Nord Lead 2 is the best for lead, pad, bass, noise, click sounds. I also love the percussion kits on it. It was priced a little high back when i bought it, but no other synth that i was looking at(jp8000, ms2000, cs6x) impressed me as much as NL2 did, i even liked it better then more expansive Virus, Novation or OB12. I have bought synths and i have sold synths, but Nord is a keeper.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Friday-Sep-10-2004 at 13:17
simon
a hobbyist user
from usa
writes:
Nord Lead 2 is the best for lead, pad, bass, noise,click sounds! It was priced a little high back when i bought it, but no other synth that i was checking out, stood out the way NL2 did. I was choosing between jp8000, ms2000, cs6x and even more expensive Virus, Novation, or ob12 didn't impress me as much.The only complaint i have is the keyboard, while it is not the worst, it isn't very good, other then that, it is a keeper.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Friday-Sep-10-2004 at 13:04
a hobbyist user
writes:
Dear friends, i would like your experienced opinion about that: i own a PA60 and now i want to go to a nord lead 2x. i compose dance music and i am interestd in very quality synths sounds etc. here in greece nl2x costs new about 1800 euro. i can change pa60 plus 1000 euro for a brand new nl2x. I find this not a very good idea. need your help!!!at first about this offer and second....please tell me if nl2x has a sequencer and some factory styles-rythmes that i can ''play'' with them? please help me alesscorpis@hotmail.com
Rating: 0 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Aug-18-2004 at 12:03
YoYo Hannes
a part-time user
from Germany/Berlin
writes:
Amazing Synthesizer. I own it from the time it came out. 24 dB Lowpass filter could have been better. Sound gets to thin with resonance compared to real analogue. Distortion function could be better also. Still you get good sounds out of it. No limits due to endless capabilities.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Tuesday-Aug-03-2004 at 09:01
123bpm
from Berlin
writes:
I own a Nord Lead 2 for more than 5 years. This machine has so many capabilities that you not experience any limits even after years.
But to be honest, I don't really like the 24 dB lowpass filter in this machine. Putting up resonance the sound quickly starts to become very thin. The filter markes the difference between the real analogue synths and this VA. With a better filter this red thing would have sounded better.
And the distortion function sounds to rough and could have been implemented better. Nevertheless you do get out of it some amazing sounds.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Tuesday-Aug-03-2004 at 08:55
Blake
a hobbyist user
from United Kingdom
writes:
I own a Nord Lead 2X. Its' straight forward interface and raw sound make it a very good companion for software like Ableton's Live for production. The clean, raw sound provides an excellent starting point to use Live's effects to tailor what you want to hear. The two should be bundled together. On a budget and want to get going with a VA in electronic music? Definately give the Nord Lead 2X a look.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Sunday-Jul-11-2004 at 16:07
Der Sminky
from USA
writes:
Spent a long time with this one (NL2X) in the instrument shop. They wanted $699.79, which is more reasonable than some that I've seen on Ebay. It didn't blow me away like I thought it would, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have bite behind the bark of its reviews.
This synth sounds really...clean. It has some fairly capable filters. The pitch stick is a little difficult to use because of the pressure required to operate it, but this helps with keeping the bend at the pitch you want. The mod wheel isn't really different. The keyboard action is average. Best keyboard action I've felt is the DW8000. I know it sounds silly for such an old synth that costs $200, but it plays really well.
I found it really REALLY easy to make good basses, pads, and leads, but I found it hard to get around the knob interface. It was a little disorganized, but I found my way around it after a few minutes. I really prefer button-and-slider interfaces, silly as it sounds.
Great instrument. I'd reccommend it to anyone that has the bucks to drop on it.
