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-- Which would you prefer and why? Virus vs Nord

Which would you prefer and why? Virus vs Nord

I'm asking this because I don't plan on making hardware shopping a hobby. I just want one "real" synth that I can get a lot of use from down the road.
I see Alanzo seems to favor the Nord and I listen to everything he says and read his whole hardware list but I'm still on the fence here.

What I'm interested in is something strictly for trance. Firey lead synths, bass, pads and fx.
I love the way Virus Indigo sounds + its a bit more economical.

I ALSO like the way Nord 3 sounds.

I was looking at other synths like Alesis Andromeda but I'm trying to keep this between Virus Indigo and Nord 3.

I'm curious why Alonzo or anyone else, would prefer the Nord over the Virus. If I'm not trying to get those infectious virus sounds, and want something cleaner and more analog Virus still does it.

Nord makes nice clean analogish sounds, but it doesn't quite have the ability to add that inspiring sonic character that Virus can.

So my real question I suppose is what can a Nord do that a Virus can't? And for anyone who has owned both which did you wind up liking *overtime*, not immediately.

I want something I can grow to love overtime, and only because I'm bias for the Virus I'm curious how the Nord won over Nord lovers.
Anything specific or relevant I'd really appreciate it.

I'm just so stuck between these 2.

z3ta

Virus all the way.

Better lfos, better mod matrix, more filter capablities, and more features overall. And it has EFFECTS.

And that is compared only to a Virus B.

I havent heard the Nord much, but i think its capable of some timbres and sounds that the virus cant.

Yeh see thats what I thought too. And not only that but if you just listen to demo after demo of Indigo vids compared to Nord I can't understand why people would still prefer Nord.

I'm trying to leave my mind open and I absolutely love the sound of the Nord, I just think Virus is better and more capable of producing more unique trance sounds.

I have an NL3 and a Virus KC. I use them both about the same amount.

The NL3 doesn't have effects (except a very nice unison feature), so it sounds a lot cleaner, sharper, more direct, more defined. The Virus sounds big, phat, lush.

It totally depends on which sounds you prefer. I love them both, wouldn't want to choose one over the other. They do different things. Not better, not worse, different.

quote:

Originally posted by derail I have an NL3 and a Virus KC. I use them both about the same amount. The NL3 doesn't have effects (except a very nice unison feature), so it sounds a lot cleaner, sharper, more direct, more defined. The Virus sounds big, phat, lush. It totally depends on which sounds you prefer. I love them both, wouldn't want to choose one over the other. They do different things. Not better, not worse, different.

I think that actually covers why I'm in this dilemma to begin, I like clean, sharp and fat and lush.

I'm not getting it for another 2 months so I still have time to change my mind, but I think Indigo will be the choice. Only because I know if I get a Nord I'll be regretting that I didn't get a Virus a lot more than if I get a Virus and regret not getting the Nord.

I think inevitably theres going to be regret wanting the best of both worlds but I also noticed the Indigo can be found for hundreds less which is another selling point for me.

Quoting Sean Tyas.

Well a lot of people think I use my Virus TI all the time, but sadly, I think it's one of the most overrated pieces of hardware out there, and overpriced. In fact I have had issues with the note-timing when using heavy unison at times and Access's tech support was "ah it was designed like that". Idiots! Who designs a synth to fluctuate the note timing as if the notes are not quantized? But I will say its great for sounds where timing is not so important. My favorite synth I use every day is the Logic ES2: simple, very powerful, and sounds terrific, while it is always very easy to mix it into almost any production.

Access Virus C 0r TI!

I've owned a lot of Viruses (A, B, C, XL, TI) and a lot of Nords (1, 2, 2X) and without question, I'd take the Indigo over the Nord 3. Hell, I'd take a Nord 2X over a Nord 3, simply because I like its characteristic sound better than the NL3, but that's just personal preference - the NL3 is probably a better spec'ed synth than the NL2X. Both companies make great synths, but the Viruses just have those extra features that give them an advantage IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Stef Quoting Sean Tyas. Well a lot of people think I use my Virus TI all the time, but sadly, I think it's one of the most overrated pieces of hardware out there, and overpriced. In fact I have had issues with the note-timing when using heavy unison at times and Access's tech support was "ah it was designed like that". Idiots! Who designs a synth to fluctuate the note timing as if the notes are not quantized? But I will say its great for sounds where timing is not so important. My favorite synth I use every day is the Logic ES2: simple, very powerful, and sounds terrific, while it is always very easy to mix it into almost any production.

I can say, I used to feel the same way. HOWEVER, the most recent software updates have cleared up A LOT of previous issues. I'd be curious to the date on that Tyas quote. I have like every dumb soft synth in the world and I'm still finding myself heading to the TI for quality sounds.

Get both!

I use a TI an NL2 and they compliment each other well

quote:

Hell, I'd take a Nord 2X over a Nord 3, simply because I like its characteristic sound better than the NL3, but that's just personal preference

I aggree completely. I own both and much prefer the sounds of the nl2. The nl3 sounds very thin, although you can do some nice fm sounds, which is the only thing i use it for now.

I would much rather have a virus b/c and a nord 2 than a TI. You will have a wider tonal character range and still have A LOT of change left, compared to if you just bought the TI. Hell you could throw in something like a Roland JP-8000 as well and still have change left.

As for the nord vs virus. Everyone will have their own preferences. I will turn to my nord lead 2 before my virus b everytime. It fits in a mix much better imo. Very bright and clear sounding. Virus has a darker, more muddyish tone.

if ur getting a nord get the 2X not 3 imo, it has better OSCS and DACS. i would go for nord, ive had both and i liked the sound in nord better tho ofcourse the virus has alot more functionality, effects etc. i might get a nord some day again its so easy to use.

andromeda!

quote:

Originally posted by CReddick I can say, I used to feel the same way. HOWEVER, the most recent software updates have cleared up A LOT of previous issues. I'd be curious to the date on that Tyas quote. I have like every dumb soft synth in the world and I'm still finding myself heading to the TI for quality sounds.

Extremely recent, i believe within the week actually it was just posted on T.NU

To defend my choice of a NL3 over a NL2X, the NL3 has two key features that the NL2X lacks: stack unison (several copies of the same note played when pressing a single key), and an FM section. The FM on the NL3 is AWESOME. It sounds so techy and punchy, I love it.

But only get a nord lead 3 if you have other instruments to back it up. Unless you multitrack, it's only capable of four sounds at once (sharing four mono or two stereo outs). Vs the Virus C/Ti that can do 16 sounds at once (sharing three stereo outs). The Virus C is VERY difficult to program, though. Menu diving is not fun whereas the NL3 has quite literally the best interface of any synth I've ever used. If you decide on a Virus, I 10x recommend the Ti over the C.

Maybe this will help you out; here are two very close patches (as close as I could get them). First to play is the Nord Lead 3 and second is the Virus Ti. Essentially, they're both capable of producing the same sounds. The NL3 just does it better.

http://www.alanmarcero.com/nl3_vs_virusTI.mp3

i agree that the FM on nord is very good. I dont know any other FM machines so I didnt have anything to compare with though but I guess you can get good FM on VST too? but nords warm, strong, rich sounding oscs seems to be hard to get from VSTs while the virus stuff i guess u can do with VST. id go for nord (2X imo beacuse its cheap and simple).

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo To defend my choice of a NL3 over a NL2X,

No need to defend your choice - they're both great synths, just different. One other huge advantage of the NL3 is the lighted knobs that show you your settings instantly.

quote:

Originally posted by palm i agree that the FM on nord is very good. I dont know any other FM machines so I didnt have anything to compare with though but I guess you can get good FM on VST too? but nords warm, strong, rich sounding oscs seems to be hard to get from VSTs while the virus stuff i guess u can do with VST. id go for nord (2X imo beacuse its cheap and simple).

Well, the neat thing about the FM on the NL3 is that it can do classic carrier/modulator FM, but it also has several FM waves that act almost as wavetables. You can select through several sounds on the FM osc.

I'm not sure if any software can do FM like the NL3. I haven't used a softsynth in years... I never liked them much.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik No need to defend your choice - they're both great synths, just different. One other huge advantage of the NL3 is the lighted knobs that show you your settings instantly.

I hear they're quite different, but I've never heard a demo to compare the two. The lighted knobs also help a lot with modulation. This is awesome because you just select the modulation source, and then twist the knob(s) however much you want them modulated. Very quick and intuitive!

I also own both a Nord Lead 3 and a Virus TI, and use indigo regularly at a studio I work at (ill put up pics eventually).

I do think the Lead 3 sound is better but with the Virus you get a lot more features as well as built in effects (delay, reverb, etc.) which make a huge difference when programming. If you are only getting 1 piece, having something that is a more complete package should be the way to go.

i own both aswell. it always depends a lot which sounds you want from a synth. if you want those big fat unison sounds than the virus sounds a lot better imho. the nl3 starts to sound a bit weird if you use stacking/unison and detuning.

but on the other hand the nl3 is much cleaner in the highs and more defined in the lows. this helps a lot to let sounds cut through a mix.

i think you can't really compare them and especially featurewise the virus will give you much wider diveristy of sounds. the virus is all about complex modulation where the nl3 is more torward the classic VA with some nice additional features here and there.

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