LOL. Just reading through the comments shows just how subjective this is. Not even worth mentioning my preference here but suffice to say that both sound utterly beautiful. Nice vid mate. Thanks.
I went and bought myself an RD2000 based on the action and the flexibility of the sound. Can't speak for the Nord but I can say the RD2000 PLAYS as close to a real grand as I've ever come across -- the sound responds perfectly to the nature of your touch rather than clearly switching between samples, and the action feels realistic (neither too taut nor so light it feels like a pipe organ). I don't know the technical term for it, but when a digital piano responds to your "stroking" the keys the way a grand would, that's pretty impressive. I actually found myself preferring the supernatural sounds (partially modelled partially sampled) to the fully modelled stuff, and tend to play using the concert NX sound.
The Nord 700Nx sounds are available for download free. I have played the 700NX for years the Concert Grand is wonderful and the action is stunning. I receive a 2000 tomorrow
Both are great and if gigging no one would notice any real difference in quality because the PA system won't be able to differentiate. But the RD has so many more features such as 8 zones and better connectivity plus a better Keybed if you're a pianist.
Based only on those 2 piano sounds, I have to go with the Roland. The Nord sounds artificial to me, and the Roland sounds more natural. I'm a Yamaha guy so there's no bias here lol.
I was quite shocked at how much better the Roland sounded. The single notes played from pianissimo to ff on the Nord sounded very electronic and the bass chord had noticeable looping to it. To be be fair to the Nord the Royal Grand 3D is a 7’ piano which is being compared to a 9’ concert grand.
Thanks for posting! My humble observations: 1:56 velocity switching evident on the Nord 2:28 sample looping on the Nord 5:33 the Nord sound seems to fit well for this piece, but it has an almost "electric piano" characteristic Overall I think the Roland sounds more true to a real grand for solo pieces, whereas for stage, it seems the Nord would cut through the mix better.
I own an rd-2000 and i'm gonna buy the piano 3. The rd has much more realistic sounds, and a better feeling, but on the stage the piano 3 is way better for any mix and that's why i'm buying it. It Depends on what you need. In a studio or just for practicing home i recommend the rd, but for stages the piano 3 :)
Well...we're all limited to the sound system we're listening on at home. A real life comparison where you can hear them first hand is really what's required for such fine sounding digitals.
Also, in hearing the two alternating keyboards, you can hear the “wood” of the piano in the Nord, where you don’t in the Roland. Although I like Roland and they put out a great keyboard and piano sound. I think the Nord is just ever so slightly “richer” in sound. I have two Nord Stage 3’s (88 key and 76 key), and I have to say nearly all of the sounds are beautiful and very usable. With other keyboards, (I’ve been comparing them (aspects of various keyboards) for awhile now), there tends to be sounds that are not necessarily going to be used except for very situational conditions; but again the Nord, many of the sounds are rich and utilize the full range of the keys. There are cons to owning a Nord, such as available disk space, which is laughable and the lack of a sequencer. But the Nord is designed for a particular purpose (live performance) and does its job very well at that. I use them in the studio as well, they are just a delight to play ☺️👍✝️🙏🎹
It's hard to really say from just one or two sounds from each unit, as some may be perfect for certain tracks and not others, but the thing I do like with the Nord is the availability of different sounds from their website, which opens a lot of possibilities up.
Great comparison... honestly. I'm a Nord fanatic, but I prefer the Roland in this video. Both companies excel in a variety of things. Nord's c2D engine across its other lines, and its A1 synth + e-piano tones are fantastic in and of themselves.
I want to upgrade my Roland A90 with EX Card. Considering one of these two pianos. What I liked about on my A90 was Stereo Concert preset #2. I found that the piano sound cut through stage mix, especially a loud lead guitarist. Not that I was competing, usually less is better to get a true dynamic stage sound. I recently heard a group in concert, I know the keyboard player personally and he was using the NORD Stage 3. There was only 5-6 times I could actually hear what he was playing in a one hour show. Mind you he was competing with 3 guitarists and 5 vocalists, doing CSNY tribute. Does anyone have a comment on which if these two pianos cuts through the stage mix sound the best? My focus is always on the Dynamics of the overall stage sound. Thanks
They both sound great, but I think the simple fact you can load new/different sounds ultimately tips my hat to the Nord. Because piano sample can only really get better with time, and you get the benefit of that. Plus I love the Red! lol
The Roland has hundreds of pianos and over 1100 sounds built in to start. And you can download even more. This is not really a Nord advantage. Considering the limited sample memory on the Nord, it's a disadvantage, if anything.
Whether it was due to his playing or due to the pianos, there was a greater swing in dynamics with the Roland. Listen to the beginning of classical music section. The Nord comes across flatter dynamically. With the Roland, it sounds like he's leaning into and back more. I'm pulled more into the performance.
I like them both. I bought the RD2000 because it is the better instrument for me. The feel of the keyed and connection to the sound engine was just perfect, the Nord was not! The sound engines were great in both, but I found the Roland more flexible and that is another point. From a controller standpoint, no contest the Roland wins. From a cost standpoint, again no contest - Roland! I like Nord and think they make great products, they just don't come close to Roland in this case!