Oh, and... Downward Spiral was released a year before the original Nord Lead existed.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Jun-30-2004 at 00:45
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Apr-08-2004 at 17:52
Dirty Robot
a professional user
from USA
writes:
I own the lead 2x and it has what I need for bass n lead sounds, also you can make some pretty weird sounds with this lil red machine. :)
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Monday-Mar-15-2004 at 09:21
richard
a professional user
from canada
writes:
The best! Keyboard is not the best, but other then that it is superb.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Mar-11-2004 at 23:20
tom
a professional user
writes:
i own a mini-moog,virus c, microwave xtk,roland v-synth, korg triton studio and a nord lead 2X. and out of all of them i would pick my nord 1st. any sound you have in your head you can get out of this red beauty. by the way this is far from thin. this is one of the phattest sounding va's around.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jan-31-2004 at 04:28
Reflekshun
a part-time user
from Australia
writes:
For any other synth, I'd have to think about the rating, but the Nord2 is the ONLY i would say 5/5 without having to think! At first it can seem like just another synth, digital, thin, all that crap. But get comfortable with it (doesn't take long thanks to the BEST damn subtractive synth interface on the market) and it is the most expressive synth. It does have a mark of aggression with almost any patch, which is hard to cover up i must admit, but use it in the right places and you couldn't ask for anything better.
The interface and trademark sound/character are the big pros here. Unparalleled in VA's IMHO. If you have a sound in your mind - you can VERY easily get it to come out of the Nord - isn't that what synths are all about? well it's at least a big part of that. This is one of those synths I will never EVER sell, definitely a classic.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Monday-Mar-24-2003 at 04:50
Kenny
a professional user
writes:
This is still the best VA synth on the market!
I have had them all and sold them Waldorf, Yamaha, Novation, Access and none of them comes close to Nordlead.
It can sound as deep as a whale burp and as smoth as silk with some programming.
Do not reject the Clavia Nordleads before some serious tweaking! I give it 5 for sound and 5 for userfriendly!
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Friday-Nov-22-2002 at 17:42
djcu
a professional user
from australia
writes:
I owned a nl2 since they first came out , mine was the 3rd nl2 to land in australia , everything went great till about 6 months ago where it blew its power fuse and kept blowing the replacements every couple of weeks . Then the led display starting going darker and brighter . I have since sold it to upgrade to a nordmodular . Its still a great synth though .
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Tuesday-May-14-2002 at 20:43
Synthfreak
a hobbyist user
from USA
writes:
A modern classic. Easy to use, sounds great, is light weight and small enough to take to gigs. Built very well too. I love my nord lead II. The sound is so unique yet can emulate many classic analog sounds.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Friday-Mar-15-2002 at 01:19
Alex van Vendeloo
from Holland
writes:
The Nord Lead 2 is an excellent synthesizer! It has a character similar to a Prophet 5, but I prefer the Nord! The filter is warm, the EG is VERY fast (do you know the song Luvstruck...?) and the looks are great. The Nord Lead 2 is a modern legend. I will never sell it.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Nov-15-2001 at 11:17
Jason Champion
a part-time user
from USA
writes:
A decent 'board, but fairly limited in the oscilattor section - would have been nice to have a couple more waveforms and a third oscillator. The build is solid, and it's likely to last a long time. It's not very impressive, but then again, most virtual analogs aren't. It does the job well enough, but it could be better. I guess that's why there's a Nord Lead 3.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Monday-Sep-24-2001 at 12:56
mark
from netherlands
writes:
well i just bought one second hand for about 600$ and man dont believe what they al say like thin, no bass or wathever (this thing rules in the low department) this is a tweakmachine!!
you can make any sound that is in your head quickly. Simply the best va (in my humble opinnion) buy one you wont regret it
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Aug-23-2001 at 11:50
Matt
a part-time user
from Sydney, Australia
writes:
When you buy the Nord Lead 2, remember- DO NOT buy it for bass sounds. It is called the Nord "Lead" afterall. It has cool squelchy bass, but no deep full bass sounds (like eg. the Roland JP-8000).
However, the lead sounds are AWESOME.
I kinda wish it did have a dodgy built in effects processor though- not for recording, but just for playing around without having to run it through my system.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jul-28-2001 at 00:30
Nicholas Kisler
a hobbyist user
from USA
writes:
Just got it a couple of days ago and I can't stop playing with it. The sound has much more character than the Q or the Virus, although the routing possibilities are somewhat limited. However, this makes it very easy to make patches (just use knobs and buttons, no real menus). You can also make any parameter velocity dependent with one button. Although it lacks effects, there is a "unison" mode which can be used in polyphonic or monophonic modes (it'll decrease the polyphony in polyphonic mode) that adds detuned stereo separation. Personally, I'm glad they didn't try to stick on onboard effects. A delay might have been nice, but most other effects on synths are crappy compared to what you can get in a dedicated effects unit for a couple hundred bucks. The one thing that the nord lead 2 is lacking is the capability to make deep, full sounding basses. But that's why I have a Prophecy...
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jun-30-2001 at 14:46
Nathan Kaines
a professional user
from USA
writes:
Ok just got my nord lead 2, about a week or so ago, and im in love. I had the nord modular, which i liked but ive got so much gear, i really couldnt have another machine that took so long to make patches. Sometimes you spend so long making patches you realize weeks have gone by and you havent made a song. The nord lead 2 is killer, for easy sound creation and killer sounds. The build is great, the keys feel good. And the knobs are soo tight. Internal power supply, and headphone jack, helped me decide for the nord 2 or waldorf stuff. The interface is great, enough stuff to flip out on, but not too much to get lost too, the distortion button is amazing, im really suprised other companies dont do this, i think the ms2000 is the only other board that has this. Simple but effective arp. Just pop the n2 into manual mode and the front is like a old school analog. Not many menus and theyr mainly for setting stuff up, ie. pedal, picthj bend range. The sounds are great, bright glassy pads, killer 80's basses, fx, all over sounds good. It also makes great lo-fi sounds, like Boards of Canada.
Im glad it has no effects inside but distortion, this option lets you choose what effects companies you want, and also shows how powerful the synth engine is. Its not saturated with effects. Overall great buy.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Jun-27-2001 at 16:58
andrew
a hobbyist user
from us
writes:
So good! Only if it had an audio in, and effects, it would then be the best.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Monday-Jun-25-2001 at 03:59
Janne
a hobbyist user
from Sweden
writes:
This is the only synth that i can make sounds of my own tase = fat and hard basses and silk smoth pads from outer space. I have almost have them all like Supernova II, Virus, Roland but they are harder to make your own sounds on. If you have a sound in your mind you can almost everytime create the sound on the Nordlead. It is the most creative synthesiser on the market.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jun-09-2001 at 11:10
brian
a professional user
from usa
writes:
Not analog. I am writing this review as a person who actually owns one of these things. I have been running it through alot of eq and effects to try to warm it up a little bit. If you want one, you must ask yourself if you want an analogue synth or a Nord Lead 2 synth. They are different monsters. My review may sound a but negative thus far but read on. There are some things about this synth that may make it preferable. You can quickly (one button) switch from monophonic to polyphonic operation. This is good because all of the best sounding vintage synths are only monophonic. Also it sounds 100 times cooler than any other synth you can buy new.
There is alot of crap out there but the Nord Lead IS cool. I just want to warn anyone who wants to buy one that it sounds digital. I made that mistake, well, if you can call it a mistake. Cool sounds. I use the manual mode mostly. By pressing two buttons, you can have all of the knobs control the sound due to thier actual position, as opposed to the milti mode. when you change a patch the knobs stay in the same place. In manual mode they always display and manipulate the sound relative to their real location. The only downside is that you can't store your sounds in manual mode. I have strayed off point. You will find this out for yourself. Again, the dilema. NOT ANALOG. BUT IT IS COOL.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Friday-Mar-09-2001 at 13:02
ME!
