100+ Programs - For those new to programming...
Posted: 08 Jul 2018, 00:04
I just purchased a Nord Stage 3 and the crash course learning the Synth section to recreate my Stage 2 programs has been fun. An excellent source of information on synthesizers and the keys to programming is the collection of SOS magazine old articles called Synth Secrets at https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... d-on-sound (thanks Mr_-G- for the link!). Stage 3 synth programming tutorials can also be found at nord-stage-forum-f3/nord-stage-3-synth- ... 17063.html (thanks Ivan Jochner!), and a whole set of Nord tutorials by member "My Keys to Music" can be found on the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_xKuR ... BvAc63Y9qw (thanks Marc!).
IMPORTANT: My NS3 is loaded with different pianos ("L" instead of "XL" versions for example) so after downloading a program you might have to relink the piano with one you have. My pianos and programs list here will help. I also use a control pedal (Yamaha FC-7) on almost all of my programs, so one will be needed to take advantage of the morphing that's part of the programs.
The program below started out as the preloaded "Furious AT Lead" program. After a bit of messing around, I came up with two variations that I thought were "interesting" and may hopefully be something that helps you further your understanding of what the Stage 3 synth can do as well. Slot A is a synth with a higher harmonic that comes in as the filter is decaying into the LFO range. Slot B is a different synth that starts out with the following settings: LFO MOD ENV about 0, OSC CTRL on 6, FREQ on 1, and RES/FREQ on 6. On the Slot B MP3 you can hear a percussive sound in the notes played low with the left hand; the sounds become more "aggressive" as the FREQ knob is turned slowly from 1 up to about 4 or 5 with the right hand. All of the synth sounds heard after that are the result of turning just those four knobs and playing around. Every Synth program in the Stage 3 is an opportunity to learn, so turn, tweak, and save your work to go back to and tweak again. Have fun.
UPDATE 12/19/2018: Below are a few more to mess around with. This first one is a program with both a record scratch effect and a synth with a LFO filter effect. The MOD ENV ATTACK determines how quickly the filter will sweep up and the MOD ENV DECAY determines the sweep down: This second program I believe started with a pre-loaded program Weightless Pad that I modified with LFO filter, arpeggio, and panning effects synced to the internal clock. The third program is a slightly percussive synth sound that seems to work well for solo or chords. I add a little pan flute to it halfway through the MP3 UPDATE 12/30/2018: This program has the new V6 Rhodes with a Hammond, a synth with random S/H on the LFO, and a synth with a triangle wave on the LFO for a pad that I bring up in volume manually in the MP3 while bringing up the volume of both with the Control Pedal. Listen through to the end with headphones to hear more of the second synth come in. Both LFOs are synced to the internal clock. Analog Brass. This next program is simply a version of Analog Brass with the synth settings eliminating the need to add the Chorus effect so it can be used on the Piano. This has Velocity=1, however if you're trying to recreate an early 80s brass sound of a Prophet or Oberheim for example, Velocity should be off. The MP3 example covers the sound and then adds Slot B with a Pop Brass sample. My Pianos and Program List as of April 2020 can be found at --> post130083.html?hilit=program%20list#p130083
IMPORTANT: My NS3 is loaded with different pianos ("L" instead of "XL" versions for example) so after downloading a program you might have to relink the piano with one you have. My pianos and programs list here will help. I also use a control pedal (Yamaha FC-7) on almost all of my programs, so one will be needed to take advantage of the morphing that's part of the programs.
The program below started out as the preloaded "Furious AT Lead" program. After a bit of messing around, I came up with two variations that I thought were "interesting" and may hopefully be something that helps you further your understanding of what the Stage 3 synth can do as well. Slot A is a synth with a higher harmonic that comes in as the filter is decaying into the LFO range. Slot B is a different synth that starts out with the following settings: LFO MOD ENV about 0, OSC CTRL on 6, FREQ on 1, and RES/FREQ on 6. On the Slot B MP3 you can hear a percussive sound in the notes played low with the left hand; the sounds become more "aggressive" as the FREQ knob is turned slowly from 1 up to about 4 or 5 with the right hand. All of the synth sounds heard after that are the result of turning just those four knobs and playing around. Every Synth program in the Stage 3 is an opportunity to learn, so turn, tweak, and save your work to go back to and tweak again. Have fun.
UPDATE 12/19/2018: Below are a few more to mess around with. This first one is a program with both a record scratch effect and a synth with a LFO filter effect. The MOD ENV ATTACK determines how quickly the filter will sweep up and the MOD ENV DECAY determines the sweep down: This second program I believe started with a pre-loaded program Weightless Pad that I modified with LFO filter, arpeggio, and panning effects synced to the internal clock. The third program is a slightly percussive synth sound that seems to work well for solo or chords. I add a little pan flute to it halfway through the MP3 UPDATE 12/30/2018: This program has the new V6 Rhodes with a Hammond, a synth with random S/H on the LFO, and a synth with a triangle wave on the LFO for a pad that I bring up in volume manually in the MP3 while bringing up the volume of both with the Control Pedal. Listen through to the end with headphones to hear more of the second synth come in. Both LFOs are synced to the internal clock. Analog Brass. This next program is simply a version of Analog Brass with the synth settings eliminating the need to add the Chorus effect so it can be used on the Piano. This has Velocity=1, however if you're trying to recreate an early 80s brass sound of a Prophet or Oberheim for example, Velocity should be off. The MP3 example covers the sound and then adds Slot B with a Pop Brass sample. My Pianos and Program List as of April 2020 can be found at --> post130083.html?hilit=program%20list#p130083
One of the best ways to learn the ins and outs of the Stage 3 is to download programs and go through the synth and morph settings to figure out what makes them tick. Over the last few months I’ve posted quite a few programs that may not be something you’d use playing out, but could learn from if you don’t know how you would recreate it yourself. Below are samples of some of those programs and links to original posts. Quite a few others can be listened to at the other posts listed. Please note that all of the programs make use of the Control Pedal. I hope you find these helpful. Take care.