NL for live (performance)

TOTAL · Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Poland

Hello everyone, I'm new here.

I have just tested Nord3 and G2x in a shop and I'm amazed by how flexible, musical and diabolically consistent it they are.

I don't think I need to enumerate to you guys the features that thrill. I'd rather try to get a little clearer picture of these synths. For this I may need some help. I have made an investigation and what follows are the things I could not get or find the answer to [the shop's staff seemed to be unaware of what they were selling]. Hopefully, these questions prove non-irrelevant. Thank you for any answers or comments.

Well,

The Heavy duty wheel, knobs, pitchbender - they seem incredibly well suited for hot action. And when bought second hand, I guess they should still be in good condition. Is this correct? I mean, is there a good chance that a second hand Nord1 will work flawlessly for me for years? Any parts that do get broken in those previous models?

Nord 3 does not have a Vocoder, does it?

Is the power expansion for G2 essential for flawless live perfomance (your personal experience, pls)?

G2 does not have the microphone included, but there must be some socket for the microphone in the back panel?

btw, with G2x it was my first experience with hardware vocoder and it got me real high. Is this vocoder so good or might it be a matter of the Nords' onboard sounds blended with the voice? What do you guys think?

Does the vocoder prove to be a worthy element of the modulars in the long run, or rather a dispensable option?

Can G2 recreate the exact sound of NL3? What about, say, FX-less Virus'?

Nords come without FX. Do many of you play live without any extras like delays, reverbs, analog filters, etc?

What (apart from the power of the berserkers ; - ) makes the sound of Clavias so expressive compared to soft synths? Is it just the processing power? Could this sound be recreated on, say, a network of computers with Reaktor-like application. I don't propose a discussion of the superiority of the HW. Let me put it otherwise: why are NLs so f...ing good to listen and play?
My votes are: 3)DSPower, 2)dedicated, fantastically designed controller panel, 1)ingenious

How does the playability of preset-armed G2 compare to NL2 or 3?. Personally, I have never been excited about digging into patches, I prefer intuitive tweaking on the fly rather than programming, you know. To me G2x seemed less playable, or maybe it was just because of its complexity. It took me a while to discover its possibilities like vocoder, single mode, performance mode, etc.

Their knobs are "soft knobs" (Access Virus term meaning their function is freely assigned to them), as far as I remember. Once you get those patches ready, are the modulars as playable?

Is there a big database of good modules, or maybe complete ensembles to get started?

How long does loading a bank of patches take in practice?

My candidates are G2/NL3 (either very heavy on my budget), or NL2. The mildest way, without strain, from NL2 on should do, I guess. What do you think?

Thanks guys for reading and answers.

I must definitely find a good shop where the staff will have the patience to present the machines and explain things, anyway.

Cheers

Tomek

Wout Blommers · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:38 am Post subject:

Hi TOTAL,

I will be as honest as I can be
Important to know both platforms (NL3 and G2X) will be abandoned in the near future. Only stock will be sold. Could be handy to the shop keeper to know too, so you both have something to talk about...

All Clavia synths are in the first place performing synths, to be used on stage. Therefor they are very sturdy and shock proof, only to be careful with the rotary dial (the black one without the leads)

Indeed, no vocoder on the Lead. On the back side of the G2 there is a microphone input.

The expansion board is essential to soft broad sounds with many voices, specially in Performance mode.

I never use the vocoder life, but I do know performers who do: Wan Kemper and Tommy Lindell (Also see Clavia's site for Mp3)

The G2 has FX on board and the most flexible you can imagine: one is able to create feedback to a sound over an echo

About the sound... That you have to decide yourself. You like it or not!

Blue Hell · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:55 am Post subject:

TOTAL · Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Poland

Thanks Wout for an extensive answer. If it's such a tank, I will buy a second hand NL2 then and hear if I can make it sing. I mean the non-x version.

What would be an attractive price for NL2 now?

Blue Hell
I thought of a completely different usage of the vocoder, non-articulate, wilder, but now I see I have to test G2 some more, and maybe not necessarily this year.

This example shows very calm usage of Clavia. After playing the synths I somehow for a while I imagined they were dedicated for crazy sounds. OK, this impression was dominant with NL3. But I am thinking of NL2 Very Happy

One more thing, out of curiosity. I read in some shop's description of NL2 I guess that its incredible sound was created by several DSPs. Is it really such a 'hog'?

T

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:47 am Post subject:

v-un-v · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:06 am Post subject:

Wout, why have you posted the same post 5 times? Shocked

Blue Hell · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject:

I was told Wout has the flu pretty badly, I'll delete some for him Very Happy

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject:

The flu and a 19 month old son? Very Happy

Thanks for deleting, I wasn't aware...

Wout

Blue Hell · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject:

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject:

Blue Hell · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject:

Gothboy · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:56 am Post subject:

Wout.....good to hear things are better over there. Keep healthy! Wink

To the original poster. As an owner of both a Nord Lead 2 and a nord Micromodular I very much recommend the NL2. There's so much to like about it both for studio and live. It's built like a tank. I just love to tweak the FM knob to add squeltch to a patch. I think I use it more than the filter cutoff knob! I think the only things I wish it had were the rotary encoder lights that the NL3 has since when you call up a patch you really have no idea what the knobs are set to. I also wish it had a slot mute button for editing in performance mode.
I'm also very glad I have the micro but it is something that sucks you right in and is a whole world unto itself. I think if I had the G2 I'd never leave the basement. Someday though I'd like to pick up a G2 engine rack. Cool