Why Are Nord Red Keyboards So Popular

We are often asked which is the best keyboard for worship musicians. So many Nord users purchase them simply because of the sound that they produce, check out the Nord Stage 2 review from our team at Worship Artistry.

We'll unpack a few of the great features on the Nord Stage 2 to help you decide whether this is the keyboard for you.

Modular

The best feature about the Nord is that it is ‘modular’. To give you a bit of history, most keyboards for the past few decades have been based off of presets and banks. After turning on the keyboard you would dial thru a vast amount of sounds. You might have different banks to categorize your sounds, but you were still sifting through sound after sound until you found the right one. 

The Nord still has presets like most keyboards you can sift through if you like, but what makes this unique is its ‘live mode.' In this mode, you have 4 modules to choose from: Organ, Piano, Synth, and Effects, each with its own On/Off button. If it’s not on, you won’t be able to hear it. So if you want a B3 organ sound, you simply turn it on and adjust the settings. Same thing with the pianos. If the green light isn’t on, you won’t hear it. It’s that simple. Turn it on, select your sound, and you’re ready to rock and roll. If you can get a basic understanding of each module, then you can quickly master the Nord. 

The Organ

This module features 3 distinct organs: B3 Tonewheel, Vox, and Farf. All three have unique sound characteristics. This module is easy to use. Simply turn it on, set the level using the ‘level’ knob and adjust your sounds. You can craft your organ sound using the drawbar buttons. The only downside to the Nord is that it doesn’t actually use drawbars, but the buttons are very responsive. You can easily add and subtract certain tones by pressing any one of the buttons located underneath the corresponding tone. You can also easily add in vibrato and chorus as well as percussion. Everything is clearly labeled and each has an On/Off button. 

The Piano

This module works just like the organ. It has an On/Off button as well as a level knob. You can select between Grand, Upright, EPs, Clavs, and Harpsichords at the push of a button. Each category allows you to choose between a few different models as well. You can adjust the acoustics of the piano and easily shift the octaves in case you’re not using the 88-key version. Simply turn it on, select your piano, and get ready to play some Billy Joel!

The Synth

This module functions just like the others: turn it on, set the level and customize your sounds. If you aren’t familiar with the different aspects of a synth, the Nord is a great place to start. The Oscillator is easy to use. You can choose between sources like samples, FM, and waves to easily adjust the shape of the sound. The ‘filter’ section is easy to use--simply turn the knobs and hear how it customizes the sound. Start with the frequency knob, then the resonance, and finally the Mod if you want the sound to change over time. You can also add in LFOs or Envelopes on the Amp and Mod. Additional options include glide, unison, legato, delay, and more. There’s also a built-in arpeggiator, and it’s easy to sync the tempo to a master clock!

Effects

If you want a delay on your EP, simply turn it on. Select the piano as the source, dial in the rate and amount, and you’re good to go. You can adjust the rotary speaker for the organ and add in overdrive and EQ. Compress the entire keyboard as well as add reverb to the entire sound. 

Flexibility

As you can see, you have the ability to customize your sound. You can combine any of these into a single performance, and best of all, you can save all of these into a ‘live preset’. That way, if you want an EP with delay plus a subtle B3 underneath and a synth with a little movement all at the same time, you can have that all programmed on to one preset. You can then have a regular acoustic piano on another preset. Simply change back and forth at the push of a button. It’s that easy and that flexible. 

Conclusion

The Nord is an amazing keyboard, and not just because its the ‘red keyboard.' (Although about half of those who purchase it do so because of its color.) It’s modular, it’s flexible, and it sounds great! The price tag for the 88-Key Stage 2EX comes in around $4500. It’s a hefty investment, but well worth it if you have the resources. So, if you are in the market to buy another keyboard, then you should definitely check out the Nord!