Clavia Nord Lead 3

Software V. 1.2, the last version before Clavia discontinued the product. Presets are mostly awful, but that's OK since all slots are overwritable, so I deleted them and have lots of space for making my own sounds. The editing interface is absolutely brilliant- the easiest synth I have ever used. Every parameter and value is visible at a glance due to the LED encoders, and there is no menu diving necessary aside from system functions and MIDI/arpeggio settings. Despite this great interface there are some really deep features that can be intimidating, but luckily Clavia's manual is fantastic. Easily the best music gear manual I've encountered.

24 voice polyphony is enough for me, and I do occasionally get some fairly complex things happening between the 4 performance slots. The only time I run into trouble is sometimes when using the "chord stack" function, but even then it's not been a problem for me. Keyboard is far better than my JP-8000 or cheap MIDI controllers, but it's not as good as some other high-end keyboards. In all, I think it's pretty good for "synth action." Aftertouch on my unit is not very responsive- I need to really lean on the keys and then there's a definite stairstepping of values as the aftertouch kicks in. No effects block per se, but chorus, phasing and several types of distortion are available as oscillator or filter settings. I do wish it had a delay onboard. Easy to sequence by external MIDI and the arpeggiators stay in perfect sync with external clock. Performance Mode is great, and makes it very easy to manage all 4 voices at once in real time. I can easily switch between and tweak for example an arpeggiated bassline, percussive sound, pads and a lead voice, or whatever else I need. Again, due to the interface everything I'm controlling is plainly visible and reachable.

Sounds are truly amazing. I love programming and playing this synth. It responds quite well to velocity (already mentioned the stiff aftertouch on my unit) and other mod sources and the "morph group" concept puts all sorts of dynamic and timbral changes within easy musical control. Very expressive, in that sense. I like making textures and sounds that evolve over long periods of time and react in subtle or aggressive ways to my playing and controls- the NL3 is exceptional in this area. It works for all sorts of sounds though- great lead and bass sounds and some pretty good percussion (though the lack of "drum kits" as in past models cripples this functionality somewhat as you can't assign a whole kit of sounds to one slot). Strange alien pianos and pads that start off as breathy wisps then end up screaming at me. A really great pallet of beautiful sounds available. People keep complaining that it's "thin" and I agree it's not a Moog, but using the stack function to double (or triple or sextuple) voices can add a nice fat bite when it's called for. Sounds are very clear and detailed, with great subtle nuances.

Metal build (though small and lightweight), very well-constructed, knobs and buttons are solid. I take very good care of mine so I'm not quite sure how to gauge reliability. Unfortunately it's discontinued so any problems might be very hard to fix.

I e-mailed Clavia USA once with a question concerning a bug I encountered when using the "glide" function with stacked voices (the voices don't always glide together if there's an arpeggio running on another voice- this is a problem). Never heard back from them. This combined with their abrupt dropping of the NL3 product line really turns me off. Brilliant engineers but service seems nonexistant. I give them a mercy point just for the quality of their manual.

Again I love this synth and if anything happened to it I would definitely seek out a used one. I am using it for artsy dance-orieted stuff as well as more abstract textural soundscapes and "serious" compositions. While not primarily a keyboard player, I do get deep into the sound design aspect of composing and the NL3 is just a beautiful instrument for this. It has replaced a JP-8000 and I use it more than my hard drive full of softsynths. Some software sounds great but even the best MIDI controllers lack the immediacy and simplicity of the Nord interface. Other gear includes a Korg Electribe, Dave Smith Evolver. All work well together.

I use 1.20. The presets don't do this machine much justice, but with the very intuitive interface you can make your own after your liking.
The manual is ok.

The keyboard is ok for me, but I prefer the keyboard of the Virus, K5000s, etc. I do like the aftertouch, because you feel the span of the aftertouch mechanism.

The NL3 doesn't excel at one type of sound. It can do so many things: beautiful leads, basses, organs (real nice), analog brass/strings, Simmons electronic drums (oh yes..), yes: trance sounds! if you want them, even a very realistic violin sound, much better ones than you will find in most romplers.

With bass sounds I use some EQ to shape the sound I want and is on some sounds necessary. The NL3 doesn't have the same pressure in sound as the NL2. The NL2 (I had one) is a great bass/lead synthesizer and not so usefull as a polysynth.

