Nord User Forum

[S h a w]

Hey Guys,

Need some advice & opinions... I'm starting to think of an alternative to the Nord Wave. Partially because no one knows if Nord is going to refresh the Wave line (and they don't make new ones anymore), and partially because there may be synths out there that do what the Wave does, only better.

Don't get me wrong... I love my bright red synths, but Nord stopped making the Wave a few years ago, so any Wave you buy off eBay / Reverb is almost certainly out of warranty. That's an added level of risk that needs to be considered when looking to purchase a synth (or anything really)...

SO -- what would alternatives to the Nord Wave look like? Essentially a synth with good Sample Playback, great VA, multi-timbrality and effects.

My first thought was the Kurzweil PC3-k6/7/8. Why? Sample library with a wide variety of sounds, a VA engine that (while different) seems as capable as the Wave, 16 part multitimbral (128 voice polyphony), and the effects section blows the doors off of the Wave (don't start bitching, I love my Nords too). Other "pluses" for the Kurzweil -- 16 arpeggiators, 16 Riff generators, Computer based patch editor, and the Effects (yes, I mentioned that, but hey, the Kurzweil effects are good enough to list twice). And their VAST synthesis architecture -- talk about a modulation matrix.

OK guys, Go. Thoughts on Nord Wave vs. Kurzweil PC3k6/7/8 (yes, I realize the Kurzweil cost more than the Nord did when produced).

Thoughts on other Nord Wave alternatives?

Thanks guys. Your inputs are, as always, appreciated.

Cheers!

[e8ndave]

I had a Kurzweil PC3K8, no comparison. It is an ok machine but it is not a Wave or an A1 for that matter. I bought my Wave off Reverb. It is one of the few pieces of used gear I have every purchased and I'm incredibly happy that I did. It is a great machine that is well worth the risk of buying used.

Oh, one other thing about the Kurz, they are virtually worthless on the used market. Few people know about them and until you just about give them away, you will not be able to move it if you buy one.

If you have to look at something else, look at an A1. Very nice, very programmable. The Lead 4 would also be an alternative.

[maxpiano]

@e8ndave: neither the A1 nor the NL4 have Sample Playback capabilities that Shaw is asking for.

@Shaw: at the moment I think the PC3K6 can be the closest, if you feel like learning VAST to take full advantage of its potential. Another alternative may be a Waldorf Blofeld with Sample management extensions enabled, but the amount of memory available for samples is relatively small. Also a MOXF6 may be interesting, if you accept having a simpler synth/VA engine (compared to the Kurz and Waldorf)

At the end of the day it depends on what are the capabilities of NW that matter most for you and you would like to (must) find in the potential replacement.

[Frantz]

You can do a lot with the NS2 's synth which has sample playback capabilities.

[S h a w]

Thanks for the feedback guys...

@e8ndave -- I already have a NL3 and A1. And I would like something with Sample playback. I had a K2000 years ago and loved it.

@maxplano -- the PC3K6 is what I was looking at... learning VAST isn't an issue (already did that). In fact, the K2000 was the first synth I ever owned. So after I learned it, I just assumed all synths would be comparable in terms of modulation structure and precision -- man was I in for a rude awakening. I like the Kurzweil sample playback better than the Blofeld. And your right, both the Blofeld and PC3K6 have better VA (IMHO) than the MOXF6.

@ArfNtz -- Hadn't considered the NS2. I'll give it a serious look and consideration.

Thanks to you all for the suggestions. Much appreciated.

Cheers!

[Spider]

Studiologic Sledge 2.0 has sample playback (and you can upload your own custom samples, as in the Wave).
3 oscillators, five octaves with aftertouch, splits&layers, internal effects, incredibly cheap for what it offers.

And most important: it's YELLOW.

[S h a w]

Yet one more board for me to consider... Thanks, Spider.

[Quai34]

The subjective feeling to have a rare synth that might be considered as vintage within few years is also what is really appealing with the Nord Wave or any discontinued synth that brought new capabilities and changed the way we could create sounds..... My next purchase.... If I can, would be a wave....even more than the NL A1 or NL4....I will never let my D50 go....like my Matrix Oberheim or Emu Proteus....just for the pleasure of owning part of the last 40 years synth history....
So, for me, stick with the wave, you will always find people to repair it....I sold years ago my Roland SH101, MC202 and Yamaha CS15, that I still regret....ok, at that time it was to finance the purchase of the D50 and the TX802....but....

[S h a w]

The subjective feeling to have a rare synth that might be considered as vintage within few years is also what is really appealing with the Nord Wave or any discontinued synth that brought new capabilities and changed the way we could create sounds..... My next purchase.... If I can, would be a wave....even more than the NL A1 or NL4....I will never let my D50 go....like my Matrix Oberheim or Emu Proteus....just for the pleasure of owning part of the last 40 years synth history....

I generally agree with all of that. I had a Matrix 1000 years ago... should've kept it. But I sold it to finance another purchase (can't remember what). And I'm no stranger to purchasing used gear - I recently picked up an NL3 that I don't regret doing.

Thanks for your input. I'm still contemplating.

Cheers!

[Ricoche]

I actually like and somewhat prefer the Yamaha XF6 over the wave. I actually have the XF7, but the XF6 is the same of course. I think the John Melas software makes working with the samples very easy. I also think the Motif XF has some additional functionality like sample velocity layers, keyboard splits, better ADSR/Effects per sample instead of Global parameters on the Wave. I also think the price is about the same with the XF6 (nowadays) which gives you much more for your money than the Wave. Of course the Wave has all those knobs, but you can also map sliders, buttons, and knobs on the XF to alter the sounds of the samples as well. You can also sample into the XF which you can't on the Wave. Plus the XF has an multiple arps, a sequencer,an onboard synth, and a few other bells and whistles. I'd definitely couple the Nord Lead 2x/3/4/A1 with a Motif ES/XS/XF over the Wave.

I also think the Wave was and perhaps still is a very expensive instrument. I think there are still a lot of people who paid full price still trying to justify their purchase. This is understandable but still a problem when asking about advice or recommendations. If someone forks over two grand for a synth, there's no doubt they'll somehow justify that it's an awesome synth. The Wave really is missing a ton of functionality and every time I check the specs, I find it very difficult to climb aboard the Wave wagon. I am hoping a Wave 2 comes out because only then will we see a nice drop in price. We'll see.

The Nord Wave is indeed nice, but there are actually a lot of great alternative sample boards out there for similar prices. In Japan the Wave is hovering around $1500 used which is an amazing resell value. I think that's more due to the rarity than the value of the Wave quite frankly. That's definitely in Motif XF, older Kronos, and other synth price territory.

Still, the Wave is quite a beautiful sampler for sure.