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!

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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

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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).

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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.

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Sonar Platinum | Ableton Live 9 | Logic Pro X | Access Virus TI2 Keyboard | Kurzweil PC3X | Nord Lead 4R | NI Maschine

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!

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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.