Ableton Forum

I am stuck in making a decision. I have $1500.00 tax refund money. Access Virus TI Desktop for $1500 or Nord Lead 3 rack for $1050.00. I am getting into producing electronic music....mainly medodic...uplifting...progressive...psy trance music.
Can someone recommend one over the other for what I am trying to do?
Thanks.

Hey man. Maybe you should buy a ton on VST's instead. I don't have any hardware, but the VSTs these days seem to sound very similar to hardware instruments. But if you want hardware, I couldn't give you an answer their.

Nord has a much better and easier interface. Virus is more versatile. I'd try them both before you decide.

i like the virus, for it's flexibility... in sounds a little more, but hey it's a tough one, they are both great sounding synths...

i would go with the virus, if you ask me.

I have returned my ti keyboard and i am getting a g2x modular if I wasn't getting that I would definately get the nl3
the ti is very buggy
at least mine was
I think the nord stuff sounds alot better as well

Do you guys think the Nord Lead 3 rack for $1050.00 is good price? Condition is very good.

there is no comparison. nord doesnt come close to the ti.

Nord: -4 part timbral, no fx, cheap rotary knobs break easy. overpriced and i.m.o. quality sounds at best like a dx7 and sometimes like a cs1x.

TI: -16 multitimbral, reverb and fx for all channels, sound quality kills nord, has vocoder, and input modulates fm and controls envelopes, too many features destroy nord.

no compromise get a virus!!!

Don't know much about nord leads , but if you don't have any virus yet and you want to make any type of trance , I'd say go for it.

The lack of effects on the Nord makes the choice only easier.

But , you don't have to waste all of your money imo , go look for a 2e hand Virus B/C and spend the rest of your money on something else ... like an older 2e hand Nord Lead .

My vote's for the virus. The Nord is nice, but Virus as so many more options.

adhmzaiusz wrote:there is no comparison. nord doesnt come close to the ti.

Nord: -4 part timbral, no fx, cheap rotary knobs break easy. overpriced and i.m.o. quality sounds at best like a dx7 and sometimes like a cs1x.

TI: -16 multitimbral, reverb and fx for all channels, sound quality kills nord, has vocoder, and input modulates fm and controls envelopes, too many features destroy nord.

no compromise get a virus!!!

Nord build quality and sound is fantastic, even without effects. Most Virus patches are drenched in effects and don't sound that special without them.

Nord build quality and sound is fantastic, even without effects. Most Virus patches are drenched in effects and don't sound that special without them.

well , he's going to make trance so ...

The virus is *the* trance-machine. But don't get the TI, I really don't see that much added value from it, get the one just before it, they're really cheap right now.

Machinate wrote:The virus is *the* trance-machine. But don't get the TI, I really don't see that much added value from it, get the one just before it, they're really cheap right now.

that would be the c, and they are not longer produced. you'd have to get one second hand. it doesnt have the supersaw, so you'd be missing out on a lot of what the ti has to offer.

hardware is nice to have, but (here it comes) honestly ...

if you are doing trance and want those big virus sounds the z3Ta+ and a couple of reaktor ensembles will let you write great tracks and the sound is just as good

and will save you about a grand or so. and be more versitile in the long run. there is just about no difference in the sound or quality of end result anymore

.

supster is right, but some people make more progress with hardware than the mouse.

its important to remember the virus ti is still a work in progress. its a synth, a plugin, audio interface, and controller all in one and all of these features dont quite work properly yet, but they will. its far more open ended than your usual synth and a the price is not bad value. its just early days. we all know that access is a quality company, give it 6 months and a lot of the issues will be gone and a raft of other features will have been added for free.