Nord Electro 2 Rackmount Synthesizer

I'm pretty new with this keyboard stuff. I've been playing on an old Roland JV-90 that belonged to my dad for years, and have been thinking about a replacement. Is the Nord Electro 2 Rackmount Synth all the features of the stage pianos, but no keys? Are you missing anything by buying this product rather than the stage version? Also, if I buy this, and use a controller, can most controllers store sounds, or do they need to be hooked up to the rack the entire time?

Controllers only control ... The controller, depending on the model, might be able to store controller settings for pulling up sounds but if you want the Electro sounds, it needs to be hooked up.

Frankly I recommend just springing for one of the keyboard models ... especially with something like the Electro where you're going to want easy access to the drawbars. If it were any other module I might say go for it...

the stage and the electro are two different lines. As far as I know the electro rackmount is the same as the Nord Electro 2 minus the keys.

It won't do strings or brass.

The Stage (this is another Nord model) also has a synth built in.

Controllers are stupid; they don't do anything except for sending MIDI messages. The only thing they'll store is their own settings.

I'm not sure I understand correctly, but you can store presets in the rack if you want to. If you are basically starting out and you are interested in the Electro sounds, I'd look into getting a Nord Electro 61 to complement the JV. At a later stage, you can replace the JV...

Or you could get the Nord Electro Rack and use your JV-90 as the controller.

Indeed, but given the price difference between the rack and the keyboard I'd go for the keyboard version. I used to gig with a NE 61, a Roland A-90 and a NE rack...