Thank you so much for this comparison video! I have been considering both of these, but will end up with only one. The time you took to compare specific features and not just the sounds is much appreciated. Also, the video and the information were presented very well.
Jason Criss Thank you for your kind words. Honestly I was not sure if anyone would really watch such a long video with so many details. But what I found was generally when I am looking at videos most of them are just demos or someone trying to sell the keyboard. While I love those videos I do appreciate honest in depth feedback from people who use the equipment and those kinds of videos are often a bit lacking. I am glad I could help.
I got myself a Kronos. Thanks for this video! Helped me solidify my decision. No disrespect to any Nord users, Stage 3 is an incredible instrument, but I feel I made the right decision with the Kronos 2-88. The learning curve is extremely steep, but so worth it!
Get the Stage 3 Compact and a good weighted 88 key midi controller like Studiologic’s SL88 Studio for $499 ,use the Dual Keyboard function assigning Panel B to it and you’ve effectively got two complete instruments for less than the cost of the full Stage 3 88.
Those organ-playing skills demonstrated on the Kronos towards the end of the video are through the roof - I can hear you are playing from your heart and soul as much as you are playing from your hands!
That's a great combo. I've owned Nords and currently have a Kronos 2 88 but too heavy to haul around and concerned about damage moving it around every week. Considering getting the Nord Stage 3 Compact as well for live stuff. If you have both, you have all you'll ever need.
I play both Kronos and NS3 regularly. As an experienced player and programmer of both, I would say that Kronos is about 20X the keyboard that the NS3 is. The Kronos default presets don’t really do it justice - it needs a bit of tweaking to really bring out the quality of the sounds. In comparison, I find the NS3 quite weak sonically - acoustic pianos and organs are OK out of the box, but the weakness quickly shows compared to the K. Electric pianos, especially wurly and synth section are really weak. I also find NS3 is limited in a band setting - want to send a click to the drummer? You can’t without losing a much needed synth panel. Want to connect another midi controller? You can’t as NS3 isn’t a USB host. Need a song with 10 different synth parts layered? OK on Kronos, but on NS3, you have to pick any 2 out of 10 only. Finally, NS3 is quite new and still really buggy - not nice when it pitch shifts randomly halfway through a song! Kronos has been rock solid. NS3 has its place if you want to tweak things on the fly and don’t like menu diving, plus it’s much lighter than Kronos, but if you’re willing to put in the effort to learn how to program it, Kronos is a much, much, much better board.
Mind explain the USB host to midi part? I'm still new to music synth and wanna learn more.I saw there is one USB host port on Nord, I don't quite get it. Thanks. Cheers.
I've fooled round on Nords and for what they are I think they are over-rated and over-priced and a bit like the digital piano keyboards that came out in the nineties.
So... one year on with both Kronos and NS3, and I have to say that the Nord is growing on me. Nord have gone a long way to fixing some of my frustrations with the NS3. The biggest thing is the new xl electric pianos and filters - they really lift the quality to the point where playing live, you really can’t tell the difference with the Kronos. They have also fixed many of the annoying bugs, and improved the flexibility in many ways like wider pitch bend ranges, and being able to move sections more than 1 octave. Kronos is still the Granddaddy, and way more capable than NS3, but NS3 is a perfectly capable gigging board. If I don’t need the Kronos capability, I’m happy to take out just the NS3, as it’s lighter. I often create sounds on the Kronos and then re-sample them to the Nord using SampleRobot.
I really like your video, I just bought a Stage 3, I have been using a Nord for years, I started with a Electro 4D, and thanks to the similarities was able to go onstage at a major festival and play a real vintage B3 and actually knew how to work it and get the tone I was looking for from it. The critique of your video which caused me to comment is how much I appreciate your balance of the background music which for once on a UA-cam video doesn't take away from what your saying and adequately fill the free space. Really good job! I didn't know about the feature to plug in a music source and play along, that will be very very useful when it comes to rehearsals, and learning new tunes. I had recently bought a friends rig which included the 5d 73, and a Lead 4. After I bought it he told me he was buying the Stage 3 compact which has both of those keyboards built in (just a note, the stage 3 has the lead A1 sound engine but is very similar to the Lead 4). I thought that was a great idea, and felt a bit scammed, however was able to do the same thing by selling all the keyboards I bought from him, one of them, the Lead 4 at a loss because synths can be a bit more tricky to sell on the used market which is why he sold it as a package deal, but none the less should have my Stage 3 this week. Kudos, keep up the good work.
Thank you Darrick Keels... I was just about to purchase a Nord keyboard. However, I stumbled onto your presentation concerns the Korg Kronos vs. Nord Stage 3. I am so happy... It seems like I have an angel guiding me... Why? Because I made a decision to purchase a Korg Kronos (73-key) yesterday. It will be delivered to me this Thursday... You have introduced me to a whole new world... I have a lot of work ahead of me... because I love the ability to deep dive and get results beyond just pushing buttons which is what I would have with any of the Nord Stage keyboards. The reason I decided on the 73-key vs 88-key is because I perform and just don't want to lug the extra weight. I used to have a Yamaha 88-key synth... and it was just too much for me to lug around... not to mention the fact that it was easier to damage... due to awkwardness and weight. I have been viewing a number of Kronos presentations on-line and I notice that the majority of playing is done in the middle of the keyboard... I realize that I may have a few limitations when it comes to arrangements where I may want access to lower and higher notes... but I believe that, with a bit of creativity, that I will find a work around so that the 73-key meets my needs when it comes to my studio production work. Totally awesome... I have a sense that I am about to engage in the physics of sound with the Kronos... totally awesome! Again, thank you Darrick.
As for the balanced vs. unbalanced line outputs debate - allow me to clarify a few technicalities here: „balanced” is not the same as „grounded”, and „unbalaced” is not the same as „ungrounded”. Also, having unbalanced outputs is definitely not unfixable, as it's easy to convert unbalanced signals into balanced signals using a passive D.I. box or a passive Line Isolation box close to the instrument, in terms of cable length. Those boxes are basically nothing more than electromagnetic transformers with a center-tapped output coil. By default, both balanced and unbalanced outputs are grounded. (Aforementioned transformer boxes usually contain a Ground Lift switch on their balanced output side, used for breaking any hum-inducing ground loops.)
Thank you so much for clarifying. I knew you could use a DI to correct the issue but I was completely unaware that an unbalanced output was grounded as well. I stand corrected.
I think despite some shortcomings on connectivity on the rear panel, you sort of had me at "the manual is 60 pages including the index": that alone is enough for me to plump for the NS3. I just need something I can play, without having to spend loads of time learning and digging around through endless screens of settings. With a DAW on my computer I've no real use for a workstation keyboard, and I'm reaaly over touchscreens and menu diving as interfaces on a musical instrument. Great video - thank you!
I use a Kronos 2 and Nord Electro 5D these days at home and in live settings. I love how the Nord quickly gives you what u need for Hammond, Piano and Elec Piano live on the fly. Synth and string/brass sounds could be better though. Nord is light too which is great for live situations. However the Kronos offers much more under the hood. I can get everything under the sun by tweak patches, customizing combo setups etc at home. Incredible capabilities. Having both of these boards gives me the best of both worlds.
I was considering the Kronos, but I chose the Nord Stage 3 recently. I owned a Nord Electro 2 for 14 years so I was used to Clavia Nord keyboards. I've always HATED the Korg acoustic piano sound until the Kronos (which actually sounds good), but ultimately the NS3 won out because everything is right there in front of you - no need to navigate through annoying screens - and it's lighter and less bulky than the Kronos - better for gigging.
Same here. I went with the Stage 3 HA88 and never regretted for a single moment. The decision to bypass the Kronos had more to do with not needing another workstation at the time. And oh yeah, the SOUND! I love the pianos and the Hammond sounds come the closest I’ve heard to my actual C3 and 122 you see in my avatar pic.
I was recently in doubts on which to buy, I went with the NS3 as being a medical student I really don't have much time for excessive complications and to try and figure out how to use my instrument - I just wanted to sit down and play. I also am a very hands-on player, someone who wants to tweak things on the fly and the Kronos did not offer that. The Kronos is objectively better value for money, and offers way more capabilities but I personally didn't need all the hidden features which a laptop can do better anyway. Both are fantastic keyboards, just for different markets and customers. Plus the organ sounds on Nord are incredible, and the red colour sold me hahahha Thinking of getting an analogue synth to accompany my nord in the future, do you have any favourites? Great video by the way!
Great playing. I have both keyboards and prefer the piano & basic B3 on the Nord but the Korg is superior on the Rhodes/Wurlizter stuff and has many more nuanced B3, Pinao and organ sounds. Korg is a great writing tool with the Karma and rhythmic functions.
I've been gigging with a Nord Stage 3 for a couple years. Just joined a new cover band where I need to be able to layer or split more than two synth/sample sounds at a time, so I added a Kronos 61 as a top keyboard. Makes for a great combination.
Thanks for that. I have a Kronos. Thinking about a Nord,also thinking about another Kronos.I like the hands on with the Nord,but with the amount the Kronos can do.......I think the sound comparison is down to personal taste.They both sound amazing.
irishmusico Thank you for your reply. I love the Nord Stage 3 and the Kronos. But admittedly the Stage 3 is very limited in what it can do. It is easy to use and has some great sounds. If all you need is a keyboard for live playing and you are sticking to Organs, Clavinets, EPs, Pianos and some synth sounds I highly recommend it. But if you need any orchestral sounds, sampling capabilities, drum tracks, bass, brass, sequencing etc then I would recommend the Kronos over it.
Darrick Keels The one thing that I love about the Kronos is, out of the box it is really good but if you are prepared to put in the time to figure out what is "under the bonnet", which can be a bit daunting if you are not tech minded, but the results are stunning. I have mine since last September and I have spent €15.00 on a D50 sound set all the rest I have either found for free on the Internet or I have programed myself. Its like getting a brand new synth every few months. I will buy some new sounds from the Korg shop soon but it's not like I am remotely bored with the Sounds I have now.
Nice tip about the aux in...I have that on my MODX, and at rehearsal I always have to stand over by the mixer with my phone so everyone can listen to the songs...I just patched it into the aux ins on my Yamaha, and there's even a gain knob for it! Awesome. thx
Great presentation with a lot of good points, including a few I hadn't thought about. Own the Kronos v1, and have played with multiple Nords, only owning a Nord Electro. I'm a fairly basic player, but a fairly comfortable synth programmer. As has already been mentioned, if you're into "rolling your own", the Kronos runs circles around the Stage for being "deeeeply programmable". The various synths/sound engines offer a LOT more capability for building sounds, and the keyboard as a whole is great for crafting flexible splits/layers for a live situation and controlling them. So hands down, for home recording and synth/keyboard programming I definitely prefer the Kronos. All that being said (and ignoring the price), if I had to gig with a basic set of sounds (I usually play in classic/prog-rock-leaning groups), I would opt for the Stage 3. I actually prefer the Nord B3 emulation over the Kronos CX-3 engine, the electric pianos are close enough, and the synth engine can produce 95% of what I would ever want or need live for classic rock/pop. It's light, the interface is fairly easy to navigate, and it's easy to set up. I do think it's overpriced, and Nord has stubbornly stuck with some lower specs given its high price tag and better spec'ed competition (sample memory and USB tech being 2 examples), but it IS a very usable keyboard and enjoyable to play.
The thing that blows me away is the fact that (in Canada) the Kronos ($4999) is $1000 cheaper than the Nord Stage 3 88 ($5999) and it has so much more to offer in terms of functions. It's incredible. Can't wait to own a Kronos!
At first I was like "this dude spending wayyyy too much time just blabbing about ports" but then after a few minutes I'm like "damn he's right why isn't there audio out over USB? WTF Nord!?" Amazing in depth comparison here, giving a strong feel for the difference in experience of these two keyboards, not just the a sound comparison
My Keys To Music Hey! It is really good to hear from you. The Nord in this video is literally the keyboard I got after watching every single one of your videos. In fact it was your in-depth detailed videos that inspired this one, so thank you! I look forward to your upcoming content.
Thanks Darrick - glad my videos helped. Occasionally, people ask about the Kronos and how it compares with the Nord Stage 3. I'll send them here from now on!
I bought the Nord Stage 3 first and then couldn't help but buy the korg kronos 2. Such a strong awesome setup playing both on stage, makes up for the incredible amount of debt I'm now in haha
I have had every Stage model they have came out with and one of my suggestions is to add balanced XLR outs. They finally changed to a standard IEC power cable. I can't tell you how many times I had to steal a power cord off a tv or portable radio in an emergency.
I used an Electro 2 for years before I got my Stage 3 recently. I owned 3 power cables: One for the studio, one for the gig bag and a third in the trunk of my car.
I've compared these in person... if sound is most important then other than the organ engine theres no comparison, the Kronos sounds a lot better to my ears. For simplicity Nord wins....
Varying strengths and weaknesses to all things. KORG is king - in the areas that we all grew up loving them for. As someone who grew up welded to their Triton Ex Moss, there is no other board than KRONOS. I'm simply too...expectant and happy? With the Korg workflow. It just feels like home and thats the thing. An instrument, much like over in the Guitar world - doesn't have to be the 'subjective best' of the worlds 'most talented'. You just need to love it; and make that evident in the sound that you, or co-cooperatively, your band; produce.
I own Nord Stage 2 and Kronos 2. They are both excellent instruments. Nord is a great bread & butter get it done keyboard. Korg is great for me to build complex layers and splits.
Oh okay. I have had a hard time finding any comparison videos outside of sound comparison videos. I thought maybe I just didn't know where to look lol! Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
The Line In connectors on the Korg Kronos cannot be used for a guitar input, wrong impedance. To connect a guitar to the Kronos, or any Line input, a DI box, passive or active, must be used. SP/DIF is widely used for transmission of digital audio signals. My Korg Kronos X connects to my PC via USB so I don't need the SP/DIF for digital audio. I do use the the SP/DIF input to carry the studio Word Clock sync signal, from a tc electronic Digital Konnekt x32, at 48kHz to the Kronos and set it to use the external clock.