a professional user
from meland
writes:
The nord lead 2 is a mighty fine synth, i've owned A LOT of analog as well, it doesn't really sound analog at all. It's a bit cold/harsh, but in a good way, it can be a VERY aggressive analog sounding instrument! I traded my korg z1ex for this unit, and haven't regretted it, the z1 had A LOT more progammability, that's what the nord lacks, but it's got a decent amount, the lack of menus, makes it too expensive to have more things programmable, but still it could make a whole lot of sounds!, and filter sounds VERY nice! but the keyboard SUUUUUXXXXX, horrible action, the z1 destroys it in that area, but the nord has Growl! which many VA lack! and it's very deep, but get the nord 2 rack! save some money!, although the stone mod wheel + wooden thumby thingie is DOPE!:D
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Jan-18-2001 at 18:10
oxtragon
a hobbyist user
from sweden
writes:
I have been a proud Nordlead 2 owner for about three years now. During this time a bunch of other synths both analogues and VA:s has visited my studio. I find Nordlead 2 to be one of the most inspiring musical instruments in history. It never seem to stop amazing me with it´s sound creation capabilities. No other synth (well maybe the Nord3...) could ever take it´s place in my rig. Now when the prices a going down and many people are selling old Nords to get their hands on the Nord 3 you can make a bargain. I have never regreted buying one and i know I will never sell it.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Monday-Jan-08-2001 at 15:25
Anders
a part-time user
from Norway
writes:
DON`T BOTHER THE FACTORY PRESETS! THEY ONLY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF THE REAL POTENTIAL!!!!!! ALL THE OTHER ROLAND,YAMAHA,NOVATION,VIRUS THEY ADD FX! SO THEY CAN SOUND ANY GOOD!! WHILE THE CLAVIA NORDS SOUNDS REALLY GOOD WHITHOUT FX BUILT IN.TAKE A FEW OURS AND PLAY WHITH THE NORDLEADS TURN THE KNOBS AND HEAR THE GODFATHER OF SYNTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jul-08-2000 at 19:08
Kent The Wiking
a part-time user
from Sweden
writes:
I have had all of the virtuals.The Nordlead 2 rules because of the inspiring interfase,you really just sit there hour after hour and you create sounds that is so fat and cool you can die for!!!!!! buy it now man and get inspired to make your own sounds. No other virtual can make you sit there for ours and ours playing and turning knobs. Respect to CLAVIA!!! for making the only inspiring synths.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jul-08-2000 at 18:54
Jason Bucklin
a professional user
from Dallas, Tx.
writes:
The Nord Lead 2 has been a part of my studio arsenal for close to a year now and I must tell you, I am really beginning to see what this thing is capable of. People always think of a virtual analog synth "vs." a real analog synth. In the case of the Nord it's foolish to make the comparison. The Nord Lead 2 stands completely on its own and possesses its own very unique character independent of the whole virtual/"real" debate. I own a Korg MS-20 and a Moog Source, each of which has its own distinctive sound, but I do not think of the Nord as being an inferior synth. As a matter of fact, I seem to use it more and more all the time due to its amazing versatility and incredibly fat sound. The NL 3 is very tempting, but at the same time i couldn't be happier with what I've got now. I highly recommend the Nord Lead 2 to any one who can hear and appreciate the luscious sonic quality that it possesses.
One other thing....I rarely like any of the presets (I've downloaded all of them from Clavia's website) and view them only as starting points from which I tweak the knobs and shape my own sounds, so it's important that when you are checking one out at the music store to listen "through" the presets to the essential sonic quality of the board which blows most of the competition clear out of the water.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jul-08-2000 at 16:39
Mr. Phil
writes:
PS: Nord has released the Nord Lead 3.... so if you're thinking of buying a 2, either wait, or only go for it if you can get a really good deal.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Tuesday-Jun-27-2000 at 16:31
Alessandro Pedicelli (Silver Droid)
a hobbyist user
from Montreal, Canada
writes:
I had a Nord Rack 2...brought it back after 3 weeks, just wasn't worth it. JP-8000 is hella lot better....more flexible and versatile. Nord Lead 2 is too expensive for what it does.
