The Nord Modular is Clavia's Nord synth with modular abilities using virtual sound modeling. The keyboard itself is small and compact. It houses the synth engine and all DSP processors. However, the Nord Modular must be connected to a Pentium PC with Windows 95 or a PowerMac. Be sure to get the latest OS version which is v3.03.

The software is the Nord Modular Editor. It is simply an editor, but a powerful one that graphically shows you a the modules you want and is where you graphically make patches between modules and synthesize a sound. It features over 100 modules! It's true modular synthesis meets computer synthesis. It sounds awesome too! The keyboard still has MIDI to be controlled and sequenced from your standard sequencer. The programs you create in the editor can be stored on the computer or in one of the 100 memories in the keyboard. Once you've created a sound you can quit the editor program and use the keyboard controller stand-alone.

The keyboard has multiple outputs, pedal input, has a very easy and intuitive layout and a nice LCD screen. It also features a very good sequencer! The Nord Modular system is expensive but it's like a Nord Lead 2 on steroids and without limits! If you're not interested in the keyboard, a desktop/rack-mount version is also available (pictured below).

Software version 2.1 adds many new features including a Ring Modulator, 14-Band FilterBank, Vocal Filter, FM Sine wave, Digitizer (bare-bones sampling) and many more tricks. The latest OS is version 3 and adds more features such as a 16-band vocoder and Mac compatibility. The Nord Modular is already being used by Astral Projection, Autechre, BT, The Chemical Brothers, Somatic Responses, The Crystal Method, Junkie XL, Mouse on Mars, and Nine Inch Nails.

24 VISITOR COMMENTS

faxinadu

May 3, 2012 @ 3:41 am

And here is a pack of over 70 patches:

http://faxinadu.blogspot.com/2012/05/faxi-nadu-nord- modular-pack-over-70.html

faxinadu

April 28, 2012 @ 10:32 am

very nice modular system. distinct clavia sound (a good thing for the most part). responsive and musical.

i just posted a nordlead clone patch for the nordmodular, have a look:
http://faxinadu.blogspot.com/2012/04/nord-lead-clone-an d-sherman-filterbank.html

H-Bomb

April 13, 2012 @ 7:21 am

There's a Nord G2X on ebay right now

ebay.com/itm/140738680061?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trk sid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1202

Richard

March 9, 2012 @ 2:44 am

The Nord Modular will always be an amazing machine, even though its DSP power has obviously been far exceeded by software. Ironically, one of its strengths is the software editor - I've had people who've never even been near a synth make meaningful patches on it within half an hour of explaining the basics to them. It's like an interactive tutorial on subtractive synthesis, combining the immediacy of easily assignable knobs with a clarity of representation in the software that IMO hasn't been bettered. Many people automatically say "Reaktor" when I mention the Nord. To each his own, I guess.

stek

December 9, 2011 @ 5:16 am

http://www.nordkeyboards.com/downloads/software/nord%2 0modular/Nord%20Modular%20Editor%20OSX%20BETA.zip

dead link... all files of OS X on clavia site - non suppoted by Lion 10.7!

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