The review below me is obviously one of some spoiled 12 yo kid who want instantly trance sounds with reverb, EQ, compression and a sea of reverb. The NL3 is a real synth without menu-diving so you can sculpture your sounds by using knobs and switches. If you are into trance AND don't like to make your own sounds (like the kid): get the Virus, which is also a very nice synth except the lame sounding oscillators but very nice filters.

I had no problems yet.

Didn't have to deal with Clavia yet.

It's a workhorse and the interface makes you want to tweak and built new sounds. The combination excellent sound - excellent interface would make me buy it again if it got stolen.

just one comment: I went once again to the music store, I tried all stuff, including Motif ES, Roland Juno G, Phantom X, and when I put the headphones on and listened to the presets of the Nord 3: what a difference! Where the old presets in the Nord I and II were total crap, the new presets are amazing. The sound is organic and rich. Really fat vintage like basses, very very good pads (a weak point on the Nord2 in my opinion). I own the Nord Rack, the Nord Lead, MKS-80, Juno 60, 106, Polysix and lot more. I hate the cold sound character of the Nord Rack. Could it be, that the new machine sounds warmer?

I am using version 1.2 software. I put a 9 on this because sometimes the panic button doesn??t work, it seems a "sw" problem... I can live with it I hope more "sw" revisions.
The preset sounds, in my opinion are too basic. I can??t understand the reason from Clavia to do this.
Editing patches is very, very, easy. I am learning substractive syntesis techniques and in one year I can do a really wide range of nice sounds. FM on this synth seems nice to use also.
Manual is cool, I recognize this is my first hardware synth(only 3 years making music) but everything I need to know is in the manual, clearly answered and easy to find.

Other users described well below the main features of nord lead 3. I have only one opinion about the effects; for the price I paid, four or five basic effects would be good for a better "hands on" sound creation.
As a MIDI controller for v/analog soft synth is perfect!
The lights on the front panel are really good idea of the designers, the knobs are not so strong I hope they still be solid in the future...
The arpeggiator+subarpeggio+mask is the only kind of sequencer of nord lead 3... I prefer to work with a dedicated one.

This is the strongest point on this synth for sure. The combination of substractive+FM on a high quality sounding machine is nice for futuristic sounds. Is also valid for classic analog souds. I like to create complex and atmosferic pads and it reacts perfect on this. I can understand other users saying it sounds "organic". I am agree, this is the word! Bass sound is very strong. what does matter the difference with an analog? In my opinion some people should be more concerned in music creation and not in the perfect and warmer sound. Well, this is another discussion...
The frequency modulation sounds could be classics but I think the idea of the manufacturer is to make an easy FM to be mixed with substractive. FM can be more complex than on nord lead.
It reacts well to my playing, suitable for all kind of music.

I am confident on this machine. Everything I??ve heard of clavia is good. I hope on next sw revision they will solve the problem with the panic button, sometmes it doesn??t work.

Never dealt with them.
I would like more sounds on internet.

As I said before I am only playing for 3 years.
If it were lost I would buy the rack unit for space an price..
Maybe an overpriced instrument but if you don??t like nice cars, you prefer to rent than buy, you love music, and you have the money... I don??t know... it is your decision. As a non expert I can suggest you this instrument in this case:
a) You complain with all the above mentioned
b) You really like Nord Lead 3
c) You really have the opotunity to test it.
d) You want good result with an easy to program.
Some people says about soft options, ok they are valid! Choose what you want but please... make music!

Vers. 1.20. Editing on this thing is a snap, totally intuitive. Any problems I have had were covered by the manual. Clavia has the most user friendly manuals on the market, and anything you cant figure out directly (which is very little) will be easily covered in the manual.
No need for a patch editor, everything is clear and conciser, and the light up bars really assist in helping you program.

