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Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 08 May 2019, 18:55
by toniolito
- Hexadecimal file viewer
- lot of time to push buttons, adjust knobs,... and save program at each changes
- diff analysis
- knowledge/experiences in software and especially file formats can help a lot (CRC, checksum, value encoding, compression, encryption,...)
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 09 May 2019, 00:14
by gordon
Yes, what toniolito said, except no encryption involved in program files, they are plain packed data (and no interest in decoding other people's property).
Yes, a lot of work to achieve a 90% solution but saved so much time and was an interesting programming project. Took 6 months to fully transition from NS2 to NS3 for live shows.
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 09 May 2019, 10:09
by Schorsch
Thanks Gordon - I thought that it was a manual process, either comparing byte-by-byte or reading the values from the NS2 itself knob-by-knob. I was more interested in how you generate the output file which looks very well structured, do you have a template (like Excel or others) which you use and import into it the above mentioned results of the "manual" research of parameters, or do you use a software which generates the output?
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 09 May 2019, 17:22
by toniolito
@gordon: you say "no encryption", I hope there is no compression too?
It can be a shame to decode custom compressed data without Nord-internal info.
The simplier way to decode that is to have standard compression and with a magic number (like "PK\x03\x04" for ZIP).
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 09 May 2019, 18:09
by gordon
Hi @Schorsch, it's my own software, it converts ns2p to HTML and the layout/structure is my HTML design (took a few iterations to get the clarity I was looking for to assist conversion of many NS2 patches to NS3)
Hi @toniolito that's correct, there is no encryption or compression decoding involved, program files are plain packed data (no internal info needed, no interest in decoding other people's property).

- Lets-Go-Crazy--decoded.jpg (205.15 KiB) Viewed 2936 times
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 10 Aug 2020, 22:30
by florence
toniolito wrote:
Gordon's tool can be very useful for those who want to migrate from NS2 to NS3 or to recreate ns2p patchs from this forum in NS3.
+1 I think most of the NS3 users are interested. I have no NS2, only NS3, I cannot do it myself if Gordon could share his tool it would be very, very valuable.
I started to look in the NS3 prg format, with some incremental changes, I already decoded all Organ and Piano section, pretty straightforward so far...
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 11 Aug 2020, 00:28
by alex78
A NS program is almost impossible to recreate with an electro except it is something simple, like an organ registration or a piano. The reason is that stage's engine has more parametres involved to create a program (seperate panels, synth engine, different effects etc).
My suggestion is that first of all you should spend some time to learn exactly how your instrument works and what is it capable of. The manual will be your Holy Grail in this procedure. Don't hesitate tweaking parameters and see what each knob does to the sound. Then when it comes to create your own programs, you should listen carefully the song you are after and identify the sound you want and it's components. The studio versions almost always contain multiple layers of sounds, effects, overdubs and some times it is difficult to distinguish and recreate exactly. Try listening to live versions as well. Once you have decided what is more important and what can you live without, what you will play with your left and what with your right hand, what on the intro, on the verse and the chorus...then you are ready to go and you will find that it's easier than you thought!
In the case you need a sample there are plenty here, and lot of people willing to guide you when you have difficulties. But, as we say here in Greece, you can not eat fish if your ass doesn't get wet!
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 11 Aug 2020, 11:08
by Mr_-G-
alex78 wrote:A NS program is almost impossible to recreate with an electro
Florence is trying to decode the NS2 programs so they can be reprogrammed in the NS3, not the electro.
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 11 Aug 2020, 22:54
by alex78
I ask because I found on this forum a user sample which has been developed for NS2 and I was wondering if there was a way to use it on my NE5HP.
My answer was to the OP.
Re: Sample / Program compatibitilies amongs Nord
Posted: 11 Aug 2020, 23:10
by FZiegler

... who was last online more than a year ago.