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.

20 VISITOR COMMENTS

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!

synthguy

October 9, 2011 @ 9:20 pm

The Nord Modular editor that runs on OSX is available from Clavia, as a Beta only. But I've used it without any problem for years.

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

ZrinZoo

September 26, 2011 @ 10:01 am

I recently bought the Nord Modular rack and I'm trying to install the software on a Macbook 2GHz intel core 2 duo 1GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM and is saying

" YOU CANT OPEN THE APPLICATION MODULAR EDITOR 3 BECAUSE THE CLASSIC ENVIRONMENT IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED"

Can please anyone help me install the modular Rack..

just send me an email on paranoidfrog@hotmail.com

Thank you in advance

Botz

September 5, 2011 @ 7:04 pm

The nord modular is better than software modulars in terms of stability and having a the unique nord sound. Software modulars still have that thin paper soft synth sound. The nord modular has a full rich sound to it. but if you want the real analog modular sound, you gotta pay and get the real thing. the Nord Modular is a fine musical instrument that mixes well with other synths.

Blake

August 7, 2011 @ 8:33 pm

Had a play on one of these and I totally understand why it was discontinued. Put together a real modular or get the classic that's still being produced; the Nord Lead 2X. Or, make a go for a G2 and hope you OS can still run it. You might be better off with Reaktor. It was a nice piece for it's time, the G2 is much better, but if you really have that modular itch that needs to be scratched, Reaktor for the cost and longevity or start buying modules and build your own hardware sound machine.

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