Vintage Synth Explorer

Clavia • Nord Lead

One of the most incredible new synths available. It re-defines analog synthesis in a modern synth. Using Virtual Sound Modelling technology the intricate nuances and character of analog synth sounds are beautifully recreated on this amazingly flexible synth.

First of all, it can sound like them all, an ARP 2600 or a Minimoog or a Roland Jupiter. This synth is polyphonic and multitimbral, it has a very flexible filter, LFO and Envelope control, portamento/legato, a great arpeggiator and analog-like dedicated knobs for quick and easy synthesizing!

Everything is MIDI'd up and controllable, there's a great pitch bender and a 'morphing' feature. A performance mode allows certain parameters to be stored with a sound such as unison or poly modes, legato and portamento. It is available as a Keyboard, a Rackmount module and as Virtual PC Software.

This synth is currently in use by lots of artists including Ken Ishii, The Crystal Method, Fatboy Slim, Cirrus, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Deftones, Mouse on Mars, Maroon 5, Dr. Dre, Laurent Garnier, ATB, The Prodigy, Autechre, Astral Projection, Boom Boom Satellites, Fluke, Front Line Assembly, KMFDM and Underworld.

VISITOR COMMENTS

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Jeff

Posted 221 days ago

"it really is a classic and all over many psy trance releases from the early to midi 90's"

Too bad that the synth was originally produced at 1995, I would've liked to have a time machine too, just like the psy trance producers you're talking here. :)

jack

Posted 247 days ago

ps

it is one of the greatest dance synths you can buy as its not flabby , over fat , has lightning fast env and a filter that 'whips ' , if the roland mks80 or moog were a car they would be a jaguar - this things a ferrari - seriously - jims a wanker or was it bill > both are tone deaf !!!!!!!!

jack

Posted 247 days ago

This is a fat and roar machine , its power is in its lower midrange kick in the guts basslines , it really is a classic and all over many psy trance releases from the early to midi 90's,Clavia have slowly engineered out the machines magic and the mk2 and 3 sound digital in relation to the mk1 which is the one to own.Ok this wont mimik and moog or super jupiter but DOES have a very powerfull sound and can so lead and bass lines and sequences no other can ! The synthesis of it is highly complex at times due to 2 lfo and fm and stuff , it can somehow do stuff you dont expect , weird fx and strange noises abound and its really a wonderfull magik machine and so underated , it just somehow has a magik , fits in a mix and doesnt dwarf large pa systems , just cuts through ,

eSeR

Posted 264 days ago

Few days ago I`ve got my hands on a Nord with the 8 voice expansion. So, what can I tell? I can`t agree with Jim. There always will be people who like that kind of sound, and those who not. It depends on what You need. I was looking for an older virtual synth which has - lets say - that "harschness" and "dirt" in its sound. I`ve tested the 2X too, but it sounds much more cleaner to my ears, so I`ve chosen the MK I. I am playing drum and bass, sometimes experimental electronica, and of course making orders for everyone who needs it. When it cames to the first two categories, the Nord sits ideally. And it`s very-very easy to use. This thing gives me lots of inspiring sounds and good ideas.

Jim Wicked

Posted 268 days ago

I have a very polarized love/hate relationship with this thing. On the one hand, it's super easy to use and program. I wish more synths were designed like this. Even a few classic analogs could have learned something from the Lead's design. You can sit down with this thing and in five minutes have about twenty usable sounds. On the other hand, it sounds terrible. Thin, weak, and brittle. One of the worst sounding synths ever made, really. The only thing that makes it usable is a design flaw: the gain tops out about halfway through the gain knob's full rotation, and starts clipping after that. Even this is a downfall though as it only sounds pleasant for about half the sounds you'd think it would.

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