Finding this video in 2022, im having a hard time picking a both at home and on stage keyboard. I’ve been looking at the Nord Piano 5, Stage 3 and the Kronos 2. I want a keyboard that I can use for studio recording with lots of capabilities and a stage keyboard with a beautiful sound. I used to play at a church that had a kronos 2… it was my baby. I also play for a ministry that has.a Korg EK-50… so I’m very familiar with Korg but the Kronos is discontinued now. I have looked into, but have not really cared for any other brands (Rolland, Cassio, Yamaha and so on although I do enjoy Yamaha) Im just having a hard time pulling the trigger, any suggestions? Lol
@@darrickkeels6387 Thank you for replying! I've done some research on the nautilus but couldn't find any clear comparison between it and the Kronos would you have any videos that you might have done on it? What's your opinion on it in comparison to other Korg workstations?
@@gabrielmoore6099 I have not done any videos because I do not own the Nautilus. Played them yes but I personally have no need for one because I do own a Kronos. The Nautilus has all of the same sounds as the Kronos. The operating system is mostly identical. The screen is smaller yes, there is no Karma, no aftertouch and a lot of the buttons, knobs and sliders have been removed. But there are "workarounds" that can be implemented to give you more controls like using some MIDI class compliant devices. The sequencer is identical on the Nautilus, sampling, sound engines, Setlist functionality, etc. It's all there. So if you are really a Korg fan and not really impressed by the Fantom, Montage, Nord etc the Nautilus is truly the way to go.
Thank you so much for the info For some strange reason I couldn’t really find any in-depth reviews. I looked some more last night and found a video on it. I think I’ll look into the Nautilus some more and get my head wrapped around some of the capabilities.
Korg Kronos for me. I sold mine Nord stage 3 88. Now I have the Kronos 88 gold edition. More realistic ( cx3 organ, kapro Italian Grand 9gb ) and it works great live Together with My Roland Jupiter 80 and crumar Mojo 61. 👍
Great comparison, but as you stated they are two very different keyboards. I use a Kronos 88 on stage, and I can program an entire performance using the SetList function. Some songs require changing patches 10 or 20 times on the fly, and I can scroll through the setlist sequentially with my foot pedal without every touching the display. I play in a Motown band, and I share a lot of horn lines with our sax player. I have to confess that I spend at least an hour prior to each gig to set up my set list and sounds. The Nord 3 is a great board, but for me it would be much more difficult scrolling through patches on a complex performance. The sound quality on both are very good. All things considered, the Kronos does top out the Nord with exception of portability (Kronos 88 is 55 lbs), and ease of operation. I love my Kronos.
Doug M Thank you for responding to the video. Your contribution to the keyboardist community is invaluable. Question for you. Seeing that you are a gigging musician I must ask. Is the Kronos the only keyboard you use or is it just your main board. Secondly (I guess I had two questions) do you use any VST's live?
Darrick - I use the Kronos 88 with a Korg Nano Pad on stage. I've been using the Kronos for over 5 years, and I'm still learning things. It's complicated yet simple at the same time. You could take it our of the box and play your first gig in 20 min. But as you start to dig into the depths of the Kronos you'll get lost in it for weeks on end. I will sometimes build a new Combi and am amazed at how granular you can get with the settings, and how great it sounds on stage. I play the Kronos through a Radial JDI into the PA, and with a Roland KC 550 from the pass through port on the Radial. The Kronos is a very rugged keyboard, as I have been beatin' the beans out of it for years and it never fails me. There's a lot of great boards on the market, and they are all pretty awesome in their own way. The trick is to try them all and find the one that works for you. Rock on!
I have both of these boards this comparison was dead on accurate! Nord is great for gigging it’s light but in my opinion the Kronos is the best keyboard on the market hands down. Nord just has to many limitations.
I know this video is intended as a comparison between the two keyboards mentioned here. Although they are both nice keyboards, I can't help but notice your wonderful and amazing talent. Excellent playing!!!! With that said, I think the Kronos has the Nord beat (by a VERY narrow margin. They both sound nice) in the electric pianos and organ department. However, I like the acoustic piano preset on the Nord slightly better because it sounds smoother and more natural to my ears. Now, this is purely based on the demos on this video. I know that both of these keyboards have many different presets available in each category and chances are you could find a sound that is perfectly suitable to you in either of these keyboards. I myself chose the Nautilus 61 key version. It has the same sounds and engines as the Kronos minus a few things here and there. With that said, I could not be happier with my decision. I really like the fact most of the sounds are physical models of their acoustic counterparts and you can go in, tweak, and fine tune every slight detail of the character of each instrument. You can make the instrument sound as natural or unnatural as you want. That is definitely something you cannot do with just multisamples without any synthesis involved. Although the Kronos and Nautilus are workstations, they are also highly tweakable synthesizers with virtually unlimited versatility.
Thank you for the compliment. And yes the Nautilus is a great keyboard for sure. If you like sound design, it's hard to find a better hardware keyboard that can keep up with the Kronos.
The comment about TS vs TRS is wrong. TS has a ground, what it doesn't have is a 3rd conductor generated by a separate op-amp from the host. Half-A-Million dollar audiophile home stereo systems don't require balanced lines and they operate at nearly the same voltage ( except for turntables). Yes ,I do agree with the poster the Nord should ( as should ALL others) have outputs that work either balanced or unbalanced cabling. I used TRS to XLR adaptors and ran 50' lines, no problem.
The internet is depressing... I currently play in a band and I am planning to buy a new keyboard for playing gigs and recording (I have a very shitty one at the moment). I have been watching videos of keyboard presentations for almost two years now. I wanted to buy a Roland RD-2000 at first, but I didn't like the organs and the FX/amp sim in it. Then I wanted to buy a Nord Stage 3, it sounded great and it doesn't even cost all that much where I'm from, and now here I am, watching this video and reading the comments. The more I look, the more I think that my ideal keyboard doesn't exist... Nothing against your video though, it's very informative and well presented!
Hi Darrick, thanks a lot for a very useful review. I play a Kronos live, often have a hard time setting it to jump out of the mix especially with those guitar and bass amps eating out all frequencies, and when I hear bands where its a Nord playing, it seems to me it has more presence among the mix. Before I make the switch or the additional investment, have you ever observed that Nord would have been easier to get into the live mix, eg for mediums EQing reasons ? Thanks a lot in advance,
Preset wise the Nord pianos in general do cut through a mix more that the Korg Kronos presets to my ears. I do not use the stock pianos live when playing the Kronos. They are tweaked to cut. The editing options in the Kronos are most certainly vast. Changing the EQ, running the pianos with less reverb or dry, changing the velocity sensitivity, adding a compressor are all things I will do to create a piano that sounds good with a band. My band has a sax, bass, lead guitar, drums, auxiliary drums, and another keyboardist, and four vocalists lol. If I just pull up the stock Berlin Grand and play no one will hear unless I crank it up and cover everyone. That being said I will often use the Nord Pianos as adding EQ, Compression is quite simply more simplistic. Hit a couple buttons, and turn a couple knobs and you are there. I personally prefer the Nord acoustic pianos in general in the studio and live. I love the Kronos because it can do practically anything albeit in a more complicated way. It is way more versatile because it is a workstation and not a stage piano. But sometimes additional features are not needed or even "in the way" when you need to adjust something quickly. I usually reach for the board which can do the job for me. So the piano I choose is based on the song, what other band members are playing, the venue's sound system and ease.
@@darrickkeels6387 thanks a million Darrick for taking the time to answer me in such detail. Extremely helpful, you're a star. Keep going and take care!
I'm a bit of a hardware junkie, so I have a Kronos 2 88, a Montage 8, a Roland RD-2000 and a Kurzweil PC3K8, among other gear. I don't own a Nord, for reasons which I'll get into later. Here is my take: RD-2000 - My main MIDI controller and acoustic piano. I love the action and control layout and it's very portable. EPs are pretty good, but organ and some of the other sounds could be better. Not an issue, as its mainly used for acoustic piano. Both the V-Piano sounds (which have unlimited polyphony and note-by-note customization) and the sampled "SuperNatural" pianos are great. Montage 8 - Good action and the acoustic pianos are almost as good as the RD-2000, especially the Bosendorfer Imperial. Excellent acoustic sounds and FM EP sounds. Other EPs are also excellent. The organs are Ok. Allows for very versatile sound changes on the fly (example: solo string to ensemble or acoustic piano to FM piano). Particularly good for EDM. Very unique FM sounds. Not very portable. No real sequencer or sampler, so not a workstation. PC3K8 - Great for classic Kurzweil sounds like the strings, choir and EPs. Organs are excellent. Setups allow for nice sound combinations. Worth getting the Kore 64 board. Keyboard action good for organ but not the best for piano. Kronos 2. Does most things pretty well, but really only my favorite for organ (tied with the PC3K). A superb board, but I don't use it so much as all of the others are slightly better at individual things. Action very good (about the same as Montage). I don't use the excellent sampling or sequencing capabilities (I have a computer for this), so they're not big advantages for me. Takes forever to boot up--another reason I don't use it so much. Of course I also use VSTs such as Keyscape/Omnisphere and Kontact, as well as a DAW. So why don't I own a Nord? 1. I think that they're over-priced. 2. I think that the sound only really excels in acoustic piano, and even this is no better than the RD-2000 or Montage (or Keyscape). 3. I don't like the keyboard action. 3. The limited sample memory and polyphony are unacceptable, especially at the price. The control over sounds is much more limited than my current instruments. I can often hear looping and note stealing when Nord samples are played. Even the largest Nord samples are smaller than VSTs--and if you use those, you won't be able to hold very many of them. Whereas my other instruments all hold a thousand or more sounds--often with convenient customizable set lists to easily step through them. If I could only keep one, it would be the RD-2000 or Montage. If I were really on a budget and had to pick a single instrument, I would probably recommend the new MODX 8, which does 99% of what the Montage does, but is far more portable and half the price. Thanks for the video comparison.
the Montage 8 you should re phrase that. Why? Cause they’re all updatable so....it has a sequencer and all. They will put in a VA and VL engine in the Montage just to let you know
@@tuneunleashed They've updated the Montage several times since I bought it. It now has a better sequencer, but still not as good as a Kronos, Fantom, or DAW. They've recently added some nice new FM capabilities too. But I stand by my original comments.
geoffk777 Honestly I agree to a certain aspect of what you’re saying but I also think that it’s all subjective at the end of the day. I can’t say which one is better than the other because they all have features over each other it’s like a high end car both offer something better than each other but at the end of the day it drives. At the end of the day you have black and white keys and you make music. I bet you say all that but you don’t even use 10% of the power it has. To me there are no winners, apples and oranges they’re both fruits one is better than the other for you but there is another guy that things the other is way better than the one you chose. Pros and Cons is how you use it learned it from the goat Shaun Martin.
geoffk777 For me the RD Pianos are trash no disrespect compared to the Montage which is thin and need some updates but it has potential, the Kronos and the Nord Stage it needs some work and the Fantom is at the bottom of the list but when it comes to features the Fantom is killing that’s just my opinion would you agree with it maybe not but that’s how I see it.
How would you compare the Kronos (61) to a Kurzweil PC361? I own a PC3, but as powerful as it is, the sounds have grown stale to ears. I'm a gigging musician and this would be my main board. Currently gigging with a laptop and Keyscape/Omnisphere... but I find that in a live setting, by the time the patches are compressed and EQ'd, the subtleties and benefit of high-quality samples are lost. Worth noting, I LOVE the synth action on the Kronos 61.
I actually gig with the Kronos on a regular basis. The "Setlist" feature really makes everything a breeze. With some prior setup I and easily handle some of the most complex sets. It is a sound creator's dream as well and to my ears (strictly opinion) the Kronos does sound more "modern" than the Kurzweil. Though I really like how sturdy the Kurzweil is.
The most practical and in depth video I have watched starting with the rear panel and moving on to the top panel. I wasn't always sure which keyboard you were playing because you always played the Kronos keyboard but I basically got it. I really appreciate the in depth comparison of features. I would have liked to have heard the synth engines compared but that's okay. I agree with your frustrations about the USB port and other features that are limited on the Nord flag ship, you shouldn't have to worry about such things for $4500.00, it should do everything. The one thing I wonder about is if I can send out the 16 different tracks on 16 different midi channels and have other keyboards play each track. The Kronos sounds are a little cheesy and I am an analog freak. I would like an all in one work station that sends out sequencer information on different midi channels. I have a OB 6, a Prophet 6 and a Moog sub 37. I also have a Roland FA-06 and like it's arpeggiator but not the sounds. I wondered how many arp settings the Kronos has. The Roland is very practical and has a vast number of arpeggiator settings but I cannot send out different sequencer tracks on different midi channels. Everything is on board inside the sequencer. Thanks for the video Darrick Keels. Great video.
It must be cool that you get to have all these keyboards from time to time. I'm guessing you have to sell other keyboards to finance new keyboards. How difficult is it to sell these keybords? Does it take a long time?Do you end up having to sell them at a big loss? Oh man, and you hit the nail on the head for me about going hardware first. For the life of me, no matter how much I try, I can never get the playability right between hardware and vsts. I can't get pianoteq or other libraries to play as dynamically and fluid as keyboards like motif, kronos, and digital pianos. Whenever I want to use a vst sound, I play using internal hardware sounds and use the midi take to then try the vsts lol.
