NS3 Crossfade

[Ecaroh]

Hi all!

In my opinion the new Crossfade is one of the most powerful new functions of NS3. Today I came with the idea of using it with normal layering of piano and strings. You can have a full range piano and some special range of strings under. Ok, this is not new - you can make this with earlier Stage models. But if you put on crossfade to these split points (most likely you want to cut some higher and/or lower registers of strings) it's wonderful and playable result. What is the most annoying thing with layer of piano+strings is the moment when you play highest register with pedal down and these high notes get messy. Now because of crossfade split points, everything feels smooth (no sudden cuts of strings sound when crossing split point) but you can still play high with pedal etc. Of course, if your tune needs just some special range of strings this can be wider or narrower, higher or lower range. In a word, Crossfade is relatively simple feature, but very usable!

[baekgaard]

I totally agree; I started programming my setlist into the NS3C and it is soo much nicer with teh crossfade. I'm also really digging the Morphing function. Good example of the morphing function was when I was programming "Heard it through the Grapevine". The intro starts with the signature Rhodes sound then the Trumpets fade in. I Morph the trumpets to increase volume and Rhodes to decrease volume and it works perfectly! Really diggin programming the new board.

[baekgaard]

Yeah, these features are very useful. For the strings xfade, I found a similar idea in some of the stock patches like "Paradise Pad" (piano with a combination of several pad-like sounds that fade out in certain ranges). I also noticed that it uses a velocity controlled envelope on the "Feather Stings" synth sound, which means when you play it lightly, you just have a bit on strings (blending with the piano and pad) but if you play it harder, you get more strings. I've then added a morph on the pad/string sounds with the mod wheel, so I can play a piano with however much pad/string I want. And when I want to have the strings play a melodic line, I just hit it bit harder and then there is instant strings overlayed with the piano.

Quite useful effects, all of them (xfade, velocity control and morphing).