Could I, should I upgrade to NS3?

[ericL]

Hi forum friends,

I'm a longtime NS2 user and fan, currently using 3 different versions of the NS2. I've been thinking about when I should start cutting loose of my old ways and consider the NS3, so wanted to ask some questions of those of you that have made a similar shift.

My live rig is one of my NS2 EX with an offstage rack that contains a Neo Ventilator, Yamaha Motif XS Rack, and mixer/DI/IEMs. I love the sound of the NS2 organ through the Vent and I added the Yamaha module to cover rompler sounds I needed to compliment the sounds of the NS2. It is a very flexible rig, but the drawback is the rack is kind of heavy and bulky.

If I was going to switch over to the NS3, I'd be thrilled if it allowed me the flexibility to no longer need the full rack - would like to eliminate the Vent and the Yamaha module. But I can't tell if the NS3 has the horsepower to really do this effectively. Plus, I have years of sound design invested in my current rig, not to mention a ton of backup options with multiple NS2 units. So it's a real conundrum trying to decide if/when I should make the switch.

Any NS2 -> NS3 users have words of wisdom for me?

Thanks, and happy holidays!

[MartinJ2EX]

Well, based on what I read about the NS3, it’s not quite the big deal you’re hoping for.
Based on many reviews the S3 has a lot of bugs, having packed many new features like “seamless transitions” and the new Synth engine.
The B3 is allegedly worse - maybe they made it better with the v1.32 update.
IMHO I don’t think the “Close Vintage Rotary” doesn’t make that much difference - it’s still no NeoVent.

Upgrading from NS2 to NS3 is also a huge effort in programming the patches, it’s not like having 3 different versions of NS2/EX and just having to copy the patches and sounds..
You just need to make sure you really wanna do that


On the positive side ...

Doubled Piano memory, 100MB more Sample memory and a revamped Synth Section with combination of Waveforms and Samples, too.
Being able to choose different Organs in Slot A/B can also be very nice, necessary for very few songs btw
Seamless Transitions is what I miss most with NS2/EX... But I can live without it anyway.

[DanielD71]

Hello
I have the NS2EX88 and I also have a motif xf7.
I bought the NS388 to replace my stage but not to replace my motif.

I’m no longer using my vent2 with the NS3 but for me, my ns3 cannot replace my ns2ex and my xf7.
The NS3 is superior in my opinion, this is the reason I decided to buy it.

But I have also decided not to sell my ns2ex because I love this board.
So I will keep it as a backup....
Like you I will have more than one stage.

Regards

[anotherscott]

The NS3 has a ton of advantages over the NS2 (and a handful of drawbacks as well)... but it won't really be better than the NS2 in terms of how well it can replace a Motif rack. The NS3 sampled instruments are basically of the same quality as those of the NS2, still nothing like what Yamaha does. The Leslie sim is arguably improved over the NS2, but still not Vent quality. So I don't think it does what you want, the NS3 improvements still won't take the place of a Vent and Motif.

[analogika]

Switched from a Stage 2 compact to a Stage 3 compact. I also own an XS6.

The Stage 3 sounds much nicer than the Stage 2 to my ears — it has a high-frequency sheen to it that is reminiscent of the shimmer of the Yamaha boards. The new "bright" piano filter will quickly and easily cut through a mix in the same way the Yamaha pianos do, but still have more character due to the naturalness of the samples.
Coupled with the massively improved synth engine, it has pretty much everything bread-and-butter covered that I used the Motif for, including horns, which I really couldn't coax out of the Stage 2 sample engine acceptably, despite ages of trying.

I got a DX Pad sample (my single favourite patch on the Motif) that, while not great, is at least serviceable with a bit of tweaking, so I'm set.

[Gospelkeys]

Well you certainly won't need the vent anymore. The 122 close leslie sim is excellent. In a different league than what is on the NS2. My vent 2 has been sitting in the closet since I bought my electro 5 ( which recently upgraded to an NS3 )..

Hard to answer your question about the XS rack. Depends on which sounds you are using. I had one for a number of years. Wide variety of sounds in it. Some of them the NS3 synth engine could cover nicely - some it would be hard pressed to get close. You could always sample them unless they are complex.

But if you are using the XS rack extensively it would be hard to recommend the NS3 engine as a replacement.

[kbrkr]

If I were you, I would upgrade the XS rack to an XF 61 top keyboard. That will give you the Motif sound sets you need plus a backup keybed -just in case. I would also upgrade the NS2 to the NS3. That would give you a killer rig which is relatively light, has backup, and tons of sonic palette.

[jeffkeys]

I have a different feeling about the Leslie sim. While it’s a vast improvement over my last stage (I upgraded from the Classic). I still don’t think it holds a candle to the Vent, and since I already own one, I never leave home with out it. Not sure I’d buy one now, but it does a lot to the sound besides spinning it. YMMV.

[cphollis]

Agree with most of what's here. Sold my NS2 76, got a NS3 Compact, using my NP2 as weighted MIDI controller. So far, I really like it. "Song mode" is turning out to be dandy for pre-defined set lists.

Organ is fixed in 1.32. I own a Vent II, but the built-in sim is now a heckuva lot closer than it was, and settings (like drive, etc.) can be stored as part of a preset, and both drive and speed as well as other organ effects can be driven by a morph.

Can't do any of that on a Vent. So I'm guessing my new-ish Vent II is going to backup status.

I would agree on the "sheen" comment, especially if you're playing through higher-end stuff. There's a sparkle to the APs in particular that wasn't quite there before. I'm using the one button EQ for the APs a lot.

As far as the Motif sounds -- if you're looking to recreate a handful of go-to sounds, you'll probably be OK. Worst case, you sample them. If you're into using dozens of sounds, it's a different proposition entirely.

I've invested about four hours in recreating my sound palette on the new setup. Probably have another eight hours or so to go. But I really like what I'm coming up with, as I'm improving every sound I bring across in at least one dimension, if not multiple ones. So a good investment in time.

The band has noticed as well, e.g. "what's that you did there?". Since they can't tell the visual difference between the NS3 Compact and the previous NE4D (it's all red keyboards to them) I had to explain what I had going on.

Got some grief from the guitarist, so I asked "how many guitars do you own?"

[Iconoclast]

I never played the NS2 but I have an NS3. Gigged extensively with Kurzweil and Yamaha boards also.

Coming from a Hammond XK3c/MotionSound background, I think the NS3 organs sound great, esp after 1.32. Not sure if I'd say "better" but different and very good. I've heard some NS2 players complain but since I never played one, I have no complaints.

Seamless transition is a pretty big deal. Having gigged with the Nord now, and with how limited the Nord is in regards to sound engines and number of zones, it can really make up for that by having a lot of easy to access programs.

I've also heard previous NS2 users say that the synth engine on the NS3 is a pretty good upgrade from the NS2.