I don't really sell keyboards honestly. In fact, I have never sold one. All of the keyboards you see in my videos, I still own. Except I gave away the Roland FA08. This video is several years old now lol! I have adapted. I am no longer a "hardware first" musician like I used to be. I will sometimes use hardware to sketch out ideas. I find it easier for me to do it on my MPC Key 61 than a DAW. However, all of my serious work is composed in a DAW normally from start to finish.
@darrickkeels6387 damn dude you must have a big house to store all those keyboards lol. Right on, I mostly use keyboards as a way to practice when I can't play my grand piano. But about 80% of all my playing is on a grand piano. I guess I'm not really the target audience for a lot of these products.
I dont compare motocycles to trucks, so I fail to see the reasoning behind comparing a stage keyboard to a workstation. They are built to do different things. Nord is, for the most part, a boutique company, so they cannot compete with Korg or Yamaha when it comes to "bang-for the-buck" features. Clavia also suffers higher export tariffs than southeast Asia, to the USA. This results in higher retail prices for the Nord units. The standard street-price for a Nord-88, is about $700 more than a Kronos-88. But in this instance we have a highly unusual circumstance. In 2005?, Korg introduced the Oasys, and its List price, for the 88, was over $8,000. They sold enough of those units to recoup their expensive R&D, so with little change, they were able to transplant most of the "guts" of the Oasys into a cheaper and smaller chases. Aside from some minor changes, the Kronos, in terms of functionality is identical to the erstwhile Oasys, so they could introduce the Kronos at a far cheaper price than before.
The only reason I compared them is because people often do. But as you stated they are completely different animals. Stage pianos should be compared to stage pianos. Workstations to workstations, arrangers to arrangers. But unfortunately that is not what people do. So I said in the very beginning that these two keyboards are very different from one another.
@@darrickkeels6387 everyone should compare nord stage with all workstations because the price matters not the category of the piano we want the value for the money if you compare the nord to stage category like rd 2000 it is not fair either god dame the rd 2000 is half the price compared to nord and he can do a lot he transmit midi and audio and he have balanced outputs and the keypad on it is much more batter than nord so what , nord have to be compared with workstations even with workstations nord still expensive and you need extra things for transmit audio and di box to make balanced output in live environments and nord tree way pedals to hear dampers god dame nord accessory are also so expensive you have to be smart here and even all this down side of the nord he is a wonderful keyboard i looooooove the sounds on this board so much i can sacrifice all this to just have there sounds thats why I'm considering to buy two keyboards Kronos and nord stage that's what I'm going to do i will make kronos my main and play nord from the kronos and when i have to play live or gigging i will take the nord it is easy to gigg with and kronos will stay at home for studio stuff i think that's a good decision for me and I'm so excited to make it happen oh i remember kronos have down sides to so there is no perfect keyboard but if you buy them all nord and kronos i think you going to have all the power
I am thinking about between those two. I would prefer the kronos because of the stick, but also heard that korg piano sounds are always bad. Yamaha and Nord much better. Whats your opinion about this?
I think that piano sounds are a matter of taste and personal preference. There are those that cannot stand the Grand Pianos in the Nord and vice versa. Also the pianos in the Korg are modeled pianos and so they can be edited a lot. You can adjust the amount of string resonance, the position of the lid, mechanical noise, choose between stretch tuned or standard tuned pianos, damper resonance, damper noise, velocity intensity, velocity bias, release time, una corta, or even control whether you hear it from the player's perspective or the audience's perspective. Then of course there are high quality effects like reverbs,and compressions, EQ etc. Now the pianos definitely have a "Korg" character that some may not prefer. But I think many who say they don't like the pianos in the Korg simply flipped through a few stock presets and formed their opinion. In my opinion if you are buying a keyboard to just turn on and play presets, the power of the Kronos is wasted. Now, I LOVE the character of the pianos in the Nord. They sound more intimate and "woody" in my opinion. They are not "perfectly" tuned which adds another level of realism. I prefer them in general over the Kronos but I would not say they were better but different. My Nord is my most "fun" keyboard to play. But when I have a really important gig that requires lots of complicated layers, splits, sound effects, orchestral sounds, tons of different songs in one set, my Korg is my go to. So your buying decision should really be based on how you plan to use your keyboard and what sounds and feels good to you.
I was looking to buy a Kronos but i can't afford it at the moment. Also, I don't think I'm ready for something with such a high learning curve. I went with the Roland Fa-08 instead due to the lower price and learning curve. Also, I love the G-Feel keys. You could find them used for about $1,200; $200 more than the Korg Kross or the Roland Juno DS brand new *which are also great* I'm not knocking on the Kronos or anything. You could get much more out of it if you know what you're doing.
Really? I didn't know it was that good! I guess I did make the right choice ☺️ To the be fair, the Roland keys are the best I've ever felt. I've ordered it yesterday and it comes in 5 days! I was shocked at the price. $1,200 is a steal!
@@darrickkeels6387 I currently have/using the Stage 3 88 and the Prophet 6 (and they compliment each other nicely) but I would really like to have the ability to add programmed sequences (like drums/bass) for live use, but at the same time I don’t want it to feel prerecorded for the audience (difficult to describe) Hmm…Maybe just something like an Electron Octatrack would be a solution. Anyway, thanks for your reply. I love your channel, simply very good and useful content🥳🎹
ua-cam.com/video/-cKdNL0KQQ4/v-deo.html 😉 more material is on its way. The video editing is not even half as good as yours, but hopefully I will improve over time.
I think they're two different keyboards with different purposes. Nord Stage 3 is the keyboard for me, I have the 88 note. It comes into it's own as a live keyboard. Smooth transitions, morphing wheel and pedal, blending sounds seamlessly while playing live - you can't morph sounds with the Kronos. 5 various pedal inputs to aid changes live...compared to Kronos 2. The Korg appears to be more of a one man band machine, and far too complex to use on the fly. Nord have put their effort into making it a dream to play live....as well as amazingly lush sounds that I think can be layered beautifully. It's easy to convert and put any sampled sound into it too which was a bonus for me. Also, a point on your intro about that you can only pick 2 synth sounds on the Stage 3, you can by exporting a programmed sound back in, then layer more on top of that with lossless quality. You can actually layer 6 live sounds at a time, admittedly not all synth.. but piano and organ too.
Darrick Keels awesome! Where can I learn to play organ like that? I wish I knew about the stops and the styles. Is there a book out there or something?
Mike Campbell I would recommend this coarse. He goes through drawbar settings, rotory techniques, pedal work, scales and so on. gospelmusicians.com/organ-xtravaganza.html
Good point about the menu diving on the korg for the audio inputs. But the korg wins here because input gain is adjustable. You could also turn the gain up on your input signal coming into your nord. Really you should just bring a $20 passive mixer to gigs if you want to blend backing tracks into your rig output. 5 pedal input jacks on this Nord is truly impressive. wow. Unbalanced outputs have caused ground loop noise even on 6' runs for me, in some environments. It's hell when it happens. Biggest surprise is how much more natural the Korg reverb sounded.
13:07 why does it have unbalanced out? Because A) a balanced connection is very expensive of course, not to forget all these extra expensive cables you need to buy. B) the Nord-red looks nice on TV: during playback nobody needs the out-signal anyway :-) :-) :-)
My Roland FA-08 was half the price and has balanced outs. I do not think it is that expensive. However a direct box is an easy "fix" or plugging into a small mixer first which is what I do. And red is my favorite color lol!
@@darrickkeels6387 A balanced sigalflow is not much more expensive then unbalanced, but that is exactly why I was amazed that pro-gear like Nord hasn't got this. And it is only a one time payment, it is not like buying bread or fuel that comes back every 2 or 3 days. But you also said that you never had problems with long cables, so indeed I was just kiddng around a bit :-)
@@marcelmaes5275 I truly do not understand why they decided to do unbalanced outs on their flagship. I always have a direct box with me and I use a mixer anyway. I just know people often assume a flagship has balanced outputs. And yes I certainly caught the joking bit. I did not mean for my response to sound so serious. Thanks for watching! I appreciate it
I have a Nord Electro5D and just bought a Kronos 2 61 keys few minutes ago online. Your video was very helpful. In my opinion, the only piano that beats the Nords is the Keyscape..Spectrasonics.. -- Yamaha C7 and the EL pianos like Fender Rhodes (this is amazingly incredible). Other than that there are many good pianos in the market like Motif, S90es, etc. but you cant compare those with the Nord. I have no experience with Kronos (never used) , just play couple times in a music store and that was it. In your video I felt like Kronos piano sound is slightly better..wow strange....is it new piano sound on Kronos? According to your experience what do you like better? Nord or Kronos?
@@darrickkeels6387 Upgrading. Home semi pro studio. Fantom or Kronos? If you were starting from zero. What would you do? BTW, I can only afford one. I compose, jam and experiment quite a bit. I gig occasionally. 88 and 61 keys are ruled out. Please respond. I’ve seen most of your vids, and value your opinion.
Hi Darrick, great video! how does the keybed of the Kronos and NS3 compare to Montage 8? Which one has the lightest (fastest) keys to play with? And also, have you tried the yamaha CP88 and 73? If so, how about their keybeds?
The keybed on the Kronos is definitely a "stiffer" action. It is not as fast as the Montage. As far as the NS3 I have, it is a waterfall semi-weighted action so it feels like a Hammond Organ because I only own the Compact version.
@@darrickkeels6387 Nice!! Thanks again Darrick. I'm planning to get a Yamaha CP 88/73 or the Nord Stage 3 . But I still need to wait for any comparisons between their keybed actions.
@@darrickkeels6387Hi Darrick, thanks for the reply. One thing I noticed about Korg, is they can take a road and airport beating. I used Tridents overseas for years. Also, I want to thank you for your detailed and unusually clear communication in terms of useful info. Cheers from Vancouver, Canada.
Thanks Darrick, great comparison. I’m considering trading in some of my vintage Rolands for one of these. I’m not into lots of menu diving and sound tweaking so may lean to the Nord to get up and running quickly for live play. Do you find organ on the weighted keys strange feeling ( if I go the 88 key route)? Also, what monitor/pa/amps do you use? Sounds great! Thanks.
Thanks for commenting! With the Nord you will be up and running fast for sure. Menu diving is minimal and really only used for some of the deeper features. Playing organ on weighted keys is not ideal for me though I CAN. But playing piano on semi-weighted keys is not "ideal" either, yet I can (and do) if need be. As far as monitors go I use KRK Rokit 5's in the studio. They get the job done though in all sincerity there are better options out there. But I believe knowing your room and monitors is more important when doing critical mixing than the monitors themselves. When I gig I have a pair of QSC 12.2 loudspeakers. They are phenomenal. I also have a QSC CP12 that I use as a floor monitor if my 12.2's are being used as the venue's PA system. I plug my keyboards into my 10 channel Yamaha Mixer and the mixer goes out to the speakers. I used to use the Roland KC500 keyboard amp but I have found the QSC's to just sound better. Hope this helps.
Awesome... thanks Darrick! I've been seriously considering getting the Kronos and your video was really helpful. I haven't had an opportunity to play one yet so I'm wondering how realistic the weighted key action is compared to an acoustic grand? On a separate note, what brand and model are your studio monitor speakers and stands?
Thanks for the compliment! The Japanese RH3 keyboard is a great action but moreso for a workstation. If the keybed action is most important to you and you are looking for a grand piano feel, I would recommend the Roland RD-2000 or something like a Kawai MP-11SE. These boards are digital pianos and focus largely on. The feel of the keyboard versus a plethora of features and sounds. My monitors are KRK Rokit 5's. My stands are Proline stands from Guitar Center. However, in this video you are hearing a direct feed from the keyboards to a digital audio interface into a DAW. That way the camera microphone quality would not effect the sound.
Thanks for getting back with me so quickly Darrick! I'm really drawn to the features on the Kronos but as you know, the feel of the keybed has so much to do with how one emotes with the instrument and ultimately the compositions that emerge. On a scale of 1 to 10, if 10 is a quality acoustic grand, how would you rate the Kronos, the RD-2000, MP-11SE and the Nord Stage 3? My current primary keyboard, which I never liked its action, is a Kurzweil K2500XS. If you've played one, how would you rate it so I can get a sense about these other keyboards. I really appreciate your input because it's not convenient for me to get to a place like Guitar Center to demo.
@@seeingwithheart If you are looking for an authentic grand piano experience I would go for the Kawai hands down. The extra long wooden keys mimic the grand piano the best. It has a triple sensor technology which makes it super expressive. Furthermore, it comes with a triple pedal and even the pedals are weighted to mimic the feel of playing a grand piano. Also the pedals are very sensitive making half pedaling a breeze. It's drawbacks would be limited sounds (I think it only has 40), not the most portable for gigging. It is large and awkward because the long grand piano size keys, it can only layer 3 sounds, and so on. But I would rate it a 10 as far as feel and piano sound. Next it really becomes a toss up for me. They are all better than the Kurzweil 2500xs in my opinion though as far as feel and sound due to being later technology. However, Roland would be my second choice. It has wooden keys, V-Piano sounds with unlimited polyphony with that sound engine. Furthermore, it has about 1100 sounds I believe and its "SuperNatural" Acoustic sound engine is excellent. Sound and feel I would rate about an 8. Next would come Korg and Nord which I would rate about a 7. So why do I have a Korg and Nord you may ask? Features. I play in a band and my job is to provide every sound that is not drums, bass, or lead guitar. So I may have to play horns, synth leads, pads, strings, a ticking clock, etc. In addition the setlist function in the Korg makes it a breeze onstage. The Nord I mainly use for organ playing and a few synth type sounds as a secondary keyboard. Piano "realism" is normally not my priority because I need my pianos to cut through a mix of 3-4 singers, drummer, percussion, bass, lead guitar and sometimes a horn section. A real grand piano sound would get lost in the mix or some of it's body resonance will muddy up a mix creating a nightmare for front of house. And when you are being paid to play the last thing you want to be is the guy causing problems with the sound lol! Also you should really take a look at the Montage 8 as well. The Yamaha piano sounds are great and it has a ton of features. I would rate its piano and feel about a 7 as well if what we are measuring it up against is a real grand. Hope this helps. Happy shopping.