Rating: 3 out of 5
posted Tuesday-May-02-2000 at 16:51
James
from Richmond, VA
writes:
This is a great synthesizer. The first day I got it i got it out of the box and was on my way to heaven in a few seconds. I couldn't pull myself away from this thing. I still have trouble to get myself to stop playing sometimes. This synth has great sounds and it's so easy to create your own sounds. If you're into create your own booming basses and your own fat pads then this is the synth to get. Also keep in mind the Nord Lead 3 is coming out this summer. Man, I need to save up.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Apr-22-2000 at 18:26
ARMAND
from usa
writes:
not for nothing guys but for the price the nord lead has, i would expect biult in effects and a vocoder too..!! be real!! great sounds though!!!
posted Friday-Mar-03-2000 at 10:16
patrick fridh
a professional user
from stockholm. sweden.
writes:
I actually got a good offer on my NordLead II from a guy who wanted to buy it. And I said yes to him. Then I went strolling around in our local music shops, and my day which started with a feeling of happiness in that I now could get a MIDI mother keyboard instead, and focus on my rack gear, I ended up coming home filled with angsiety. I decided, after all, not to sell it. It's to good to be sent away. I just can't live without its appearance and its totally amazing sound quality. I just have to keep it. Fact is, I actually have had thoughts now (when the angsiety of having to sell it has faded over to happiness again, now that I know that I can keep her) of... believe it or not... buy another one! Sounds like these aren't achievable any other way. A total noise-free sound and so much quality in it that I just love what I hear. OK, a Waldorf synth would probably do the same thing, but Waldorfs cost loads of money. The NL2 is only £999 now, not a fortune when considering how much it does; and how good it does it, and how neat it is.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Jan-26-2000 at 13:27
Brian
a part-time user
from USA
writes:
I just recently purchased a Nord Lead 2 and the only thing I can say is it's killer!!! The only complaint I would have would be the amount of user programmable patches is only 40. I took care of that problem by purchasing some SRAM cards. If you are looking for a synth that can come real close to Oberheim's, Mini-moog's, Jupiter's and the Prophet-5 look no further. And to all whom complain about the lack of effects look back to the true analogs of the past, I don't remember my Juno-106 having any except for a chorus, maybe my former MKS-80 no, how about the MKS-70 hmm, no again, or how about the classic Mini-moog and that never stopped anyone from paying well over a thousand dollars for a monophonic synth. Quit whining and give the Nord a whirl you won't be sorry.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Dec-16-1999 at 12:46
Torbjorn
from Sweden
writes:
The Nord2 is a great synthesizer. It has the popular analogue retro feel both in sounds and interface, together with a smart and attractive design. Combine that with the digital feel from the FM and you will for sure get the sounds you are looking for even if its fat basses or thin HP filtered sounds. I am making techno stylish music and I have never had any troubles to get the sounds that I wanted. The only thing that makes the Nord2 weak is the lack of internal effects but that can always be fixed on the mixer. This is the synthesizer I would by if I didn’t already had one. :)
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Dec-15-1999 at 10:42
Superdigital
a hobbyist user
from Sweden
writes:
I do love my NL2. I think that if I would get rid of all my gear, this is the one I would miss the most. Ok, I guess you can't compare it to a Microwave II, but it's not the same thing. I really love the sounds it makes. It screams, hurls, distorts and just sounds wonderful, at the tip of your fingers. For that price, I don't think that you can get anything better! It kicks ass!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Dec-15-1999 at 04:16
Oxtragon
a hobbyist user
from Sweden
writes:
I think that the Nord is a pretty fair synthesizer. It depends on what kind of sounds you like. Personaly i think it sounds to thin and metallic, especially if you want deep/fat basses (although some people here claim to have made killer basslines with it), wide and warm pads or like self oscillating resonance filters. For weird noises and effects it´s great. All in all it is a very good synthesizer but there are nowadays a bunch far more interesting synths out there. I do own a Nord2 and probably wont sell or trade it, neither would i buy it back if it got lost. My Microwave XT is far more interesting, although not a VA synth. The only VA synth out there making analogues proud is the Q, damn I´d like one!!