I wanted this, so I could really emulate those old analog beasts such as the Pro5, JP8, and OBXA. So 24 voices is more than enough.
The key action is disappointing. Very spongey, and almost toylike, and aftertouch triggers too easily. I learned on hammer action keys, so I play a bit harder than someone who learned on synth action keys. 49 keys limits it as well. However I just midi'd it up to my Yamaha EX-5 and Roland Fantom X8, and all complaints were easily solved.
Alot of people have complained about the lack of effects, START PROGRAMMING. I find effects to be a crutch, something I relied heavily on when I first started fiddling with synthesis several years ago. The better you get at programming, the less effects you'll need. The Unison Mode is fantastic, and it doesn't even eat up the polyphony:-)
The MIDI Capabilities are fantastic. Every knob sends and receives MIDI. I had a D-Beam and Ribbon Controllers running resonance and cutoff with no problem.
I haven't fiddled with the arpeggiator much, seems rather limited. I just use the arpeggiators from either of my Master Boards.

Its Analog Emulation, and a damn good one at that. Alot of people are complaining about the sound of the Lead 3 versus the Lead 2, and some of the complaints are valid. However I still love it. If you want real analog, then why are you getting an emulation? Go buy a Andromeda or a vintage board!!! However the Lead 3 will convince everyone but the Veteran Analog Synthesist.
Its really good old school new wave, synth pop, trance, techno, etc. I could find a dozen uses for it. However if you wan't bread and butter sounds, stay away from it.
No onboard effects, which is one of the reasons I bought it.
Once again, key action can tend to be preferential. As far as I am concerned I dont care for it much. However give it a try.

I find it very dependable. I don't gig very often, but I would feel very comfortable traveling with it as long as I had a sturdy case.

Never had to deal with Clavia. However I have heard great things about them.

If it were stolen I would definitely get another. Its a great machine. I have a Roland Fantom X8, Yamaha EX-5, Korg Wavestation, and a Korg M1. The Lead 3 complements those boards perfectly, giving me that analog bite I really wanted. It'd definitely my go to board at the moment, its the most fun, and any wild idea in my head translates easily to the board.
I do have a small list of complaints.

1. The key action. Once again I found it weak.
2. 49 keys is limited, boosting the Eventual Nord Lead 4 to 61 keys would be a step in the right direction,
3. An X/Y Pad would be awesome.

By far the best hands-on editing synth on the market. Clavia has always taken home the prize for this. The Nord Lead 3 doesn't fall short. I am using v1.20 OS and the 1024 Program presets and 163 Performance presets are fantastic. The manual is extremely intuitive. It's easy to look up something in the index and find your answer fast.

Last year I made the decision to go all soft-synths (like many artists) but after 10 months I couldn't do it anymore. When my energy is flowing and the creativity is bursting I need to know I can keep moving. Soft synths didn't cut it for me. Sitting in a chair playing with a mouse for hours really feel like I'm doing the opposite of what I'm trying to accomplish. I won't argue there are many great sounding soft synths, but the tactile feel of a keyboard such as the Nord Lead 3 cannot be replicated using software and so I'm re-building my studios. I really find the perfect blend to be using hard synths with a mixerless setup and using the DAW as my digital mixer.

Calvia has never added effects such as Reverb, Delay, etc., to the Nord Lead product line. I've used quite a few synths and typically as soon as I turn off the effects I lose my mojo. I have the opposite feeling the Nord Lead 3. It sounds fantastic without effects, and even better when I use the effects in my DAW. The point is that when it comes down to raw power with no band-aid to make something sound like more than it is, the Nord Lead really stands out as one of the industry's TOP synthesizers.

I'm going to be as short and sweet as possible. The Nord Lead 3 sounds fantastic. Despite what a small few say about the Nord Lead 3 compared to the Nord Lead 1 and 2, the Nord Lead 3 is in fact like the other two...and more! True, the NL3 does have a new sound engine, but that lovely Nord "bite" is still there. The brittle metalic sound you would sometimes get from the old boards is what I would say is missing (but not entirely), but all the original reasons I fell in love with on my Nord Lead 1 keyboard still exists in the Nord Lead 3, and then some. The 1024 presets are good and so are the 160 perforamcne presets with plenty of room to store your own. Clavia offers a free tool to easily manage the sounds it your Nord. It uses your midi ports and talks directly to it.

No effects are included, but there is so much character in this board that effects would only take away from its richness. I have no problem using my studio's effects for reverb, delay, etc..

Built extremely well. Chassis is sturdy, knobs glide well, and I would gig with it if I had the opportunity. Any synth that is worth more than $300 should be kept in a travel bag or case. Luckily Clavia makes gig bags for the Nord Lead products.