I've no idea what the Nord is like to play but what you cannot demonstrate in these videos is just how fantastic the RD2000 is to perform on. Difficult to compare sounds too though as the stage piano used on the RD in this video is only one of many and certainly not my favourite program if you're trying to recreate a more traditional grand piano sound.
You confirm what I said in my post: choose the right keybed. And in this case the Roland technology is far ahead. even better than Yamaha, that doesn't want to shadow their "real piano" business. On the countrary Roland, that doesn't sell physical pianos, has worked a lot on the synthesis technology and on the realistic keybed. The result I think is actually the closer imitation of a "real" piano.
They're both terrific 'boards and it's mostly down to personal preference. I did notice that the Nord had reverb on (very noticeable at 07:20ish) and that the Roland was just the flat tone waiting to be tweaked however you wanted. The RD clearly has a lot more capabilities in terms of layering and integration with other systems as a controller so is much better value. The piano sounds are more or less comparable and through a PA system neither would be better than the other.
The first piano that comes on when you turn on a Nord is a royal grand 3D. This is nord's way of saying this is the best piano they have in the machine and it should be tested against that sound, not really a fan of the Italian Grand
In my opinion, Nord takes it in some parts while Roland takes it in others. Soft, gentle, expressive is Roland on slow ballads. Up tempo classics and such sound better on Nord. Roland is balanced with an even balance across frequencies with a good sensed of warmth while Nord is much brighter in tone and a bit more aggressive. All in all, for the money, Roland is giving GREAT value.
Nord seems to have a more chorus piano in this sample, or it might also be the initial tunning of the sampled piano. I think this makes it sound a bit more similar to some of the real grand pianos. I think Roland can be aslo tweaked to get to a similar sound if you really dig into the adjustments that are limitless with RD2000. Don't forget: Nord is Sample based, while RD2000 is Modelling based, that also has in the library some sampled pianos, but at a double polyphony compared to the Nord.
The nord is a brighter piano and it SEEMS like it's more expressive but in fact you are just hearing the difference in the tone but the Roland has a rich warmth to it much like the Yamaha. When you hear both keyboards you go for the nord because of its brightness but if you have been playing long enough you would know that in a lot of situations it's better to have a more rich and warmer piano so that you could not just hear the prettiness and expressiveness but feel the tone vibrate into the depths of your soul. That is why most professionals play on the Yamaha motif series,the Roland phantom series and the Korg Kronos series. These are some of the best keyboards series ever made and are known for their rich pianos and if you want a board more like those then you would prefer the Roland Rd 2000 over the Nord. Not saying the Nord isn't a good board it's an amazing board but to me I wouldn't have it as my main keyboard.
I think that at this level, you have so many customization opportunities that it is difficult to choose because of the sound. Personally, I bought the RD-2000, and historically, Roland piano sounds are warmer than those of Yamaha or Nord. But you have so many piano samples and customization opportunities that the sound is really not a problem. One should choose in terms of keyboard feel, wheels and bender friendliness (I think Roland wheels and bender are better), easy access to custom setups, master keyboard controls, etc.. Keep in mind that here the synthetic V-piano sound was compared with the Nord sampled piano. V-piano technology is interesting because offers complete customization and endless number of notes, but Roland has also a large number of sampled pianos like Nord has. I think that what is really interesting in the Roland is the possibility to have 4 layered sound easy to manage, modify and mix in live situations and that it can work as a PC soundcard, letting you to add, mix and manage software synth applications.
Listening to this video, I now understand what people mean when they say something sounds too digital. When I listen to the Nord I hear a piano. When I listen to the Roland, I hear a Roland.
You're welcome. I own a Stage 2EX and play a Piano 3 quite often and the Pianos certainly sound as near as identical as I can discern. One of the best things about Nord is that you can get the newer sounds and load them into the older machines. I've grabbed a couple of the sounds that came out recently. The only difference you would probably notice is if a preset program had a particular effect, but with the pianos they tend to be plain, with maybe a touch of reverb.
Hi Richard, How is the keyboard action of your Nord? People here are complaining about it so what is your view on this? (I am looking to buy a stage piano myself and tend to likethe Nord sounds more than the RD sounds.)
The Nord is MUCH brighter and seems to have less sustain. Because of the lack of top-end, the Roland can sound a bit bland, but it sustains in a more realistic and less percussive way and sounds nicely transparent. Since you can brighten up the Roland with a twist of a knob, I suspect that it would sound better than the Nord with a bit of EQ. Moreover, the V-Piano technology in the Roland means that it has unlimited polyphony and very expressive response to touch. I'd definitely give it to the Roland. The Nord is a fine instrument and you could easily live with it, but the Roland is a generation ahead.
One more thought...can anyone advise me with regard to the polyphony of the Nord? The Roland is a respectful 128 but the Nord is only 40 (stereo)???? So I play something very complicated like a Chopin Etude or the Liszt Sonata and this Nord is going to crap out??? I can't afford a real acoustic. I really need to know before I buy. Following my own advice though, I suspect I'm going to have to go to a store and hear them. Any advice though would be appreciated! Thank you, Robert
RScott S I wouldn’t be overly concerned about polyphony, If you get hands on with these instruments I’m sure you’ll appreciate the more nuanced and realistic sound of the Nord. I’ve owned several RD Roland’s for work and can’t really fault them, they sound fine but to be honest they’re magnolia and I find them rather insipid now, maybe personal preference but that’s my opinion. The Nord has much more scope and feels more like an acoustic instrument, multiple pianos, option to change completely in the future. There’s so much more dynamic range in my opinion. The polyphony is a non issue. Go and try them both!
Nord wins this contest, hands down. I am a Roland fan and disappointed that the Nord beats Roland here. But i am still hopeful that tweaking the patches would greatly improve Rolands Rd2000 sound.
I have to say I would go with the roland, way more capabilities with the 8 faders, and the ability to have 8 zones set up. Also this video has a clear bias towards nord, since the volume is significantly louder (listening on Macbookpro speakers). I like the fact that nord is handmade in sweden and what not, but i feel like for $2000 less you can get a keyboard more versatile.... roland.... ftw....swoosh
Hands down, Nord. The bass is deeper, the notes throughout the range are clearer and the sustain is better. For me it sounds more natural than the Roland.
Nord has character but doesn't sound realistic. Roland is a bit too pure and airy, but sounds more like a piano and is leagues better in velocity switching and decay.
Not really. The Royal Grand 3D is pretty good, but it's the only impressive one Nord has put out, and even it can't compare to a good VST. Most good VSTs can wipe the floor with both of these. Nord's pianos in general are extremely overrated; the fundamental tone is fine, but they sound compressed (because they are, the file sizes are minuscule compared to a proper sample library) and the dynamics are terrible. They're great instruments for playing on stage in a live mix, but for serious piano it'd be silly to use a Nord and put up with the mediocre actions and sounds despite the huge price tag.
Not really. I haven't found a single VST that's very good. I've played them all. Every single one of them has issues with keyboard to sound realism and dynamics. In a mix, or for very simple music they are OK but recorded by themselves sound fake.
I don't really know what to say to that other than that if you think Nord's minuscule samples sound better than vastly more sophisticated VSTs, then your opinion on the subject is questionable and clearly driven by extreme fanboying--and probably sprinkled with some dishonesty. Even if Nords had good actions, which they don't, the samples are much too compressed and lack sensitivity. Good for stage use, not good for serious recording or detailed playing. But hey, if the sleek red look appeals to you more than good sound does, then you do you.
I was able to try the RD2600 and just could NOT get on with the heavy keyboard. I am positive it is heavier than any acoustic piano. Even watching this video Tony seems slightly more fluent on the Nord. Oh, the Nord has great sounds pity they are horrendously expensive.
Both are great boards couldnt go wrong with either but the Roland is a higher quality board. I Got a chance to play both before i bought one. The Roland's keys have a much nice feel and it is easier to swith between sounds on the fly which was a huge plus for my application. So i bought a Roland. Love it.
It's easy to give credit to the Nord; I myself love stereo sampled sounds of real acoustic pianos... however, Roland's efforts, time and research into development of the V-Piano engine technology goes unsung more often than not. The fact that Roland's V-Piano (pure modelled) tones are even in the running with sample based tones speaks volumes. Additionally, through proper customisations, the potential is virtually unlimited. From zoning features, to customisations, to user-friendly navigation and functionability, to master [midi & usb] controller features, not to mention the [pha-50] keybed action, the RD-2000 is my preferred choice. BTW, Roland's axial website offers a collection of [RD-EXP] expansions, which feature the "stereo sampled" acoustic piano sounds of previous RD stage pianos... certified satisfaction! 🎶💃
No race, RD2000 wins by far and is in my setup. Furthermore the superior sounds, you can just barely appreciate from a YT video thus go and test play in a shop, the Roland's keybed is definitely a pleasure to play since the dynamic response and feel at touch, no comparison against the Fatar's keyboard used by Nord. The only, inevitable, drawback of the RD2000 is that it weights 24Kg.
Yeah agree with quite a few commenters. You can hear the resonances and keybed sounds with the nord. Definitely a more natural piano sounds. However Roland does have the nicer hammer action. I do prefer the Nord knobs over layered menus on the Roland.
Sad to say Nord win I'm a roland owner and fan.. I thought roland is the best in terms of grand piano sound (superNatural) but this Nord piano is super Realistic :) now I'm going to sell my roland digital piano :(
Make sure that you actually play both before you decide. The keybed on the Nord is terrible, the polyphony is very limited and it's not nearly as expressive to play as a Roland. Yes, it sounds good, but that's not the only factor.
Do you mean cheaper? The sound of a real piano, with its warmth and body, I hear in the RD 2000. The Nord sounds more flat and even a little bit metallic. When the pianist plays, I also see the instrument moving, what I don't see with the Roland. The RD 2000 is the one.
For me the Roland sounds more like a piano. I think the Nord is brighter and nice but less like a grand piano. Full disclosure I don’t own any digital piano. However I do own a Baldwin R grand.
Well the Nord is brighter and louder, that is certain. Had they been volume matched, it would have been easier to judge. But both are excellent pianos, the Roland might have the edge in value because of lower price and nicer keyboard action. I think I prefer the Montage 8 to both.
Nice comparison, I’m firmly favouring the Nord, for me it seems to have a nicer dynamic response and a more natural sound, much more focused on doing piano sounds well. I’ve owned a few RDs since the 300sx and they’re solid gig machines but a mod stick on a weighted stage piano has always bugged me? Down to personal preference at this point as they’re both fine instruments. Ordering mine next week!
