Nord Lead A1

[Gustavo]

@NWaveSam do you think that in the fundamental level there is any real difference between Virtual Analog and Analog Modelling? Or is it just a marketing move?

There's a huge difference! And I can explain in one word (not including all those other words and these words too),

Waveguide.

That is all.

Are you sure the NA1 and the NL4 have waveguide? Judging from thiswikipedia article it only seems to be meaningful when doing physical modeling.

Also, taken from Clavia's website:

Taking our virtual analog synthesis to a new level, this modeling recreates a total analog signal path with uncanny realism, and is capable of immense sonic variety.

This makes me believe that this modelling does not mean waveguide, but instead a more careful modeling of analog circuitry. Even if waveguide was somehow used, where would it be used? Oscilator section seems irrelevant, given how oscilator shapes are just mathematical formulas (simple ones at that). Filters may be the best bet, but then again there may be easier ways to model it based on circuitry modeling. That only leaves the reverb, but applying waveshapes to reverb seems impractical as you would need to do 3 dimensional computing instead of the usual 2 dimensional computing used to simulate string resonance, tube resonance or even a drum hit using waveshapes.

Saludos,
Gustavo

[NWaveSam]

wait, okay maybe it's not waveguide I'm thinking of... I don't know it's whatever the NL4 had in it that is featured in the new synth.

the point is, the A1 isn't replacing any of the current Nord Leads.

[Mr_-G-]

The Nord Lead A1 is a completely different instrument and shouldn't be compared with the Lead (1, 2, 2X, 3, 4) in any way.

Really?
http://www.nordkeyboards.com/products/n ... 20NLA1.pdf

[Mr_-G-]

Having read the press release I cant help but feel like it is somehow an adapted/improved version of the NS2 synth section, which is designed to be compact in size but flexible.

Yes, I thought the same. You can do quite different things with the "new" oscillator, but one at a time.
ADR or ASR only? Hm...
No aftertouch?
Increased polyphony is nice, but I really do not understand the timing of releasing the A1 so shortly after the NL4 (not that is important that I do ).
Presumably variety is a good thing, but somehow I feel that this might confuse a few prospective buyers.

[stiiiiiiive]

Okay, so what aren't you agreeing with exactly, Stiiiiiiiiiiiiive?

Well, what I've written in y previous post. The synth engine of the A1 is not so differnet from the rest of the series.
I don't know the synth part of the Nord Stage series, but I understand now the move. Clavia has been doing this kind of re-use for years now -I'm not judging it's good or bad here.

@NWaveSam do you think that in the fundamental level there is any real difference between Virtual Analog and Analog Modelling? Or is it just a marketing move?

There's a huge difference! And I can explain in one word (not including all those other words and these words too),

Waveguide.

That is all.

Come on Sam, that was not "explaining", that was "knowledge dropping" like in "drop the bass!"

I studied waveguides in university, a not so long time ago. Waveguides are used in physics to model the behavior of waves in given environments or systems, i.e. strings, pipes, etc. It has few to do with modelling a analogue circuitry, even when speaking of component modelling, I think. To my knowledge, the most detailed physical modelling of electronic component was performed by Korg with the Legacy suite. Anyone teach me.

About wording, Clavia invented the "virtual analog" phrase in 1995 when releasing the Nord Lead 1. Obviously the concept was to have a DSP reproducing the behavior of antic analogue synthesizers, with an apropriate interface. "Analog modelling", simply put, is the method by which analogue behaviors are modelled.

It's all the same to me.

The Nord Lead 3 is labelled "Performance synthesizer". It's also a virtual analog -not only indeed but it is. Same thing for the Nord Lead 2X: although it has less morphing features etc, one cannot say it's not apropriate for performance, even if it's labelled "Virtual analog". I don't buy that.

But hey, this is the game: as a company you have to catch custome... huh musician's attention, right?

[titanium]

I see myself creating massive modular synth simulation with the FM...

And it supposedly has 24 bit processing.

[Gustavo]

A while ago I thought it would be a smart move from Clavia to do the NS2 synth section as a standalone budget synth. But now that I saw the suggested pricetag (only $600 USD cheaper than the NL4 MSRP), I doubt its even an adequate move. At least on paper, people will undoubtedly make comparisons to its competitors, the KingKorg, the Studiologic Sledge, The Mopho X4. And to be honest, it seems all of those are better, and the least expensive direct competitor, the KingKorg is way ahead. If it was the KingKorg's price, then we'd be talking. Maybe if it was a rack or a tabletop synth under $1200 it could've looked more promising.

Now you can get basically what a Nord Stage 2 does by buying: Nord C2, Nord Piano 2, Nord Lead A1.

[Mr_-G-]

So which one would you get at the same £1299 price?
http://www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and ... esizer/X8M
or
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/keyboards ... 0815530632
or
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/keyboards ... 1613585488
or
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/keyboards ... 2410483132

[Cute James]

Still too big to fit in an airplane compartment though..

It's only 86 cm or so...I think it'd fit.

I flew with my Electro once!

Cheers,
James
x

[Gustavo]

So which one would you get at the same £1299 price?
http://www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and ... esizer/X8M
or
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/keyboards ... 0815530632
or
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/keyboards ... 1613585488
or
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/keyboards ... 2410483132

nice finding! between the nords, the NL4 is without a question the better one in my opinion. But maybe as a second keyboard I'd rather have the MOXF8. If I was in the market for a VA, then the NL4.