Just put in an order for a NORD stage 2

[KT1]

I am generally anti digital but it defo has its place! Additionally we all want nice organic sounds form time to time. Long story short - I know the Nord is no new Icon but I only really spent time with one over the last couple weeks. The Rhodes/B3 are exceptional and the FM synthesis is damn nice too!

So after playing about my mind was made up! I could see a big gap in the sound selection that this would fit while keeping in-line with my hardware requirements and avoiding the midi board soft synth solution..

Upon placing my order the salesperson mentioned i should check out the samples they offer for free to download of the website! I was excited - But and it's a big BUT! I did not expect to find countless great sample selections including a lot of my Fav analogue classics! OB, Prophet 5 the Minimoog etc..

Melletron and some great transistor amp emulations!

Very very cool indeed!

Not sure who is rocking it but i highly suggest you check it out if you are looking for a bread and butter synth with both organic and synth sounds in the hardware domain that does not sacrifice absolute pristine quality!

I'm also particularly interested in the ability to sample in and use the synthesis engine to create something strange and unique. It isn't a workstation so you are paying for a digital synth/rompler with loads of great options. Most important features are one knob that you can reach for so all in all I'm very very happy about this purchase!

[sermstyle]

Dope! Ive been looking at this and Virus desktop...or keeping it OG with a Juno lol

EDIT: this video sells it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4rXhyyvERM

[KT1]

Originally Posted by sermstyle

Dope! Ive been looking at this and Virus desktop...or keeping it OG with a Juno lol

WHich Juno? I love the 60 it's a classic analogue sound! The virus i had for 3 weeks and traded it back in. It has a sound and it has some crazy crazy modulation. Also those hyper saw waveforms are nuts! The problem i had was in its integration. It was glitchy ...buggy and a little to digital for my taste. That being said it's a great synth and no one would debate that. Just make sure you have an independant USB hub. If you're rocking a laptop set up you will have problems with it.

Yeh man - I'm like thee anti digital when it comes to synths but this lil puppy really grew on me. The sound is great! When you want it to lean into more analogue it can do that - clearly not quite as good as the real thing we all love some natural drift etc. That being said it's defo capable. It has an LFO and some nice modulation opportunities. So exciting shtuff! The mellotron sound snips and playing the rhodes was LUSH! best i have experienced so far.

Defo check it out! The new stage 2 which has been out for around 8 months is best of everything! exciting stuff and with the continual updates to samples and the ability to quick shift between them storing sampled patches on HD is rock solid!

[sermstyle]

Is there much difference between the stage 2 and the wave? I like the idea of the wave, it also says it compatible with the nord sample library (which sounds dope, alot of classics)..Really want that piano though i heard on stage 2 demo..
Going to see if i can try em out this week

[KT1]

Originally Posted by sermstyle

Is there much difference between the stage 2 and the wave? I like the idea of the wave, it also says it compatible with the nord sample library (which sounds dope, alot of classics)..Really want that piano though i heard on stage 2 demo..
Going to see if i can try em out this week

Not sure buddy, I just know that the stage has it all! so perhaps just a memory thing. If its compaitable with sample library you should be good!

[Bullseye]

Have Stage EX. Can't load samples but that is covered elsewhere in my set up. What the Nord does do it does well. Besides what is mentioned it has a bit of a unique architecture whereby all the instruments are discrete section of the keyboard and are ALWAYS AVAILABLE times 2. As for the Hammond, essentially its times 4 because there is a dual preset switch in the organ that is available on both the A and B platform. So in performance you can have four Hammond sounds at your finger tips without touching a slider. It also supports a dual mode for making a dual keyboard setup with, for instance, a controller.....

To put it short, it is expensive but a great keyboard for basic keyboard sounds and, it is self contained and thus good for studio and the road. Nice instrument....

[Bullseye]

I would only add that the envelope in the synth section is a bit short on the EX and the lack of an LFO was a drag. That has been addressed in the NORD 2 along with sample loading. It seems now to be the ultimate live keyboard and the Synth section, which was very useful before, is now a bonafide synth.....

[KT1]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

I would only add that the envelope in the synth section is a bit short on the EX and the lack of an LFO was a drag. That has been addressed in the NORD 2 along with sample loading. It seems now to be the ultimate live keyboard and the Synth section, which was very useful before, is now a bonafide synth.....

I know we now have an LFO has the envelope been adresses also? Generally i like fast snappy envelopes.

I can live with it either way.

Yeh I think it's a great addition I have Monophonic and Polyphonic analogues. I love them both - The DX7 i sold - I loved the sound but the damn menu and programming was not for me! When i played around with the NORD i found it to be significantly more intuitive. Also i would like to add i thought the synth section was damn nice! Some great fun tweaking and playing around...It is defo more than just a GM soundbank! Yes it is expensive but will fill that FM/wavetable synth space ensuring i can bring up something in that genre if required. This has been a Gaping Hole in my set up thus far.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Storyville]

Yeah, the Nord and the Blofeld are two digital synths that get a pass. I actually don't like the DX7 at all. Aside from the programming, I just never liked the sound.

[DJKeys]

Originally Posted by sermstyle

Is there much difference between the stage 2 and the wave? I like the idea of the wave, it also says it compatible with the nord sample library (which sounds dope, alot of classics)..Really want that piano though i heard on stage 2 demo..
Going to see if i can try em out this week

I have a Nord Wave and it is one of the best VA synths out there. Two oscillators, two LFOs, morphing, etc. However, it does not have any of the Piano/EP sampled sounds of the Nord Stage. It also does not have the B3/Vox/Farf models. The NS2 is meant to be their unit that can do it all.Also, the Wave is 4 octaves, not multi timbral, so you cannot do any splits or layers. The synth section on the NS is more limited than the Wave for sure, but still sounds damn nice.

[KT1]

It's a trade off. I have access to a Wave which i use from time to time and it really is a SYNTH..

The stage only has the one LFO and it's not so much a one knob set up. Yeh it's a nice trade off for sure..

I will have both in the set up for exactly the reasons you have stated! If i was just looking for a nice digital synth with some awsome natural organic sounds i would actually go for the wave over the stage 2.