Nord User Forum

You are right. When I initially read your OP, I misunderstood what you meant by more powerful synth. Since it’s incredibly powerful for synthesis, I thought you meant more layers (many have noted their desire for more than 2 engines). My thought is link the midi clock and, while they have the same engine, now there’s six discrete layers for complex synthesis.

Most people choose a different type of sound for a second keyboard, however, like you said. I will say I prefer the sound of the A1 to the Lead 4 personally, even though I own both. Good luck with the search!

Thanks, Copia. Could you kindly elaborate on the MIDI clock and six layers point? I'm a noob and don't fully understand that, but the idea of more layered synths is attractive to me.

Are the A1 and Lead 4 sufficiently different, then? As in, getting the 4 wouldn't make the 1 (which is built into the Stage 3, as I understand it) redundant?

Thanks!

Well, this is a bit of a disappointment. After a little research, it appears the Stage 3 cannot send its tempo as a master clock. You can use a midi splitter via this method: nord-stage-forum-f3/send-master-clock-v ... 14799.html

But both tempos can be set the same, regardless, and the Stage 3 can be used as a midi controller that also plays its own sounds. So, let’s say the BPM is the same for the Stage 3 and A1. Set up the Stage 3 with a midi cable in the midi out to the A1 in the midi in. It should trigger whatever synth arps or lfos you have set up in the 4 layers of the A1, while also playing the Stage 3’s 2 synth engines.

I’m going to give my best explanation for why I like the A1 better than the Lead 4. Some may disagree, because we all have different opinions on what sounds good. But I’ll try. To me, the Lead 4 sounds a little brassier or harsher (I hate how negative these descriptions sound but it’s all I can come up with) than the A1. I suppose the A1 captures what I feel is more of a standard EDM sound with a little more character (reverb, richness, I don’t know). Clavia calls it an updated engine, and I agree. That said, plenty of my arp sounds on the Lead 4 sound wonderful. The A1 just sounds better to my ears, more realistic to what I hear on dance albums I listen to.

Contrastingly, the Lead 4 is reputed to excel over the A1 in experimental sounds, and it is a more capable engine with an additional LFO, so more possibilities for sound engineering/synthesis. Ultimately, I personally prefer the quality of the A1 sound.

I’d add that it could be argued either the A1 or Lead 4 might be redundant with a Stage 3. The Stage 3 and A1 are the same sound and the 4 is pretty similar. I utilize some programs on the A1 that I can’t replicate so I keep using it (and I love how the two red boards look together). But for more variety of sounds you might try a Prophet 6 or a Moog Sub 37 for a different character of analog sound or one of the keyboards referenced earlier in the thread for instrument sampling.