Clavia Nord Stage
Encyclopedia
The Nord Stage is a digital keyboard
or stage piano
manufactured by Clavia Digital Music Instruments
of Stockholm, Sweden.
The Nord Stage builds on the success of the Nord Electro 2, whose accurate emulations of vintage electromechanical keyboard sounds made it very popular. The Stage extends the functionality of the Electro by first of all sporting a real weighted piano-like keyboard as well as adding a synthesizer section, a more versatile organ section, extended effects processing and the ability to function in layered and split keyboard modes.
The Nord Stage was unveiled in April 2005 at the Musikmesse
music instrument convention in Frankfurt, Germany. A full-range, 88 weighted key version began shipping in September 2005; a 76 weighted key version started shipping in May 2006, and a 73 non-weighted version started shipping in August 2006. Like all other Nord keyboards, the Stage's metal panel is bright red, and the Stage also features similar wood panels to the Nord Electro, also in red. The 73 non-weighted version - the Compact - is essentially the Nord Stage engine in an Electro 73 case and keybed.
, and the Farfisa Compact
. Instead of physical drawbars, the Organ section features "drawbuttons" with red LED strips to indicate the level of the harmonic. Percussion, Chorus & Vibrato, a rotary speaker emulation (similar to a Leslie speaker
), and an overdrive are included for effect. The Organ section is 88-note polyphonic.
, Epiano , Wurlitzer
, and Clavinet
samples. The Clav EQ buttons allow users to adjust the sound of the Clavinet. Acoustic Piano sounds are stereo samples, which can be switched manually to "Mono Mode", and can be played at 40-note polyphony; electric piano samples are mono and can be played with 60-note polyphony.
and FM operators. Featuring filter and envelope controls, the Synth Section's timbre knob allows users to move through sound groups to create leads, pads, basses, and other synth sounds. The Synth also includes a 2-band EQ, a glide (portamento
) function, and a unison function which is used to thicken the sound. The Synth Section is 16-note polyphonic.
Many of the parameter knobs are simple potentiometers, however there are several 360-degree lighted rotary encoders. These rotary encoders control parameters that can be "morphed". Morph Grouping is Clavia's technology that allows users to assign multiple parameters to one control, such as the mod wheel, a control pedal, or aftertouch.
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
or stage piano
Stage piano
A stage piano is an electronic keyboard designed for use in live onstage performances by professional musicians. While stage pianos share some of the same features as digital pianos designed for in-home use and electronic synthesizers, they have a number of features which set them apart...
manufactured by Clavia Digital Music Instruments
Clavia
Clavia Digital Musical Instruments is a Swedish manufacturer of virtual analog synthesizers, virtual electromechanical pianos and stage pianos, founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 by Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson.-The Company:...
of Stockholm, Sweden.
The Nord Stage builds on the success of the Nord Electro 2, whose accurate emulations of vintage electromechanical keyboard sounds made it very popular. The Stage extends the functionality of the Electro by first of all sporting a real weighted piano-like keyboard as well as adding a synthesizer section, a more versatile organ section, extended effects processing and the ability to function in layered and split keyboard modes.
The Nord Stage was unveiled in April 2005 at the Musikmesse
Musikmesse
Musikmesse Frankfurt is a music fair held at the Frankfurt Trade Fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is the world's largest music fair and it has been held annually for over 25 years.The Frankfurter Musikpreis award is also handed out during the fair....
music instrument convention in Frankfurt, Germany. A full-range, 88 weighted key version began shipping in September 2005; a 76 weighted key version started shipping in May 2006, and a 73 non-weighted version started shipping in August 2006. Like all other Nord keyboards, the Stage's metal panel is bright red, and the Stage also features similar wood panels to the Nord Electro, also in red. The 73 non-weighted version - the Compact - is essentially the Nord Stage engine in an Electro 73 case and keybed.
Sound Sections
The Nord Stage is divided into three sound groups, the Organ Section, the Piano Section, and the Synthesizer Section. Each section can be played independently or simultaneously, divided into specific key ranges (splitting), and blended with independent volume controls.Organ Section
The Nord Stage Organ Section provides physical models of three classic organs - the Hammond B3, the Vox ContinentalVox Continental
The Vox Continental is a transistor-based combo organ that was introduced in 1962. Known for its thin, bright, breathy sound, the "Connie," as it was affectionately known, was designed to be used by touring musicians...
