Nord User Forum

The changes in the UI from the past OS updates are reflected in these panel changes. Hopefully there are no other changes in this Rev B version of the NS3...
My panel ist version 2.0.1 - without Dyno labels.

Wouldn't it be nice to buy/upgrade to a new panel from Clavia ?
I mean, the early adopters are the ones that mostly iron out the teething problems but are 'left' with an 'outdated' interface...

"Outdated" doesn't mean "worse"... just different. New isn't always better. Progress isn't always "forward". Enjoy what you have, until they came out with this it was just fine. That hasn't changed.

Also, hardly "early adopters". This keyboard has been out for some time now.

AdamStage2 wrote:

RichardG wrote:Wouldn't it be nice to buy/upgrade to a new panel from Clavia ?
I mean, the early adopters are the ones that mostly iron out the teething problems but are 'left' with an 'outdated' interface...

Why do you say Outdated?The functions are there just the silkscreen on the panel isn't,Its not like its rendering the unit obsolete is it!

Once the muscle memory kicks in and your competent with the various extra functions anyway you'd not even notice the missing Font,for me I wouldn't warrant the cost of changing the panel for the sake of a few letters,Thankfully most of us will get by just fine without them on the panel I would rather the parameter was viewable on the screen anyway.

The NL4 has extra functions which have been silk screened to the more recent fascias but omitted on older models,I know the button presses but my unit doesnt have that extra lettering,I wouldn't want to spend money replacing the fascia for the sake of having a couple of extra letters on my panel,nor does it stop me knowing how to utilise the added functions.

Buying a replacement panel Seems Rather a costly way to gain a few extra bits of font on your fascia don't you think and then going to the trouble of having to take it apart and reassemble it again...

The Original Nord lead Synth had filter option changes on the Panel,there was simply just an overlay sticker that could be placed over the Filter to add the extra functions,That would seem more of a practical option if you really need to have the extra silkscreening.

The UI interaction, as best as I can tell, hasn't really changed. yes there are two shortcuts added and a few LEDs to give immediate visual feedback, but those are really somewhat esoteric (once you've set the pitchbend for a program, you rarely change it on the fly while playing) and the type is nice, but honestly, who changes piano types while playing without just using presets, song mode, or the A/B panels? It's a "nice to have" but hardly important in the grand scheme of things. In fact, the only change I really find meaningful is moving the Arp run/stop to the actual arp section, and I'm of two minds about that since the older way was much easier to access while playing live, but the new way is more intuitive (and in line with the Lead UI paradigm). Even the User/Samp LEDs are reflected in the OLED and able to be chosen by the same shift combo on the older panel layout - I don't even know why those were added, honestly. The OSC config reshuffle is pleasant, but with how custom the Synth UI is already, I don't find it significant - it's nice that they removed the shift combo but it's still a unique UI that requires it's own muscle memory to get fluent with compared to the Leads.

So all in all nice changes for people new to Nords with a Stage and/or those who spend more time with it in the studio making lots of patches, but a mixed bag for those playing live and definitely none of the changes are particularly earthshaking nor do they significantly change the fundamental UI flow for patch editing.

Actually, I’ve just spent some time recording and often switched on the fly between grands and uprights. But though I actually did briefly wish for a type button (not knowing that it had been added to newer boards), it wasn’t bothersome to just roll the pot a bit.

Interesting. When I record (which is frequently right now, since I have a project going on), I have all the grands I like on the first row of presets (A1:1-5) and all the uprights on the second (A2:1-5). So it's at most two button presses to get to the exact piano I want. Easier than any kind of knob! But then I tend to build presets for each song specifically and put them in a row, too, as that's just how my brain works.

Still, I repeat my previous question: are these boards pure theory or has anyone seen one in person, i.e. an actual, physical, shipping copy?

Okaaaayyy, that spawned a lot more reactions than expected !

First: it was just a thought.
Second: I am one of those early adopters, pre-ordered the NS3 as soon as it was announced.
Third: notice the quotes around left and outdated in my original comment, it's not really a problem to me; I've been happy all along !
But having owned the NS1 and NS2 (also as early adopter) I know it can influence the selling price eventually because it's obviously an older board.
Ppl. will want to pay less if they can see that, although my boards are always in prime condition, it's not the latest iteration even from the outside so the price goes down even if it's just as good as the latest version.
So it's something to protect my investment when I'm eventually want to sell it.

I didn't even know there are physical (leds and such) changes made, that makes a 'swap of the panel' a bit more complicated.

So all in all the 'latecomers' (notice the quotes !) have a more up-to-date machine than the ones who bought an unseen and unheard board and had to deal with the bugs and have proposed (physical) updates that they don't have.
I personally don't feel bad about it, just a statement of fact. OTOH I already enjoyed the board long before those same ppl. who eventually where 'charmed' into it.