The virtual analog concept combines classic ideas with today's technology. Instead of analog components we use digital signal processors (DSPs) that we program to emulate analog synthesis. The programming is made very carefully to reproduce the warmth and richness of the traditional analog sound. But the virtual analog technique opens up for much more possibilities than "just" analog sound. You can create crisp or really nasty "analog-digital" sounds that widely exceeds the limits of competing products. Awesome leads, booming basses, frantic techno - at your fingertips.
Every function has a dedicated knob, just like it used to be in the good old days. No more complex menus! Total real time control and instant accessibility make it a breeze to shape the sounds exactly the way you want them.
The Virtual Analog concept
The original Nord Lead, released in 1995, immediately became a groundbreaking
success. This was the world's first virtual analog synthesizer and it became
a classical right from the start. It used a completely new synthesis concept:
real-time digital emulation of analog synthesis. No samples as far as ear
could reach!
With the release of the Nord Lead, a new industry standard was born. All around the world, musicians praise the warm analog sound, the simplicity and the smart design of the Nord Lead. Two years later the Nord Lead was followed by Nord Lead 2 which brought the "virtual analog" concept even further, adding a number of improvements and new features.
The sound generation used in Nord Lead synthesizers is called 'virtual analog'. This innovative technique for producing analog sounds was originally developed by Clavia and debuted in the original classic Nord Lead, the world's first 'virtual analog synthesizer'. The virtual analog concept combines classic ideas with today's technology. Instead of analog components we use digital signal processors (DSP) that we program to emulate analog synthesis. The programming is made very carefully to reproduce the warmth and richness of the traditional analog sound.
Clavia has analyzed analog synthesizer design in detail and implemented the research in several digital models. The Nord Lead employs mathematical simulations of the electronic signal generated by analog oscillators, instead of using waveform tables. This makes it possible, for example, to sweep the pitch smoothly over a very wide range and allow for true pulse width modulation. Also, the character of the Nord Lead filter has a typical analog behavior when swept with a high Q-value.
But it doesn't stop there; the technique opens up for much more sound possibilities than "just" analog sound. You can create crisp or really nasty "analog-digital" sounds that widely exceeds the limits of competing products. That's one of the reasons why the Nord Lead synthesizers has become so popular around the world. The Nord Lead synthesizer does it all... and more. Awesome leads, booming basses, frantic techno - at your fingertips. Every function has a knob, just like it used to be in the good old days. No more complex menus! Total real time control and instant accessibility make it a breeze to shape the sounds exactly the way you want them.
Nord Lead 2/Rack 2 specifications
The first part of this page describes the Nord Lead 2/Rack 2 specifications. At the bottom of the page, the Nord Lead 2/Rack 2 features compared to Nord Lead 1/Rack 1 are listed.
Polyphony
16 voices. 4 part multi-timbral.
Special features
Velocity programming: Each function that is controlled by a knob, can
be programmed to be controlled by velocity.
Morphing: Each function that
is controlled by a knob can also be controlled by the modulation wheel/pedal
to continuously fade between two sets of values.
Performance controllers
4-octave velocity sensitive
keyboard. (Nord Lead only)
Octave Shift buttons (+/-2
oct.)
Keyboard Split, two sections. (Nord Lead only)
Wooden Pitch Stick, designed to change the pitch continuously without any dead spots. It gives you complete control of the pitch and allows you to make true and natural vibrato. The effect increases exponentially as you move it further from the center. Patent pending for the "Pitch Stick". (Nord Lead only)
Modulation Wheel for modulating a number of selectable destinations. Looks great, feels great, works great. (Nord Lead 2 only)
1 pedal input for sustain and 1 for expression pedal.
User interface
3 digit LED display, 26 knobs
and 27 buttons for program editing.
Oscillator section
Oscillator 1 generating sine, triangle, sawtooth or pulse wave with adjustable
width. Oscillator 2 generating triangle, sawtooth or pulse (with adjustable
width) and can also generate noise with a color control. Oscillator 2
can be hard synched to oscillator 1. Linear deep frequency modulation
of osc 1 from osc 2. A wide range of new waveforms with a strong formant
character is achieved with the new synchable noise, where noise can be
synched to Osc. 1.
