into a powered speaker (Yamaha DZR) and the bass into a bass amp (Mesa Boogie Subway).
Unfortunately, the NG2 outputs can only be configured as stereo or two mono outs. You cannot separate them as before. This seems like a software issue, I don't understand why Nord would disable that function. I wouldn't have bought the NG2 if I'd known that before hand. I bought the Piano 5 and returned it before I got the original NG because it couldn't split how I wanted it.
Since I like the action so much, I'm keeping it. My solution was to buy a low/high signal splitter (Rolls SX 21 Crossover) and use a mono out as a source. Very disappointed with how a newer model does less.

Strange/so bad they removed that output routing option by section.

As a workaround, you could use the PAN FX with Rate = 0, to hard-pan each section to L or R (position should be controlled by Amount knob, at least it works like that on Nord Stage)?

[cgrafx]

speaking strictly from an audio standpoint (as your preferences are yours). You would be better off not splitting the NG1 or doing what you're proposing with the crossover and simply running stereo into an actual full range stereo speaker setup.

The painos are stereo, running them in mono by splitting like you did on the NG1 and want to do with the NG2 is actually significantly reducing the overall sound quality of the entire keyboard (Synths and pianos).