Tool to create NS3 and NS4 programs from NS2 and NS3 progs

[st2ex]

Hi all,

I'm looking at the brilliant Program Viewer tool that @florence and others have put together: nord-stage-3-programs-ns3p-ns3pb-files- ... 19939.html

It seems that it wouldn't be too hard to make a tool which did a basic job of creating NS3 or NS4 programs from previous versions. Obviously the tool wouldn't be able to replicate the programs fully because the keyboard functionality is so different... but I think the following would be incredibly useful, and probably straightforward for someone with the right skills? My idea is:
- Export my existing custom programs (in my case approx 40 of them on NS2)
- The tool:
-- Creates a new program for each (for either NS3 or NS4), with the correct name
-- Assigns the correct sounds and samples to the slots / sections
-- Does one or two basics that are common across boards, e.g. sets split points, volume
- Import the new Programs to the new keyboard

It would save hours just from creating the basic names programs with the right sounds assigned. From there I can sort out effects, or improve with all the new features like piano dynamics etc.

What do you think? Is it doable? Who could do the actual work, and would a few of us chuck a few $$ towards it as a project?

[Schorsch]

What do you think? Is it doable?

Yes, I think it's doable in general, but it requires full analysis of the different program structures of each of the instruments, which I am not sure was done by Florence for NS2 and NS3 since there might be more information in the files and specifics of the file formats than needed to identify the elements of a program. For NS4 there is no work done yet so this has to be fully analyzed first, which is a really time consuming process as I could imagine

Who could do the actual work

Well, in theory everyone who is able to "re-engineer" the Nord file formats in total, has the programming skills to create such a tool and sufficient free time - plus help from NS4 users for the NS3 part (see my answer above for the first part of your question).

would a few of us chuck a few $$ towards it as a project?

Yes absolutely, I would be willing to donate some money to support such a project!

[florence]

hi

This idea was already on the table when the NS3 was released, and makes a lot of sense of course. Nord should provide such app actually!

Today the NS2/NS3 viewer app is 'only' a viewer to avoid any issue downloading non official file into our baby, but all the NS2/NS3 file structure is now available after, many, many hours.

But for now I decided to not add a 'write program' feature to avoid any version issue. Why? Because this needs to be tested, maintained on each OS upgrade, and I simply have no spare time to spend on this.

Also have no plan to migrate to the NS4 for now, maybe in 2/3 years but no needs for me to spend so much money, I'm not pro giging every week...

As code is free and public, maybe another volunteer can jump in

[WannitBBBad]

I thought the same not long ago and posted this -> Tool. For the most part, piano and organ Presets could be recreated and the basics for the synth Presets, especially if samples are used. I would be willing to contribute to such a project as well but agree with florence that it would be easier if Nord took on the task (or at least provided assistance).

[spradders]

Oh - sorry I didn't find the other post on this. My post here is effectively a duplicate, maybe should be deleted.
The interesting thing reading the other post now, is the spreadsheet extract.... because if there was a way to do a spreadsheet import that would allow us to at least get the basics across from one Nord to another.
Is that possible??
I wouldn't see a need to understand the whole NS4 file structure, just enough to know which bits to Find and Replace, starting with a generic program where all slots occupied by placeholder sounds.

[Schorsch]

I wouldn't see a need to understand the whole NS4 file structure, just enough to know which bits to Find and Replace, starting with a generic program where all slots occupied by placeholder sounds.

Yeah, but for this you would first need to understand the whole file structure, as otherwise how would you know which bits should be modified, right? That's very time consuming ....

I am not sure if Nord will provide such a "migration" tool, they could have done so many years ago already if they would be willing to support us in migrating from one instument generation to the next one

[maxpiano]

hi
This idea was already on the table when the NS3 was released, and makes a lot of sense of course. Nord should provide such app actually!

Well, also Yamaha didn't provide such tools for their Motif family (where each model was indeed much more similar to the previous) and then a guy named John Melas made a business out of that... food for thought?

PS: of course, Yamaha was providing full details of parameters/sysex implementation (not sure if also files structures, probably not) and that is what Nord is actually lacking

[spradders]

Here's a basic question... but may not have a basic answer, what's the easiest way to open and edit a program file??

[st2ex]

To my understanding there is no sound editor.
You can use the Nord St 2 / 3 program viewer. https://github.com/Chris55/ns3-program-viewer
No re-write possible

[cookie]

Can't say enough on the tremendous work by Florence to create the NS2/3 Viewer, not forgetting the precious fellows who helped generate each program file for every single parameter change ! There was absolutely no help/info from Nord to create this app, which makes this a true brilliancy !

To answer your question, yes, you can export the NS2 or NS3 program structure using the tool : this will help create manually what can be converted on the NS4.

Creating program files from 3rd party without Nord consent nor support is indeed a non-sense !

I still have the A1 program viewer half completed : this would help NS3 users to potentially recreate some nice synth sounds from the A1. Same could apply to decipher the Wave2 format for Stage4 users

Fred