Rating: 3 out of 5
posted Tuesday-Dec-14-1999 at 05:30
Synth Freak
a hobbyist user
from Jupiter
writes:
YES, you CAN get super fat bass sounds out of the Nord lead. I have made patches with the nord lead that could cause some serious damage to your speakers if you aren't careful. Don't believe sales people, most of the time they don't know jack about what they are selling.
The Pitch bender and mod wheel are among the most functional and practical I've ever used. The Pitch bend stick in particular, it is as smooth as can be.
The Interface is only what it should be and that's an analog emulator. I think it's refreshing to see knobs and buttons rather than an LCD with crap menus that you have to page through to get your sound. Remember, the nord lead is an analog emulator (right down to the interface).
I'm actually glad that Clavia left out the effects on the nord lead series. My Minimoog never came with effects and it sounds so nice. I give the Nord a 5 out of 5 for it's faithful replication of my favorite analog beasts.
I have been able to come very close to minimoog, Jupiter, Oberheim, Arp, VCS3 and especially Prophet 5 tones with my Nord Lead and Modular.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Monday-Dec-13-1999 at 20:31
Max Potekhin
a hobbyist user
from USA
writes:
Local Sam Ash had two of these, the floor models, for $899 and as I happened to have gear money at this point, I decided for this price I should definitely check them out. I spent quite a bit of time playing around, and not just once. I decided not to buy it because it sounded... Cold. It probably is good at thin-air ethereal sounds and metallic clangs, and maybe some pads, but a few people told me it's hard to get a decent bass out of it and this has been my experience as well.
I liked the drum kits though, and the mechanical design (and color) of the unit. I think that the wooden pitchbend and stone mod wheel are gimmicky.
The user interface (a tiny LED and a few buttons around) basically is telling you how little real progress has been made in the last 20 years. I'm serious. Looking at some number "39" and a few red LED's sprinkled here and there is just the same. Boards made by Sequential Circuits in days of yore are quite comparable and maybe better in this regard. And the absence of effects is not some kind of purist initiative but just a cost cutting measure, so you folks get less for you money. I ended up buying a Multi-Trak, a Chroma Polaris and an effects unit, and together they present quite a bit more real analog firepower than the Nord, for less money... Don't do for gimmicks.
Rating: 3 out of 5
posted Monday-Dec-13-1999 at 11:25
a professional user
from Raleigh, NC
writes:
Buy a Nord Lead 2. Buy a Line6 POD. Hook them together and listen to how awesome they sound! A match made in Heaven!
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Sunday-Dec-12-1999 at 15:51
Ricky Hayes
a professional user
from USA
writes:
The Nord Lead II is THE best virtual analog I've played on in a long time. Now that everybody is jumping on the "retro" bandwagon, each major company has realeased their own analog-type keyboard. The Nord is the real deal though--practically unlimited ways to take a waveform and warp it severely.....AND...it actually SOUNDS like an old synth, I can't say that much for Roland, Yamaha, or whoever else......if you want that real analog sound..get this machine.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Dec-04-1999 at 20:04
a part-timer user
writes:
Awesome Synth!! Along with this beauty I own or have owned a Prophecy, Z1, and a Jp-8000, and I must say that the NL2 sound has a much more grittier and raw IN YOUR FACE sound which I love! Out of all the synths I've owned I like the NL2 the best! Certainly give it a look if your looking into buying a VA synth, and don't let the fact that it has no efx mark it out of the question. Listen carefully and let your ears decide.....
