Nord Lead 4 Reviews / Thoughts?

[rhodeschroma]

Hello,
I am new to this board, but a long time (1995) Nord user and lover - primarily on the synth side, but also a bit of the stage piano/organ pieces as well.

Ive been listening to the available demos of the NL4, and have been trying to get an idea of how different the character of the Nord 4 is from previous Nords (1, 2/2x and 3.) I can easily tell the three of those units apart in shootout, as sch has a distinct character that the previous model did not have, making it important to pick up for the studio.

Not to be negative, but when first released, I was a bit disappointed as, physically, the N4 looks very similar to the Nl2x - omitting the insanely great interface NL3 interface (I realize it was expensive, but it was killer), and not (as I was hoping for a +2k Va synth) a combined NL2x/Wave super synth (or, simply, a wave2) that would've immediately brought to mind some pretty cool programming opportunities (keep the sample oscillator and have 2 subtractive oscillators, so you can do everything from the Nl2 and also have the advantages of the cool options and great library available to the wave thru that sample oscillator). Also, I was a little taken aback that it was still simply 2 oscillators, with no "super saw", especially when some other pretty strong VAs are positioned with 3 - though the interface is usually not as strong as the nord's.

I realize traditional effects have been added (which is great for live, but unnecessary for me), some thickening/distortion options, as well as some performance related upgrades - especially in the arpeggios for side.

So - will a Nord 4 give me anything I don't already have (I have a Lot of synths - I work as a sound designer, as well as I do a lot of track replacement work for clients seeking extremely specific sounds, and, in some case, they just want bigger/better/phatter sounds for their recordings, but they always want something more than they can get on their own, which is why having distinctive synths is important for my business). I usually buy one of every popular synth when they come out in order to stay relevant to my clients and not miss anything - but - in this case - I am wondering if, for the price, I am getting a 2300 return. For those that have the NL4, as well as one or more of the VAs on my gear list below, can you tell me if the NL4 is more than what it appears (and more than what I can evaluate thru the demos Ive heard) - or is it just an incremental, and skippable, upgrade? Nowhere especially local has one to try, so I can't answer the question for myself, and the dealer I work with is pretty much "sell it at a great price, no returns, no second thoughts." The primary VA's I use are the Bowen Solaris (my favorite), Radikal Accellerator, Radias, Kronos, Q and Supernova (in addition to, of course, the Nords themselves)

thanks of the help and input.
Justin



Chroma w/Expander, Polaris I / II; PVS, P5, Pro-1, T8; Solaris;P12, PEK, MEK, Mopho, Tetra, P08; Andromeda, ION; OB-Xa, Xpander; Minibrute, Origin; MSR-2; MM+, MiniD, Voyager, LPhatty, SPhatty; Spirit; Wave 2.2 & 2.3; Accellerator; TI2 Polar; XS8, DX100, FS1r, S80, CS01, TG33; Neuron; Kronos, M1REX, MS2000B, EX8000, 01WFD, 01RW, Radias, Triton Rack, MicroX, Microkorg, MicrokorgXL, Prophecy, Z1, Polysix, R3, Mono/Poly, Wavestation A/D, Ms20 Mini; ESQm, SQ-80, SD-1, TS-10, Fizmo; WSA1r; Jupiter 6, 8, JV5080, [D550, D110, MKS 30; 50; 70; 80 (with pgs)], MKS 7, 10, 20, D20, D70, VK-09, S550, U220, Dr. Pads, JD800, GAIA, JP8000, jup80, Juno106/60/6; Ambika, Shruthi; Synthex; K5000S, K5000W, SX210, SX240, K3, K5;Carnival, Morpheus, Xtreme Lead, Audity 2000, Virtuoso 2000; Q, MW I, MW XT, Pulse+, Rack Attack; VENOM; Omni II; Solina, 2600, Odyssey; MINIAK; XIO 25, X 25, K 25, Supernova II Exp, miniNova, Ultranova; Lead 1, Lead 2, Lead 3, Wave, electro 4D, Stage II 76; PT 1,10, 20, 30, 50, 80, VL-Tone, VL-5, VZ-1, CZ-1, CZ-101;

[Mr_-G-]

What? No DX7?
I get the feeling that you might not need another synth...

