Nord Lead 3 buttons and rotary dial

[stiiiiiiive]

Hey guys.

I've just been testing a Nord Lead 3 I wanted to buy used, but finally decided to take a second thought. The reason is some of the press buttons are not responding as accurately as I would expect: they sometimes pass through two values on a single click. This also happens when keeping the button down and slightly moving the finger horizontally -no overpressing, huh?

As for the rotary dial -the one to select programs-, it does not change the value at every click. This seems to be a detail but I know how these encoders end for having hear many experiences and having used an Evolver.

In the end, I did not feel like the synth could bear the use I want to have of it: play it live. In a studio context, composing or sequencing, it's ok. But I really want the interface to respond correctly for live leboard playing situations, which I'm planning.

I wanted to know whether some of you have had the same kind of problems since he told me these were classic for the NL3, as welle as the converters and PSU/fuse -which BTW never caused any trouble to him.
I've never read about NL3 buttons and encoders problems so far, that's why I'm surprised.
The seller told me he had used the synth hardly, but at the same time he said he bought it when it came out. Weird, but let's assume it's true.
The other thing is I have a G2 I've used in the studio and on stage for now 5-6 years and I can't remember it doing this to me.

Second question, does anybody know how much it would cost to renew those little trouble makers?

Thanks

[mjbrands]

I've just been testing a Nord Lead 3 I wanted to buy used, but finally decided to take a second thought. The reason is some of the press buttons are not responding as accurately as I would expect: they sometimes pass through two values on a single click. This also happens when keeping the button down and slightly moving the finger horizontally -no overpressing, huh?

As for the rotary dial -the one to select programs-, it does not change the value at every click.

I recently bought a Nord Rack 3. I just checked my buttons and encoders and I can't reproduce the things you describe; my rotary dial changes programs with every click and my buttons don't have the issue you describe. There's a but though: if I keep a button pressed down for maybe more than 0.5 sec, it rapidly starts going through values. So if I press the left button in the Navigator section (= previous program) briefly, it selects the previous program. If I keep it pressed down, it rapidly starts scrolling down the program list.

This seems to be a detail but I know how these encoders end for having hear many experiences and having used an Evolver.

I know exactly what problem you mean: I've had a DSI Poly Evolver and a Walford Blodeld with this problem. My (pretty expensive) espresso maker also has this issue.

I know optical encoders exist (that don't have much issues with wear and tear), but I have no idea if those were used here (most likely not). As far as I know the encoders used are of a different type than the ones used in the Evolver - at some point DSI switched to different encoders (ones that are detented, the clicky ones) that did not go bad as quickly. As you mention yourself, I haven't heard of issues with these encoders but going by what you describe, the rotary encoder may have issues.

I wanted to know whether some of you have had the same kind of problems since he told me these were classic for the NL3, as welle as the converters and PSU/fuse -which BTW never caused any trouble to him.

That issue could be fixed, but in Europe there seem to be less issues than in the US. What exactly do you mean with convertors? The DA convertors? I haven't heard of issues, but as a NL3 owner I'm certainly curious about what you heard.

The seller told me he had used the synth hardly, but at the same time he said he bought it when it came out. Weird, but let's assume it's true.

Maybe he was more of a gear junky (me) than a player (you). I wonder if the the issues could somehow be caused by dust.

Second question, does anybody know how much it would cost to renew those little trouble makers?

No idea, really, but I doubt it would be cheap. You could try sending Pablo a PM about this, maybe he'll have an idea.

Edit: if you contact Clavia, they might forward your question to your local distributor and I have some doubts about whether you'll get an indication of the costs. Of course, you'll never know if you don't try.

[stiiiiiiive]

Hey mjbrands, thanks for answering.

There's a but though: if I keep a button pressed down for maybe more than 0.5 sec, it rapidly starts going through values. So if I press the left button in the Navigator section (= previous program) briefly, it selects the previous program. If I keep it pressed down, it rapidly starts scrolling down the program list.

That seems ok to me. The NL2X up and down arrow buttons work the same. Fortunately since there is no rotary dial!

As you mention yourself, I haven't heard of issues with these encoders but going by what you describe, the rotary encoder may have issues.

Hmmff. I'm convinced it does indeed.

That issue could be fixed, but in Europe there seem to be less issues than in the US. What exactly do you mean with convertors? The DA convertors? I haven't heard of issues, but as a NL3 owner I'm certainly curious about what you heard.

