Nord 3: can someone compare it with the virus line?

[LivePsy]

Hi All,

How is the Nord 3 if you already own a Virus? From the manual, it seems less complex. Anyone dare to offer a critique of the differences. Just in case I might want to buy one...

CHeers,
B

[iand]

Both the Nord Lead and the Virus are fairly similar as far as programmings concerned. They're both subtractive. The TI has better modulation perimeters, and you can modulate just about everything. Not sure about the other Virus', I've only used the TI. Now the Nord has no effects, not as deep perimeters for modulating. And in my opinion sounds flat and uninteresting. Now I don't own a Lead 3 but a 2X. I played around at the local music center, and diddled the Lead 3 and the 2X, and even the G2. I decided on the 2X. It sounds alot more lively and animated. The Lead 3, I didn't care for at all. And now Nord has discontinued the 3, so if you needed to get a new motherboard or something your s.o.l., and I hear it's not all that uncommon for the MB to crap out on you.

I'm very happy with the Rack 2X, if compliments the TI very well. Picked one up on eBay for $570 US. It's extremely easy to program, 4 part multi timberal, and kicks alot of ass. Hope I was of some help.;)

[LivePsy]

Nord has discontinued the 3, so if you needed to get a new motherboard or something your s.o.l., and I hear it's not all that uncommon for the MB to crap out on you.

Where does it say the Nord Lead 3 is discontinued? The clavia web site doesn't mention this at all!

And no effects... Looks like my cash will be paying off the mortgage like it should ;)

Cheers,
B

[F5D]

I asked clavia's support about whether the NL3 was discontinued or not and they said it really was but some dealers still have stock. Anyway, I'm gonna buy the nord rack 2x later this spring. I've heard that the NL2 has more pure tone than NL3. I've played both and I also had a modular keyboard but I never could compare them. Anyway, the NL2 2x seems to be a good sounding basic va synth with a powerful tone.

[LivePsy]

That's really odd. The Nord 3 is not backwards compatible with the 2, no effects on board, and if they have discontinued the 3 they have no subtractive synth unless you don't mind a vintage organ and EP board as well (which I do mind - it just seems wrong).

I think I have a clear idea of the differences with the Virus line...

Cheers,
B

[F5D]

They still have the nord lead 2x but who knows when they will discontinue that too...

[Khazul]

It was discontinued because they cant source a certain critical part for it that was unexpectedly discontinued.

Pay attention to Nord announcements later in the year - probably around summer concerning a replacement.

[iand]

if they have discontinued the 3 they have no subtractive synth

Well they still have the 2X, and the G2 modular series is among other things subtractive.

It was discontinued because they cant source a certain critical part for it that was unexpectedly discontinued.

your talking about the Lead 3 right?

[F5D]

IMO the NL3 has been discontinued, NL2X has not been discontinued.

[LivePsy]

A model is discontinued when the manufacturer chooses not to make it anymore. There's no reason (other than cost) why the NL3 be can't reengineered to fit component availability and continue production. We'll have to guess they are close to the release of a completely new model and they consider it not worth the effort.

Lots of guessing on our side, not good. I don't want to buy something which seems to be discontinued, I want the manufacturer to be upfront about their product.

B

[F5D]

I guess one reason why the NL3 is discontinued is the huge popularity of Virus synths which come with hundreds of popular preset sounds. Nord leads don't have any trance/dance-presets. Many people buy virus because they don't know how to program synths. Nord leads can do great sounds too but you have to program them yourself. Access have noticed this and they sell well. In fact it seems that Access is the only company which pays for good preset sounds. Roland, Korg, Alesis, Clavia etc. have quite poor or unpopular preset sounds which means that only real synth freaks or people who can program synths buy those synths because of the synth engine, not for the presets.

[Summa]

Some years ago I had the NL3 for a few weeks to write a review about the synth, charater wise the NL3 differs much from the Virus, less hiss and the a rather harder right in the face type of sound even without the use of distortion.
Function wise it differs a lot too, for instance with its four operator FM mode and its 4 Morph Groups that can be controlled by Velocity, Mod-Wheel, Aftertouch/Pedal, Keyrange, to change up to 26 parameter per group at once.

Also soundprogramming is pretty easy due to the circular LED graphs, that show the actual setting of the sound you chose or the range of the morph groups, that way it's a pretty good beginners synth...
But it's only 4 times multitimbral and has no onboard FX-Section...

[NeoMetric]

I have a Nord 2 and I'll never part with it. True it has no FX, and Virus presets are full of them, so it's hard to compare apples and oranges. Still, I love it. The Nord engine is warm and fuzzy, ez to use and forgiving. The straight forward routing, editing and storing of patches makes it an ideal first analog synth IMO. If you have the bread for a virus, sure; but, expect to be fustrated for bit.

[mr.e]

I thought nords are virtual analog ?

anyways just wanted to say I heard many rumors that the nord 3 is more for pads and thing of that nature and the filters on the nord 2 are much more aggressive I heard.