Before making the purchase I emailed Clavia with a couple of pre-sales questions. They responded within 24 hours both times and were very detailed in their answers. A+

As a long time Clavia customer and I can't recommend enough that this synth be your first choice for anyone look for a good subtractive synth with lots of hands-on control and very rich sound.

If you want an extremely intuitive, fulfilling, flexible synth for your studio or live perforances then I highly recommend the Nord Lead 3. Do not fear the people who say this doesn't sound like a legacy Nord. It does and you won't be disappointed. This is the only synth where I haven't lost my mojo..

If you know subtractive synthesis, this will be a breeze. Otherwise, give yourself a good 6 months to figure things out.

No FX. Doesn't really need them. Plug-ins, baby.

Amazing sound for a VA. The fact that peopple complain about this sound is hilarious. You need to start PROGRAMMING!!! It may not have a true analog sound, but it is really damn close.

I would absolutely gig with this thing without a backup. It's digital afterall...there ARE no problems with these babies.

I would give it a 9 out of 10 for the best user interface on the synth market, with a good analog type sound, and the reliability of a digital OS. The single most programmable non-modular on the market.

I am giving this submission cause i have some minor disagreement about the 'perfomance synth' called by the company.This synth said to be perfomance but it luck some important features for perfomance!It dont have on board fx( delay at least!),it dont have on board sequencer which are very very usefull for perfomance.It said to have many knobs and buttons,well so do and my other VA synths.It is also said that the morph wheel control simulateniously more that one sound parameters,this can be done also to other VA synths by assining the midi control 2 ( modulation wheel )to be modulator for other destinations thru a modulation matrix.And i have a question here what are the specifications that tell the difference between a VA synth and a performance VA synth?Also the program changes could be done with a foot pedal.My point here is not that i hate the lead 3 it is just that there is too much noise about it,that it shouldnt and the price is too high and at the end of the day you dont get what you pay!A perfomance VA synth!

questionnable (see blow)

Sent 3 emails concerning MIDI implementation . Still haven't heard back . But this is the best . The LFO1 control is sticking and not working properly . I took the unit back to the store where I purchased it (very dependable and reliable shop - Long & McQuade in Toronto - ) . It's been over 3 MONTHS . YES 3 -THREE-TROIS-TRES-TRE- MONTHS . AND THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE PARTS !!!!!!!! I just had it . I paid $2000 for this thing and this is what you get when it needs a (very minor) repair .
As soon as I get it , it's going on Ebay . I really don't need the aggravation . I'll stick (not that I really want to) to the Japanese stuff . And Clavia, Waldorf, Novation and Co , I don't care how amazing your instruments are . You can keep them . A relatively recent piece of gear in the shop for over 3 months for a faulty pot ? You must be kidding . This is worthless to me .

Terrible service , questionnable reliability , no FX , limited storage and expendability , expensive and not really that well built . My 20 years old Multimoog and my 12 years old K2000 are still humming like day one and feels so much well built than this Nord . I have more fun to use the K and the Moog for leads than I ever had with this Nord 3 . And one more Nord 3 for sale . One .

Probably the all-around best user interface on a VA or analog synth currently being produced. I loved the NL2x but the NL3 has an even better interface. The endless knobs and graphical LEDs tell you exactly what you're working with and hearing (except for the appegiator and glide knobs... those are still "analog" without LEDs.) Unlike the earlier Nords, you can name your patches and even file them into categories, so pulling up your own custom sounds is a snap. No need to remember cryptic banks and numbers on a tiny two-digit display. If you are at all knowledge at subtractive synthesis, you shouldn't have any problems with this synth. The only thing that threw me was the Sync feature: Instead of syncing Osc 2 to Osc 1, each Osc generates its own carrier sync wave when the sync parameter is engaged. So, you sync Osc 1 to a "hidden" carrier Osc, not to Osc 2 or vice versa.
The manual is excellent, as are all of Clavia's manuals. Newbies can also learn a thing or two (or more) about basic synthesis.