It depends, if you need something intimate and possibly classical, the Nord may be better, but the Roland would more likely suit a pop or modern jazz track, based on the patches used in this demo
If only we could have the Nord samples with a Roland keyboard :\ Nord sounds great but modern VST sound MUCH better. (check out Ravenscroft 275, Keyscape, etc)
There`s NO doubt that the Nord samples sound more realistic. If you listen to the high notes you can hear the string resonances and such from the Nord very clearly, but almost nothing from the RD. WITH THAT SAID: I want the RD, not the Nord :D
Nord sounds are indeed sampled, while the RD-2000 uses physical modeling. Nord has the typical sampled sound characteristics and that's a disadvantage. You can customize everything on the Roland including the damper, string resonance, and simulate so much more things that you can't do on the Nord thanks to physical modeling, with a cheaper price and much better keys on top of that. I don't see any solid reason to go with the Nord.
Definitely Roland. Being used to playing acoustic piano's, Roland matches near perfection. Nord is way too artificial (even though it looks cooler than the Roland) and has less depth. Playing classical music or ballads, the Nord is terrible. Still, if you like playing Billy Joel, the Nord is your thing. Still enjoying my RD700sx, but it's time for an upgrade. Will go for RD2000.
Don't know about the Roland Hammer action but the NORD FATAR action is not so good!! however I owned Roland VR-09 and FA-06 with supernatural and the sounds on the Rolands were really really bad!
I hear more dynamics from Roland and better lows. Sounds more like the real deal to me. Nord may win on the highs but as far as pleasing to the ear, the Roland just sounds better.
Nord all the way for me, thought that Italian grand is a bit bright I hear much more detail and richness in the sounds the Roland sounds flatter, though better when playing softly. As a composer, I use an Acuna 88 Fatar weighted controller with Piano sample libraries
As a sound engineer and pianist, often find the Nord sits better in a mix with other band members. Top of Nord had more resonance, but middle had the honk that I normally try to EQ out. For solo piano and in this example the Roland has it. But the foibles of the Nord often help the mix with others, always found the RDs best for solo with voice. My 2p
There is a notable difference in the piano sound, nord is so much more realistic, i´m not lang lang, but acording to all the ACOUSTIC PIANOS,that i have played, nord has the best piano sound, roland is too plastic, compared to the nord piano, now, as a Church player, i probably would go with the roland , beacause of the faders, and all the possibilities you have on the rd2000, is so much more complete. :)
LOL. Just reading through the comments shows just how subjective this is. Not even worth mentioning my preference here but suffice to say that both sound utterly beautiful. Nice vid mate. Thanks.
I went and bought myself an RD2000 based on the action and the flexibility of the sound. Can't speak for the Nord but I can say the RD2000 PLAYS as close to a real grand as I've ever come across -- the sound responds perfectly to the nature of your touch rather than clearly switching between samples, and the action feels realistic (neither too taut nor so light it feels like a pipe organ). I don't know the technical term for it, but when a digital piano responds to your "stroking" the keys the way a grand would, that's pretty impressive.
I actually found myself preferring the supernatural sounds (partially modelled partially sampled) to the fully modelled stuff, and tend to play using the concert NX sound.
Nord 700NX? You mean Roland?
The Nord 700Nx sounds are available for download free. I have played the 700NX for years the Concert Grand is wonderful and the action is stunning. I receive a 2000 tomorrow
Albert Weijers yes
Both are great and if gigging no one would notice any real difference in quality because the PA system won't be able to differentiate. But the RD has so many more features such as 8 zones and better connectivity plus a better Keybed if you're a pianist.
I love the feel of the Roland rd2000, I love the look and simplicity of the nord, but my Yamaha s90es, at least to me, sounds just as good
Based only on those 2 piano sounds, I have to go with the Roland. The Nord sounds artificial to me, and the Roland sounds more natural. I'm a Yamaha guy so there's no bias here lol.
I was quite shocked at how much better the Roland sounded. The single notes played from pianissimo to ff on the Nord sounded very electronic and the bass chord had noticeable looping to it. To be be fair to the Nord the Royal Grand 3D is a 7’ piano which is being compared to a 9’ concert grand.
These are two beast. Both have stellar grands and both have great Rhodes emulations as well.
Thanks for posting! My humble observations:
1:56 velocity switching evident on the Nord
2:28 sample looping on the Nord
5:33 the Nord sound seems to fit well for this piece, but it has an almost "electric piano" characteristic
Overall I think the Roland sounds more true to a real grand for solo pieces, whereas for stage, it seems the Nord would cut through the mix better.
worship.life the nord sounds better in every aspect lol
Except in the specific and objective ways he pointed out. Nice shilling.
I own an rd-2000 and i'm gonna buy the piano 3. The rd has much more realistic sounds, and a better feeling, but on the stage the piano 3 is way better for any mix and that's why i'm buying it. It Depends on what you need. In a studio or just for practicing home i recommend the rd, but for stages the piano 3 :)
Hi. Can I ask does the RD-2000 have percussion (drum) sounds?
Does it have acustic / electric guitar sounds?
