A hidden synthesizer into the NordLead and NordLead2

Wout Blommers · Last edited by Wout Blommers on Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:48 am; edited 1 time in total

There is a complete different synthesizer implemented into the NordLead and NordLead2, and their Rack versions, of course.
NOT into the NordLead2X and NordRack2X...

http://nm-archives.electro-music.com/020_NordLead2/Red_Lady/Index_bestanden/Red_Lady/Synthese_methods.htm
and click the link Hidden Synthesizer

Beware: the output is very loud, so protect your ears by controlling the volume usin a mixing desk!

Have fun and hopefully return o this forum with questions, remarks and results...

The special mode is not completely finished and there is no documentation nor Manual.

Read the text first and listen to the sound examples.

Merry Christmas!

Wout

dorremifasol · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:49 am Post subject:

This is ultra-cool Wout, thanks for the info Very Happy

Now where can I find a cheap Nord Rack 2...

Wout Blommers · Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:56 pm Post subject:

This one is surely not for sale...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhZVStJefWQ

Wout

GriZZly · Joined: Nov 29, 2010 Posts: 7 Location: Netherlands

Hey there,

I was reading that article and thought, hey isn't that my post?
I'm glad you found this out, this sure is awesome Very Happy

I'll definately try this out too.

But is there really no one who can tell what the knobs etc. exactly are? I mean not even the people from clavia knew this anymore?

Cheers,

Wout Blommers · Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:36 am Post subject:

ricard · Joined: Jan 05, 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Lund, Sweden

The person who wrote the firmware inside the Nord Lead 1 and 2 (Peter Jubel, aka "Pelle") now works for Propellerhead software. Another Propellerhead employee who happens to be on an email list that I frequent asked Pelle if he remembered anything about it; even had a Nord Lead in the office so that they could play with it. Unfortunately Pelle didn't remember anything in particular about the mode (don't forget the Nord Lead firmware was written 15 years ago!), not even how to get into the mode, except that it was some form of string synthesis method. (Karplus-Strong comes to mind, but I don't know if the Nord Lead mode is related to it.)

He did recall however that there were two sub modes, one 'plucked', and one 'bowed' (where the mod wheel would function as the bow of a violin), but could not remember how to switch between the two.

After a little experimentation, I determined that the LFO2 DEST (ARP.TYPE) button toggles between the modes, in that in 'plucked' mode a small 'chirp' or 'click' is inserted at the beginning of the sound. It's not always noticeable though; it probably depends on a combination of the other parameters. (Note that the LEDs don't change when the button is pressed in this mode, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that nothing is happening).

All in all, the synth behaves very weirdly in this mode (tried on my Nord Lead 2), very uncontrollable at times. I wonder if it works slightly differently on the Nord Lead 1; I would assume that it was implemented on the '1, and then just remained in the firmware when the '2 was made, so it could be that it doesn't match any changes made in hardware between the '1 and the '2. All pure speculation on my part.

/Ricard

v-un-v · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:19 pm Post subject:

No offence Wout, but wouldn't it just be better to buy a Nord Modular instead? It would be more musical! Laughing

Wout Blommers · Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 2:02 am Post subject:

ricard!

BoBSwanS · Joined: May 08, 2011 Posts: 4 Location: Manchester Uk

Amazing!