Nord User Forum

[Ecaroh]

Hi guys,

In his (little confusing) post ZeroZero mentioned that he prefers B4 over NS2s organ. I had this software years ago and what I remember about it is this: it sounded in general quite ok (that time) but also thin and digital and higher registers were screaming like hell (too loud compared to lower).

I have been interested in modeling for a long time. I think that's the future, and it will happen sooner or later. Other question is, that will it be complete modeling or kind of hybrid solutions which combine modeling and sampling. I have had a long relationship with Pianoteq which I still play quite often. IMO it's interesting product, but quite far from best sampled pianos like Nords Lady, Bosie or Bright. I also have Applied Acoustic Systems (AAS) Lounge Lizard (modeled) E-piano which is quite ok too, but similarly very far from Clavia's nice E-piano library. I had my time with V-piano also (my friend has it and I had it here at my home over a weekend), but that's really a confusing thing: who would pay over 5000e for a just a piano sound which is good but not a miracle and which weights almost 40kg? I wouldn't. Compared to V-piano Nord sounds even better, but V-piano beats it in playability and expressiveness. Still there's no question which is more useful. To me V-piano is just a prototype of a new future line of digital pianos. Remember that Roland wants to be kind of a leader of development; their motto is "We design the future". (Somebody "who knows more" said to me once that they could go back to analog synths like Korg has done, but this would be against their philosophy. That's why Jupiter 80 was a disappointment to those who waited for a real analog Jupiter incarnation...)

If we think about software modeling there's one curious little thing which is worth mentioning here: GSi's VB3. It only costs 49e and it won't even give you a standalone program, but it sounds amazing: very warm and natural. It's also very CPU effective and stable. This can even beat Clavia's organ. Before my NS2 I used that software as my organ. I must admit that now when I have my NS2 I haven't A/B-tested those two. Perhaps I am just afraid that VB3 is much better...

cheers,
P

[organut]

I fully agree regarding NI B4. In fact it sounds shrill and digital. The NI B4 tube drive simulation is completely unusable. The NI B4 does by no means get close to the NS2 organ sound. The VB3 is a different story. It is much better than NI B4. However, it's not better than the NS2 organ, don't worry! NS2 has a more 'organic' Hammond tone, especially with certain drawbar seetings. Individual drawbars settings blend better with the NS2. Also, I like NS2 percussion better. It has that 'thump' which the VB3 lacks a bit.

The NS2 Leslie sim is good enough but I don't like it's fast setting. It does not quite keep up with the VB3 rotary sim. But NS2 through Ventilator is killer! Hope that Nord will do some Leslie sim touching-up in a future software update. BTW, I find that the NS2 basic organ tone sounds better than Nord C1 and also NE3 which I both sold a while ago. Maybe my ears are cheating me, but I feel much more at home with the NS2 organ sound. Somehow it's fatter and the Drive knob has that authentic tube tone I always missed with C1 and also NE3.

I also tried Pianoteq and Lounge Lizard but never felt 'at home' like I do with the NS2. It seems to me that pure modelling still has a long way to go.

[HotteHue]

Hi organout,

I'm a NS2 user and interested in a ventilator. How does it work and what product would you prefer?

I found this one:
Neo Instruments Ventilator (Thomann - Germany)

Good stuff? Quite expensive...399,-€

Cheers, Hotte

[Cbas]

The NS2 Leslie sim is good enough but I don't like it's fast setting. It does not quite keep up with the VB3 rotary sim. But NS2 through Ventilator is killer! Hope that Nord will do some Leslie sim touching-up in a future software update. BTW, I find that the NS2 basic organ tone sounds better than Nord C1 and also NE3 which I both sold a while ago. Maybe my ears are cheating me, but I feel much more at home with the NS2 organ sound. Somehow it's fatter and the Drive knob has that authentic tube tone I always missed with C1 and also NE3.

Hi organaut.
First of all i totally agree with your view on the NS2 organ simulation. It is very good, but I also have a problem with the fast setting on the Leslie sim(as I've written in another thread). If they could just improve the Leslie sim, the organ would be close to perfect.

Second. I don't think your ears are cheating you. The NS2 organ is from the C2 which was improved a bit compared to the C1/E3 version.