Thanks.
Well...we're all limited to the sound system we're listening on at home. A real life comparison where you can hear them first hand is really what's required for such fine sounding digitals.
Also, in hearing the two alternating keyboards, you can hear the “wood” of the piano in the Nord, where you don’t in the Roland. Although I like Roland and they put out a great keyboard and piano sound. I think the Nord is just ever so slightly “richer” in sound. I have two Nord Stage 3’s (88 key and 76 key), and I have to say nearly all of the sounds are beautiful and very usable. With other keyboards, (I’ve been comparing them (aspects of various keyboards) for awhile now), there tends to be sounds that are not necessarily going to be used except for very situational conditions; but again the Nord, many of the sounds are rich and utilize the full range of the keys. There are cons to owning a Nord, such as available disk space, which is laughable and the lack of a sequencer. But the Nord is designed for a particular purpose (live performance) and does its job very well at that. I use them in the studio as well, they are just a delight to play ☺️👍✝️🙏🎹
It's hard to really say from just one or two sounds from each unit, as some may be perfect for certain tracks and not others, but the thing I do like with the Nord is the availability of different sounds from their website, which opens a lot of possibilities up.
Great comparison... honestly. I'm a Nord fanatic, but I prefer the Roland in this video. Both companies excel in a variety of things. Nord's c2D engine across its other lines, and its A1 synth + e-piano tones are fantastic in and of themselves.
I want to upgrade my Roland A90 with EX Card. Considering one of these two pianos. What I liked about on my A90 was Stereo Concert preset #2. I found that the piano sound cut through stage mix, especially a loud lead guitarist. Not that I was competing, usually less is better to get a true dynamic stage sound.
I recently heard a group in concert, I know the keyboard player personally and he was using the NORD Stage 3. There was only 5-6 times I could actually hear what he was playing in a one hour show. Mind you he was competing with 3 guitarists and 5 vocalists, doing CSNY tribute. Does anyone have a comment on which if these two pianos cuts through the stage mix sound the best? My focus is always on the Dynamics of the overall stage sound. Thanks
Love the lower register on the nord piano 3. Sounded much more natural. Noticed the default reverb on the nord is high though.
They both sound great, but I think the simple fact you can load new/different sounds ultimately tips my hat to the Nord. Because piano sample can only really get better with time, and you get the benefit of that. Plus I love the Red! lol
The Roland has hundreds of pianos and over 1100 sounds built in to start. And you can download even more. This is not really a Nord advantage. Considering the limited sample memory on the Nord, it's a disadvantage, if anything.
Whether it was due to his playing or due to the pianos, there was a greater swing in dynamics with the Roland. Listen to the beginning of classical music section. The Nord comes across flatter dynamically. With the Roland, it sounds like he's leaning into and back more. I'm pulled more into the performance.
Please do a comparison video between Yamaha Geno's and Korg pa4x
I like them both. I bought the RD2000 because it is the better instrument for me. The feel of the keyed and connection to the sound engine was just perfect, the Nord was not! The sound engines were great in both, but I found the Roland more flexible and that is another point. From a controller standpoint, no contest the Roland wins. From a cost standpoint, again no contest - Roland! I like Nord and think they make great products, they just don't come close to Roland in this case!
I've no idea what the Nord is like to play but what you cannot demonstrate in these videos is just how fantastic the RD2000 is to perform on. Difficult to compare sounds too though as the stage piano used on the RD in this video is only one of many and certainly not my favourite program if you're trying to recreate a more traditional grand piano sound.
it actually sounds terrible IMO.
You confirm what I said in my post: choose the right keybed. And in this case the Roland technology is far ahead. even better than Yamaha, that doesn't want to shadow their "real piano" business. On the countrary Roland, that doesn't sell physical pianos, has worked a lot on the synthesis technology and on the realistic keybed. The result I think is actually the closer imitation of a "real" piano.
I totally agree. I did my first ever performance on my RD2000 in front of 150 plus people and felt completely confident in the instrument.
Andreas Lechthaler Similar experience, bought the stage 2. Piano and action awful.took it back, got a Roland. Heaven
Could you have a comparison of the RD 2000 and the Korg Grandstage?
They're both terrific 'boards and it's mostly down to personal preference. I did notice that the Nord had reverb on (very noticeable at 07:20ish) and that the Roland was just the flat tone waiting to be tweaked however you wanted. The RD clearly has a lot more capabilities in terms of layering and integration with other systems as a controller so is much better value. The piano sounds are more or less comparable and through a PA system neither would be better than the other.
Two great sounds. I prefer Nord. But both are excellents! How much each one?
Fantastic sound. What is the piece your playing at 3:08... it's lovely. From Toy Story?
when she loved me by randy newman
The first piano that comes on when you turn on a Nord is a royal grand 3D. This is nord's way of saying this is the best piano they have in the machine and it should be tested against that sound, not really a fan of the Italian Grand
Is it just but do I hear overtones with the Nord?
In my opinion, Nord takes it in some parts while Roland takes it in others. Soft, gentle, expressive is Roland on slow ballads. Up tempo classics and such sound better on Nord. Roland is balanced with an even balance across frequencies with a good sensed of warmth while Nord is much brighter in tone and a bit more aggressive.