There are plenty of modulation sources for the NL3. 2 LFOs that can be set to trigger in various ways and one Mod Envelope with AD/AR (can also be used in an LFO mode), 2 Osc, FM, Sync, an Osc Mod parameter, ADSR envelopes for the Amp and Filter, and several new Filter modes, including multi-filters. If you're new to synthesis, basically this synth has everything you'd need to create very complex and unique sounds. The presets were useless for me; mostly dance-oriented stuff. I love the Nord pitch stick/mod wheels. Once you get used to them, going to another synth is a drag. The keyboard action isn't great but it isn't terrible. The NL3 is a full-featured VA synth, so if you want to know every feature, go to clavia.com and check out the specs. For all intents and purposes of this review, I'll leave it at saying that the features of this synth aren't its weak point. No onboard effects but no Nords have effects (unless you count Unison as chorus.) One note: The NL2's 2nd LFO could produce a delay effect. I don't believe that the NL3 has that capability.

Here is where the NL3 falls short of the mark. While the earlier Nord Leads are fat, warm, raw, and so analog-sounding that you forget they're digital, the Lead 3 has a very cold, thinner sound. I'm a decent programmer and I spent hours trying to fatten up the NL3 (listening over headphones.) I compared my NL2x and NL3 side by side using the same headphones and later, the same amp (Roland KC500.) There isn't any stepping or aliasing of the filter or other parameters, but there is a digital sheen coating the NL3's sound. There isn't a lot of presence, either. Perhaps through an EQ or with some FX the NL3 can sound warmer and bigger, but I didn't bother trying. The NL2x and original Nord Lead didn't need anything to beef up its sound. A touch of reverb or better yet, old-school delay was all that was needed. Many times I played live shows and left my NL2x completely dry (fusion band) and I never missed any FX. With the NL3, I was hoping for the same ballsy, rich tone that the earlier Leads generate, but with the improved interface. Unfortunately, I didn't get that. I'm pretty picky when it comes to sound and rightly so: if I'm going to spend a few thousand dollars on an instrument I'm going to expect to be satisfied. I later discovered that the NL3's sound engine is different than the previous Leads. I then tried using different programming methods so as not to get caught up in a "pattern," but I really couldn't get the same audience-grabbing pure analog sound that I want.
The oscillators sound a bit weaker than on the previous Nords, but I really feel that the culprits here are the FILTERS. Clavia added several new filters such as the "Classic" (meant to emulate the Minimoog) and "Distorted LP" as well as multi filters. Even with these tools, the filters on the NL3 are lacking in depth and musicality. It's very hard to get funky, formant-style synth leads out of the NL3 and even when you do, they still don't have the growl that the original Leads do. The ADSR envelopes don't affect the filters dynamically enough, either. The NL3 sounds a lot like my Triton Pro... a decent sound but not what I'd want to use as a solo,bass, or even pad instrument.
In my opinion, the NL3 is a new case of, if it's not broken, don't fix it; not only did Clavia miss the mark by deviating from the proven sound of the smash-hit NL1s and NL2s, but I myself bought an NL3 to replace my NL2x. Luckily for me, after trying out the NL3 for many hours in the studio and live performance situations, I was able to return it for a full refund. If you play music that centers around techno/dance you might be able to get away with the it, but even then there is much better stuff out there than this. The one strength that it does have is the basic FM 2 and 4-operator sounds, but for me, that's just icing on the cake, not a reason to buy a synth. If you're a demanding professional keyboardist like myself and want a warm, fat-sounding synth that is capable of generating classic tones and wicked modern sounds as well, don't buy this keyboard. As amazing as the interface is, sound is what matters the most, and this keyboard is lacking in that department. Get a NL2x or try out the other fine VAs out there (Alesis Ions and Microns, Viruses, Korg MS2000.)

All of Clavia's products are built rock-solid and I've depended on my Nord Electro and Nord Leads for hundreds of gigs. As long as you treat them well, all Nords will last a long, long time.

I've never dealt directly with the company, but their website is helpful. There is a software utility program for managing NL2 and NL3 sounds but I don't believe you can edit them with it.

It was so hard to say "no" to this synth because of the inviting interface. I had such a great time tweaking with this synth, but unfortunately I was never satisfied with the sound. If you are considering buying this keyboard DEMO IT FIRST! It may not work out for you. If you own an older Nord Lead and are happy with it don't think that the NL3 is an "upgrade." It's a totally different animal with a fiercer exterior but a much tamer growl.