What is a Nord Lead ?

[jordanrudessjr]

Hey this question may sound kinda stupid to all the keyboard wizards out there but i was wondering what a Nord Lead keyboard is? i know its a keyboard but do u make all your own sounds on it or how does it work? does it come with a bunch of presets or do u have to have another keyboard to use with it, it obviously must be pretty rockin if Derek Sherenian has one. (the reason im asking is im thinking about buying one over the summer if i can get some prett rockin sounds out of it)

-JRJR

[merijn]

It's an analog synth, if i'm not wrong. You work with waveforms, instead of patches. You can get really cool sounds out of a Nord Lead. Ask Alberto R. S. about this, he owns one. :D

[PsawniK]

It's actually a virtual analog synth. Its sound has been descibed as sharp, edgy, and biting.

[Omega Monkey]

You want to buy one but you dont know what it is?

Gotta love consumerism!

Anyway, a Nord Lead is just a particular model of virtual analog synth. Which basically means a digital keyboard that pretends to be an analog synth by emulating the signal chain and controls of an analog synth. Saying that you work with waveforms INSTEAD of patches is false though. A patch is just any complete sound on a keyboard basically, and a patch will ALWAYS have SOME kind of waveform. A Nord Lead however strictly uses "standard" waveforms (no samples) such as saw and square waves.

As far as what sounds you can get out of them, well, pretty much any analog-type sound more or less. Anything from fat warm polyphonic pads, to buzzy resonant leads, to blips and bleeps.

My advice would be to do internet searches on "subtractive synthesis" and "virtual analog" to find out more hard facts. And for god sakes, dont go lusting after things that you dont even know what it is!

[albertors]

Yes indeed a Nord Lead is a virtual analog synthesizer. No samples, just oscillators, filters, envelopes, amp. No effects on board. It uses substractive synthesis (advanced subtractive synthesis on version 3 due to the addition of FM) and it's red.

You should visit www.clavia.se and listen to the demos, read all the documentation that you might like to. Then try and find other opinions and, most important, try to find one to play on for some time. Don't worry too much about that either if you are going to take it or leave it both decisions are going to be quick.

Good luck!
Alberto

[Deceit]

Every patch needs a waveform, right. The NL's waves are mathematically calculated, they are algorythms such as sine, square, saw, pulse. A PCM synth uses sampled waves (you can even sample from line in/mic) .
Virtual Analog synths are much more math based, that's why it's fucking different :D.
Deceit.

[merijn]

Yes indeed a Nord Lead is a virtual analog synthesizer. No samples, just oscillators, filters, envelopes, amp. No effects on board. It uses substractive synthesis (advanced subtractive synthesis on version 3 due to the addition of FM) and it's red.

You should visit www.clavia.se and listen to the demos, read all the documentation that you might like to. Then try and find other opinions and, most important, try to find one to play on for some time. Don't worry too much about that either if you are going to take it or leave it both decisions are going to be quick.

Good luck!
Alberto

OMG, you got a reply from Alberto! Consider yourself lucky man!! :D