Nord Stage 2 EX88 88-Key Hammer Action Keybed with 9 Digital Drawbars w/ Stand

The Nord Stage 2 EX features our award winning Piano, Organ and Synthesizer technologies combined with a well thought-out, user friendly interface, a choice of premium keybeds and an almost obsessive level of quality control. The Stage 2 EX truly sets itself apart as an instrument for the professional performing musician.

Piano Section

• 1 GB memory for the Nord Piano Library
• State-of-the art sample-based Acoustic and Electric Pianos
• Advanced String Resonance (Gen 2)
• Long Release option
• Dynamic Pedal Noise via optional Nord Triple Pedal

Organ Section

• B3 Tone-Wheel simulation
• Rotary Speaker simulation
• Faithful simulations of classic Vox and Farfisa organs
• Digital LED Drawbars for easy overview of active drawbar settings

Synth Section

• 380 MB for the Nord Sample Library
• Powerful Classic analog, FM and Wavetable synthesis
• Arpeggiator
• Unison mode
• Master Clock

Global features

• Comprehensive Effects section
• Single-function control knobs and instant visibility of current settings
• External section allowing the Nord Stage 2 EX to serve as a master keyboard
• Expanded Live Mode with 5 locations
• USB-MIDI. No driver required for Mac OS X. WHQL certified driver available for Windows

Multitimbral Powerhouse

The Stage 2 EX has three sound generating sections; Piano, Organ and Synthesizer, all of which can be used simultaneously. Furthermore, the Nord Stage 2 EX has 2 separate slots allowing you to have 2 Pianos, 2 Organs and 2 Synths at the same time for massive sonic flexibility.

New Factory Sound Banks

The Nord Stage 2 EX features a brand new Factory Sound Bank with both new sounds in the Piano Library as well as a completely updated and refined selection of sounds from the Nord Sample Library. We've also optimized our sounds allowing you to fit even more sounds without comprising playability.

New sounds include:

• DX Electric Pianos
• Strings
• Voice
• Folk instruments

Piano Section

The Stage 2 EX Piano section features our state-of-the-art sampling techniques that capture the extraordinary nuances and real character of the individual source instruments. Combined with the Advanced String Resonance that reproduces the sound of the piano strings resonating at their fundamental or harmonic frequencies when other strings are played, and compatibility with the optional Nord Triple Pedal that adds Dynamic Pedal Noise - the result is breathtaking realism and an unsurpassed expressiveness.

In addition to vivid acoustic Grand and Upright pianos, the Piano section also features some of the finest, most desirable vintage electric pianos. The Stage 2 EX's piano sounds are future-proof thanks to its compatibility with the Nord Piano Library. This free online library is continuously updated with both upgraded existing pianos and all-new pianos to keep your instrument constantly renewed.

Organ Section

The Stage 2 EX's dedicated organ section is based on our award winning B3 Tone-Wheel simulations, based on thorough analysis of the 91 spinning discs inside several original instruments and painstaking work on understanding exactly how all the components interact with each other. The virtual circuitry reacts not only to the settings on the panel but also during the real time performance. The Stage 2 EX will faithfully reproduce the important foldback and energy robbing characteristics; the latter will produce the gentle compression effect that makes those lovely smears absolutely wonderful. There are 3 tone wheel modes that allow you to switch from a clean, factory spec'd instrument to a worn and battered workhorse with many years of touring.

Synth Section

The Stage 2 EX's powerful synthesizer engine is capable of classic analog synthesis, three operator FM synthesis, Wavetable synthesis and compatible with the Nord Sample Library. The Nord Sample Library gives Stage 2 EX owners access to the huge free library of world-class sounds, including the famous vintage Mellotron and Chamberlin samples. The included Nord Sample Editor for Mac and PC, makes it possible to create your own samples easily, and transfer them to your keyboard in no time, opening up a whole new world of possibilities!

Nord Sample LibraryThe Synth engine itself features classic analog synthesis with dual saw, hard sync and pulse wave modulation, three-operator FM synthesis with 32 different modulation frequencies, Wavetable synthesis with 62 waveforms and Sample based synthesis. A great-sounding multimode filter features 12 and 24dB low pass, high pass, band pass and notch filters. And with an Amp envelope, Modulation envelope, an LFO, and Unison control, the Stage 2 EX's synth capabilities are hugely powerful, delivering amazing on-stage sound.

The Synth section also features an Arpeggiator that can be easily synced to the Stage 2 EX's Master Clock for perfect timing with other elements of the Stage 2 EX, including its effects.

Programming and Control

To make programming and on-stage control as simple as possible we have arranged the sound generators and controls of the Stage 2 EX into dedicated sections - Piano, Organ and Synth. Not only does this make for a very intuitive approach to programming but also instantly shows you which settings are active. There are no deep menus, no complicated screens to navigate. All vital functions are controlled by dedicated single-function knobs.

In addition our patented Pitch Stick and Modulation Wheel allow maximum musical expression and our efficient Morph Grouping technique is also included, allowing you to assign sound and effects parameters to physical controllers.

Extern Section

The Nord Stage 2 EX wouldn't be a master keyboard if it couldn't control external devices with ease. The Extern Section is designed solely for this purpose, so that any MIDI-connected gear gets seamlessly integrated with the Stage 2 EX's built-in instruments. Zones, splits and layers are handled exactly as if the external equipment was a part of the Stage 2 EX itself. All settings are saved together with a Program so advanced setups can be immediately recalled in real-time during a performance. You can even use the Extern Section to automatically transmit Bank Select and Program Change messages to your external units.

Effect Section

No sound is complete without the proper use of effects. In the Nord Stage 2 EX we incorporated all the effects required to cover musicians' needs. All of the three instrument sections - Organ, Piano and Synth - can be routed individually through the Stage 2 EX's built-in effect units. Turning the effects on and off, and controlling the routing is easily done by a touch of dedicated buttons, readily accessible at the bottom of each effects unit. The Nord Stage 2 EX has a dedicated Effect Section for each of the 2 slots.

Product Specifications:

• Master Level Control
• Wooden Pitch Stick
• Modulation Wheel
• 400 Programs - 4 Banks with 20 Pages each. Each Page has 5 Program locations
• Program Categories
• Program Sort Modes - numerical, alphabetical or by category
• 5 Live Buffers
• 2 Individual Slot Setups
• 3 Morph sources (Modulation Wheel, Control Pedal, Aftertouch)
• Global Mono output
• Programmable Transpose +/- 6 semitones
• Master Clock functionality with manual, external and tap-tempo rate control
• Internal and MIDI clock source
• MIDI over USB functionality
• HA88-model: 88-key Velocity sensitive Hammer Action keyboard. Range: A-C