Korg SV-1 vs Nord Electro
hi.
im thinking about getting either a korg sv-1 or nord electro. appreciate that fact that as well as being mad expensive - the korg is a pretty new instrument so maybe not too many of you have one. but i've been happy over the last few years with a fatar xp weighted keyboard connected to a number of modules (right now a turbo phatt with the 'holy grail' piano module) which work surprisingly well. im looking to get either a sv-1 or nord electro 3. does anyone with experience of these pianos have strong feelings one way or the other ? ultimately i know i will need to play both of them before spending the money, but i'd welcome any observations any of you had.
thanks. shaun.
im thinking about getting either a korg sv-1 or nord electro. appreciate that fact that as well as being mad expensive - the korg is a pretty new instrument so maybe not too many of you have one. but i've been happy over the last few years with a fatar xp weighted keyboard connected to a number of modules (right now a turbo phatt with the 'holy grail' piano module) which work surprisingly well. im looking to get either a sv-1 or nord electro 3. does anyone with experience of these pianos have strong feelings one way or the other ? ultimately i know i will need to play both of them before spending the money, but i'd welcome any observations any of you had.
thanks. shaun.
There are 17 comments, leave a comment.
i played a nord. to me it would be something to add to a rig for extras, not something i would use as a sole gig machine. the action and piano sounds did not work for me.
the kord looks cool and seems to be more bang for your buck...although i don't remember if it had organ sounds...that would be a consideration.
then of course there is weight and price to consider. if you're looking for a light wieght digital piano, i would definitely check out the roland fp4 that has received many accolades here...
the kord looks cool and seems to be more bang for your buck...although i don't remember if it had organ sounds...that would be a consideration.
then of course there is weight and price to consider. if you're looking for a light wieght digital piano, i would definitely check out the roland fp4 that has received many accolades here...
*korg* not kord :)
thanks for your help guys - it was looking like the fp-4 all the way until i read a couple of poor reviews about the rhodes sounds on it. i should have said that this was probably almost as important as a good acoustic piano for me.
nice to hear some other reviews of the nord product, all i've heard is raves...it may be the korg sv-1 for me - maybe after christmas...
nice to hear some other reviews of the nord product, all i've heard is raves...it may be the korg sv-1 for me - maybe after christmas...
the fp4 has fairly loud built in monitors so on acoustic gigs they supplement your amp for a good surround sound. i have a special eq that really brings piano 1 alive. the rhodes is not bad on my fp4, i like it, again i use the same special eq to boost it.
the action on the electro is for organ players (unweighted). the rhodes on the sv-1 is punchy and barks a lot, the piano seems to have good presence but the notes decay very qbruptly after the initial hammer strike, smooth legato lines are not happening...
the action on the electro is for organ players (unweighted). the rhodes on the sv-1 is punchy and barks a lot, the piano seems to have good presence but the notes decay very qbruptly after the initial hammer strike, smooth legato lines are not happening...
huge discussion with demos on korg sv-1
https://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2115006/korg_sv_1_stage_vintage_piano_#post2115006
https://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2115006/korg_sv_1_stage_vintage_piano_#post2115006
the nord is great for organ and rhodes sounds, and the wurli and clav aren't bad either. the acoustic piano sound is weak, which any nord player will admit, and i agree the action leaves a bit to be desired. just depends on what your needs are.
the nords seem to be popular in my area at the moment but i don't see what all the fuss is about. i agree with jsbeeth that organs and rhodes are good (although the button drawbars mean you can't change sounds on the fly properly). i also agree with 7 and dr whack's reservations about the action.
i've never heard a piano sound on a nord that i could get on with although there is a apparently a much better sample that can be downloaded if you're prepared to get rid of some other sounds so make sure you check that out if you're looking into the nord.
i haven't played the korg at all but have always found their digital pianos to be weak with unremarkable sounds and loose and unresponsive actions. they make fantastic synths but i wouldn't put their pianos in the same league.
as for the fp4 rhodes sound - and indeed the nord and the korg, you really can't discount an instrument based on other peoples' opinions - even mine! ;-) you really need to go and check them out and actually play them yourself. after all, 'one man's meat is another man's poison as they say' and two great players may have different opinions about the same board.
musical instruments are a very personal thing and i would advise you to keep the advice and opinions you've heard here in mind but don't let it prematurely colour your judgement when you finally get your hands on the gear.
let us know what you go for in the end and how it works out. good luck!
i've never heard a piano sound on a nord that i could get on with although there is a apparently a much better sample that can be downloaded if you're prepared to get rid of some other sounds so make sure you check that out if you're looking into the nord.
i haven't played the korg at all but have always found their digital pianos to be weak with unremarkable sounds and loose and unresponsive actions. they make fantastic synths but i wouldn't put their pianos in the same league.
as for the fp4 rhodes sound - and indeed the nord and the korg, you really can't discount an instrument based on other peoples' opinions - even mine! ;-) you really need to go and check them out and actually play them yourself. after all, 'one man's meat is another man's poison as they say' and two great players may have different opinions about the same board.
musical instruments are a very personal thing and i would advise you to keep the advice and opinions you've heard here in mind but don't let it prematurely colour your judgement when you finally get your hands on the gear.
let us know what you go for in the end and how it works out. good luck!
great stuff guys - will check them out and let you know how it goes.
s
s
barry and others - thanks very much for your help - well i've ordered a nord electro 3 (had to sell off some of my other gear). the main thing for me was portability. while the sv-1's look great - they're not the lightest instruments - and i'd really like to get out and do more gigging. if i find that i really cannot live with the action on the keyboard then i will take the 10% hit and return it to the shop and get an sv-1, but the portability really is a big plus for me.