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Monday-Oct-25-1999 at 04:54
Curt Saal
a hobbyist user
from USA
writes:
what can I say! amazing! sound quality, control, midi capability, all above par. Maybe the newer ones will ahve more routing options and waveforms..but one cannto really complain at all about this VA. Add an external fx box and this synth will go nuts.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Monday-Sep-20-1999 at 13:13
El Greco
a professional user
from US of A
writes:
Thank the heavens for allowing someone to finally get it right. I'm a sound designer for 12 years now and have finally found 1 of the most versitile, easilly programable sound tools to date. Great sounding oscillators,tunable right down to the foundations & beyond. I've owned 3 Prophets (5,10,&T8) and have sat down with colleagues and actually compared the little red bastard w/ the real things. My God!! Sounds almost identical.....I mean 99 out of 100 percent identical. Lets face it, the only thing that actually 'shapes' sound on a board is the filter, otherwise a square wave will be a square wave and a sawtooth will be a sawtooth. If you passed a Nord squarewave through a Mini-Moog filter it would sound like like a Mini.....and if I'm not mistaken you can BUY the famous 24/db filter through Big Briar. You dig? And it didnt stop there, The nord can go where no other synths I've worked with have ever gone before. I like the idea that it has absence off effects so you dont hear candied-up sounds and think< "Wow!!! All that sound is comming from the Oscillator and the filter!!!????" I mean who uses keyboard effects to record with anyway, Just imagine the immense sound of a Nord or Prophet or a Moog through an effects processor such as the TC Fireworx.....Catch my drift? Some insane sounding SHIT that'll melt your monitors like the 'Wicked Witch' in Oz. I hate when I go to the showroom to see some new boards w/ a freind and they'll have a Nord next to a Waldorf Q which has effects and my freind who must have Shit in his ears says"OooH! Listen to how cool the Q sounds". It seems that people forgetjust how cool effects make EVERYTHING sound. Anyways the only 'digital' hybryd synth that even comes close if not more programmable would certainly be the Access Virrus, And the only reason I say more is because Access is a company that took the Nords great sounding synthesis and added more routing and actually usable effects to it and 8 more parts multi-timbral... Both of these machines belt out some amazingly sweet and ferocious sounds just like the real deals.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Sep-02-1999 at 04:33
Bobby Teenager
a professional user
from USA
writes:
Simply, the synth to beat. The past few years has seen the best and worst of analogue modeling beats. I've had mine since it's release, late 1997 and it remains my flag ship. Syncable noise allows you to create some of the creamiest mid tones imaginable. No matter what genre, the Nord will deliver.. However, be advised, the Nord is not a friendly creature, in that it behaves a lot like a true analogue synth. Some days you will create the most impressive sounds..others well - it would do some good to understand subtractive synthesis.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Jul-28-1999 at 13:13
patrick
a hobbyist user
from stockholm, sweden
writes:
This is one lovely synthesizer! I bought mine just a week ago, brand new and amazingly designed. I love the tree-pitch bend and the all-metal modulation wheel. But most importantly, the sound is LOVELY! Using it multi-timbrally, it's easy to get the most important sounds in a track from it; drums, bass, pad and a weird lead (or so). Although it's only got 16 voices, I've not yet encountered any problems when doing rather dense arrangements. I just wish I could spend more time with it. I've got an expanded JV-1080, too, and they complement each other perfectly. I couldn't have bought a better keyboard synth to my setup.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Jul-08-1999 at 04:27
Daniel
a part-timer user
from San Diego, California
writes:
Just a few days ago I spent an hour and a half comparing the Nord Lead 2 to the JP-8000. Both sound excellent, the Nord wins out in my opinion for a bit edge-ier character. A little less polite than the JP8000 and seemed a bit more original. Also, the Nord has 4 assignable outs, perhaps one to go with each instrument. The JP only had a pair of stereo outs. I prefer the look of the red keyboard as well. The Roland has that great Roland chorus, the Nord has no effects, but with those outs, just run them through a few boss stomp boxes? Also, the MIDI implementation seems a little better on the Nord2.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Sunday-May-23-1999 at 20:18
writes:
Regardless of whether it sounds analog or not, it DOES sound good and just the amount of people using it should tell you that its not crap. Its what you do with it that counts.
posted Sunday-May-16-1999 at 05:02
Solaeri
a professional user
from the Forest
writes:
Well, pretty weak anymore.. the filters sound downright cheesy next to a Q or even a Supernova. Adequate VA, I'de say. Nothing more, or less.
