Nord User Forum

I agree to neomad!
I used my NE5d/73 now for about 4 years (and had 4 (!) sk-1)
Two weeks ago I bought a Stage3-compact and in the first time I was very, very disappointed with the hammond-sound.
Then I tweaked the Stage3 with COMP, Drive and the EQ. I sounds better and in band-context none of the ordians recovers a difference, but the organ-sound of the NE5 is a "little bit fatter".
BUT!
The keys of the stage3 are a bit tighter like my former sk-1 (which has the best unweighted keys I ever played).
So if you need more options, a better keyb and a wonderful synth-section, but a Stage and not a NEx.

NJkeysman88 wrote:I'd like the Nord to give me good Hammond sounds AND (...)

Hi, I tried the organ recently, and I wasn't pleased with the B3 sound from my NS3-Compact ... compared to what I am used to hear from videos with Vintage Hammonds. In my ears the pure B3 model sounds too harsh. It's possible to do some audio-masquerade, so to say, e.g. by adding some reverb and EQ-ing for some higher frequencies. Probably the Vent will do a good job. Unfortunately the organ section does not provide options to change attack, decay etc. (ADSR).

With this in mind I was contemplating to add or replace by some HX3-based solution: There they put physical models of the electromechanical tone generation AND illegibly all tube-based circuits, i.e. not just the output amplifier, into a FPGA. Videos, comparing a Vintage Hammond with a HX3-device sound ... almost the same on video.

HOWEVER, using the B3 as an individual instrument, not competing with Vintage Hammonds, ... it has some very nice potential for pleasing sounds. Some can be very close to a pipe organ (though the Pipe model will do even better), some are more in the direction of E-pianos. However, this is just achieved by the 9 drawbars, without Rotary, Effects and Amp, but with a little Reverb.

Best, Michael

If we are fair, we can not compare the organ-sound of a real B3 with a clone like Electro5d or Stage3.
You can't even compare the real B3-Sound with "Hammond-made" organs like XK-1/XK-1c or SK-1/2. It is always a compromise between sound and "stage-ability".
It is well known, that the Nord-organ-engine sounds harsh, but sometimes exactly this item is the reason some people use it in band-contect to win the "competition against the guitars".
If you try to acchieve a good hammond-sound with a Nord, you should improve it by a Neo-Ventilator and switch off all effects (like drive) coming from the Nord.
And please remember: A stage (and in small size a Electro5/6) is no real organ ... and no piano and no synth. They are all compromises.
So make peace with this problem, enjoy and use energy to perform good music!

stageCustom wrote:In my ears the pure B3 model sounds too harsh.

Real tonewheel Hammonds/Leslies varied quite a bit themselves.

stageCustom wrote:Unfortunately the organ section does not provide options to change attack, decay etc. (ADSR).

Other than perhaps adjusting the percussion decay (an adjustment that Nord has provided on some models), what purpose would ADSR serve for a B3 emulation?

I have both the Hammond SK1 and the Nord E6D. I find the SK1 to be superior as an organ, with lots of detailed capabilities that do not exist in the E6D, particularly when tweaking effects. For example, playing Pink Floyd’s Us and Them, on the SK1 I was able to set the Leslie rotary speed to match the bpm of the song as in the original. This feature is not available in the E6D. Same applies to all effects, Eg, phaser depth, etc.

The E6D, on the other hand, has far superior sampled sounds in the Piano and Synth sections, plus the access to the Nord Library for additional downloads. Also, the user interface is much more intuitive.

neomad wrote: Don't ask me why, but the B3 in the NE5 sounded way better than NS3.

Just a question, to let better understand your opinion (and also other's which seem to agree with you): do you mean "better" compared to a real Hammond or just to your likes (and in this case did you compare the 2 models side by side or just by memory/feel)?

In general, most people report that the main difference is in the Rotary sim of the NE5 which used to be "dirtier" (also with no drive), maybe that is part of the better/worse sound feeling you are getting?

maxpiano wrote:

neomad wrote: Don't ask me why, but the B3 in the NE5 sounded way better than NS3.

Just a question, to let better understand your opinion (and also other's which seem to agree with you): do you mean "better" compared to a real Hammond or just to your likes (and in this case did you compare the 2 models side by side or just by memory/feel)?

In general, most people report that the main difference is in the Rotary sim of the NE5 which used to be "dirtier" (also with no drive), maybe that is part of the better/worse sound feeling you are getting?

Ciao Max.

NE5 sound was closer to real thing (to my ears). Again, you can still make up the sound a lot with both drives and EQ and sounds well overall. But if I need to choose... BTW, since I bought Davide's B3 Organ Signature bank, my opinion about NS3 B3 has varied positively.

My advice, bring your own headphones and try both models before purchase. A presto

Thanks neomad, good and valuable info

Ciao!

I just want to chime in Re the comments about Neo ventilator. The first time I tried one on my stage 3 it sounded great. next time, keep getting warbly sound instead. on a side note, I have a hammond sk1 but for most gigs, it's necessary to just have Nord alone, sometimes do both and the vent sounds fab with sk1

NordRita wrote:I just want to chime in Re the comments about Neo ventilator. The first time I tried one on my stage 3 it sounded great. next time, keep getting warbly sound instead.

Maybe the second time, you forgot to turn off the Nord's internal Leslie effect when you used the Vent?