Hi Darrick, Thanks for being so thorough. You're responses are really helpful! As long as all the keyboards have a superior action compared to my K2500XS, then I'm clear I'd like to have more features than the Kawaii offers. I spent the morning looking at the Montage 8. It's amazing! I'm so grateful you suggested I check it out! Now I'm trying to decide between these two keyboards and I'm wondering what prompted you to choose Kronos over Montage? Thanks again and have a great day! Mitch
@@seeingwithheart I chose the Kronos because overall it is more powerful and less money then the Montage. It has a full featured sampler and sequencer. These items are missing from the Montage. Nine sound engines as opposed to two. Its complex polyphony scheme works better than the static 128-Voice polyphony of the Montage. A total of 16 parts can be layered as opposed to 8. A massive 64GB hard drive that can hold massive samples, songs, sounds from software like Omnishpere, more audio outs, more usb slots. Really the list goes on. I needed a main board that could handle anything I threw at it. Now the Montage has some out of the box sounds like better certainly and is a very capable machine. As a performance synth it is amazing. But it is not a workstation and that is what I needed. All this and it is priced less than the Yamaha. But really as long as the board has the features you need, you cannot go wrong with either one.
How I setup for a live performance very much depends on what my job is for a particular gig. If I am doing lots of organ playing the Nord will certainly be present. If I am playing mainly Rhodes I bring the Kronos because the EP-1 sound engine has some of the most realistic sounding Rhodes patches on the market to me. I play in a Motown and Funk band. My typical setup consists of the Kronos as my main keyboard. We typically perform 30 songs per night, so the "Setlist" feature in the Kronos makes things simple for me. Also I play strange sounds like a fire engine siren, thunder, and lightning. The Kronos is my only keyboard with a full featured sampler. My top board it typically my Yamaha MODX6 because I feel like its horns do the best job of sounding like an actual horn section especially when playing with a real saxophonist. It has a whole plethora of high quality sounds and is extremely versatile as well. It handles funky synth bass, synth leads, clavinets, horns and strings like a breeze. Plus it has a "setlist" feature as well though not as robust as the Kronos. But still all I have to do is hit the touch screen and it is ready to go for the next song. I also have a job playing for a church. That is when the FA08 comes in handy. It is my main board handling Rhodes, acoustic pianos, and pads. For synth stuff, backing tracks, and other miscellaneous bits I use a Korg M50. It's old but reliable and gets the job done. Church is weird because other people may come and play on you gear regularly during any given service. I really don't like random people playing my Kronos or Nord or even my MODX6. Plus the FA is light as well as the M50. I setup and tear those down weekly. Lastly if I am going to a venue to play impromptu (which happens in church a lot) I take just my Nord. It is small, light, and covers all the basic sounds I need. The Kronos often cannot fit in the tight spaces an unprepared venue gives me. I know. Long answer. Probably should do a video on it.
Great comparison... not easy to do. 32:00 LOL To print the full Kronos manual you need a new toner for the printer... luckily it's a Korg so like the M1 on down very intuitive to use and create new sounds. But with a Kronos you need to decide if you are going to play music.... or get technical and sit down ready to get lost learning a fraction of what it can do with the right pilot. But even the Kronos has a weakness.... no Poly AT with release velocity and that's a shame as CH AT just makes a mess of complex sounds you need to have control of.
I agree that Kronos is easily the best for the money. I picked one up used for a great price. I’ve owned them all, Roland, Yamaha, etc. My main criteria are 1. Piano sounds and 2. Versatility. Korg Kronos is so versatile. Now about the piano sounds, like I’ve heard a few people say, the Kronos presets are weak. I don’t know why they programmed them that way!! They aren’t dynamic enough for solo playing or powerful enough to cut through a mix. But if you go in and edit them, you can get all of that. If you don’t want the hassle of editing I’d say just go get a Yamaha. For the money, that would be my next choice. In fact I love the Yamaha sound but something about the keyboard action was hard on my hands. I felt like I was hitting concrete at the bottom of the key landing. I don’t have any issue with the Korg weighted keys. The landing feels a little softer which some players may not like. I think Joe Sample had the same problem with Yamahas from what I read. So Korg is the winner for me
I couldn't agree more. I used to have a Yamaha S90 and yes it hurt after playing an hour. My sets can 3 hours! I also agree with you about the piano presets. Luckily the pianos are modeled and highly editable. I actually posted a tutorial showing the basics of tweaking the pianos
I have never had a problem either. I have direct boxes or I plug into a small mixer when playing live. My main gripe is that a premium flagship keyboard should have premium parts. My Yamaha MODX6 has unbalanced outputs but only cost $1300 not $3600. If I had the Montage and it had unbalanced outs I would complain.
@@recordlabeldao7820 The Nord Stage 3 Compact cost $3599.99 brand new from every major music retailer that sells in the United States. That is the keyboard in the video.
I still have a Korg Triton Le, in some comments people say it's hard to work with a Kronos (I already played in a Kronos- live gig - 4 or 5 times), to work with Kronos Is a piece of cake. Try to play a Triton le live with a lot of patches per music and program that early lol without fking up all your original sounds :p . No touch screen . And about Nord, well I'll be honest it's a too simple and limited machine for me. I play in several projects, different genres of music from metal/progressive metal to classic music, ambient/sci fi, etc etc, so for me Nord is very limited. And also very expensive. Korg Kronos has flaws? Well it's 2019 fall, and every keyboard on market has flaws , limitations. The way to work around limitations is to choose the better for the jobs you're in. Simple as that. Using learning curve as an excuse is like for me a person being lazy. So if someone work on IT and need to work on Linux and main servers, they will be on the corner playing windows 'cause you're used to work always like that? nah not a type of personality to have in music or any kind of art.
Great video - though there is nothing about the synth side of things. Im looking at the stage 3 compact, or the Kronos 61 - to replace an FA07. My bottom board is an RD2000, and I have no need for any other pianos (accoustic or EPs) nor clavs etc. The organ sounds are the most important - as both the RD and FA lack something (the FA lacks depth/meat and physical drawbars, the RD percussion and editability), BUT I dont want to loose the VA synth capability, nor the acoustic orchestral instruments (brass/woodwind and strings. Thers no point changing if the organs sounds arnt better on the Korg/Nord though. I really like the Roland VR730 - and the Norg electros actually, but both mean loosing a lot of synth and orchestral functions so there not an option (unless I add anintegra 7 which will get pricey as well). i dont have space (height for a 3 board setup unfortunately.
Both Nord and Kronos have excellent organs and both are much better than the RD-2000 (also my main board) or other Rolands. Why can't Roland do a decent Leslie effect? Since piano isn't so important to you, both of these might be overkill, especially if workstation sequencing and sampling also aren't that important to you. I would look at the Kronos and also at a Nord Electro. You should also try and consider a Yamaha MODX or Montage 6.
Oh, missed the synth requirement. Then the Kronos or Yamahas are best. I prefer the Yamahas overall, but the Korg has a slightly better organ. Try them all, though.
Alpna Sunil I love the Yamaha Montage 8. In fact many of the preset acoustic sounds on the Yamaha sound better than the Korg to me. Also I like the keyboard action best on the Yamaha. But overall I would not say one is better than the other. The Nord is a stage piano. The Korg is a workstation and the Montage is a performance synth. So technically they all occupy different categories. Sounds are a matter of taste. The Kronos is the most powerful of the bunch, next the Montage and lastly the Nord. But that should be expected considering their respective categories.
Armz316 I do not think you can go wrong with the Kurzweil PC3K8 if you like that Kurzweil sound! The build quality in my opinion is better than the Kronos. (i.e the sliders feel more solid) However, the Kurzweil is not a true sampler though it has sample playback and sample editing functions. Also it is a deep keyboard and a sound designer's dream yet the screen is tiny with horrible resolution. It is hard enough trying to edit sounds and sequences on the Kronos even with it's large touch screen (although most sequencing I use DAW for editing), I could not imagine spending 8 hours editing and navigating that tiny low resolution screen on the Kurweil. Furthermore, I have fallen in love with the Setlist function of the Kronos. One touch of the screen or push of a pedal and I can pull up the next song in a set with all the instruments, backing tracks, wave sequences, and even valuable notes. In a fast paced environment operating as a musical director for a band this is invaluable. Other workstations do have "Setlist" modes but nothing quite like the Kronos. But again you cannot go wrong with the Kurzweil either. It is a powerhouse.
Darrick Keels thanks for the reply. I truly agree on what you said. It takes a lot of time to edit on the Kurzweil. I have two friend's who highly recommended the Kurzweil PC3K8 to me. So I'm currently saving up for a new board. But stage I always see the Korg Kronos 2 88 keys & a Yamaha Montage 8 with an RD2000 in one band & other bands have Nord. Only to famous bands I saw that use a Kurzweil exclusively are Bee Gees concert on blu ray & Heart on DVD both use Kurzweil. So saving up for Kurzweil PC3K8 with Kore 64 then kind Sir. P.S. The only thing that's putting me off Kurzweil is it doesn't have the Orchestral hit sound. The one used in 1988's Winter Games by David Foster. Just my 2 cents worth. Thanks & God bless you!
Hi Derek, I've fooled around on Nords and I think they are over-rated and over-priced and a bit like the limited capability digital piano keyboards that came out in the nineties but with more knobs and sliders so don't have to 'menu dive'. Even my Korg Kross 2 does far more than the Nord 3 with probably easily as good piano sounds but also anything else imaginable. Why compare a synthesiser workstation with thousands of incredible samples and sounds/patches that is also a fully programmable synthesiser and standalone studio to a comparatively speaking, seriously limited, glorified organ/electric stage piano anyway ? A serious composer/recording artist who also does live performing would obviously be far better off with the Kronos whereas a guy who plays keys in something like a reggae band but doesn't do any serious soundtrack type stuff or composing/arranging would obviously be better off with the Nord organ/EP and its direct dedicated knobs and sliders for hands on patch tweakability in live situations.
Thank you so much for this comparison video! I have been considering both of these, but will end up with only one. The time you took to compare specific features and not just the sounds is much appreciated. Also, the video and the information were presented very well.
Jason Criss Thank you for your kind words. Honestly I was not sure if anyone would really watch such a long video with so many details. But what I found was generally when I am looking at videos most of them are just demos or someone trying to sell the keyboard. While I love those videos I do appreciate honest in depth feedback from people who use the equipment and those kinds of videos are often a bit lacking. I am glad I could help.
I got myself a Kronos. Thanks for this video! Helped me solidify my decision. No disrespect to any Nord users, Stage 3 is an incredible instrument, but I feel I made the right decision with the Kronos 2-88. The learning curve is extremely steep, but so worth it!
Get the Stage 3 Compact and a good weighted 88 key midi controller like Studiologic’s SL88 Studio for $499 ,use the Dual Keyboard function assigning Panel B to it and you’ve effectively got two complete instruments for less than the cost of the full Stage 3 88.
Lowkey should had got the compact instead of the 88 but it is what it is.
Excellent comparison! Really well done.
Those organ-playing skills demonstrated on the Kronos towards the end of the video are through the roof - I can hear you are playing from your heart and soul as much as you are playing from your hands!
Agree with this guy by the way, you are a monster keys player dude.
That's a great combo. I've owned Nords and currently have a Kronos 2 88 but too heavy to haul around and concerned about damage moving it around every week. Considering getting the Nord Stage 3 Compact as well for live stuff. If you have both, you have all you'll ever need.
I play both Kronos and NS3 regularly. As an experienced player and programmer of both, I would say that Kronos is about 20X the keyboard that the NS3 is. The Kronos default presets don’t really do it justice - it needs a bit of tweaking to really bring out the quality of the sounds. In comparison, I find the NS3 quite weak sonically - acoustic pianos and organs are OK out of the box, but the weakness quickly shows compared to the K. Electric pianos, especially wurly and synth section are really weak. I also find NS3 is limited in a band setting - want to send a click to the drummer? You can’t without losing a much needed synth panel. Want to connect another midi controller? You can’t as NS3 isn’t a USB host. Need a song with 10 different synth parts layered? OK on Kronos, but on NS3, you have to pick any 2 out of 10 only. Finally, NS3 is quite new and still really buggy - not nice when it pitch shifts randomly halfway through a song! Kronos has been rock solid.
NS3 has its place if you want to tweak things on the fly and don’t like menu diving, plus it’s much lighter than Kronos, but if you’re willing to put in the effort to learn how to program it, Kronos is a much, much, much better board.
Thank you so much for sharing your insight on the keyboards!
The NS3 would be a easier get up and play board. But monumental architecture difference between the two.
Mind explain the USB host to midi part? I'm still new to music synth and wanna learn more.I saw there is one USB host port on Nord, I don't quite get it. Thanks. Cheers.
I've fooled round on Nords and for what they are I think they are over-rated and over-priced and a bit like the digital piano keyboards that came out in the nineties.
So... one year on with both Kronos and NS3, and I have to say that the Nord is growing on me. Nord have gone a long way to fixing some of my frustrations with the NS3. The biggest thing is the new xl electric pianos and filters - they really lift the quality to the point where playing live, you really can’t tell the difference with the Kronos. They have also fixed many of the annoying bugs, and improved the flexibility in many ways like wider pitch bend ranges, and being able to move sections more than 1 octave. Kronos is still the Granddaddy, and way more capable than NS3, but NS3 is a perfectly capable gigging board. If I don’t need the Kronos capability, I’m happy to take out just the NS3, as it’s lighter. I often create sounds on the Kronos and then re-sample them to the Nord using SampleRobot.
