2. OVERVIEW | 9
The left pedal is the soft pedal, also known as the Una Corda. When
applied, all notes will be slightly lower in volume and have a softer, more
subdued, tone quality.
In the middle is the Sostenuto pedal. Notes that are held when the
pedal is pressed down will “have their dampers raised” and keep sus-
taining, while subsequent notes will not be sustained.
PEDAL NOISE
When the sustain pedal is operated on an acoustic grand or upright
piano, many different sounds are produced by the mechanical com-
ponents of that instrument’s pedal mechanism. Your Nord Stage 3
reproduces many of these natural sounds. When the sustain pedal is
pressed down, lifting the dampers from the strings, a beautiful sizzle
can be heard.
When the pedal is released, the dampers are returned to the strings,
which creates a different, muted type of sound.
PIANO AND CLAV EQ
A quick method for altering the character of the current piano sound is
to use the Piano and Clav EQ settings. The Clav settings are designed
to emulate those of the original instrument, while the Piano settings
are designed specifically with piano players in mind - instantly making
a sound softer, brighter or more mid-focused, depending on what the
song calls for.
This section is further described in the Piano chapter, beginning on
page 21.
PROGRAM SECTION
A program on the Nord Stage 3 contains settings for all sound engines
and effects. The center area of the instrument - the Program section -
is where programs are navigated and stored, and various performance
features and settings menus are accessed. Importantly, this is also
where the two Panel buttons are located, used for switching between
the two independent panels available within each program.
This section is described in detail in the Program chapter, beginning on
page 25.
SYNTH SECTION
The Nord Stage 3’s powerful synthesizer engine is based on the ac-
claimed Nord Lead A1. In addition to Classic waveforms and digital
Waves and F-Waves (formants), the Stage 3 Synth can be used for all
sorts of Sample based sounds. It also features a S-Wave (superwave)
category suitable for those massive, multi-oscillator, sounds that can
not be created by other means. The large number of oscillator config-
urations allows for a multitude of single or dual oscillator setups, wave-
shaping, frequency modulation and more. An OLED display dedicated
to the Synth section provides a clear overview of its current setup.
The Nord Sample Library gives Stage 3 owners access to a huge free
library of world-class sounds, including the famous vintage Mellotron
and Chamberlin samples. User-created samples can also be loaded
into the instrument, opening up a whole new creative world of sound.
In addition to the versatile 12 and 24 dB low-pass filters and the 12 dB
high- and band-pass filters, the Stage 3 provides an emulated transis-
tor low pass filter and a powerful combined low-pass/high-pass filter.
With both Amp and Modulation envelopes, an LFO and Unison con-
trol, the Stage 3’s synth capabilities are powerful, and provide virtually
limitless possibilites in terms of stunning on-stage sounds.
There’s an in-depth description of this section in the Synth chapter,
beginning on page 31.
EXTERN SECTION
The Nord Stage 3 delivers powerful capabilities as a MIDI controller,
especially when using the dedicated Extern section. Extern can be
turned on and off and assigned to keyboard zones just like the internal
sound engines, but specializes in controlling external gear - comput-
ers, synth modules etc. - over MIDI.
This section is described in detail in the Extern chapter, beginning on
page 41.
EFFECTS SECTION
A wide array of classic effects are at your fingertips, within the compre-
hensive Effects section:
The Effects 1 and 2 units provide all essential modulation effects such
as Tremolo, Chorus and Phaser, modeled after legendary stomp boxes
and effects units. The Delay effect can go anywhere from solidly vin-
tage to modern and atmospheric sounding - with its Analog mode and
dedicated feedback filters.
Classic amplifier simulations, a versatile EQ and powerful, resonant
filters are available in the Amp Sim/EQ section, and a punchy Com-
pressor with an extra tight “fast mode” helps keeping your perfor-
mance in control. Finally, the lush Reverb - independently available
per panel - provides an array of small and large room simulations for
instant atmosphere.
Many of the effect parameters can be morph controlled – that is
addressed by the modulation wheel, control pedal or after touch –
which opens up for all kinds of creative, real-time interaction.
This section – and the Rotary Speaker – is described in detail in the
Effects chapter, beginning on page 43.
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