Nord User Forum

Anyone else unhappy with the 2 options for Leslie on the Stage 3? My old E2 sounds better. Has Nord done any updates? Anything else I can do besides using a outboard Leslie sim?

If you really take the time to study it and dial it in, the NS3 Leslie can kick ass. I still prefer to use a Ventilator in 95% of my applications, but the internal simulation is EXCELLENT. Just dial it in.

I’ve shared this before and it’s a formula from several forum members. Try this and report back if you’re still whining about it. LOL.

Type: vintage 2
Click: high
trigger: high
rotary: 122 close
Bass/Horn: 40/60 or 30/70 (more horn)
Rotary speed: Normal
Acc: Normal
Horn speed: normal
Acc: SLOW

Rotary Drive: 3.5 but will vary from song to song
Compressor: 8 w/ Fast Attack
Reverb: Stage 1 level:2.8

Amp Sim/EQ Section:
----------------------
Amp sim: off/clean
Treble: 6.5
Mid: Freq: 635 level: -3
Drive: 0
Bass: 10.5

With the exception of the EQ. and the close mic setting,- sounds way too "wobbly" - is how I have it set up. I can always fall back on my GSI Burn- once I'm done whining.

wkrbee wrote: ↑30 Apr 2025, 04:17 Anyone else unhappy with the 2 options for Leslie on the Stage 3? My old E2 sounds better. Has Nord done any updates? Anything else I can do besides using a outboard Leslie sim?

The organ itself is really satisfying on the old Electro 2, but the NS3 Leslie at close setting is FAR more convincing. I find that the key is to use more of the Amp sim/EQ section's overdrive than the rotary's Drive setting. I've set the Leslie to 60/40 (more rotor than horn), but give the organ a nice boost in the treble of the EQ, in conjunction with the EQ overdrive.

wkrbee wrote: ↑03 May 2025, 23:25 With the exception of the EQ. and the close mic setting,- sounds way too "wobbly"

I only find it warbly when summed to mono, as when using a mono monitor, or when using the single "mono" output of the board.

Idiotically, using the mono output will sum both sides of the stereo Leslie simulation, which is NOT how a Leslie works in mono recording — you get TWO passes per rotation (one for the left mic, and one for the right mic), which gives you an annoying wobble that sounds nothing like how you would mono-mic a Leslie.

In stereo, the close 122 sounds pretty much exactly like how I mic my Leslies.

analogika wrote: ↑04 May 2025, 22:39 I only find it warbly when summed to mono, as when using a mono monitor, or when using the single "mono" output of the board.

Idiotically, using the mono output will sum both sides of the stereo Leslie simulation, which is NOT how a Leslie works in mono recording — you get TWO passes per rotation (one for the left mic, and one for the right mic), which gives you an annoying wobble that sounds nothing like how you would mono-mic a Leslie.

I wonder if it's the same on the NS4? (Though I at least see a workaround if that's the case... it has more flexible mono/stereo routing than the NS3 does.)

wkrbee wrote: ↑03 May 2025, 23:25 With the exception of the EQ. and the close mic setting,- sounds way too "wobbly" - is how I have it set up. I can always fall back on my GSI Burn- once I'm done whining.

If you're really that dissatisfied, you should just get a Ventilator and be done with it. I've used a Ventilator for every Nord Stage gig dating back to 2011 when I started using the NS2 and up to present with my current arsenal of NS3 units. The Ventilator is an incremental improvement, though it adds a special wooden airiness to the sound.

I use the internal NS3 sim for some rehearsals and for when I'm using it in one-off situations, so I think it sounds great even without the Vent.

I use the organ on my stage 3 and 4 a lot.
But I wasn’t sure if I had tried the settings as ericl suggested above.
So I dialed them in to my S3 backup kb.
I thought the Bass: 10.5 would be too much , But It sounded very good.
So I dug out my live kb S4 and programmed it in there.
Last night I gigged it and it sounded great, very full, very vintage sounding, the bass is ok.
Cheers eric
I know this post is about the internal rotary sim.
I like the nord sim a lot. I don’t like vents. Just my 2 cents worth.
The S3 and S4 rotary are far superior to the E2. Again just my opinion.
Norm

I have changed my NS3 to the settings suggested above by ericL. I always run organ out of Channel 1 only. No Stereo. Not enough channels in the PA mixer. I have read that using "Mono Out" will help the NS3 sound better on pianos and organ Leslie effects if I can't run stereo. (Obviously stereo out would be the best, but that's not an option for me). Am I correct to use Mono Out if I cannot run stereo?
I appreciate any feedback/opinions,
Many thanks, Cheers

There are different issues with mono mode on keyboards. And they will differ depending on which way you use to play in mono:

1. Rotary Effect: As Rotary (Leslie) is stereo on Nords, you will get a double frequency of volume peaks when you sum up the two channels into one (using the Mono button on the Nord). It will be the right frequency, if you only use one of the two main-out channels and don't sum up.

2. Phase cancellation: If you sum up two channels where you have a stereo sample base, there may be a partial sound cancellation through phase overlapping. Which means summing up piano sounds into one channel is not always good - depends on the sample; people say the White Grand is less affected than other piano sounds.

3. Loss of sound width: Piano samples are recorded in stereo resulting in more bass sound on the left and mir treble sound on the right channel. If you want both a fat bass sound and 'cut through the mix' with your trebles, you should consider summing up both channels into one instead of only using one - even if there is phase cancellation.

4. Loss of some effects: Of course, there is no panning effect if you only have one channel.