I really like your video, I just bought a Stage 3, I have been using a Nord for years, I started with a Electro 4D, and thanks to the similarities was able to go onstage at a major festival and play a real vintage B3 and actually knew how to work it and get the tone I was looking for from it. The critique of your video which caused me to comment is how much I appreciate your balance of the background music which for once on a UA-cam video doesn't take away from what your saying and adequately fill the free space. Really good job! I didn't know about the feature to plug in a music source and play along, that will be very very useful when it comes to rehearsals, and learning new tunes. I had recently bought a friends rig which included the 5d 73, and a Lead 4. After I bought it he told me he was buying the Stage 3 compact which has both of those keyboards built in (just a note, the stage 3 has the lead A1 sound engine but is very similar to the Lead 4). I thought that was a great idea, and felt a bit scammed, however was able to do the same thing by selling all the keyboards I bought from him, one of them, the Lead 4 at a loss because synths can be a bit more tricky to sell on the used market which is why he sold it as a package deal, but none the less should have my Stage 3 this week. Kudos, keep up the good work.
Thank you Darrick Keels... I was just about to purchase a Nord keyboard. However, I stumbled onto your presentation concerns the Korg Kronos vs. Nord Stage 3. I am so happy... It seems like I have an angel guiding me... Why? Because I made a decision to purchase a Korg Kronos (73-key) yesterday. It will be delivered to me this Thursday... You have introduced me to a whole new world... I have a lot of work ahead of me... because I love the ability to deep dive and get results beyond just pushing buttons which is what I would have with any of the Nord Stage keyboards. The reason I decided on the 73-key vs 88-key is because I perform and just don't want to lug the extra weight. I used to have a Yamaha 88-key synth... and it was just too much for me to lug around... not to mention the fact that it was easier to damage... due to awkwardness and weight. I have been viewing a number of Kronos presentations on-line and I notice that the majority of playing is done in the middle of the keyboard... I realize that I may have a few limitations when it comes to arrangements where I may want access to lower and higher notes... but I believe that, with a bit of creativity, that I will find a work around so that the 73-key meets my needs when it comes to my studio production work. Totally awesome... I have a sense that I am about to engage in the physics of sound with the Kronos... totally awesome! Again, thank you Darrick.
Wow. Great video. I'm gonna have to watch it again. So hard deciding between these two beasts. THink I'm leaining toward the Kronos...
Got myself a Kronos and this video helped me to choose faster between those 2 beauties. Thank you !
I'm glad I could help!
Hoping all is well with you Darrick. That was a well informed and balanced review. We’re looking for the part 2 😉
As for the balanced vs. unbalanced line outputs debate - allow me to clarify a few technicalities here: „balanced” is not the same as „grounded”, and „unbalaced” is not the same as „ungrounded”. Also, having unbalanced outputs is definitely not unfixable, as it's easy to convert unbalanced signals into balanced signals using a passive D.I. box or a passive Line Isolation box close to the instrument, in terms of cable length. Those boxes are basically nothing more than electromagnetic transformers with a center-tapped output coil. By default, both balanced and unbalanced outputs are grounded. (Aforementioned transformer boxes usually contain a Ground Lift switch on their balanced output side, used for breaking any hum-inducing ground loops.)
Thank you so much for clarifying. I knew you could use a DI to correct the issue but I was completely unaware that an unbalanced output was grounded as well. I stand corrected.
I think despite some shortcomings on connectivity on the rear panel, you sort of had me at "the manual is 60 pages including the index": that alone is enough for me to plump for the NS3. I just need something I can play, without having to spend loads of time learning and digging around through endless screens of settings. With a DAW on my computer I've no real use for a workstation keyboard, and I'm reaaly over touchscreens and menu diving as interfaces on a musical instrument. Great video - thank you!
Sounds like the Nord Stage 3 will be perfect for you!
Smooth Darrick, I feel as though i am sitting with a friend talking and playing things i love. That's life my friend.Thank you for the visit.
I use a Kronos 2 and Nord Electro 5D these days at home and in live settings. I love how the Nord quickly gives you what u need for Hammond, Piano and Elec Piano live on the fly. Synth and string/brass sounds could be better though. Nord is light too which is great for live situations. However the Kronos offers much more under the hood. I can get everything under the sun by tweak patches, customizing combo setups etc at home. Incredible capabilities. Having both of these boards gives me the best of both worlds.
They are indeed two great boards out there on the market!
I was considering the Kronos, but I chose the Nord Stage 3 recently. I owned a Nord Electro 2 for 14 years so I was used to Clavia Nord keyboards. I've always HATED the Korg acoustic piano sound until the Kronos (which actually sounds good), but ultimately the NS3 won out because everything is right there in front of you - no need to navigate through annoying screens - and it's lighter and less bulky than the Kronos - better for gigging.
I prefer the Nord piano sound, it can keep me practicing without becoming frustrated/bored. Just awesome sound.
@@eliasjeisu1182 Im not much into music pianos even less but even i know that Nord is a STAGE keyboard so no you will not play alone on the stage.
@@eliasjeisu1182 That's definitely not true my man. Playing by yourself? The Nord is fun as well and it will keep you practicing for hours!!!
Same here. I went with the Stage 3 HA88 and never regretted for a single moment. The decision to bypass the Kronos had more to do with not needing another workstation at the time. And oh yeah, the SOUND! I love the pianos and the Hammond sounds come the closest I’ve heard to my actual C3 and 122 you see in my avatar pic.
I was recently in doubts on which to buy, I went with the NS3 as being a medical student I really don't have much time for excessive complications and to try and figure out how to use my instrument - I just wanted to sit down and play. I also am a very hands-on player, someone who wants to tweak things on the fly and the Kronos did not offer that. The Kronos is objectively better value for money, and offers way more capabilities but I personally didn't need all the hidden features which a laptop can do better anyway. Both are fantastic keyboards, just for different markets and customers.
Plus the organ sounds on Nord are incredible, and the red colour sold me hahahha
Thinking of getting an analogue synth to accompany my nord in the future, do you have any favourites?
Great video by the way!
My favorite analogue synth would definitely be a Moog for sure. Then something like a Prophet X by Dave Smith Instruments.
picked the nord exactly for the same reasons!!
Great playing. I have both keyboards and prefer the piano & basic B3 on the Nord but the Korg is superior on the Rhodes/Wurlizter stuff and has many more nuanced B3, Pinao and organ sounds. Korg is a great writing tool with the Karma and rhythmic functions.
I've been gigging with a Nord Stage 3 for a couple years. Just joined a new cover band where I need to be able to layer or split more than two synth/sample sounds at a time, so I added a Kronos 61 as a top keyboard. Makes for a great combination.
It does indeed. I do the same thing.
Thanks for that. I have a Kronos. Thinking about a Nord,also thinking about another Kronos.I like the hands on with the Nord,but with the amount the Kronos can do.......I think the sound comparison is down to personal taste.They both sound amazing.
irishmusico Thank you for your reply. I love the Nord Stage 3 and the Kronos. But admittedly the Stage 3 is very limited in what it can do. It is easy to use and has some great sounds. If all you need is a keyboard for live playing and you are sticking to Organs, Clavinets, EPs, Pianos and some synth sounds I highly recommend it. But if you need any orchestral sounds, sampling capabilities, drum tracks, bass, brass, sequencing etc then I would recommend the Kronos over it.
Darrick Keels The one thing that I love about the Kronos is, out of the box it is really good but if you are prepared to put in the time to figure out what is "under the bonnet", which can be a bit daunting if you are not tech minded, but the results are stunning. I have mine since last September and I have spent €15.00 on a D50 sound set all the rest I have either found for free on the Internet or I have programed myself.
Its like getting a brand new synth every few months. I will buy some new sounds from the Korg shop soon but it's not like I am remotely bored with the Sounds I have now.
Nice tip about the aux in...I have that on my MODX, and at rehearsal I always have to stand over by the mixer with my phone so everyone can listen to the songs...I just patched it into the aux ins on my Yamaha, and there's even a gain knob for it!
Awesome.
thx
Great presentation with a lot of good points, including a few I hadn't thought about. Own the Kronos v1, and have played with multiple Nords, only owning a Nord Electro. I'm a fairly basic player, but a fairly comfortable synth programmer. As has already been mentioned, if you're into "rolling your own", the Kronos runs circles around the Stage for being "deeeeply programmable". The various synths/sound engines offer a LOT more capability for building sounds, and the keyboard as a whole is great for crafting flexible splits/layers for a live situation and controlling them. So hands down, for home recording and synth/keyboard programming I definitely prefer the Kronos.
All that being said (and ignoring the price), if I had to gig with a basic set of sounds (I usually play in classic/prog-rock-leaning groups), I would opt for the Stage 3. I actually prefer the Nord B3 emulation over the Kronos CX-3 engine, the electric pianos are close enough, and the synth engine can produce 95% of what I would ever want or need live for classic rock/pop. It's light, the interface is fairly easy to navigate, and it's easy to set up. I do think it's overpriced, and Nord has stubbornly stuck with some lower specs given its high price tag and better spec'ed competition (sample memory and USB tech being 2 examples), but it IS a very usable keyboard and enjoyable to play.
I couldn't agree more
Where is Part 2 ? I want to hear the Nord piano sounds...
The thing that blows me away is the fact that (in Canada) the Kronos ($4999) is $1000 cheaper than the Nord Stage 3 88 ($5999) and it has so much more to offer in terms of functions. It's incredible. Can't wait to own a Kronos!
At first I was like "this dude spending wayyyy too much time just blabbing about ports" but then after a few minutes I'm like "damn he's right why isn't there audio out over USB? WTF Nord!?"
Amazing in depth comparison here, giving a strong feel for the difference in experience of these two keyboards, not just the a sound comparison
yeah way to much babble, lost interest. love my kronos x
Absolutely excellent review!!!
Thank you
Nice work Darrick!
My Keys To Music Hey! It is really good to hear from you. The Nord in this video is literally the keyboard I got after watching every single one of your videos. In fact it was your in-depth detailed videos that inspired this one, so thank you! I look forward to your upcoming content.
Thanks Darrick - glad my videos helped. Occasionally, people ask about the Kronos and how it compares with the Nord Stage 3. I'll send them here from now on!
i love you guys you giive us so much great videos about this great nord and kronos keyboards
@@elmehdioubouhouch Thank you for watching!
I bought the Nord Stage 3 first and then couldn't help but buy the korg kronos 2. Such a strong awesome setup playing both on stage, makes up for the incredible amount of debt I'm now in haha
I think I will but both. But first I will buy the Nord Stage 3 88. What do you think? The Nord first or the Kronos First? Please advise.
Great great video my dude....thanks so much!!!!!
I have had every Stage model they have came out with and one of my suggestions is to add balanced XLR outs. They finally changed to a standard IEC power cable. I can't tell you how many times I had to steal a power cord off a tv or portable radio in an emergency.
I used an Electro 2 for years before I got my Stage 3 recently. I owned 3 power cables: One for the studio, one for the gig bag and a third in the trunk of my car.
Thank you very much, would you please compare the Montage 8 versus the Kronos?
Oteko Otieno now that’s what I call a comparison
World love to know too
I've compared these in person... if sound is most important then other than the organ engine theres no comparison, the Kronos sounds a lot better to my ears. For simplicity Nord wins....
Scott Lister Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the community Scott. I appreciate it.
Nord Stage III for speed.
Korg Kronos for power.
On Stage it is all about tone
Joseph ballew and if you cam access your sounds, and if the sounds are editable
Varying strengths and weaknesses to all things. KORG is king - in the areas that we all grew up loving them for. As someone who grew up welded to their Triton Ex Moss, there is no other board than KRONOS. I'm simply too...expectant and happy? With the Korg workflow. It just feels like home and thats the thing. An instrument, much like over in the Guitar world - doesn't have to be the 'subjective best' of the worlds 'most talented'. You just need to love it; and make that evident in the sound that you, or co-cooperatively, your band; produce.
I own Nord Stage 2 and Kronos 2. They are both excellent instruments. Nord is a great bread & butter get it done keyboard. Korg is great for me to build complex layers and splits.
Paul Richardson m
Finally!! Thank you so much!
Gianluca Bucalo Thank you sir! Curious...what made you say, "finally!"?
Darrick Keels Because there is not a video on UA-cam about the differences Nord Stage3/Kronos2. You're the first one!
Oh okay. I have had a hard time finding any comparison videos outside of sound comparison videos. I thought maybe I just didn't know where to look lol! Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
Darrick Keels good work! Really! Thanks again ✌🏻
Great review...thank you..so helpful...!!
The Line In connectors on the Korg Kronos cannot be used for a guitar input, wrong impedance. To connect a guitar to the Kronos, or any Line input, a DI box, passive or active, must be used. SP/DIF is widely used for transmission of digital audio signals. My Korg Kronos X connects to my PC via USB so I don't need the SP/DIF for digital audio. I do use the the SP/DIF input to carry the studio Word Clock sync signal, from a tc electronic Digital Konnekt x32, at 48kHz to the Kronos and set it to use the external clock.
Finding this video in 2022, im having a hard time picking a both at home and on stage keyboard. I’ve been looking at the Nord Piano 5, Stage 3 and the Kronos 2. I want a keyboard that I can use for studio recording with lots of capabilities and a stage keyboard with a beautiful sound. I used to play at a church that had a kronos 2… it was my baby. I also play for a ministry that has.a Korg EK-50… so I’m very familiar with Korg but the Kronos is discontinued now. I have looked into, but have not really cared for any other brands (Rolland, Cassio, Yamaha and so on although I do enjoy Yamaha) Im just having a hard time pulling the trigger, any suggestions? Lol
Why not try the Nautilus? Though some retailers still have the Kronos brand new you can buy.
@@darrickkeels6387 Thank you for replying!
I've done some research on the nautilus
but couldn't find any clear comparison
between it and the Kronos would you have
any videos that you might have done on it?
