Nord User Forum

I don't know if this was discussed here before..

Since the Phantom G came out I started ignoring Roland, even ignored the JDXA because of its weird color display. However after watching this video it seems like it is a very powerful synth with Step Sequencer and a mix of Analog/Digital sound engine capable of making some very good sounds it makes me want to think again of selling my Alesis Andromeda.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrwB-qu-ASQ

I have one. It really is a great synth, but with quite a lot limitations, for example the digital part has no mod matrix. It’s a great synth for emulating classic patches of the 70/80/90ies. Even though there is a lot of physical control, you‘ll menu dive as well.

Duplobaustein wrote:I have one. It really is a great synth, but with quite a lot limitations, for example the digital part has no mod matrix. It’s a great synth for emulating classic patches of the 70/80/90ies. Even though there is a lot of physical control, you‘ll menu dive as well.

How does it compare vs the Nord Lead A1 taking into account that the A1 doesn't have a sequencer(if I'm not mistaken) ?

Funny, I had the A1 just before the XA. Looking back, the A1 sounded better imho. It's maybe the best sounding VA I heard so far. Of course it doesn't have the analog part, but it can sound really analog. The A1 is even more limited than the XA, but if you are aren't into tweaking patches for hours, then the A1 is perfect. You can achieve 70/80/90ies classic patches in like 5 minutes, because you are running out of parameters after those 5 minutes. This means you often won't be able to totally match an original Sound, but come like 80% there, but it will sound great. The A1 is a sweet spot monster.

Maybe I will go back to the A1, but I will probably wait for a mature A2. Lookup the A2 thread in this board here for my downsides of the A1.

Some Sounds I made.

https://soundcloud.com/duplobaustein/se ... emo-sounds

Duplobaustein wrote:Funny, I had the A1 just before the XA. Looking back, the A1 sounded better imho. It's maybe the best sounding VA I heard so far. Of course it doesn't have the analog part, but it can sound really analog. The A1 is even more limited than the XA, but if you are aren't into tweaking patches for hours, then the A1 is perfect. You can achieve 70/80/90ies classic patches in like 5 minutes, because you are running out of parameters after those 5 minutes. This means you often won't be able to totally match an original Sound, but come like 80% there, but it will sound great. The A1 is a sweet spot monster.

Maybe I will go back to the A1, but I will probably wait for a mature A2. Lookup the A2 thread in this board here for my downsides of the A1.

Some Sounds I made.

https://soundcloud.com/duplobaustein/se ... emo-sounds

I see you play in a very good band. Are you guys based in Europe ?

Yes, from Vienna, Austria. Many thanks!

Sorry to ask, but what is the main reason you let go of the A1 to go with the JDXA ?

Hm. The keybed, some strange limitations, here is what I wrote some time ago on a potential A2.

1. No global vibrato settings
2. no fixed upper/lower system
3. Fatar TP8S or TP9S instead of the horrible TP7
4. better display, to at least display names instead of cryptical 90ies digits
5. display of the stored value of a parameter, right now it is impossible to see on what value a parameter is stored
5. feedback knobs instead of buttons
6. FX mix knob
7. dedicated shape knob. Shape shouldn't be an OSC config imho.
8. the morph buttons like in the L4
9. keybed with Aftertouch and AT as morph source.

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