which one? - NORD LEAD 2X or NORD LEAD 3

lonemale · Post by **lonemale** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:01 pm

I'm wondering which unit users out there would suggest as better?

I have the opportunity to buy a nord lead 2x rack or a nord lead 3 rack for the same price (795.00) and was wondering which one everyone thought was the better one...

opinions please!

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:03 pm

i think the NL3 is the way to go..

i had an NL2, and its not really as versatile as the money i spent on it would have suggested.

most synthesizers ive owned since the NL2 have kept me happy.

the NL3 should be loaded with some solid oscillators.. but remember VA is VA is VA.

divonic · Post by **divonic** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:05 pm

I have a 2x, I really like it. I don't have much experience with the 3

Some have said that the 2x sounds better than the 3.

The cool thing about the 3 (for me) is the led rings around the pots.

but I'm not gonna suggest one over the other cause I haven't really compared them.

b0unce · Post by **b0unce** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:41 pm

I've had -three- NL3's. (racks)
basically, the navigator buttons on each one were faulty. after the synth warmed up a bit they, or something in & around that area, would swell and the buttons would totally stick when you'd press them. jumping all the way to the end of the menu, 95% of the time I'd have to wrestle them back up again with serious knuckle grease....sometimes I'd be lucky and they'd come back up with a bit of a wiggle, and then I'd gently tease them into a kind of limbo state where I could faintly touch them and only move a few steps as opposed to a slew of steps....you could just about go through the menu this way, to the most pertinent functions anyways

bah...after 3 months or more of returning it to turnkey for a replacement, I went for something else.

as divonic said, the interface was/is bloody class. [if you get one without those shitty nav buttons] if you're into live PA/ live tweaking, I cant think of a better interface.....the sounds were class as well, I used it for electronic blips & blops, percussive stuff - the sound is bright, shiney & sparkling - which I liked. in the end I swapped it for a g2 engine and store credit

if interface doesnt concern you, I'd be more inclined to try a NL2 (not nl2x) for its allegedly grittier d/a's. the nl2x improves patch storage etc, but the d/a's were changed too - they ran out of the nl2 d/as. change does not always mean improvement, to hell with patch storage - just give me nasty sounds thanks.....thats just shit I've picked up from research tho, never got to try either nl2 or nl2x. I have however heard the difference between a nord modular & the G2 - and the difference a change of d/a's make is quite profound. I think its safe to assume the difference is similar between nl2 & nl2x

I'd go with nl3 for its magnificent interface and because I like livePA stuff, and for bright digital sounds.

I'd go with an nl2 for gritty, dirty sounds

Personally, I wouldnt bother with the nl2x ...

.02

funky shit · Post by **funky shit** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:48 pm

Im eventualy getting the 2x for £700. £ is much dearer, and i like the look of the old one, its also been more commonly used with my favourite band lik, prodigy, crystal method

Vaishiyas · Post by **Vaishiyas** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:17 pm

take the nordrack/lead 3

i think u cant compare the 2 with the 3 because the soundpossibilitys are much much more with the 3 as with the version 2.

check on the clavia website the differents

Nord 3...my arguments

*2 oscs...each with a seperate Sync osc
*2 Filters
*unison up to 24 voices
*more waveforms
*super easy handling & high soundquality

cheers

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:05 pm

NL 3 is another league. NL2x- Clavias best seller is poor mans NL, value for money but...compromise. Mind you t, NL3 will be collectors item since they don't make them anymore and the replacement - Wave or whatever it is called-misses many (too expensive!) components.

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:04 am

Owned a NL2X...Great Synth... Great SOUND(it has to grow on you though)...Just attach some fx on the outputs... and it's great...I liked it's simplicity...kinda reminded me of my old Juno 106 with how you interact with the synth, it excells in layering, Morphing sounds (makes it very simple)... And can be used as a nifty drumsynth...it has some built in Organ emulations... for the price it's a steal...
Didn't try the NL3...so I can't give an honest opinion, I don't like continuous knobs on HW synths that much ... if any I'd go for the G2 Modular instead of a NL2X....