What's your opinion on it in comparison to
other Korg workstations?
@@gabrielmoore6099 I have not done any videos because I do not own the Nautilus. Played them yes but I personally have no need for one because I do own a Kronos. The Nautilus has all of the same sounds as the Kronos. The operating system is mostly identical. The screen is smaller yes, there is no Karma, no aftertouch and a lot of the buttons, knobs and sliders have been removed. But there are "workarounds" that can be implemented to give you more controls like using some MIDI class compliant devices. The sequencer is identical on the Nautilus, sampling, sound engines, Setlist functionality, etc. It's all there. So if you are really a Korg fan and not really impressed by the Fantom, Montage, Nord etc the Nautilus is truly the way to go.
Thank you so much for the info
For some strange reason I couldn’t really find any in-depth reviews. I looked some more last night and found a video on it. I think I’ll look into the Nautilus some more and get my head wrapped around some of the capabilities.
Korg Kronos for me. I sold mine Nord stage 3 88. Now I have the Kronos 88 gold edition. More realistic ( cx3 organ, kapro Italian Grand 9gb ) and it works great live Together with My Roland Jupiter 80 and crumar Mojo 61. 👍
Petrus ramdayal Thank you for sharing your comments on the video I appreciate it!
Jupiter 80... yes excellent pair... that's what I was going to get too until I got robbed.... but at least I caught the thieves.
Thread the headphones cable under the keyboard to the front?
Good overview - thumbs up.
Thank you! I appreciate it
Great comparison, but as you stated they are two very different keyboards. I use a Kronos 88 on stage, and I can program an entire performance using the SetList function. Some songs require changing patches 10 or 20 times on the fly, and I can scroll through the setlist sequentially with my foot pedal without every touching the display. I play in a Motown band, and I share a lot of horn lines with our sax player. I have to confess that I spend at least an hour prior to each gig to set up my set list and sounds. The Nord 3 is a great board, but for me it would be much more difficult scrolling through patches on a complex performance. The sound quality on both are very good. All things considered, the Kronos does top out the Nord with exception of portability (Kronos 88 is 55 lbs), and ease of operation. I love my Kronos.
Doug M Thank you for responding to the video. Your contribution to the keyboardist community is invaluable. Question for you. Seeing that you are a gigging musician I must ask. Is the Kronos the only keyboard you use or is it just your main board. Secondly (I guess I had two questions) do you use any VST's live?
Darrick - I use the Kronos 88 with a Korg Nano Pad on stage. I've been using the Kronos for over 5 years, and I'm still learning things. It's complicated yet simple at the same time. You could take it our of the box and play your first gig in 20 min. But as you start to dig into the depths of the Kronos you'll get lost in it for weeks on end. I will sometimes build a new Combi and am amazed at how granular you can get with the settings, and how great it sounds on stage. I play the Kronos through a Radial JDI into the PA, and with a Roland KC 550 from the pass through port on the Radial. The Kronos is a very rugged keyboard, as I have been beatin' the beans out of it for years and it never fails me. There's a lot of great boards on the market, and they are all pretty awesome in their own way. The trick is to try them all and find the one that works for you. Rock on!
Online khrida hai to link dijiye
I have both of these boards this comparison was dead on accurate! Nord is great for gigging it’s light but in my opinion the Kronos is the best keyboard on the market hands down. Nord just has to many limitations.
I know this video is intended as a comparison between the two keyboards mentioned here. Although they are both nice keyboards, I can't help but notice your wonderful and amazing talent.
Excellent playing!!!!
With that said, I think the Kronos has the Nord beat (by a VERY narrow margin. They both sound nice) in the electric pianos and organ department. However, I like the acoustic piano preset on the Nord slightly better because it sounds smoother and more natural to my ears. Now, this is purely based on the demos on this video. I know that both of these keyboards have many different presets available in each category and chances are you could find a sound that is perfectly suitable to you in either of these keyboards.
I myself chose the Nautilus 61 key version. It has the same sounds and engines as the Kronos minus a few things here and there. With that said, I could not be happier with my decision. I really like the fact most of the sounds are physical models of their acoustic counterparts and you can go in, tweak, and fine tune every slight detail of the character of each instrument. You can make the instrument sound as natural or unnatural as you want. That is definitely something you cannot do with just multisamples without any synthesis involved. Although the Kronos and Nautilus are workstations, they are also highly tweakable synthesizers with virtually unlimited versatility.
Thank you for the compliment. And yes the Nautilus is a great keyboard for sure. If you like sound design, it's hard to find a better hardware keyboard that can keep up with the Kronos.
Ye kahase khrida
Does the Kronos have an equivalent to Nord's Dual keyboard mode?
It can be setup that way but it definitely takes more "leg work."
The comment about TS vs TRS is wrong. TS has a ground, what it doesn't have is a 3rd conductor generated by a separate op-amp from the host. Half-A-Million dollar audiophile home stereo systems don't require balanced lines and they operate at nearly the same voltage ( except for turntables). Yes ,I do agree with the poster the Nord should ( as should ALL others) have outputs that work either balanced or unbalanced cabling. I used TRS to XLR adaptors and ran 50' lines, no problem.
The internet is depressing... I currently play in a band and I am planning to buy a new keyboard for playing gigs and recording (I have a very shitty one at the moment). I have been watching videos of keyboard presentations for almost two years now. I wanted to buy a Roland RD-2000 at first, but I didn't like the organs and the FX/amp sim in it. Then I wanted to buy a Nord Stage 3, it sounded great and it doesn't even cost all that much where I'm from, and now here I am, watching this video and reading the comments. The more I look, the more I think that my ideal keyboard doesn't exist...
Nothing against your video though, it's very informative and well presented!
time to invent it
Try a Yamaha MODX.
Hi Darrick, thanks a lot for a very useful review. I play a Kronos live, often have a hard time setting it to jump out of the mix especially with those guitar and bass amps eating out all frequencies, and when I hear bands where its a Nord playing, it seems to me it has more presence among the mix. Before I make the switch or the additional investment, have you ever observed that Nord would have been easier to get into the live mix, eg for mediums EQing reasons ? Thanks a lot in advance,
Preset wise the Nord pianos in general do cut through a mix more that the Korg Kronos presets to my ears. I do not use the stock pianos live when playing the Kronos. They are tweaked to cut. The editing options in the Kronos are most certainly vast. Changing the EQ, running the pianos with less reverb or dry, changing the velocity sensitivity, adding a compressor are all things I will do to create a piano that sounds good with a band. My band has a sax, bass, lead guitar, drums, auxiliary drums, and another keyboardist, and four vocalists lol. If I just pull up the stock Berlin Grand and play no one will hear unless I crank it up and cover everyone. That being said I will often use the Nord Pianos as adding EQ, Compression is quite simply more simplistic. Hit a couple buttons, and turn a couple knobs and you are there. I personally prefer the Nord acoustic pianos in general in the studio and live. I love the Kronos because it can do practically anything albeit in a more complicated way. It is way more versatile because it is a workstation and not a stage piano. But sometimes additional features are not needed or even "in the way" when you need to adjust something quickly. I usually reach for the board which can do the job for me. So the piano I choose is based on the song, what other band members are playing, the venue's sound system and ease.
@@darrickkeels6387 thanks a million Darrick for taking the time to answer me in such detail. Extremely helpful, you're a star. Keep going and take care!
Thank You! Very helpful
I'm a bit of a hardware junkie, so I have a Kronos 2 88, a Montage 8, a Roland RD-2000 and a Kurzweil PC3K8, among other gear. I don't own a Nord, for reasons which I'll get into later. Here is my take:
RD-2000 - My main MIDI controller and acoustic piano. I love the action and control layout and it's very portable. EPs are pretty good, but organ and some of the other sounds could be better. Not an issue, as its mainly used for acoustic piano. Both the V-Piano sounds (which have unlimited polyphony and note-by-note customization) and the sampled "SuperNatural" pianos are great.
Montage 8 - Good action and the acoustic pianos are almost as good as the RD-2000, especially the Bosendorfer Imperial. Excellent acoustic sounds and FM EP sounds. Other EPs are also excellent. The organs are Ok. Allows for very versatile sound changes on the fly (example: solo string to ensemble or acoustic piano to FM piano). Particularly good for EDM. Very unique FM sounds. Not very portable. No real sequencer or sampler, so not a workstation.
PC3K8 - Great for classic Kurzweil sounds like the strings, choir and EPs. Organs are excellent. Setups allow for nice sound combinations. Worth getting the Kore 64 board. Keyboard action good for organ but not the best for piano.
Kronos 2. Does most things pretty well, but really only my favorite for organ (tied with the PC3K). A superb board, but I don't use it so much as all of the others are slightly better at individual things. Action very good (about the same as Montage). I don't use the excellent sampling or sequencing capabilities (I have a computer for this), so they're not big advantages for me. Takes forever to boot up--another reason I don't use it so much.
Of course I also use VSTs such as Keyscape/Omnisphere and Kontact, as well as a DAW.
So why don't I own a Nord? 1. I think that they're over-priced. 2. I think that the sound only really excels in acoustic piano, and even this is no better than the RD-2000 or Montage (or Keyscape). 3. I don't like the keyboard action. 3. The limited sample memory and polyphony are unacceptable, especially at the price. The control over sounds is much more limited than my current instruments.
I can often hear looping and note stealing when Nord samples are played. Even the largest Nord samples are smaller than VSTs--and if you use those, you won't be able to hold very many of them. Whereas my other instruments all hold a thousand or more sounds--often with convenient customizable set lists to easily step through them.
If I could only keep one, it would be the RD-2000 or Montage. If I were really on a budget and had to pick a single instrument, I would probably recommend the new MODX 8, which does 99% of what the Montage does, but is far more portable and half the price.
Thanks for the video comparison.
Thank you so much. Do you have any video of this review of yours on youtube..??
the Montage 8 you should re phrase that. Why? Cause they’re all updatable so....it has a sequencer and all. They will put in a VA and VL engine in the Montage just to let you know
@@tuneunleashed They've updated the Montage several times since I bought it. It now has a better sequencer, but still not as good as a Kronos, Fantom, or DAW. They've recently added some nice new FM capabilities too. But I stand by my original comments.
geoffk777 Honestly I agree to a certain aspect of what you’re saying but I also think that it’s all subjective at the end of the day. I can’t say which one is better than the other because they all have features over each other it’s like a high end car both offer something better than each other but at the end of the day it drives. At the end of the day you have black and white keys and you make music. I bet you say all that but you don’t even use 10% of the power it has. To me there are no winners, apples and oranges they’re both fruits one is better than the other for you but there is another guy that things the other is way better than the one you chose. Pros and Cons is how you use it learned it from the goat Shaun Martin.
geoffk777 For me the RD Pianos are trash no disrespect compared to the Montage which is thin and need some updates but it has potential, the Kronos and the Nord Stage it needs some work and the Fantom is at the bottom of the list but when it comes to features the Fantom is killing that’s just my opinion would you agree with it maybe not but that’s how I see it.
Did you find the actual black and white keys are smaller on the Nord stage 3 in comparison to the Kronos?
They are smaller than the 88-Weighted keys of the Kronos but not smaller than the 61-Key Kronos
Very, very good! Thanks!!!
Thank you for watching!
How would you compare the Kronos (61) to a Kurzweil PC361? I own a PC3, but as powerful as it is, the sounds have grown stale to ears. I'm a gigging musician and this would be my main board. Currently gigging with a laptop and Keyscape/Omnisphere... but I find that in a live setting, by the time the patches are compressed and EQ'd, the subtleties and benefit of high-quality samples are lost. Worth noting, I LOVE the synth action on the Kronos 61.
I actually gig with the Kronos on a regular basis. The "Setlist" feature really makes everything a breeze. With some prior setup I and easily handle some of the most complex sets. It is a sound creator's dream as well and to my ears (strictly opinion) the Kronos does sound more "modern" than the Kurzweil. Though I really like how sturdy the Kurzweil is.
The most practical and in depth video I have watched starting with the rear panel and moving on to the top panel. I wasn't always sure which keyboard you were playing because you always played the Kronos keyboard but I basically got it. I really appreciate the in depth comparison of features. I would have liked to have heard the synth engines compared but that's okay. I agree with your frustrations about the USB port and other features that are limited on the Nord flag ship, you shouldn't have to worry about such things for $4500.00, it should do everything. The one thing I wonder about is if I can send out the 16 different tracks on 16 different midi channels and have other keyboards play each track. The Kronos sounds are a little cheesy and I am an analog freak. I would like an all in one work station that sends out sequencer information on different midi channels. I have a OB 6, a Prophet 6 and a Moog sub 37. I also have a Roland FA-06 and like it's arpeggiator but not the sounds. I wondered how many arp settings the Kronos has. The Roland is very practical and has a vast number of arpeggiator settings but I cannot send out different sequencer tracks on different midi channels. Everything is on board inside the sequencer. Thanks for the video Darrick Keels. Great video.
It must be cool that you get to have all these keyboards from time to time. I'm guessing you have to sell other keyboards to finance new keyboards. How difficult is it to sell these keybords? Does it take a long time?Do you end up having to sell them at a big loss?
Oh man, and you hit the nail on the head for me about going hardware first. For the life of me, no matter how much I try, I can never get the playability right between hardware and vsts. I can't get pianoteq or other libraries to play as dynamically and fluid as keyboards like motif, kronos, and digital pianos. Whenever I want to use a vst sound, I play using internal hardware sounds and use the midi take to then try the vsts lol.
I don't really sell keyboards honestly. In fact, I have never sold one. All of the keyboards you see in my videos, I still own. Except I gave away the Roland FA08.
This video is several years old now lol! I have adapted. I am no longer a "hardware first" musician like I used to be. I will sometimes use hardware to sketch out ideas. I find it easier for me to do it on my MPC Key 61 than a DAW. However, all of my serious work is composed in a DAW normally from start to finish.
