NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

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RadioWolf
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NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by RadioWolf »

Good day to all Nord users / fans,

I have a technical question about the Stage3 Synth section's LFO depth on the Oscillator section.

So, traditionally, I have always created the classic chip-tune sound (as commonly associated with C64 sound) by using a square lfo to modulate the oscillator pitch, letting the lfo sweep the range of one octave.

I have spent a weekend trying to get this done on the NS3, without any luck, the LFO depth does not go that far, it seems. I have tried searching for more info online as well as reading the manual to better understand the function, without success.

Has anyone else come across this? Is there something I'm overlooking?

Could this perhaps be a feature request that I can submit to Nord assuming its easy enough to fix with a software update?

Much appreciated,
RW :keyboard:
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by cgrafx »

+1 both the LFO and ADR should have a much larger mod/sweep range than they do. Can only get about 5-6 semi-tones.
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by NordPH »

With the LFO, you can only get as much as 8 semitones of modulation, wich kind of sucks.
BUT, you can easily mimic that chiptune sound with the arpeggiator
Thats what i did :)
Attachments
Chiptune.mp3
Chiptune sound with the arpeggiatior
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Last edited by NordPH on 16 May 2018, 23:46, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by NordPH »

Oh, i just discovered a sneaky workaround for doing it with the LFO.
If you use a sawtooth and modulate the shape from 0-100% using a square LFO, or something like 20%-100% then you will get the sound you are looking for.
When the shape of the saw is at 100% it´s an octave higher in pitch, that´s why it works.
This only seems to work with a sawtooth though..
Last edited by NordPH on 16 May 2018, 23:58, edited 1 time in total.
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RadioWolf
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by RadioWolf »

NordPH wrote:With the LFO, you can only get as much as 8 semitones of modulation, wich kind of sucks.
BUT, you can easily mimic that chiptune sound with the arpeggiator
Thats what i did :)

Wow, that sounds pretty nice! I'll give it a try thanks!!!

And yes, fully agree on the sucking part, I will open up a request anyway, just for incase, i mean 8 semitones is not deep enough compared to any other synth out there, so called me spoilt!

Appreciate the help!!! :D
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by NordPH »

Glad to help :)
Do try it with the pulse width/shape modulation aswell.
And yes, we need more semitones. At least an octave, but two would be perfect.
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RadioWolf
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by RadioWolf »

NordPH wrote:Glad to help :)
Do try it with the pulse width/shape modulation aswell.
And yes, we need more semitones. At least an octave, but two would be perfect.
I have to give you my thanks again, it actually works much better with the arp function! using it with legato and pressing multiple notes with the speed on fast1-fast5 it sounds like that classic chiptune sound.

I have learned something new now :D

Again, thanks :D :yourock:
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by NordPH »

RadioWolf wrote:
NordPH wrote:Glad to help :)
Do try it with the pulse width/shape modulation aswell.
And yes, we need more semitones. At least an octave, but two would be perfect.
I have to give you my thanks again, it actually works much better with the arp function! using it with legato and pressing multiple notes with the speed on fast1-fast5 it sounds like that classic chiptune sound.

I have learned something new now :D

Again, thanks :D :yourock:
So glad to hear that it helped you :)
And yes, the arpeggiator is good for a lot of things.
Did you see my experimental videos from yesterday where i use it as a drum machine and even a time stretch unit?
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RadioWolf
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by RadioWolf »

NordPH wrote:
RadioWolf wrote:
NordPH wrote:Glad to help :)
Do try it with the pulse width/shape modulation aswell.
And yes, we need more semitones. At least an octave, but two would be perfect.
I have to give you my thanks again, it actually works much better with the arp function! using it with legato and pressing multiple notes with the speed on fast1-fast5 it sounds like that classic chiptune sound.

I have learned something new now :D

Again, thanks :D :yourock:
So glad to hear that it helped you :)
And yes, the arpeggiator is good for a lot of things.
Did you see my experimental videos from yesterday where i use it as a drum machine and even a time stretch unit?
Hello,

No I haven't, where can I find those? I'd love to see!
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Roland VK-1
Korg Pa4x
Nord Stage 3 Compact
Roland System8
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Korg Electribe SX1
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bgaeta
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Re: NS3 Synth section LFO Depth

Post by bgaeta »

I’ve had the same issue with recreating the lead sound from Talking Heads Burning down the House where you want to bring in really heavy vibrato. No luck with the built in vibrato of the NS2. My workaround was to set the filter to self resonance and apply the LFO to the filter. Sort of works - still not perfect.
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