All in all, for the money, Roland is giving GREAT value.
I have a feeling the RD has some better sounds but that Italian grand is soooo beautiful.
Nord seems to have a more chorus piano in this sample, or it might also be the initial tunning of the sampled piano. I think this makes it sound a bit more similar to some of the real grand pianos. I think Roland can be aslo tweaked to get to a similar sound if you really dig into the adjustments that are limitless with RD2000. Don't forget: Nord is Sample based, while RD2000 is Modelling based, that also has in the library some sampled pianos, but at a double polyphony compared to the Nord.
What's the piece played at 5:33 ? it sounds great (I personally prefer how the nord sounds)
Excuse me, what do you have the Nord hooked up to?
How does the Roland RD-2000 compare to the Dexibell Vivo S7?
The nord is a brighter piano and it SEEMS like it's more expressive but in fact you are just hearing the difference in the tone but the Roland has a rich warmth to it much like the Yamaha. When you hear both keyboards you go for the nord because of its brightness but if you have been playing long enough you would know that in a lot of situations it's better to have a more rich and warmer piano so that you could not just hear the prettiness and expressiveness but feel the tone vibrate into the depths of your soul. That is why most professionals play on the Yamaha motif series,the Roland phantom series and the Korg Kronos series. These are some of the best keyboards series ever made and are known for their rich pianos and if you want a board more like those then you would prefer the Roland Rd 2000 over the Nord. Not saying the Nord isn't a good board it's an amazing board but to me I wouldn't have it as my main keyboard.
What’s the name of the speaker youre playing through?
both are great, but I give it to Roland
Matthew Akers
I think that at this level, you have so many customization opportunities that it is difficult to choose because of the sound. Personally, I bought the RD-2000, and historically, Roland piano sounds are warmer than those of Yamaha or Nord. But you have so many piano samples and customization opportunities that the sound is really not a problem. One should choose in terms of keyboard feel, wheels and bender friendliness (I think Roland wheels and bender are better), easy access to custom setups, master keyboard controls, etc.. Keep in mind that here the synthetic V-piano sound was compared with the Nord sampled piano. V-piano technology is interesting because offers complete customization and endless number of notes, but Roland has also a large number of sampled pianos like Nord has. I think that what is really interesting in the Roland is the possibility to have 4 layered sound easy to manage, modify and mix in live situations and that it can work as a PC soundcard, letting you to add, mix and manage software synth applications.
the piece at 5:10 ? thanks
both rock equally, I think, and volume-matching would have rocked a bit more, the Nord seems to be louder
both awesome... they are just different
The zones and great action are the main reasons why I choose the RD
To my ears/headphones the Roland sounds more natural
Listening to this video, I now understand what people mean when they say something sounds too digital. When I listen to the Nord I hear a piano. When I listen to the Roland, I hear a Roland.
What's the title of the song in 3:10? Thanks.
You are welcome
Ciao, Wow! That was fabulous and that was fabulous. Thx. warm whishes from germany, Hannes 🎹🌹
The Nord outclasses the Yamaha pretty easily. Amazing tone with the 3.
Is the Nord Piano 3 sound identical to the Nord Stage 3 in terms of piano sound?
You can download the same piano sounds from the Nord library for each one.
Thanks! ^^
You're welcome. I own a Stage 2EX and play a Piano 3 quite often and the Pianos certainly sound as near as identical as I can discern. One of the best things about Nord is that you can get the newer sounds and load them into the older machines. I've grabbed a couple of the sounds that came out recently.
The only difference you would probably notice is if a preset program had a particular effect, but with the pianos they tend to be plain, with maybe a touch of reverb.
Hi Richard, How is the keyboard action of your Nord? People here are complaining about it so what is your view on this? (I am looking to buy a stage piano myself and tend to likethe Nord sounds more than the RD sounds.)
The Nord is MUCH brighter and seems to have less sustain. Because of the lack of top-end, the Roland can sound a bit bland, but it sustains in a more realistic and less percussive way and sounds nicely transparent. Since you can brighten up the Roland with a twist of a knob, I suspect that it would sound better than the Nord with a bit of EQ. Moreover, the V-Piano technology in the Roland means that it has unlimited polyphony and very expressive response to touch. I'd definitely give it to the Roland. The Nord is a fine instrument and you could easily live with it, but the Roland is a generation ahead.
One more thought...can anyone advise me with regard to the polyphony of the Nord? The Roland is a respectful 128 but the Nord is only 40 (stereo)???? So I play something very complicated like a Chopin Etude or the Liszt Sonata and this Nord is going to crap out??? I can't afford a real acoustic. I really need to know before I buy. Following my own advice though, I suspect I'm going to have to go to a store and hear them. Any advice though would be appreciated! Thank you, Robert
RScott S I wouldn’t be overly concerned about polyphony, If you get hands on with these instruments I’m sure you’ll appreciate the more nuanced and realistic sound of the Nord. I’ve owned several RD Roland’s for work and can’t really fault them, they sound fine but to be honest they’re magnolia and I find them rather insipid now, maybe personal preference but that’s my opinion. The Nord has much more scope and feels more like an acoustic instrument, multiple pianos, option to change completely in the future. There’s so much more dynamic range in my opinion. The polyphony is a non issue. Go and try them both!
