NL A1 OS Update vs A2 Update - Which is coming 1st

[ricard]

[ Removed the post which was basically just an updated duplicate of the previous one ; have updated the previous one instead now. ]

[Marlowes]

Hej Ricard!

As always,I buy your analysis 100%. Not only because I want to join your band, but you have an excellent judgement (we went to the same "school").

My plan is to keep the NL2X, the NLA1 and order the NL4 soon - then I can do all the stuff for you want me to!
If I need more keys, I'll try to find my NS2 and a MIDI cable ...

"Collect them all!"

/Amicalement
Michael in Scania

[ljefe]

I wish I could afford to collect them. I would add a 2X rack, a Wave, and an Electro 5!

[ricard]

Hej Ricard!

As always,I buy your analysis 100%. Not only because I want to join your band, but you have an excellent judgement (we went to the same "school").

/Amicalement
Michael in Scania

Hi Ricard, For a moment I thought about again asking you to invite Marlowes to join your band (even though you've already said that there is no current band to be joined) just so that the incessant begging and whining can stop, but then it occurs to me that if Michael suddenly begins to put all his energy into being in your band, his constant output of new programs might dry up...so, here's to hoping that this love affair remains unrequited for some time!

Pablo

[ricard]

It is true though that we actually did go to the same school, collage actually.

[skintechnician]

Of course an A1 OS update would come first! I've had my A1 for 6 months and haven't even used the USB port yet sheesh
If an update were to come my only request would be to implement patterns like on the NL4. Since the NL4 OS update "borrowed" so many cool features of the A1 it's only fair that the A1 gets this one add-on.


Nate

[ljefe]

Interesting. So patterns modify the "feel" of the arpeggiator?

[skintechnician]

Interesting. So patterns modify the "feel" of the arpeggiator?

That is correct. Patterns can be applied to the arpeggiator and/or the LFO when synced to the master clock. I took some time yesterday to look at the NL4 manual and you basically have to turn the rate knob fully clockwise on the arp/LFO then hold the pattern button while turning the program dial to select different patterns. Since the A1 doesn't have a pattern button I was thinking you could double-tap shift then press a button like multi-focus, panic, etc. (or shift + double-tap multi-focus etc., you get the idea) to access a pattern function.
(The double-tap is a feature on the Nord Drum 2 that allows you to switch the row of buttons you are on. Not that important but it's something that could allow more functions using preexisting buttons.)
Just a thought anyways...

[skintechnician]

Interesting. So patterns modify the "feel" of the arpeggiator?

Swing factor would be modifying the "feel" -- the patterns in NL4 go WAY BEYOND that. Traditional arpeggiators provide simple variations: Up, Down, Up/Down, Random, as found on the A1. Within this framework a note will be played for every time division to which the arp rate is set. Patterns as implements in the NL4 are basically like little "mini-sequences" and are not bound by the strict and simple repetitions produced by such traditional arpeggiators.

Commenting generally, I think that the NLA1 features which were ported to the NL4 were basically front panel control functions, e.g. Multi-Focus. In other words, they enhance the friendliness of the interface for the user. Surely there is meaningful value in standardizing such functions so that someone who has learned their way around one can move to the other and feel at home. These changes do not, however, really affect the actual guts of the thing, the sound generation aspects (other than some minor bugs which were addressed).

Nord has designed and produced two different synths, more or less at the same time (or very nearly so), each with their own virtues and quirks and sonic personalities. There are both pro and con arguments to be made regarding this strategy, but now that it is done blurring the lines between the two in the manner you suggest by making one sound more like the other and the other sound more like the one would almost certainly be a really dumb idea from their perspective.

For me, they are like two very different lovers, neither of which could console the loss of the other. (note: kudos to anyone who can ID where I borrowed that from)

Bless,

Pablo

[ricard]

Right now at the top of my list would be changing the behavior of the filter type / filter tracking button so that the tracking is selected without shift, and filter type with shift. Filter tracking is something I like to adjust quickly, but I much more rarely change the filter type.