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I would like to get your thoughts on this topic. How does it affect your sound design, especially in a coverband context?
I know there are a few multi-ocs but there is clearly a step back form the NS3 in regard to flexibilty to mix almost any osc-wave or noise to a synth section; even to samples (used this a lot).
But how are your real world experiences? Does it really matter?
Is the third synth panel NS4 therefore often used to compensate for this? For me the third synth panel would be great for all instances where i would just need one more sound in my NS3 to complete the patch and with the NS4 I hope i can really have a synth more for sounddesign (so i do not need another soundmodul extra), but it would be a bummer if the third synth must be too often sacrificed for getting the sound needed ...
Thanks for your help and your real world experiences!
There are advantages and disadvantages to both synth architectures. For most of my NS3 sounds, I've been able to reproduce them with the NS4, but the 3rd synth is sometimes needed to get what I want. The approach to programming and covering a song with one or two programs is different for sure.
These users thanked the author WannitBBBad for the post:
That's a question not so frequently asked, but an interesting one, for sure.
On my side, I almost don't do covers, so the use will certainly be different.
My NS3 is currently full of my personnal programs, and I make an extensive use of the dual osc and wavetable osc capabilities of the synth section (Modulating the wavetables shapes with LFO or enveloppes for example makes very intersting digital textures). Same for the formant waves, not present in Nord Wave 2 and Nord Stage 4.
I had a Nord Wave 2 a while ago and now have a Nord Stage 4. I know that I will clearly not be able to reproduce some of my programs that relied on such specific abilities. For my specific case, I would say it's around 50%, so that's why I'll keep the NS3 (and also the A1) for now. Of course, if you have a more "classic" approach in sound design, the NS4 and NW2 will do just fine (I think for the last decades Top 50 covers, most of the bases can be covered).
I'm currently working on the FM part of the NS4 synth, to see if can approximate what I did with the digital Wavetables, but it will not be exactly the same.
I already know that (for me) the NS4 will focus more on acoustic instruments/samples and the NS3 will be kept to be more specialized in synth textures.
As per the use of 2 parts vs 3, I can take advantage of that 3rd part of the NS4, let's say to have a dual layer for a pad and one more for lead or bass, which is often useful.
I would have loved to have 4 synths parts on the NS3, while keeping its architecture (and adding the FM mode of the NS4, more advanced).
Well, that's Nord, always compromises to be made!
These users thanked the author Melies59 for the post (total 2):
That's exactly the point of my post, and why I'm currently keeping my NS3. I am really not sure at all that Nord will "correct" that part of the NS4 synth section, as it's the same on the Nord Wave 2 (no possibility to modulate the digital waves either on this synth).
I wouldn't hold my breath too much on this, even if I would be the first to be very happy with that ! (and maybe we are not too many to ask for that kind of update of the synth section).
These users thanked the author Melies59 for the post:
