Nord NR2X LEAD2X Rack w/Free Items

Nord NR2X LEAD2X Rack

with FREE OFFER !

Includes:
		NORD NR2X LEAD2X RACK
...plus this FREE OFFER from MusiciansBuy!
FREE		Sennheiser HD201 Headphones (sells for $34)

All items can be upgraded for the difference in price (in most cases). Just tell us what you want in the Shopping Cart 'Notes' section.

NORD NR2X Details ^top

Untitled Document Nord Lead 2 & Nord Rack 2
The 2nd classic! In 1995 Clavia launched the original Nord Lead Virtual Analog synthesizer. It immediately became a ground breaking success and set industry standard. Two years later the Nord Lead was followed by Nord Lead 2 which took the virtual analog concept even further, adding a number of improvements and new features.

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.

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 call ed '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.

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 Lead2 Brochure

NORD NR2X How to Choose ^top

How To Choose / Useful Information for Pro Keyboards

Click a question to see the answer.

Why a Pro Workstation keyboard vs.a Portable/Electronic/Arranger keyboard vs. a Synthesizer?

Pro keyboards have a multitude of other features like audio recording, editing the sound to the most elemental part of the sound, a 16+ track sequencer with detailed editing, a lot of synth sounds, they will run 4 to 18 simultaneous higher quality effects like reverb, � and have no arranging or styles other than possibly arpeggiators or drum patterns, . . A fully orchestrated sound/song can be accomplished with a pro keyboard but it assumes you want to create each part or instrument sound in a song much more closely (from scratch) than a portable ++

Portable/arranger type keyboards are more for fast songwriting, for backing tracks when you play or for one person band with drum patterns, bass, and other sounds with the accompaniment having different song style genres (blues, swing, rock,...) with different patterns for the verse, chorus,... of the song. The song styles and performances are very educational as well for learning genres that you may be unfamiliar with. You can have many instruments follow what your left hand plays in real time and chord recognition for fast performing, portables have more meat and potato sounds and fewer synthesizer sounds

Synthesizers- typically do not have workstation features like sequencing, recording audio, having all types of sounds, . . . but rather focus on doing a few or sounds extremely well which usually are not acoustic or real world instruments but 'other worldly' sounds with many ways to manipulate the sound.
What affects the price you will pay and what should you look for?

The level of realism and selection of the sounds- each keyboard typically does some sounds better than others so decide which main sounds are important to you and play each model (or listen to sound files) you are interested in to find the one that sounds best to you. Does it have all the sounds you are looking for to make a completed song?

Ease of use- hardware knobs, buttons,... amount and location and logically placed

Display size- touchscreen, color, icon based, easy to read, backlighting not too dark,...

Sequencer- depth of editing features, ease of use as you could spend most of your time here, linear recording only or pattern based recording as well, ...

Quality and number of effects- reverb, EQ per part, compressors, master FX, number of part insert FX, master/global FX, does it have enough DSP to finish a 16 track song without needing external processing

Audio recording/sampling -2 to 8 tracks or more- how easy is it to actually record and playback, does it have enough recording memory/time- re: roughly 10 meg a stereo minute, how is the recording backed up,..

Drums- does it have �easy to chain� patterns or is the arpegiator easy to use, does it have pads on top of keyboard or none at all,...

The number of simultaneous notes the keyboard will play (polyphony)- important if you write denser arrangements or use instruments that use a lot of polyphony (piano,...)

Control computer software via hardware sliders, knobs,...

Computer control the keyboard with editor/librarian- as VST plug-in, standalone, 100% editing, the visuals on a big computer screen can shorten the learning curve (much more intuitive)

Operating system- is it intuitive or obtuse, ...

Maximum RAM memory- will determine possibly how much recording time is available or how much room you will have for adding external samples/sounds

Connectors- # of audio outputs, balanced or unbalanced input, data storage- memory card, jump drive, USB to computer connection
Comparison Chart

http://www.musiciansbuy.com/workstation_comparison.html
How good do these pro workstations sound?

Please notice that almost every keyboard on our site has a sound file you can play on your computer to hear for yourself.
What about speakers?

For home or studio use we prefer powered studio monitors for the best audio quality without spending a lot and keep the sound in stereo (versus a mono keyboard amp) which is much better with full orchestrations,...

All have headphone jacks if you prefer not to be heard.

For stage, keyboard amplifiers come in all sizes depending on the size of the venue
What accessories should I consider?
- Stand- stabds come in many shapes and styles- X style, Z style, ...
- Bench- consider a more sturdy 4 leg bench if you do not need portability, X style if you do -- the wider the better.
- Headphones- full size will be more comfortable and quieter and may offer better quality audio
- Pedals- most come with a sustain pedal, some have jacks for more control - volume, expression, etc.
- Bag or case- we recommend the manufacturer bags and cases first, then Gator Cases and bags. Do you need wheels? Will only you be carrying it? Will it be on planes? (should have ATA rating)
- Jump drive/Storage card for audio, midi ...
- Computer interface if no USB connection- need multi-port midi, how many channels of audio ...
- Dust cover

Glossary

What is a Style?
combination of sounds like drums, bass and keys with rhythms and chord progressions in a certain genre (rock, big band, jazz,�) which create backing tracks that you can play a lead part over
What are Song Sections?
these are divisions of a song that portable arranger keyboards identify as an intro, verses, choruses, bridge, fills, outro,� with performed by musicians that reflect the mood/feeling of each of those sections that enable faster song arranging
What is MIDI?
an interface to connect a keyboard to the computer like USB port for printers. It sends note and other data from the keyboard to the computer or vice versa. Basically says play this note at this time at this volume level- it is not an actual audio recording. It also makes it possible for one keyboard to play another keyboard.
What is polyphony?
the number of simultaneous notes that can be played, though if it�s a stereo sample/recording each note can use 2 notes at once. Its important for anyone who plays a lot of notes at the same time and holds down the sustain pedal. The earliest notes played will cut out when the limit is exceeded. This can happen with pianos with 32 note polyphony especially.
What is a sequencer?
a recorder with 1 to 16 tracks usually so that multiple instruments can be played back for fully orchestrated songs and can have elaborate editing capability. Typically digital pianos have only 1 or 2 tracks for playing back a piano performance and archiving another. These can be downloaded to the computer with a midi interface
What is sampling/samples?
a short audio recording of a note. For more realistic sound, digital pianos can be recorded at different velocities so that when you strike a note harder, the timbre changes for better realism
What are effects?
to modify and enhance the sounds in the keyboard including non- piano sounds. e.g. - reverb will put the piano in a small room or up to a large concert hall.

Don�t see the answer to your question?

Call us toll-free at 1 877 778 7845 and speak to our piano experts

Warranty Information:

Customer Service 704.529.1255 eMail: info@nord-us.com Nord Website

Nord NR2X LEAD2X Rack

NORD NR2X Details top

NORD NR2X How to Choose top

NORD NR2X Details ^top

NORD NR2X How to Choose ^top