So what did you choose ultimately and why? I need to make the difficult decision myself.
The RD had a warmer sound to me
Nord wins this contest, hands down. I am a Roland fan and disappointed that the Nord beats Roland here. But i am still hopeful that tweaking the patches would greatly improve Rolands Rd2000 sound.
I have to say I would go with the roland, way more capabilities with the 8 faders, and the ability to have 8 zones set up. Also this video has a clear bias towards nord, since the volume is significantly louder (listening on Macbookpro speakers). I like the fact that nord is handmade in sweden and what not, but i feel like for $2000 less you can get a keyboard more versatile.... roland.... ftw....swoosh
Hands down, Nord. The bass is deeper, the notes throughout the range are clearer and the sustain is better. For me it sounds more natural than the Roland.
I have owned my RD2000 for 10 months now and i never use the 'startup' piano. You can get wayy better out of it just so people know lol.
Paul Davis you can choose anew start up
Roland Rd 2000 ...better sound + better Feel from Play ...
I definitely would choose the Nord. the piano sounds much more realistic on Nord.
No comparison at all, definitely the rd2000 a lot better sounds.
👎🏻
About pianos, Roland is way better!!!
I PLAY A PIANO IN FAST MUSIC WITH THIS RED LINE LACE THINGIE AND OVER TIME THE KEYS GET STUCK
Nord has character but doesn't sound realistic. Roland is a bit too pure and airy, but sounds more like a piano and is leagues better in velocity switching and decay.
Luke Reich LOL
Nord sounds the most realistic of all digital pianos available today.
Not really. The Royal Grand 3D is pretty good, but it's the only impressive one Nord has put out, and even it can't compare to a good VST. Most good VSTs can wipe the floor with both of these. Nord's pianos in general are extremely overrated; the fundamental tone is fine, but they sound compressed (because they are, the file sizes are minuscule compared to a proper sample library) and the dynamics are terrible. They're great instruments for playing on stage in a live mix, but for serious piano it'd be silly to use a Nord and put up with the mediocre actions and sounds despite the huge price tag.
Not really. I haven't found a single VST that's very good. I've played them all. Every single one of them has issues with keyboard to sound realism and dynamics. In a mix, or for very simple music they are OK but recorded by themselves sound fake.
I don't really know what to say to that other than that if you think Nord's minuscule samples sound better than vastly more sophisticated VSTs, then your opinion on the subject is questionable and clearly driven by extreme fanboying--and probably sprinkled with some dishonesty. Even if Nords had good actions, which they don't, the samples are much too compressed and lack sensitivity. Good for stage use, not good for serious recording or detailed playing. But hey, if the sleek red look appeals to you more than good sound does, then you do you.
I was able to try the RD2600 and just could NOT get on with the heavy keyboard. I am positive it is heavier than any acoustic piano. Even watching this video Tony seems slightly more fluent on the Nord. Oh, the Nord has great sounds pity they are horrendously expensive.
Both are great boards couldnt go wrong with either but the Roland is a higher quality board. I Got a chance to play both before i bought one. The Roland's keys have a much nice feel and it is easier to swith between sounds on the fly which was a huge plus for my application. So i bought a Roland. Love it.
Justin Newborn- Vincent, do you also love how the sounds are?
Nord has more dB, comparison biased. Also, is it the original stereo from the RD? It sounds so wrong.
For mi roland number1
It's easy to give credit to the Nord; I myself love stereo sampled sounds of real acoustic pianos... however, Roland's efforts, time and research into development of the V-Piano engine technology goes unsung more often than not.
The fact that Roland's V-Piano (pure modelled) tones are even in the running with sample based tones speaks volumes. Additionally, through proper customisations, the potential is virtually unlimited.
From zoning features, to customisations, to user-friendly navigation and functionability, to master [midi & usb] controller features, not to mention the [pha-50] keybed action, the RD-2000 is my preferred choice.
BTW, Roland's axial website offers a collection of [RD-EXP] expansions, which feature the "stereo sampled" acoustic piano sounds of previous RD stage pianos... certified satisfaction! 🎶💃
Roland sounds more processed like it has some kind of reverb added on
Nord piano 3 is more brassy than the Roland. Its like comparing a Yamaha grand piano in Japan versus a Yamaha grand piano made for the U.S.A.
No race, RD2000 wins by far and is in my setup. Furthermore the superior sounds, you can just barely appreciate from a YT video thus go and test play in a shop, the Roland's keybed is definitely a pleasure to play since the dynamic response and feel at touch, no comparison against the Fatar's keyboard used by Nord. The only, inevitable, drawback of the RD2000 is that it weights 24Kg.
They are both sounding good, I play piano since 16years now. I have preferences for Roland keyboards.
Yeah agree with quite a few commenters. You can hear the resonances and keybed sounds with the nord. Definitely a more natural piano sounds. However Roland does have the nicer hammer action. I do prefer the Nord knobs over layered menus on the Roland.
Agree, agree, so what did you choose ultimately and why? I need to make the difficult decision myself.
Sad to say Nord win I'm a roland owner and fan.. I thought roland is the best in terms of grand piano sound (superNatural) but this Nord piano is super Realistic :) now I'm going to sell my roland digital piano :(
Make sure that you actually play both before you decide. The keybed on the Nord is terrible, the polyphony is very limited and it's not nearly as expressive to play as a Roland. Yes, it sounds good, but that's not the only factor.