one observation i'd like to make is that i was surprised just how difficult it is to actually see one of these units, let alone order one. i live in manchester, england, and was very surprised at how many music stores had suddenly 'sold out' of them despite saying different on their websites. threads like this would really help people who'd like to make a choice yet simply cannot get access to these instruments.
in any case, will let you all know how it goes.
s
one observation i'd like to make is that i was surprised just how difficult it is to actually see one of these units, let alone order one. i live in manchester, england, and was very surprised at how many music stores had suddenly 'sold out' of them despite saying different on their websites. threads like this would really help people who'd like to make a choice yet simply cannot get access to these instruments.
in any case, will let you all know how it goes.
s
i know what you mean shaun, i don't know what it's like in other countries but it can be very hard to see 'pro' gear in music shops in the uk as that area of the market is very small.
most music shops are focused on the home market and don't really cater for pro/semi-pro players - there's just not that many of us around to make it worth their while to focus on that market.
the specialist places that do exist are fine if you want to order online but it's a problem if you haven't had a chance to play the instrument first.
if you're in manchester, you're quite lucky in that reverb in salford (formerly sound control) normally carries a pretty good selection - don't know about the nord but they definitely carry korg stuff.
check them out if you haven't been there yet...
most music shops are focused on the home market and don't really cater for pro/semi-pro players - there's just not that many of us around to make it worth their while to focus on that market.
the specialist places that do exist are fine if you want to order online but it's a problem if you haven't had a chance to play the instrument first.
if you're in manchester, you're quite lucky in that reverb in salford (formerly sound control) normally carries a pretty good selection - don't know about the nord but they definitely carry korg stuff.
check them out if you haven't been there yet...
jazz+, i've got an fp4 as well (which i absolutely love) and was wondering what eq settings you use on the piano sound?
cheers!
cheers!
korg sv-1 basic piano is gonna be the foundation of any stage piano.even though this is advertised as a vintage piano, when you get to the gig, you're still gonna need a nice full grand piano sound. korg has done it with the sv. nord hasnt. nord does have the rhodes, and the organ sounds, but is it really worth $2200 dollars!!! i mean, how much can you buy an actual fender rhodes for? now, korg wants you to buy the sv-1 in the year 2010, but what they havent told you is that the korg sv-2 is already in the works, and that will have better organs, and still that nice piano sample, and the nice rhodes, and many other sound upgrades. so id say wait a while unless your desperate. i can not confirm they are coming out with the sequel already, but you know its coming, and you know what theyre gonna do to compete with nord. be smart when buying keyboads. think to yourself.. "3 years from now ..."
company releases a digital piano or keyboard, they are already at work on it's replacement - that's just how the technology industry works.
you can already see the next big innovation in digital piano technology in the release of the roland v-piano. looking at that product, i would say it's a fairly safe bet that sample-based pianos will become a thing of the past in the not-too-distant future.
does that mean that you shouldn't buy a new digital piano? of course not, you can paralyse yourself into inaction if you obsess about what's coming next. all you can do is make the best choice available to you at the time when you're ready to buy.
you can already see the next big innovation in digital piano technology in the release of the roland v-piano. looking at that product, i would say it's a fairly safe bet that sample-based pianos will become a thing of the past in the not-too-distant future.
does that mean that you shouldn't buy a new digital piano? of course not, you can paralyse yourself into inaction if you obsess about what's coming next. all you can do is make the best choice available to you at the time when you're ready to buy.
unfortunately you're right, thats how the technology industry works. but another smart thing to do is save $2000 and buy a macbook and get komplete 5 from native instruments, comes with every sound known to man, and put an end to buying $2000 keyboards every few years.
i've considered a controller w/laptop setup, but my concerns are:
how quickily i can get in and out of the sounds i'll need on a live gig?
can i set up splits and layers? if so, how quickly can i get out of those?
do i trust the vulnerability of a hard drive to get me through lots of gigs?
how quickily i can get in and out of the sounds i'll need on a live gig?
can i set up splits and layers? if so, how quickly can i get out of those?
do i trust the vulnerability of a hard drive to get me through lots of gigs?
the wrong moment - sometimes for no discernible reason! i would feel so lame having to explain to a venue owner that i couldn't play because my laptop was playing up.
for peace of mind, i'd have to carry two around with me!
if we're just talking about a home setup then i can see how the laptop setup would be beneficial but for now, i couldn't imagine bringing myself to rely on one on a gig for the above reasons.
for peace of mind, i'd have to carry two around with me!
if we're just talking about a home setup then i can see how the laptop setup would be beneficial but for now, i couldn't imagine bringing myself to rely on one on a gig for the above reasons.
again guys - thank you all for your help with this. i meant to post sooner - but in summary
i) order for the nord electro got pushed back even further than the mid-december date (!) so went for the korg sv-1.
ii) really happy with it so far (touch wood), its actually smaller and lighter than i expected ! doesn't take up much more room than the 61 key yamaha that used to be there.
iii) the simplicity of the unit is great- even a bonehead like me can follow whats going on!
iv) piano/rhodes sounds are superb, not used the strings/organs that much but i really did get this unit for the pianos.
v) not used the computer software yet.
s
i) order for the nord electro got pushed back even further than the mid-december date (!) so went for the korg sv-1.
ii) really happy with it so far (touch wood), its actually smaller and lighter than i expected ! doesn't take up much more room than the 61 key yamaha that used to be there.
iii) the simplicity of the unit is great- even a bonehead like me can follow whats going on!
iv) piano/rhodes sounds are superb, not used the strings/organs that much but i really did get this unit for the pianos.
v) not used the computer software yet.
s
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