Nord User Forum

BassJo wrote:

maxpiano wrote:
The same applies between NS Classic/EX and NS2, btw, so it should be no news for "seasoned" Nord users,

Wich I am not obviously
But who knows in a few years...

Well, not to be cynical, but: the Stage 3 is different enough from the Stage 2 (I much prefer it) that trying to transfer your sounds 1:1 will instantly make you a „seasoned“ User.

Checking every value on the Stage 2 (using the „Shift“ key and twisting a knob) and applying the same settings on the Stage 3 got close, but on the Stage 3, there was often a different or more effective way to get there, due to its new functions. Especially strings gain a lot from being able to use different samples for lower and upper regions, layering and/or soft-splitting them as appropriate.

For some reason, strings and horns sound a lot better on the new machine than Inever got them on the old one.

BassJo wrote:

maxpiano wrote:
The same applies between NS Classic/EX and NS2, btw, so it should be no news for "seasoned" Nord users,

Wich I am not obviously
But who knows in a few years...

Well, since you were sympathizing with NS2 owners, I thought you were one of them

In general, with a few exceptions, each Nord model is pretty different from its (supposed) predecessor and incompatible, see also your NE6 vs NE5 for example.

It took me some time to 'transfer by hand' my NS2 programs to my brand new NS3, but not as much as I thought. Furthermore it's a great way to get to know the NS3 synth.

I don't regret selling my NS2 and buying a NS3! And I loved my NS2...

This topic has received a TON of forum traffic ever since the NS3 was available and NS2 users were anxious to transfer their Programs (me being one of them). It is not possible and don't see a time where it would ever be possible (aside from re-using .nsmp files). I've been using multiple NS2 units since 2011 and have hundreds of Programs very detailed and carefully curated for use in multiple bands (including External MIDI info and such). I resisted the NS3 for a long time as I'm very happy with my NS2 and also did not really savor the idea of spending countless hours recreating so many sounds.

Fast forward to 2019. I have a NS3 Compact now and I've been slowly working over the past month with my NS2 side-by-side, carefully working to replicate the sounds in priority order with a goal to have my new NS3 ready for an upcoming gig, but can certainly still use my NS2 in the meantime if I don't have time. I'm finding that I can VERY QUICKLY replicate sounds and improve upon them DRAMATICALLY! The NS3 is an amazing instrument - particularly the advances in the synth engine and the seamless transition is addictive.

The only thing missing for me on the NS3 is the Pending Load feature that I use constantly on my NS2.

If you want everything to sound like on the stage 2 then i don´t see the point in getting a stage 3.

NordPH wrote:If you want everything to sound like on the stage 2 then i don´t see the point in getting a stage 3.

It's not so much about "sounding like" but it's about all the craftmanship that goes into creating sounds for songs. Everything from custom samples to splits/layers, morphs, transitions etc. The NS3 is a step up in horsepower and performance capability and I think it will be worth the time invested to replicate what I need to perform with a couple of different bands.

NordPH wrote:If you want everything to sound like on the stage 2 then i don´t see the point in getting a stage 3.

For me, the primary motivation was the drawbars on the compact model. Seamless transitions and blended split points were a great bonus, and the fact that the overall sound has improved to my ears was unexpected and very pleasing. The synth engine has turned out a lot better results than the old one did, as well, as I mentioned.

But the situation is this:
If you buy a Stage 3 for its new capabilities, but you need to sell your old machine to finance the purchase (and I'm sure this is the norm in most professional use-settings this machine is aimed at), you MUST be able to use it in place of the old machine.

This means it HAS TO sound identical or functionally close enough to cover for whatever previously-existing jobs are lined up, right off the bat.

If you do a lot of cover gigs and have hundreds of programs built, this is a real challenge.

It helps, of course, that the new machine is capable of virtually everything the old one is and can largely work fine, if not better, as a drop-in replacement, but putting it off as "I don't see the point if you need it to sound the same" is, quite correctly, just you missing the point.

ericL and analogika, i hear you.
I´m just a bit fed up with every new user asking the same question ;D

analogika wrote:

BassJo wrote:That's too bad... because there are a lot more programs for the stage 2 then the stage 3 available...

That is kind of to be expected with a machine that’s been on the market for eight years vs. one that’s been available for 18 months...

However, all samples will work fine. They don’t need to be “converted” as such: the Sound Manager will automatically convert them as needed when you load them onto the Stage 3.

I can import 25 years old Kurzweil K2xxx programs into almost any current Kurzweil board. K25/K26/PC3/Artis/SP4/SP5/SP6/Forte and so on, they are all compatible. That Nord can’t provide any form of compatibility from one Stage to another is ridiculous.

Well, I can't import SY77 sounds into my Motif.

It sure is nice when machines are designed from the ground up for backwards-compatibility, but it's hardly "ridiculous" when they aren't.