@darrickkeels6387 damn dude you must have a big house to store all those keyboards lol. Right on, I mostly use keyboards as a way to practice when I can't play my grand piano. But about 80% of all my playing is on a grand piano. I guess I'm not really the target audience for a lot of these products.
I dont compare motocycles to trucks, so I fail to see the reasoning behind comparing a stage keyboard to a workstation. They are built to do different things. Nord is, for the most part, a boutique company, so they cannot compete with Korg or Yamaha when it comes to "bang-for the-buck" features. Clavia also suffers higher export tariffs than southeast Asia, to the USA. This results in higher retail prices for the Nord units. The standard street-price for a Nord-88, is about $700 more than a Kronos-88. But in this instance we have a highly unusual circumstance. In 2005?, Korg introduced the Oasys, and its List price, for the 88, was over $8,000. They sold enough of those units to recoup their expensive R&D, so with little change, they were able to transplant most of the "guts" of the Oasys into a cheaper and smaller chases. Aside from some minor changes, the Kronos, in terms of functionality is identical to the erstwhile Oasys, so they could introduce the Kronos at a far cheaper price than before.
The only reason I compared them is because people often do. But as you stated they are completely different animals. Stage pianos should be compared to stage pianos. Workstations to workstations, arrangers to arrangers. But unfortunately that is not what people do. So I said in the very beginning that these two keyboards are very different from one another.
@@darrickkeels6387 everyone should compare nord stage with all workstations because the price matters not the category of the piano we want the value for the money if you compare the nord to stage category like rd 2000 it is not fair either god dame the rd 2000 is half the price compared to nord and he can do a lot he transmit midi and audio and he have balanced outputs and the keypad on it is much more batter than nord so what , nord have to be compared with workstations even with workstations nord still expensive and you need extra things for transmit audio and di box to make balanced output in live environments and nord tree way pedals to hear dampers god dame nord accessory are also so expensive you have to be smart here
and even all this down side of the nord he is a wonderful keyboard i looooooove the sounds on this board so much i can sacrifice all this to just have there sounds thats why I'm considering to buy two keyboards Kronos and nord stage that's what I'm going to do i will make kronos my main and play nord from the kronos and when i have to play live or gigging i will take the nord it is easy to gigg with and kronos will stay at home for studio stuff i think that's a good decision for me and I'm so excited to make it happen oh i remember kronos have down sides to so there is no perfect keyboard but if you buy them all nord and kronos i think you going to have all the power
I am thinking about between those two. I would prefer the kronos because of the stick, but also heard that korg piano sounds are always bad. Yamaha and Nord much better. Whats your opinion about this?
I think that piano sounds are a matter of taste and personal preference. There are those that cannot stand the Grand Pianos in the Nord and vice versa. Also the pianos in the Korg are modeled pianos and so they can be edited a lot. You can adjust the amount of string resonance, the position of the lid, mechanical noise, choose between stretch tuned or standard tuned pianos, damper resonance, damper noise, velocity intensity, velocity bias, release time, una corta, or even control whether you hear it from the player's perspective or the audience's perspective. Then of course there are high quality effects like reverbs,and compressions, EQ etc. Now the pianos definitely have a "Korg" character that some may not prefer. But I think many who say they don't like the pianos in the Korg simply flipped through a few stock presets and formed their opinion. In my opinion if you are buying a keyboard to just turn on and play presets, the power of the Kronos is wasted. Now, I LOVE the character of the pianos in the Nord. They sound more intimate and "woody" in my opinion. They are not "perfectly" tuned which adds another level of realism. I prefer them in general over the Kronos but I would not say they were better but different. My Nord is my most "fun" keyboard to play. But when I have a really important gig that requires lots of complicated layers, splits, sound effects, orchestral sounds, tons of different songs in one set, my Korg is my go to. So your buying decision should really be based on how you plan to use your keyboard and what sounds and feels good to you.
Not really an expert on keyboards, but why don't keyboards ever have an XLR out for their balanced signal?
The Roland RD-2000 does
@@SkirmisherBeats and does for half the price compared to nord that don't
Korg💪💪💪💪💪
Nord!
I was looking to buy a Kronos but i can't afford it at the moment. Also, I don't think I'm ready for something with such a high learning curve. I went with the Roland Fa-08 instead due to the lower price and learning curve. Also, I love the G-Feel keys. You could find them used for about $1,200; $200 more than the Korg Kross or the Roland Juno DS brand new *which are also great*
I'm not knocking on the Kronos or anything. You could get much more out of it if you know what you're doing.
I also own the FA-08. It is an excellent board! In fact I gig more with that than I do with my Kronos or Nord Stage 3.
Really? I didn't know it was that good! I guess I did make the right choice ☺️
To the be fair, the Roland keys are the best I've ever felt.
I've ordered it yesterday and it comes in 5 days!
I was shocked at the price. $1,200 is a steal!
Would you recommend Kronos as a secondary keyboard (with 61keys) in combination with the Nord Stage 3 88?
It really depends on your needs as a keyboard player. But you cannot go wrong with having both a Nord and Kronos.😂
@@darrickkeels6387 I currently have/using the Stage 3 88 and the Prophet 6 (and they compliment each other nicely) but I would really like to have the ability to add programmed sequences (like drums/bass) for live use, but at the same time I don’t want it to feel prerecorded for the audience (difficult to describe) Hmm…Maybe just something like an Electron Octatrack would be a solution. Anyway, thanks for your reply. I love your channel, simply very good and useful content🥳🎹
ua-cam.com/video/-cKdNL0KQQ4/v-deo.html 😉 more material is on its way. The video editing is not even half as good as yours, but hopefully I will improve over time.
Can you please tell me what song you're playing here? I would love to learn it 40:40
When You Wish Upon a Star
For simplicity’s sake - WATCH THIS VIDEO.
I think they're two different keyboards with different purposes. Nord Stage 3 is the keyboard for me, I have the 88 note. It comes into it's own as a live keyboard. Smooth transitions, morphing wheel and pedal, blending sounds seamlessly while playing live - you can't morph sounds with the Kronos. 5 various pedal inputs to aid changes live...compared to Kronos 2. The Korg appears to be more of a one man band machine, and far too complex to use on the fly. Nord have put their effort into making it a dream to play live....as well as amazingly lush sounds that I think can be layered beautifully. It's easy to convert and put any sampled sound into it too which was a bonus for me.
Also, a point on your intro about that you can only pick 2 synth sounds on the Stage 3, you can by exporting a programmed sound back in, then layer more on top of that with lossless quality. You can actually layer 6 live sounds at a time, admittedly not all synth.. but piano and organ too.
Yes you can morph sounds with the Kronos come on now…
Hi there! Where can I find part II?
Mike Campbell It is in its way. I am actually recording today so it should be up this week. Thanks
Darrick Keels awesome! Where can I learn to play organ like that? I wish I knew about the stops and the styles. Is there a book out there or something?
Mike Campbell I would recommend this coarse. He goes through drawbar settings, rotory techniques, pedal work, scales and so on. gospelmusicians.com/organ-xtravaganza.html
Darrick Keels oh this is so awesome. Thank you!!
Darrick Keels they don’t seem to have this on Amazon
Good point about the menu diving on the korg for the audio inputs. But the korg wins here because input gain is adjustable. You could also turn the gain up on your input signal coming into your nord.
Really you should just bring a $20 passive mixer to gigs if you want to blend backing tracks into your rig output.
5 pedal input jacks on this Nord is truly impressive. wow.
Unbalanced outputs have caused ground loop noise even on 6' runs for me, in some environments. It's hell when it happens.
Biggest surprise is how much more natural the Korg reverb sounded.
Can you use microtunings on the nord? In particular, I'm interested in 19 TET. Thanks.
13:07 why does it have unbalanced out?
Because
A) a balanced connection is very expensive of course, not to forget all these extra expensive cables you need to buy.
B) the Nord-red looks nice on TV: during playback nobody needs the out-signal anyway
:-) :-)
:-)
My Roland FA-08 was half the price and has balanced outs. I do not think it is that expensive. However a direct box is an easy "fix" or plugging into a small mixer first which is what I do. And red is my favorite color lol!
@@darrickkeels6387 A balanced sigalflow is not much more expensive then unbalanced, but that is exactly why I was amazed that pro-gear like Nord hasn't got this.
And it is only a one time payment, it is not like buying bread or fuel that comes back every 2 or 3 days.
But you also said that you never had problems with long cables, so indeed I was just kiddng around a bit :-)
@@marcelmaes5275 I truly do not understand why they decided to do unbalanced outs on their flagship. I always have a direct box with me and I use a mixer anyway. I just know people often assume a flagship has balanced outputs. And yes I certainly caught the joking bit. I did not mean for my response to sound so serious. Thanks for watching! I appreciate it
I have a Nord Electro5D and just bought a Kronos 2 61 keys few minutes ago online. Your video was very helpful. In my opinion, the only piano that beats the Nords is the Keyscape..Spectrasonics.. -- Yamaha C7 and the EL pianos like Fender Rhodes (this is amazingly incredible). Other than that there are many good pianos in the market like Motif, S90es, etc. but you cant compare those with the Nord. I have no experience with Kronos (never used) , just play couple times in a music store and that was it. In your video I felt like Kronos piano sound is slightly better..wow strange....is it new piano sound on Kronos? According to your experience what do you like better? Nord or Kronos?
I would love XLR outputs on a keyboard, balanced, durable, and ubiquitous
My Roland Fantom and Roland RD-2000 both have XLR main outs on the back
@@darrickkeels6387 Upgrading. Home semi pro studio. Fantom or Kronos? If you were starting from zero. What would you do? BTW, I can only afford one. I compose, jam and experiment quite a bit. I gig occasionally. 88 and 61 keys are ruled out. Please respond. I’ve seen most of your vids, and value your opinion.
I have a question, what is the model of your monitores?? The sound is great!
I use KRK Rokit 5's. But the video was made with a direct feed. You are not actually hearing the monitors at all.
@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks brou
Hi Darrick, great video! how does the keybed of the Kronos and NS3 compare to Montage 8? Which one has the lightest (fastest) keys to play with? And also, have you tried the yamaha CP88 and 73? If so, how about their keybeds?
The keybed on the Kronos is definitely a "stiffer" action. It is not as fast as the Montage. As far as the NS3 I have, it is a waterfall semi-weighted action so it feels like a Hammond Organ because I only own the Compact version.
@@darrickkeels6387 Nice!! Thanks again Darrick. I'm planning to get a Yamaha CP 88/73 or the Nord Stage 3 . But I still need to wait for any comparisons between their keybed actions.
Great video! Do you experience any notable MIDI latency playing the piano sounds from Nord on Kronos’s keyboard? Thank you :)
Not at all.
Darrick Keels Sounds good. Thank you! :)
i like your likes and gripes. btw I owned both Nord and Korg. No comparison... Nord has the live heft down and deeper warmer sounds the soul can feel!
I agree. The Nord just seems to have more "Character" in their sounds. Hence I have kept it and use it daily lol!
@@darrickkeels6387Hi Darrick, thanks for the reply. One thing I noticed about Korg, is they can take a road and airport beating. I used Tridents overseas for years. Also, I want to thank you for your detailed and unusually clear communication in terms of useful info. Cheers from Vancouver, Canada.
@@jamesewanchook2276 Get out of Vancouver and come to Calgary
That Nord sounds much much better for me, it is simply more natural, and your review was different, in a good way... thanks.
Thanks Darrick, great comparison. I’m considering trading in some of my vintage Rolands for one of these. I’m not into lots of menu diving and sound tweaking so may lean to the Nord to get up and running quickly for live play. Do you find organ on the weighted keys strange feeling ( if I go the 88 key route)? Also, what monitor/pa/amps do you use? Sounds great! Thanks.
Thanks for commenting! With the Nord you will be up and running fast for sure. Menu diving is minimal and really only used for some of the deeper features. Playing organ on weighted keys is not ideal for me though I CAN. But playing piano on semi-weighted keys is not "ideal" either, yet I can (and do) if need be. As far as monitors go I use KRK Rokit 5's in the studio. They get the job done though in all sincerity there are better options out there. But I believe knowing your room and monitors is more important when doing critical mixing than the monitors themselves. When I gig I have a pair of QSC 12.2 loudspeakers. They are phenomenal. I also have a QSC CP12 that I use as a floor monitor if my 12.2's are being used as the venue's PA system. I plug my keyboards into my 10 channel Yamaha Mixer and the mixer goes out to the speakers. I used to use the Roland KC500 keyboard amp but I have found the QSC's to just sound better. Hope this helps.
Thanks very much Derrick!
Darrick!😉
Awesome... thanks Darrick! I've been seriously considering getting the Kronos and your video was really helpful. I haven't had an opportunity to play one yet so I'm wondering how realistic the weighted key action is compared to an acoustic grand? On a separate note, what brand and model are your studio monitor speakers and stands?
Thanks for the compliment! The Japanese RH3 keyboard is a great action but moreso for a workstation. If the keybed action is most important to you and you are looking for a grand piano feel, I would recommend the Roland RD-2000 or something like a Kawai MP-11SE. These boards are digital pianos and focus largely on. The feel of the keyboard versus a plethora of features and sounds. My monitors are KRK Rokit 5's. My stands are Proline stands from Guitar Center. However, in this video you are hearing a direct feed from the keyboards to a digital audio interface into a DAW. That way the camera microphone quality would not effect the sound.
Thanks for getting back with me so quickly Darrick! I'm really drawn to the features on the Kronos but as you know, the feel of the keybed has so much to do with how one emotes with the instrument and ultimately the compositions that emerge. On a scale of 1 to 10, if 10 is a quality acoustic grand, how would you rate the Kronos, the RD-2000, MP-11SE and the Nord Stage 3? My current primary keyboard, which I never liked its action, is a Kurzweil K2500XS. If you've played one, how would you rate it so I can get a sense about these other keyboards. I really appreciate your input because it's not convenient for me to get to a place like Guitar Center to demo.