Rating: 3 out of 5
posted Saturday-May-15-1999 at 22:19
Disease Factory of velvet acid christ
a professional user
from USA/COLORADO
writes:
Nord's are great! all of em. But not that versitle, great filter for wackey mean sounds. Great leads. But it lacks that big bass that the nova, the virus, and the jp have. This is the most unique sounding of all the virtuals.
But if you are looking for versitle, get the supernova of the virus.
Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Friday-May-14-1999 at 10:56
dj ZaRch
a professional user
from sydney 2k
writes:
With all the discussion on nord leads , jp-8000 , supernova's and z3s Id just like to put my argument for the nord lead 2 forward . Firstly , secondly and lastly ... character . What the nord has that all the other virtual analogs dont have is character . The nord is totally unique and although its presets dont do it justice at all , with enough programming I havent found a analog tone I couldnt make come alive with my nord lead 2. That includes fat sub osilator monosynths better than my minimoog/sh101/sh09/ms-20/juno 6 , lush rolandtype pads better than my mks-80 and gritty harsh leads far harsher than my pro-1/prohet 5 or jupiter 6 . But the most important thing is that the nl2 doesnt just emulate these sounds but truly creates new sounds that encompass the clasic analogs but adds alot more to sound as well . Basically a tweak machine , its taken a good 12 months to truly get magic out of my nl2 but when it comes its worth it . As patch sculters heaven for people who like to craft their sounds over time , realtime control is the key to nl2 patches , never let them sit still and your nord will jump to life before your eyes.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Jan-27-1999 at 19:33
Pope
a hobbyist user
from www.chromosome47.com
writes:
first moment I've spent away from the Nord 2 since I brought it home several hours ago, incredible synth, very intuitive interface, incredible real time control, and a range of sound that blows anything I've played away. the display is tiny, but with the ton of knobs its not really necessary, efx would have been nice, but otherwise wouldn't change a thing, had a hard time finding one in stock anywhere but was finally worth the wait.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Aug-27-1998 at 03:43
Yutaka Fujiki
a hobbyist user
from Japan
writes:
I love it a lot. Especialy usability is great. I could make sound extremely quick.
Dissapointments are None of build-in effect, and tiny 3 digit display. But not so big deal for me.
Also I love it's red design though.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Aug-05-1998 at 23:37
signal
a professional user
from usa
writes:
Love the kick ass wreck shop interface. When put through a distortion pedal, I make the walls bleed. The NL2 does lack the warmer sound of the Roland JP8000 though. That's a bumber when you listen to the roland. Still, Ol' red is now my lead synth....wish she had some effects though.
Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Aug-05-1998 at 23:37
dhyan moller
a hobbyist user
from usa
writes:
well me and my partners have a record label in sanjose ca. called EAC we make house techno,acid and what not i bought the nordlead 2 about 6 months ago i have to say that it's fairly easy to use in comparison to other synths i have used my first synth was a roland jd-800 over all i have to say that i like the nord 2 a lot i like how easy it is to edit the sounds i give it a 4
Rating: 0 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Aug-05-1998 at 23:37
aj wells
a part-timer user
from aj wells
writes:
Am I the only one who finds the Nord thin and unmusical sounding? I had a Nord rack 2 for a few months and traded it... its ok at first, but when you compare it to anything that is truly analog is pales so much that its almost a crime to even call it "virtual" analog... it doesnt have the balls of a decent monosynth and it doesnt do the lusher stuff that an Obie or older Roland can do... I do like the one preset that sounds like plucked guitar harmonics though... I sampled that one before trading it
Rating: 1 out of 5
posted Friday-Jul-31-1998 at 18:14