Filter section
12 dB "2 pole" lowpass, 24 dB "4 pole" lowpass, bandpass or highpass.
Cut off, resonance, envelope amount, envelope amount controlled by velocity.
ADSR envelope. Filter keyboard tracking can be set to full, half or off.
Filter distortion.
Amplifier section
ADSR envelope, gain control.
Modulation section
Lfo 1 generating triangle, saw, pulse, LF filtered noise and random staircase
routed to Osc 1+2, Osc 2, filter, pulse-width and FM amount. Lfo 2 produces
a triangle waveform, routed to Osc 1 and 2 or amplifier. It also controls
the rate for the arpeggiator. Arpeggiator: Range: 1 - 4 octave. Modes:
up, down, up/down, random. Echo can be set between 1 and 8 repeats. Modulation
envelope (attack, decay) for Osc 2 pitch, FM amount and pulse width.
Performance section
Play mode: Poly, legato, mono, unison mono, unison poly. Manual mode.
Four program slots for layering possibilities. Portamento / auto portamento.
Percussion kits
10 analog drumkits. Each percussion kit holds 8 independent sounds, configured
in 8 zones across the keyboard.
Memory
40 user-programs, 59 factory
programs and 100 factory performances. An additional 297 (99 x 3) user-programs,
100 user-performance programs and 30 drumkits can be saved on a PCMCIA
64 (or more) kilobyte battery backed SRAM card.
Audio Out
4 outputs. Each slot have its own output. Modes: Stereo, mono and multitimbral
mode. Headphones output. High resolution and low noise 18 bit DAC.
MIDI features
All control knobs and switches for program editing send and receive Control
Change messages. System exclusive bulk dumps. One program or all programs.
MIDI clock synchronizing LFO 1 and LFO 2/arpeggiator. Triggering of the
filter and amplifier envelopes and velocity control from separate programmable
MIDI channel and note numbers.
Dimensions
Nord Lead 2: 865(W) 265(D) 105(H) mm. Weight 6.7 kg. 34.0"(W) 10.4"(D) 4.1"(H). Weight: 14.7 lbs.
Nord Rack 2: 435(W) 210(D) 105(H) mm. Weight 4.5 kg. 19" rack mountable, 4 units high.
The Nord Lead 2 offers 4 parts multitimbrality. You have access to them at all times - in real time. Imagine the advantages in a MlDI setup. With the Nord, it's a breeze to edit your sounds.
The pitch stick. Put your finger in the "groove" and move it! You have complete control of the Pitch, just as a violin or a guitar player.
The Nord Lead 2 is light and portable. With a weight of only 6.7 kg (14.7 Ibs) it's easy to carry to the gig.
The difference between Nord Lead 2/Rack 2 and Nord Lead 1/Rack1
Polyphony
16 voices. Nord Lead 1/Rack
1 has 4 voices (expandable to 12)
Oscillator
A Sine wave is added to the
already powerful Oscillator section. From all of the classic features
of the analog concept Nord Lead 2 now adds an old favorite editing parameter:
Ring Modulation as well as a wealth of new digital waveform possibilities
created by using the "synchable noise" feature. In the Nord Lead 2 you
are able to sync Noise and Oscillator 1 to create sounds unlike any you've
heard before.
Filter section
The filter section in Nord Lead has been appreciated for its warm sound
character and "unique" filter types. An exciting new addition to the
filter section is the Distortion button. Try it! It will do fun things
with your filters, adding even more excitement to your patches.
Filter Keyboard Tracking selection has been added to the Nord Lead 2. Now you can choose between 1/3, 2/3 Full or Off.
LFO1
In the modulation area several
new features have been added. The LFO 1 section has two more waveform
choices and one more destination.
LFO2
The Arpeggiator has been
redesigned and offers a Hold function.
Mod Env
Pulse Width has been added
to the destinations in the Modulation Envelope section.
Audio Out
4 outputs. Each slot have its own output. Modes: Stereo, mono and multitimbral
mode.
Pedal input
Finally, to expand the Nord Lead 2's live performance abilities, a second
pedal input has been added. One pedal is available for Sustain and the
other for Expression.
NORD NL2X LEAD 2X VIRTUAL ANALOG KYBD