I'm in EU, cool then, in a way. As for the converters, I meant DA converters indeed. When the seller told me it was the second classic problem, it sounded familiar to me. But to be honest, I only vaguely remember having read some forums topics about this; I can't remember exactly where.

Maybe he was more of a gear junky (me) than a player (you). I wonder if the the issues could somehow be caused by dust.

Oh I'm a gear junky too, maybe to much with respect to how much I'm a musician...
Dust. This brings something else in my mind. The seller told me he had already undergone a couple of times some stuck note problems. Apparently, this happened only when playing the NL3 keyoard itself, and never while MIDI-controlling it. I concluded it definitely was key contact problem, hence fixable. He told me it was a classic too, but I've never heard anything about that neither. If dust it is, I feel more and more skeptical about the "hardly used" mention... weirder and weirder.


I'll try to contact the local Clavia support. I've been read good and bad things about them, but worth a try.
The seller was ok to leave the keyboard in maintenance to one of his contacts here, but wanted to have the price of the intervention added to his price. I feel like this would end too expensive...

Anyone else thoughs/experience are welcome, guys!

[mjbrands]

That issue could be fixed, but in Europe there seem to be less issues than in the US. What exactly do you mean with convertors? The DA convertors? I haven't heard of issues, but as a NL3 owner I'm certainly curious about what you heard.

I'm in EU, cool then, in a way. As for the converters, I meant DA converters indeed. When the seller told me it was the second classic problem, it sounded familiar to me. But to be honest, I only vaguely remember having read some forums topics about this; I can't remember exactly where.

I did some googling, but wasn't able to find anything regarding the DACs in the NL3. The NL2X and Modular G2X might very well have the same (or very similar) ones.

I did find an extensive post by someone who was convinced the DACs on his 'vintage' Lead 1 had become 'uncalibrated', leading to a much richer and more lively sound. And this wasn't even someone trying to sell it... Ha, I pour apple sauce on my NR3 to make it sounds sweeter; the acid in the apples also makes the LP filter sound more punchy.

If dust it is, I feel more and more skeptical about the "hardly used" mention... weirder and weirder.

I don't know - dust sounds like disuse to me. Dusty without dampness might not be too bad, but you don't want a synth with stuff living in there.

Anyway, sounds like you're fairly sold on getting a NL3 and reserving some cash to make repairs, if needed.

[stiiiiiiive]

To be honest, not that much. I would prefer finding a synth that has been used with care over the years. This one seems to have taken dust not from disuse but more from rave parties -which the guy used to do.

I make my own apple sauce. Do you think my vintage gear will sound like no other?...

[mjbrands]

Guess I'm not going to be able to sell your this product then? http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=3864

It supposedly has got a higher resolution than other digital coax cables. I always though that digital was simple: it either works or it doesn. But there's got to be a reason they're asking $90 for a cable that you could otherwise get for $5-10, right? ... Right?!

I wonder if that guy can actually play keyboard decently. The NL3 should've been a pretty good one for Trance with its flexible arpeggiator and clear, high tones. Maybe he bought it for the idea and found out that in practice it takes a decent player to get good sounds out of a board. I have some pretty nice gear, but when someone else plays on it, I get an idea of how it can really sound in the hands of a player and not a tinkerer like me.

Anyway, if it has possibly been gigged with, I'd certainly check for sticky keys and the sweet aroma of sticky/sugary drinks coming from the instrument.

[stiiiiiiive]

No, I won't buy the $100 cable A friend of mine told me this once though: "with digital cables, it's not a matter of quality but a matter of reliablity". I guess you either get or do not get the signal in the other end of the cable, as you said. But sometimes you can get errors. Apparetly such errors are not a "quality loss" but more a "reliability loss". I think I'm unable to say more about that, just a memory...

About the guy, you may be right. That being, I'm sure trying out the NL3 presets allow any tinkerer to wow every now and then. Maybe that's what he did of it.

[stiiiiiiive]

Guys, here are some news about the NL3 buttons!

[justindelay]

Sorry to revive a dead thread, but I bought a used Nord Lead 3 and am experiencing exactly the same problem the original poster described with the buttons. Sometimes, when I click a button, nothing happens. Other times, the setting will jump twice or more. I opened up the synth and didn't see any dust, though there was a little bit of stickiness on the pot shafts. Is the stickiness some sort of grease for the pots? How would I go about cleaning the buttons to remove any small dust particles? Thanks so much!

[justindelay]

For what it's worth, I stripped the synth down to the circuit boards and sprayed every switch and pot with contact cleaner I got from Micro Center. Everything works flawlessly now!