[SocProf]

Also, I was a little taken aback that it was still simply 2 oscillators, with no "super saw", especially when some other pretty strong VAs are positioned with 3 - though the interface is usually not as strong as the nord's.

I don't own an NL4, but I downloaded the manual. It has 4 slots, or layers. So this gives you 4x2=8 oscillators. Add the unison and this doubles to 16. The Roland supersaw is supposed to sound like 7 saws. In theory my Roland SH-201 is supposed to be capable of 2 oscs x 2 layers x 7 saws = 28 saws. But honestly, it doesn't really sound that big.

[curvebender]

]I don't own an NL4, but I downloaded the manual. It has 4 slots, or layers. So this gives you 4x2=8 oscillators. Add the unison and this doubles to 16. The Roland supersaw is supposed to sound like 7 saws. In theory my Roland SH-201 is supposed to be capable of 2 oscs x 2 layers x 7 saws = 28 saws. But honestly, it doesn't really sound that big.

Hi all,

First time poster, long time Clavia user, currently I'm the very happy owner of the Nord Lead 4.

Unison in the NL4 works like this:

Setting 1: no additonal voices are used.

Setting 2: 3 additional voices/key are used.

Setting 3: 4 additional voices/key are used.

So, if you're holding down 5 notes with setting 3, theoretically you're out of voices.

BUT: the voice stealing algorhitms in the NL4 are extremely clever. There's some serious voodoo going on under the hood of this machine, because I rarely (if ever) seem to run out of voices. And I love to layer stuff.

I feel I can play way more than 5 notes when using unison 3, some very clever programming there for sure,

[ricard]

I tested an NL4 a week and a half ago and compared it to my NL2. I found the NL4 to have a more solid sound, there's a more solid bass, and the filter doesn't sound as bland as it does on the NL2, even when in the 24dB LPF position; in the LADDER M position it's even more 'solid' for want of a better word. That alone is almost enough to make me like the 4 more than the 2, even though it lacks drum mode and 'Pelles mode'.

[ricard]

Unison in the NL4 works like this:
Setting 1: no additonal voices are used.
Setting 2: 3 additional voices/key are used.
Setting 3: 4 additional voices/key are used.

Just curious, how did you find this out? There doesn't seem to be anything about it in the manual. 3 additional voices per key in setting 2 sounds excessive, but then again I don't know. I just thought the three settings involved how much unison detune you got.

BUT: the voice stealing algorhitms in the NL4 are extremely clever. There's some serious voodoo going on under the hood of this machine, because I rarely (if ever) seem to run out of voices. And I love to layer stuff.

I remember thinking this too when I tested the original Nordlead. At that point I came to the conclusion that when robbing voices, it picks notes in the middle rather than at the top and bottom. That means that if you're holding a big chord, the lowest and highest notes remain, so you retain the bass and melody.

[heyjunjin1]

Just received my NL4 today! I love it, haven't messed with it enough to give a full on review but my first impression is great.

I had only played the NL3 before so my experience with the Nord Lead/Wave lines is very limited. While I believe the 4 outshines the 3 in sound hands down, the I do wish they would have kept the interface from the previous model... Not that the interface ruins it for me, because I very quickly adapted, but the 3 was so intuitive! Would love to see a Wave 2 with the interface of the 3.

Not having aftertouch is fine by me, not really a deal breaker. And the build quality as one would expect is solid. Can't wait to dig deeper on this machine!!

[curvebender]

Just curious, how did you find this out?

Simple: I asked the guys at Clavia!

[ricard]

But that's cheating!

Seriously though, now that I look at it, at detune setting 1 you get 'no additional voices', doesn't it even put one voice left and one voice right then, like detune works on the NL2 ? I wonder how it accomplishes detune with no additional voices? Or is it some sort of trickery going on there?

[curvebender]

But that's cheating!

Seriously though, now that I look at it, at detune setting 1 you get 'no additional voices', doesn't it even put one voice left and one voice right then, like detune works on the NL2 ? I wonder how it accomplishes detune with no additional voices? Or is it some sort of trickery going on there?

I don't think it's any trickery, rather some sort of chorus.