I had considered going the route of a nice midi controller and software, but ultimately when I wake up in the morning and sit down to practice I don't want to be on the computer with the seemingly infinite potential for distraction. I bought a Nord Grand a couple years ago and I'm really glad that I did. The action feels great and the sounds are good enough (although I really would love a new grand piano sample). My teacher even has commented that he's surprised by the dynamics in my touch on his grand at his studio, which in his experience often can get lost when practicing on a digital keyboard.
Anyway, I'd recommend it for anyone that's at that point of taking their practice seriously, but might not have the space/neighbors for an acoustic piano.
I assume you can buy more sounds for the Nord? I have read up extensively on the Stage 3 but not the piano. Currently making do with a Korg B2 for that.
Anyways, everyone seems to have misread my pianoteq comment as me intending to use a laptop; not the case.
Zynthian is a raspberry Pi project that collects up basically everything Linux has available for music and puts it in a small box suitable for pedalboard, rack, on top of your Nord, etc. It works beautifully and with a hifiberry sound card is the equal of anything, sonically.
It also implements pianoteq as an engine, so with a pianoteq license, it really does do everything the Stage does, minus the keyboard natch, and quite a lot more besides (DSP with stereo in out, mod devices, puredata). So you could have a bunch more piano sounds in a small device that is also a full box of toys for not too much.
They are also weeks/days away from releasing a new hardware version that looks really great, the bdfl has been posting stuff in the discourse.
Things are progressing in Linux, folks. Good times.
Yep, I love my nord for the same reasons as you (and also the excellent b3+leslie emulation on the electro/stage). I stare at a screen all day so when it comes to practice or playing gigs I prefer it over midi + laptop/ipad. That being said, I don't want to discourage anyone from going the laptop route. You gain a ton of flexibility and if you already own the laptop it's way cheaper to get started. It's all just preference at the end of the day.
Seconded. I love my Nord Grand. I still use a laptop sometimes but not having to get the laptop warm/unlocked/software started in order to play is amazing. I can just sit down, flip a switch, and practice.
> I really would love a new grand piano sample
If you haven't already seen the Nord Piano Library, it's amazing:
Anyway, I'd recommend it for anyone that's at that point of taking their practice seriously, but might not have the space/neighbors for an acoustic piano.