Nord's classical Virtual Analog Synth Nord LEAD 1/2/2x/3/4/A1 and Nord Rack versions

Re: Rack discontinuation?

Postby Happy » 25 Feb 2017, 15:46

Perhaps some reasons for the demise of the racks:

[1] Could be likely we will never see a Lead 5. It's about in line with the Electro racks and also the Drum (without integrated pads) since Nord is more focussed at performance (than using them at home or in the studio). Also the Electros and Stages are their bread and butter. Thus, Nord seems to focus more and more on volume (scale) than a diversity of products (scope) and in the light of this, it could be not unlikely that the A1 and 4 are the last of the Lead products.

[2] The hype has been analog and modular in the past years. VA got a bad name. Nord did not follow (e.g a G3). Now the trend seems to change from "VA is out" to "it does not matter it's VA or Analog as long as it sounds good", So there is hope. Nord have a great distinctive sound and VA can to provide a lot of features analog can't so why not focus on that.

[3] There many other brands who released interesting products in the same price range in the past years, a12 voice bi-timbral analog (DSI) and Aira range VA (Roland) and from companies that are not much bigger in size employment wise than Nord and which also provide rack/desktop modules. Nord provided an E5, a Drum 3 (only with pads), a Stage memory upgrade and a Piano with a display upgrade. Not the most exiting innovations .

[4] While the trend is getting the prices down(specially in Analog (see DSI REV2, Behringer Deepmind 12, Roland, Korg etc..) Nord has kept the VA leads in the same price range. This combined with [3] and [2] is a reason for trouble. The 4R started at 1649 and the A1R at 1245 euro and have stayed at that price point for 3 years (even the L4 fluctuated between this and 1400 frequently), while a lot of new other product came to market. The A1R went out under 1000 and the 4 at 1059 Euros (Thomann) (for reference the 2X Rack went out at Euro 699 and hardware wise there is not much difference inside). So, just when the price came into a nice/interesting range they quickly disappeared. I had a priorities to spend the money on on a Drum Pad and a-Drum 2 because apparently they also went out without any announcement for a replacement for a Drum 3 module, and now the racks are gone as well. So the Euro's will go to something non-Nord. :thumbdown:

Some other suggestions for Nord:

[5] Make that power supply external or integrate a universal supply in it to save overhead and regulatory certification cost to build different product for different markets and provide the cost saving to the customer.

[6] Control your retailer pricing, Also outside EU and US. Retailer charge extreme prices (specially here in Asia) which is not the case with other competitive brandsm, and US retailer are not allowed to ship to other regions. It does help to make Nord more popular.

[7] Bring back the standard Sysex that was in the NL1,2,2X and 3

[8] Bring something like polychain as a true expander (there is no CC to change from performance to program mode many people have asked for)

[9] Communicate better with customers. Take as an example of DSI's support system.

[10] Restructure manufacturing and supply to be able to support low volume products at a competitive price point.

Bottom line, if you now want an A1 and a 4 you need to make space for two keyboards which does not make sense for most . PLUS if you want something Piano or Organ as well you end up with three. Not all of us live in castles with an excess of space

Nord, please rethink this decision.

EOR (End Of Rant)
Last edited by Happy on 25 Feb 2017, 16:45, edited 18 times in total.
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Re: Rack discontinuation?


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Re: Rack discontinuation?

Postby Quai34 » 26 Feb 2017, 02:34

I like the analysis but having spent two years in the past working for Yamaha Musique in France, I can tell you that it's not easy decision to make...But I don't think they will stop their line of products (The leads...) that was the first to be leaunched...It's kind of a Legacy for them....And working in R&D for the leads give them the ability to built and incorporate good synth engine is their Stages and Electros.
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Re: Rack discontinuation?

Postby Duplobaustein » 05 Mar 2017, 16:08

Please good lord, don't make the power supply external! Finally Nord has come to a standard internal power supply with a standard plug.

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