@@seeingwithheart If you are looking for an authentic grand piano experience I would go for the Kawai hands down. The extra long wooden keys mimic the grand piano the best. It has a triple sensor technology which makes it super expressive. Furthermore, it comes with a triple pedal and even the pedals are weighted to mimic the feel of playing a grand piano. Also the pedals are very sensitive making half pedaling a breeze. It's drawbacks would be limited sounds (I think it only has 40), not the most portable for gigging. It is large and awkward because the long grand piano size keys, it can only layer 3 sounds, and so on. But I would rate it a 10 as far as feel and piano sound. Next it really becomes a toss up for me. They are all better than the Kurzweil 2500xs in my opinion though as far as feel and sound due to being later technology. However, Roland would be my second choice. It has wooden keys, V-Piano sounds with unlimited polyphony with that sound engine. Furthermore, it has about 1100 sounds I believe and its "SuperNatural" Acoustic sound engine is excellent. Sound and feel I would rate about an 8. Next would come Korg and Nord which I would rate about a 7. So why do I have a Korg and Nord you may ask? Features. I play in a band and my job is to provide every sound that is not drums, bass, or lead guitar. So I may have to play horns, synth leads, pads, strings, a ticking clock, etc. In addition the setlist function in the Korg makes it a breeze onstage. The Nord I mainly use for organ playing and a few synth type sounds as a secondary keyboard. Piano "realism" is normally not my priority because I need my pianos to cut through a mix of 3-4 singers, drummer, percussion, bass, lead guitar and sometimes a horn section. A real grand piano sound would get lost in the mix or some of it's body resonance will muddy up a mix creating a nightmare for front of house. And when you are being paid to play the last thing you want to be is the guy causing problems with the sound lol! Also you should really take a look at the Montage 8 as well. The Yamaha piano sounds are great and it has a ton of features. I would rate its piano and feel about a 7 as well if what we are measuring it up against is a real grand. Hope this helps. Happy shopping.
Hi Darrick, Thanks for being so thorough. You're responses are really helpful! As long as all the keyboards have a superior action compared to my K2500XS, then I'm clear I'd like to have more features than the Kawaii offers. I spent the morning looking at the Montage 8. It's amazing! I'm so grateful you suggested I check it out! Now I'm trying to decide between these two keyboards and I'm wondering what prompted you to choose Kronos over Montage? Thanks again and have a great day! Mitch
@@seeingwithheart I chose the Kronos because overall it is more powerful and less money then the Montage. It has a full featured sampler and sequencer. These items are missing from the Montage. Nine sound engines as opposed to two. Its complex polyphony scheme works better than the static 128-Voice polyphony of the Montage. A total of 16 parts can be layered as opposed to 8. A massive 64GB hard drive that can hold massive samples, songs, sounds from software like Omnishpere, more audio outs, more usb slots. Really the list goes on. I needed a main board that could handle anything I threw at it. Now the Montage has some out of the box sounds like better certainly and is a very capable machine. As a performance synth it is amazing. But it is not a workstation and that is what I needed. All this and it is priced less than the Yamaha. But really as long as the board has the features you need, you cannot go wrong with either one.
Thanks. How do you set up your keyboard in a live performance? What do you use your Roland for ?
How I setup for a live performance very much depends on what my job is for a particular gig. If I am doing lots of organ playing the Nord will certainly be present. If I am playing mainly Rhodes I bring the Kronos because the EP-1 sound engine has some of the most realistic sounding Rhodes patches on the market to me. I play in a Motown and Funk band. My typical setup consists of the Kronos as my main keyboard. We typically perform 30 songs per night, so the "Setlist" feature in the Kronos makes things simple for me. Also I play strange sounds like a fire engine siren, thunder, and lightning. The Kronos is my only keyboard with a full featured sampler. My top board it typically my Yamaha MODX6 because I feel like its horns do the best job of sounding like an actual horn section especially when playing with a real saxophonist. It has a whole plethora of high quality sounds and is extremely versatile as well. It handles funky synth bass, synth leads, clavinets, horns and strings like a breeze. Plus it has a "setlist" feature as well though not as robust as the Kronos. But still all I have to do is hit the touch screen and it is ready to go for the next song. I also have a job playing for a church. That is when the FA08 comes in handy. It is my main board handling Rhodes, acoustic pianos, and pads. For synth stuff, backing tracks, and other miscellaneous bits I use a Korg M50. It's old but reliable and gets the job done. Church is weird because other people may come and play on you gear regularly during any given service. I really don't like random people playing my Kronos or Nord or even my MODX6. Plus the FA is light as well as the M50. I setup and tear those down weekly. Lastly if I am going to a venue to play impromptu (which happens in church a lot) I take just my Nord. It is small, light, and covers all the basic sounds I need. The Kronos often cannot fit in the tight spaces an unprepared venue gives me. I know. Long answer. Probably should do a video on it.
@@darrickkeels6387 helpful
what is the name of the song played
n53 When you wish upon a star from Pinocchio
Great comparison... not easy to do. 32:00 LOL To print the full Kronos manual you need a new toner for the printer... luckily it's a Korg so like the M1 on down very intuitive to use and create new sounds. But with a Kronos you need to decide if you are going to play music.... or get technical and sit down ready to get lost learning a fraction of what it can do with the right pilot. But even the Kronos has a weakness.... no Poly AT with release velocity and that's a shame as CH AT just makes a mess of complex sounds you need to have control of.
I agree that Kronos is easily the best for the money. I picked one up used for a great price. I’ve owned them all, Roland, Yamaha, etc. My main criteria are 1. Piano sounds and 2. Versatility. Korg Kronos is so versatile. Now about the piano sounds, like I’ve heard a few people say, the Kronos presets are weak. I don’t know why they programmed them that way!! They aren’t dynamic enough for solo playing or powerful enough to cut through a mix. But if you go in and edit them, you can get all of that. If you don’t want the hassle of editing I’d say just go get a Yamaha. For the money, that would be my next choice. In fact I love the Yamaha sound but something about the keyboard action was hard on my hands. I felt like I was hitting concrete at the bottom of the key landing. I don’t have any issue with the Korg weighted keys. The landing feels a little softer which some players may not like. I think Joe Sample had the same problem with Yamahas from what I read. So Korg is the winner for me
I couldn't agree more. I used to have a Yamaha S90 and yes it hurt after playing an hour. My sets can 3 hours! I also agree with you about the piano presets. Luckily the pianos are modeled and highly editable. I actually posted a tutorial showing the basics of tweaking the pianos
I running 6 meters cable on my nord electro no problems or that i use di box too the Radial prodi2
I have never had a problem either. I have direct boxes or I plug into a small mixer when playing live. My main gripe is that a premium flagship keyboard should have premium parts. My Yamaha MODX6 has unbalanced outputs but only cost $1300 not $3600. If I had the Montage and it had unbalanced outs I would complain.
@@darrickkeels6387 my nord cost 1850 dollar i buyet it after 2 month it was released
@@recordlabeldao7820 The Nord Stage 3 Compact cost $3599.99 brand new from every major music retailer that sells in the United States. That is the keyboard in the video.
@@recordlabeldao7820 Where did you get yours? I need to shop there! Lol!!!
@@darrickkeels6387 i buyet it new the 10th november 2018 :D the shop i buyet it are 4sound in norway
Where's part 2 of this video?
I have just been very busy. But I am working on it.
Great! Just wondering.
Well done sir, thank you!
Thank you. I appreciate it!
I still have a Korg Triton Le, in some comments people say it's hard to work with a Kronos (I already played in a Kronos- live gig - 4 or 5 times), to work with Kronos Is a piece of cake. Try to play a Triton le live with a lot of patches per music and program that early lol without fking up all your original sounds :p . No touch screen .
And about Nord, well I'll be honest it's a too simple and limited machine for me.
I play in several projects, different genres of music from metal/progressive metal to classic music, ambient/sci fi, etc etc, so for me Nord is very limited. And also very expensive.
Korg Kronos has flaws? Well it's 2019 fall, and every keyboard on market has flaws , limitations. The way to work around limitations is to choose the better for the jobs you're in. Simple as that.
Using learning curve as an excuse is like for me a person being lazy. So if someone work on IT and need to work on Linux and main servers, they will be on the corner playing windows 'cause you're used to work always like that? nah not a type of personality to have in music or any kind of art.
I have the Korg TR which is a slight update of the Triton LE. Yeah.
@@WarrenPostma yes the TR has more memory ^^ both good :)
Great video - though there is nothing about the synth side of things. Im looking at the stage 3 compact, or the Kronos 61 - to replace an FA07. My bottom board is an RD2000, and I have no need for any other pianos (accoustic or EPs) nor clavs etc. The organ sounds are the most important - as both the RD and FA lack something (the FA lacks depth/meat and physical drawbars, the RD percussion and editability), BUT I dont want to loose the VA synth capability, nor the acoustic orchestral instruments (brass/woodwind and strings. Thers no point changing if the organs sounds arnt better on the Korg/Nord though. I really like the Roland VR730 - and the Norg electros actually, but both mean loosing a lot of synth and orchestral functions so there not an option (unless I add anintegra 7 which will get pricey as well). i dont have space (height for a 3 board setup unfortunately.
Both Nord and Kronos have excellent organs and both are much better than the RD-2000 (also my main board) or other Rolands. Why can't Roland do a decent Leslie effect? Since piano isn't so important to you, both of these might be overkill, especially if workstation sequencing and sampling also aren't that important to you. I would look at the Kronos and also at a Nord Electro. You should also try and consider a Yamaha MODX or Montage 6.
Oh, missed the synth requirement. Then the Kronos or Yamahas are best. I prefer the Yamahas overall, but the Korg has a slightly better organ. Try them all, though.
@@geoffk777 Im not keen on the Yamahas. The ModX only has 4 sliders, and the Montage 8. Neither have the 9 drawbars really needed for organ control.
Honest comparison 💌
Both are a match made in heaven
Indeed
Hey what are your opinion on montage 8.. I am using it from 2months it's a grt instrument ..so is montage 8 better than Korg or Nord?😐
Alpna Sunil I love the Yamaha Montage 8. In fact many of the preset acoustic sounds on the Yamaha sound better than the Korg to me. Also I like the keyboard action best on the Yamaha. But overall I would not say one is better than the other. The Nord is a stage piano. The Korg is a workstation and the Montage is a performance synth. So technically they all occupy different categories. Sounds are a matter of taste. The Kronos is the most powerful of the bunch, next the Montage and lastly the Nord. But that should be expected considering their respective categories.
Darrick Keels thank u ✌it helped
Darrick Keels how do you find Kurzweil PC3K8? Or Kronos still better? Korg M1 user here. Thanks.
Armz316 I do not think you can go wrong with the Kurzweil PC3K8 if you like that Kurzweil sound! The build quality in my opinion is better than the Kronos. (i.e the sliders feel more solid) However, the Kurzweil is not a true sampler though it has sample playback and sample editing functions. Also it is a deep keyboard and a sound designer's dream yet the screen is tiny with horrible resolution. It is hard enough trying to edit sounds and sequences on the Kronos even with it's large touch screen (although most sequencing I use DAW for editing), I could not imagine spending 8 hours editing and navigating that tiny low resolution screen on the Kurweil. Furthermore, I have fallen in love with the Setlist function of the Kronos. One touch of the screen or push of a pedal and I can pull up the next song in a set with all the instruments, backing tracks, wave sequences, and even valuable notes. In a fast paced environment operating as a musical director for a band this is invaluable. Other workstations do have "Setlist" modes but nothing quite like the Kronos. But again you cannot go wrong with the Kurzweil either. It is a powerhouse.
Darrick Keels thanks for the reply. I truly agree on what you said. It takes a lot of time to edit on the Kurzweil. I have two friend's who highly recommended the Kurzweil PC3K8 to me. So I'm currently saving up for a new board. But stage I always see the Korg Kronos 2 88 keys & a Yamaha Montage 8 with an RD2000 in one band & other bands have Nord. Only to famous bands I saw that use a Kurzweil exclusively are Bee Gees concert on blu ray & Heart on DVD both use Kurzweil. So saving up for Kurzweil PC3K8 with Kore 64 then kind Sir. P.S. The only thing that's putting me off Kurzweil is it doesn't have the Orchestral hit sound. The one used in 1988's Winter Games by David Foster. Just my 2 cents worth. Thanks & God bless you!
Thank. you, Darrick! This is great:)
Hi Derek, I've fooled around on Nords and I think they are over-rated and over-priced and a bit like the limited capability digital piano keyboards that came out in the nineties but with more knobs and sliders so don't have to 'menu dive'. Even my Korg Kross 2 does far more than the Nord 3 with probably easily as good piano sounds but also anything else imaginable. Why compare a synthesiser workstation with thousands of incredible samples and sounds/patches that is also a fully programmable synthesiser and standalone studio to a comparatively speaking, seriously limited, glorified organ/electric stage piano anyway ? A serious composer/recording artist who also does live performing would obviously be far better off with the Kronos whereas a guy who plays keys in something like a reggae band but doesn't do any serious soundtrack type stuff or composing/arranging would obviously be better off with the Nord organ/EP and its direct dedicated knobs and sliders for hands on patch tweakability in live situations.
pretty good opinion
For your next video, just mention a feature or issue once - not 3 or 4 or 5 times
thomas Shea Thank you for the feedback I will take that into consideration for the next video.
The korg kronos is hands down better, pound for pound than the nord.
Forget the keyboards, come play at my church! Name your price! (I wish...)
Korg all day, better to have it and dont need it than to want it and dont have it.....especially when you pay more.