Nord User Forum

Not noted, however Nord fixed the NSMP2 conversion to NSMP4 format, so ALL NSMP files can now be converted. Cheers!

Hi,

I assume that some tried the program conversion from NS3 to NS4 by now? If so can we get some of information on how well this is done, given the different architectures which always had been mentioned as the reasons for not being able to convert programs between different generations of a Stage, Electro etc?

I tried the function with a rather complex program using a sub oscillator in one of panels. On the other panel I had a straight forward pad.
The converted version on my NS4 didn't sound anything near the original on the NS3.
I'm aware that the NS4 synth can't reproduce the NS3 synth, but even the quite simple pad sounded quite cheesy in my point of view.
So I'm not overwhelmed by the function yet, but in fairness i should try converting some more programs before final judgement.

I would say that, as you might expect, it works perfectly with organ, piano and sample based patches, correctly preserving all settings and effects. But on synth patches, I've yet to find an example that has come across well. For example, in WannitBBBad's excellent "Walk of Life" patch (found here download/file.php?id=10928 ) the lead synth part in the RH split of his NS3 version sounds, to my ears, very accurate to the original. But the NS4 conversion sounds hardly anything like the NS3 version.

jpdale wrote: ↑19 Mar 2025, 21:04 I would say that, as you might expect, it works perfectly with organ, piano and sample based patches, correctly preserving all settings and effects. But on synth patches, I've yet to find an example that has come across well.

Yep, totally agree. I have no expectations that the NS synth conversion will be any better. The synths in NS3 and NS4 are totally different, so they can't be easily converted. The function is anyway quite handy and a big time-saver since one doesn’t have to build the programs from scratch.

OK, so this confirms what I thought : NSM will convert well all the parameters from the Organ/Piano and synth with only samples. As for the A1/NS3 synthesis conversion to the NS4/W2, this is another story.

This will clearly save time converting specific patches (could be done using the File Viewer, with ns2p and ns3f, but manually), which I see as an interesting improvement.

Fred

Imho Nord should use a different wording when it comes to their Stage 3 > Stage 4 conversion feature.
As some of you pointed out already, the feature is more like a “starting point” for users who have created or want to create their own sounds and previously had a Stage 3 and want to get a Stage 4.
For this use case it’s a big time saver!
Some basic synth programs (with or without samples) can also sound quite similar to the Stage 3 version, depending on the waveforms and parameters used. (eg WannitBBBad’s “Warm Brass” Patch)

BUT there are many users who simply load presets and don’t really do sound programming. Loading synth-heavy programs from 3 to 4 will lead to some disappointment and possibly even issues.

Scenario 1:
Guy X who has a Stage 3 with a sound set he bought and upgrades to Stage 4. He loads the programs to Stage 4 and is disappointed because synth-heavy programs sound nothing like the Stage 3 he plays. Guy X sends the new Stage 4 back because it doesn’t sound good.

Scenario 2 (unlikely but possible):
Keyboard player on tour usually plays a Stage 3 and backline renting company mostly provides a Stage 3. At some point, Stage 3 is not available and Stage 4 is provided because “Programs can be converted to Stage 4 format”.
Keyboard player does soundcheck and discovers that synth patches sound nothing like what they are used to.
Hopefully this scenario will not happen to anybody anytime soon but due to Nord’s wording these mistakes could happen to someone who has not tried it themselves and relies on the wording provided by the manufacturer.

WannitBBBad wrote: ↑14 Mar 2025, 14:12 Not noted, however Nord fixed the NSMP2 conversion to NSMP4 format, so ALL NSMP files can now be converted. Cheers!

I've tested the latest Nord Sound Manager v9.14 with my Nord Stage 4; it worked fine for the conversion however think there's a bug. Samples that I created and later renamed display the original Nord Sample Editor names in my Stage 4, but show the renamed file names when I look at them with NSM.