, and the Farfisa Compact
Farfisa
Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
. Instead of physical drawbars, the Organ section features "drawbuttons" with red LED strips to indicate the level of the harmonic. Percussion, Chorus & Vibrato, a rotary speaker emulation (similar to a Leslie speaker
Leslie speaker
The Leslie speaker is a specially constructed amplifier/loudspeaker used to create special audio effects using the Doppler effect. Named after its inventor, Donald Leslie, it is particularly associated with the Hammond organ but is used with a variety of instruments as well as vocals. The...
), and an overdrive are included for effect. The Organ section is 88-note polyphonic.
Piano Section
The Piano section uses samples of acoustic and electromechanical pianos. The Stage's 128 MB of internal memory allow multiple sample sets to be installed. While additional sampled piano sets are available as free downloads from Clavia's website, the Stage ships with Acoustic Grand, Acoustic Upright, Electric GrandElectric grand piano
An electric grand piano is a particular type of piano manufactured and marketed by Yamaha, Kawai and Helpinstill during the 1970s and 1980s, although experimental instruments of similar type were made as early as the late 1920s...
, Epiano , Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer electric piano
Wurlitzer 200A|250px|thumbThe Wurlitzer electric piano was one of a series of electromechanical stringless pianos manufactured and marketed by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Corinth, Mississippi, U.S. and Tonawanda, New York...
, and Clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
samples. The Clav EQ buttons allow users to adjust the sound of the Clavinet. Acoustic Piano sounds are stereo samples, which can be switched manually to "Mono Mode", and can be played at 40-note polyphony; electric piano samples are mono and can be played with 60-note polyphony.
Synthesizer Section
The Stage Synthesizer is not quite as involved as its traditional synthesizers, but is unique with the inclusion of wavetables with its analog oscillatorsSubtractive synthesis
Subtractive synthesis is a method of sound synthesis in which partials of an audio signal are attenuated by a filter to alter the timbre of the sound...
and FM operators. Featuring filter and envelope controls, the Synth Section's timbre knob allows users to move through sound groups to create leads, pads, basses, and other synth sounds. The Synth also includes a 2-band EQ, a glide (portamento
Portamento
Portamento is a musical term originated from the Italian expression "portamento della voce" , denoting from the beginning of the 17th century a vocal slide between two pitches and its emulation by members of the violin family and certain wind instruments, and is sometimes used...
) function, and a unison function which is used to thicken the sound. The Synth Section is 16-note polyphonic.
External Section
Although not a sound generator, the Stage's External Section allows users to control other gear connected via MIDI. Common parameters such as zone, channel, and volume are controllable from the Stage.Effects
The Stage's Effects Section expands on the Electro's effects selection. Included are the Electro's modulation effects (tremolo, auto-pan, ring modulation, auto-wah, and 2 manual wah algorithms), "stomp box" effects (2 algorithms each of phaser, flanger, chorus). The Stage adds a delay module, amp modeling (Wurlitzer speaker, Fender Twin Reverb, Roland Jazz Chorus), drive, and expands the Electro's 2-band EQ to 3-band. Piano, Organ, and Synth sections can be independently routed through these groups. Two Master Effects are included - a simple compressor, and a 5 algorithm reverb.Programs
Sounds can be stored as Programs, which include the instrument source, effects types, and settings. There are 126 storage locations - 21 banks x 6 programs each - all of which can be over-written with user programs. There are 300 independent storage locations for Synth patches.Panels
The Stage is multitimbral - each of the Piano, Organ, and Synth Sections can sound at once. A set of sounds can be stored as a single program, however one can also create a second set. There are two Panels - A & B - that can be used for these setups within a single Program. Panels can be played independently (with no sound cutoff during change), or they can be layered together, creating its true multitimbral capacity: 6 voices.Controls
Clavia's unique pitch stick is included (which can work on each section independently), as well as the ceramic mod wheel found on the Lead and Modular series.Many of the parameter knobs are simple potentiometers, however there are several 360-degree lighted rotary encoders. These rotary encoders control parameters that can be "morphed". Morph Grouping is Clavia's technology that allows users to assign multiple parameters to one control, such as the mod wheel, a control pedal, or aftertouch.
Other
A set of EPiano-style screw-in Legs are an available option for the Stage 88 and Stage 76. Custom soft cases are also available.Models Available
- Nord Stage 88 - 88 medium-weighted keys
- Nord Stage 76 - 76 medium-weighted keys
- Nord Stage Compact - 73 waterfall keys
External links
- Clavia DMI - Official Website
- American Music and Sound - North American Distributor
- Clavia Nord Stage Yahoo Group - Clavia Nord Stage Yahoo Group
- Nord User Forum - Unofficial Nord Stage User Forum