Comparing patches across instruments is like saying your grandma makes a better Thanksgiving dinner than mine. So many variables.
Nord sounds much more expensive :\
J Cesarsound expressive? Please try a pianissimo on the Nord and let me know your comments... Roland wins by far my friend!
Do you mean cheaper? The sound of a real piano, with its warmth and body, I hear in the RD 2000. The Nord sounds more flat and even a little bit metallic. When the pianist plays, I also see the instrument moving, what I don't see with the Roland. The RD 2000 is the one.
The opposite is scientifically true. Modeling is more expressive than sampling
For me the Roland sounds more like a piano. I think the Nord is brighter and nice but less like a grand piano.
Full disclosure I don’t own any digital piano. However I do own a Baldwin R grand.
I´d go Roland every day long. The keys of nordlead feels like a cheap casio... But i have played piano since the 80´s only...
The keys on a Nord lead are totally different, the Nord piano has weighted keys.
Nord uses fatar keys which are inferior to any other brand
Nord piano 3 Super.....
Well the Nord is brighter and louder, that is certain. Had they been volume matched, it would have been easier to judge. But both are excellent pianos, the Roland might have the edge in value because of lower price and nicer keyboard action. I think I prefer the Montage 8 to both.
Nice comparison, I’m firmly favouring the Nord, for me it seems to have a nicer dynamic response and a more natural sound, much more focused on doing piano sounds well.
I’ve owned a few RDs since the 300sx and they’re solid gig machines but a mod stick on a weighted stage piano has always bugged me?
Down to personal preference at this point as they’re both fine instruments. Ordering mine next week!
what is the Disney song that he play?
Andrew Tan "When she loved me'' from Toy Story 2 :)
Andrew Tan Randy Newman is the composer 🙂
thanks you
Nord sounds lke your playing a piano, with all its resonances etc...Roland seems a bit bland.
Of course: if you play the Roland without the damper, no resonance at all.
It depends, if you need something intimate and possibly classical, the Nord may be better, but the Roland would more likely suit a pop or modern jazz track, based on the patches used in this demo
If only we could have the Nord samples with a Roland keyboard :\ Nord sounds great but modern VST sound MUCH better. (check out Ravenscroft 275, Keyscape, etc)
The Nord Piano3 sounds much light! The Roland RD2000 sounds also good but a little bit deep!
yes Rd 2000 sound deep
Both are nice machines, top of their class... but I would go with the Roland hands down.
I use SuperNATURAL(Roland) . The sounds of Yamaha and Roland got tired. Nord is a deep sound.
Roland Rules!!!!
There`s NO doubt that the Nord samples sound more realistic. If you listen to the high notes you can hear the string resonances and such from the Nord very clearly, but almost nothing from the RD.
WITH THAT SAID: I want the RD, not the Nord :D
Nord sounds are indeed sampled, while the RD-2000 uses physical modeling. Nord has the typical sampled sound characteristics and that's a disadvantage. You can customize everything on the Roland including the damper, string resonance, and simulate so much more things that you can't do on the Nord thanks to physical modeling, with a cheaper price and much better keys on top of that. I don't see any solid reason to go with the Nord.
Roland RD2000 the best piano
Definitely Roland. Being used to playing acoustic piano's, Roland matches near perfection. Nord is way too artificial (even though it looks cooler than the Roland) and has less depth. Playing classical music or ballads, the Nord is terrible. Still, if you like playing Billy Joel, the Nord is your thing. Still enjoying my RD700sx, but it's time for an upgrade. Will go for RD2000.
Sin duda alguna, el Roland es mucho mejor.
Don't know about the Roland Hammer action but the NORD FATAR action is not so good!! however I owned Roland VR-09 and FA-06 with supernatural and the sounds on the Rolands were really really bad!
I think the NORD is recorded louder than the roland and the emperor is not wearing any clothes.
I hear more dynamics from Roland and better lows. Sounds more like the real deal to me. Nord may win on the highs but as far as pleasing to the ear, the Roland just sounds better.
Nord all the way for me, thought that Italian grand is a bit bright I hear much more detail and richness in the sounds the Roland sounds flatter, though better when playing softly. As a composer, I use an Acuna 88 Fatar weighted controller with Piano sample libraries
Nord for me
As a sound engineer and pianist, often find the Nord sits better in a mix with other band members. Top of Nord had more resonance, but middle had the honk that I normally try to EQ out. For solo piano and in this example the Roland has it. But the foibles of the Nord often help the mix with others, always found the RDs best for solo with voice. My 2p
There is a notable difference in the piano sound, nord is so much more realistic, i´m not lang lang, but acording to all the ACOUSTIC PIANOS,that i have played, nord has the best piano sound, roland is too plastic, compared to the nord piano, now, as a Church player, i probably would go with the roland , beacause of the faders, and all the possibilities you have on the rd2000, is so much more complete. :)
Any kawai mpc+garritan cfx or kawai mpc+ravenscroft will sound a million times better that these plus you get the closest grand action on earth
The nord is brighter.
Nord is the best ever created 😂😂#1!
Dude, you look like Mark King :-)