Nord Lead 2X vs Nord Lead 3 HELP!

chugo_punk · Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Mexico

i´m about to buy a new synthetizer for my elctro-dance-rock band, and i was thinking about getting a Virus TI Poolar, but the price is way to high for my budget, so i thought i could get a nord lead instead, i went to try the Nord Lead 2X and its pretty good, i wanted to try a Nord Lead 3, but they didnt have any at guitar center.. so..could some one help me out!
any suggestions? recomendations?

slave to this · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject:

i suggest a clavia nord modular g2

Kassen · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject:

One topic is realy enough, I deleted the doubles.

Personally I think the Lead1 sounds better then the Lead2 and the third sounds downright terrible to me, but hey; that's just to my ears. there is no real substitute for listening for yourself.

Matthew Dermond · Joined: Aug 04, 2005 Posts: 2 Location: New Jersey, USA

If you're still looking (or if somebody else is reading this because they're looking to pick up a new synth), and are at all interested in my opinion, read on. I've owned a Korg MS2000, a Nord G2x, a Roland Juno 60, a Nord Electro 73 (obviously not a synth), and A Nord Lead 2x. I still own the Juno, the Electro, and the 2x. I'd never recommend that anyone purchase the MS2000 unless they can get it near free as there are many better sounding/more versatile synths in that price range. But, the others all are fantastic in different ways.

For electro/dance/rock, the Nord keyboards have become quite popular (I've seen lots of people playing them anyway). The Nord Modular (which you should consider if you have enough money to consider a Lead 3) will certainly give you more freedom than you could ever really grasp in synthesis. I used it to create a new virtual synth for each song my band played - which allowed me to really create exactly what I heard in my head for each part. But, the G2x was also incredibly pricey (which led to its sale in return for college tuition)... The Juno is excellent for simple analog sounds - it's got a lot of character. And, the Lead 2x, while I've only had it a couple days, can create an impressively large variety of classic and modern sounds. Especially at the price I got mine (used). I'd definitely agree with Kassen in stating that you need to hear them for yourself.

But, for the money - a Lead 2x is a great budget synth, and the Modular is a super-powerful beast of a synth that would be difficult to ever outgrow (especially if you decide to expand the polyphony or opt for a used G2X). I can't really speak for the Lead 3 - it has some neat features - I considered it when shopping for the G2X. But, when it came down to it, at that price I'd expect to be getting something more like the Modular than a single architecture synth. Best of luck with the shopping!

Wout Blommers · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:44 am Post subject:

I can agree with Matthew here.
The NordLead2(X) is a very fine synth, it will stay until one of us dies... Wink

An important issue is your knowledge of synthesis.
The NordModular Classic and the NordModular G2 need a lot of expertise to use.
The NordLead3 is in a way more simple, due to a fixed architecture, although still rather complicated. (More functions to one knob or button)
The NordLead2(X) has a more simple architecture (one function to a knob), that's why it became popular over the years. You can do a lot of sounds with it.

I also agree with Kassen.
The NordLead(1) sounds more nastier and raw then the newer ones. Specially when playing rhythmical patterns and basses.

Kassen · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:57 am Post subject: