Clavia Nord MicroModular

No longer available at zZounds

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

All the sound capability of the Nord Modular Rack, just less polyphony.

Overview

Nord synths are among the hottest and most in-demand items in the music industry today, and rightly so. On the cutting edge of design and sound, it's simple to know why most everybody wants to own and play a Nord. But Nords have been a top-line item, and priced accordingly.

But Clavia, the folks who make the Nord, looked a little further up their sleeve, and came out with the Nord Modular, and the model described here, the Micro Modular. The system is in 2 parts: the hardware synthesizer, and the computer editor. Using your own PC, you patch virtual modules together in the editing software. The modules are traditional synth building blocks like oscillators, filters, envelope generators, etc. An array of special modules like audio processors is also included. After your patch has been tweezed to your liking, it's stored in the hardware synth module, and you're good to go! Take the small and light unit with you, and 99 of your patches go along for the ride.

The unit behaves like any MIDI synth, responding to controller changes as programmed. Three assignable knobs on the top of the hardware unit allow you to manipulate parameters away from the computer in real time. The system software is in flash ROM, so upgrades are a cinch.

Now here's the cool part: the virtual modules are 100% software and are constantly being upgraded by Clavia. These upgrades and new virtual modules are available for download FREE OF CHARGE from the Clavia website. Mix and match, collect 'em all! If… read more this were 1972, you'd need a big big room and a ton of patchcords to have this much modular synth.

Now don't carried away, it says MICRO for a reason. The maximum polyphony is 4 notes, depending on patch complexity. This is not a "do-everything" synth, but rather a specialty rig for those keen on duplicating the big analog mono synths of vintage days. You'll have to know a bit about electronic music creation, and it goes without saying that you'll already have to have a PC or Macintosh.

Also, if you're looking for a cheap way to get into the Nord sound, and are the type that only plays stock factory patches, this box will probably disappoint you. But if you "like to get under the hood" and make your own sounds, you'll have a ton of fun with this system, and know that nobody else will sound exactly like you.

Specs

Polyphony: dynamic, typically 1-4

Note: You can process analog stereo input signals even if a patch uses more than 50% patch load.

Internal memory: 100 patches

Inputs: 2 analog, MIDI in, PC in

Outputs: 2 analog (18-bit D/A converter), MIDI out, PC out,1 headphones output

3 user assignable editing knobs

1 master volume

Dimensions (W x D x H): 210 x 120 x 40mm; 8.2 x 4.5 x 1.4 in.

Micro Modular Modules
In/Out group: Keyboard, Keyboard patch, MIDI global, Audio in, Keyb Split, 1 Output, 2 Outputs, 4 Outputs, Morph, Note detect

Oscillator group: Oscillator A, Oscillator B, Oscillator C, Master OSC, Spectral OSC, Formant OSC, Drum synth, Oscillator slave A, Oscillator slave B, Oscillator slave C, Oscillator slave D, Oscillator slave E, Noise Percussion oscillator, Sine Bank

LFO group: LFOA, LFOB, LFOC, Pattern generator, LFO slave A, LFO slave B, LFO slave C, LFO slave D, LFO slave E, Clock generator, Clocked random step generator, Random step generator, Random pulse generator, Random generator

Envelope group: ADSR-Envelope, AD-Envelope, Envelope follower, Multistage envelope, AHD-Envelope with mod., ADRS-Envelope with mod.

Filter group: FilterA, FilterB, FilterC, FilterD, FilterE, FilterF, EQ Mid., Shelving EQ, Vocoder

Mixer group: 3 inputs mixer, 8 inputs mixer, Gain control, X-Fade with modulator, Pan, On/Off switch, 4-1 switch, 1-4 switch, Amplifier, 1 to 2 Fader, 2 to 1 Fader

Audio modifier group: Clip, Overdrive, Wavewrapper, Quantizer, Delay, Sample and hold, Diode processing, Stereo chorus, Shaper Phaser, Expander, Compressor, Inverter & level shifter, Ring/Modulator

Control Modifier group: Constant, Smooth, PortamentoA, PortamentoB, Note scaler, Note quantizer, Control mixer, Partial generator, Key quantizer, Note +

Logic group: Positive edge delay, Negative edge delay, Pulse, Logic delay, Logic inverter, Logic processor, Compare to level, Compare AB, Clock divider, Clock divider fixed

Sequencer group: Event sequencer, Control sequencer, Sequencer, Note sequencer