Nord News: New Synth on the Way?

[kramerica]

The Nord Lead 3 has been discontinued.

The Nord G2X has been discontinued.

Not sure why the NL3 got the axe but I'm guessing poor sales. I've only seen Stereolab use them (in person anyway) and never see them at stores.

Customer service, which is horrible at that company, said the G2X is canceled b/c they can't get parts for it anymore. This could be the same reasoning for canceling the NL3, but I don't know.

So...

My buddy at Guitar Center says that customer service told him something new is coming (or something along those lines) but obviously was not specific on what/when/why/where/how/etc. Since everything Clavia has put out has been a electric piano/organ emulator or ROMpler, some may not be expecting much in the synth arena. But I'm keeping the hope alive.

I want a NL2x with a NL3 UI or something waaaaaay more powerful.

[ocp]

a software modular would be neat or a reissue of the micro modular

[b0unce]

...from a thread over at electro-music.com, nice bit of insight from someone seemingly 'in-the-know' on a little NM history...

could they be planning a new modular I wonder

Frankly, I don´t think the bright minds at Clavia really intended to make a replacement, but rather they felt they could implement the inital design ideas behind what became the NM-1 in a way that would result in a slightly more modern product.

I will never part of my NM Classic... It means a lot to me, because it made me possible to meet a large group of friends, mostly international.

The NM Classic wasn't intended to be released at all. It was developed as a possibility using the sound engine of the NordLead, to be used as a developing tool by Clavia itself. One of the designers had the idea already a long time. Swedish musicians asked Clavia to release it. It was to be seen as a Swiss Army knife, a synth which could do a lot of things more then other synths. Later on, the NordLead3 was developed using the NM Classic.

The problem was the CPU was to 'small' to develop the system further: it appeared to be a bottle neck in the Classic. A new platform, developed while discussing it with some heavy users in the world (pre alpha testers was made: the G2.

Like the Classic before the G2 wasn't their most important product, so there were some decisions made, which can be called 'questionable', like releasing it with a three octave keyboard and releasing the G2X only one year later...

I still have on the computer the text of a lecture once given by Clavia about the history of the Nord Modular, but I never had permission to publish it. It was given at the start of the development of the G2. Next Frankfurt, while looking at their new baby, I will ask them permission to publish it here.

Wout

[kramerica]

a software modular would be neat or a reissue of the micro modular

Yeah, everyone seems to love the micro. Not sure why that canceled that. I'm guessing lack of sales since no good company cancels profitable products.

The G2 (non x) seems to still be in production. It's a software/hardware modular hybrid. Do you mean a totally softsynth? It only makes sense these days.

My NI synths are waaaay more powerful than anything Nord has, but I and other composer/performers still want hardware - dedicated knobs to tweak, stone mod wheels, wood pitch bend, etc. Many of us lose inspiration when menu diving or squinting at a computer screen to change parameters, even if they're assigned to a BCR or like remote. Plus, things don't always work in the software world for a variety of mysterious reasons.

But I mostly have a Nord b/c it's base tone, that meaning the tone it produces with no external effects, remains among the best of any synth ever. It's immediately recognizable like any great instrument of our time. I don't buy synths for FX and would rather use outboard or DAW plugin FX for that role anyway b/c they are often superior in quality. I buy an instrument for it's tone, then worry about frills (ex. I wouldn't buy an amp with built in FX - I buy a vintage amp, then buy custom pedals from great pedal makers).

[kramerica]

...from a thread over at electro-music.com, nice bit of insight from someone seemingly 'in-the-know' on a little NM history...

could they be planning a new modular I wonder

Frankly, I don´t think the bright minds at Clavia really intended to make a replacement, but rather they felt they could implement the inital design ideas behind what became the NM-1 in a way that would result in a slightly more modern product.

I will never part of my NM Classic... It means a lot to me, because it made me possible to meet a large group of friends, mostly international.

The NM Classic wasn't intended to be released at all. It was developed as a possibility using the sound engine of the NordLead, to be used as a developing tool by Clavia itself. One of the designers had the idea already a long time. Swedish musicians asked Clavia to release it. It was to be seen as a Swiss Army knife, a synth which could do a lot of things more then other synths. Later on, the NordLead3 was developed using the NM Classic.

The problem was the CPU was to 'small' to develop the system further: it appeared to be a bottle neck in the Classic. A new platform, developed while discussing it with some heavy users in the world (pre alpha testers was made: the G2.

Like the Classic before the G2 wasn't their most important product, so there were some decisions made, which can be called 'questionable', like releasing it with a three octave keyboard and releasing the G2X only one year later...

I still have on the computer the text of a lecture once given by Clavia about the history of the Nord Modular, but I never had permission to publish it. It was given at the start of the development of the G2. Next Frankfurt, while looking at their new baby, I will ask them permission to publish it here.

Wout

Cool. Thanks for the post. Another buddy of mine is a Nord rep., but he doesn't know shit about what's coming...yet (He's also a Moog rep and knew about the Moog LP months earlier so maybe in time he'll know - of course I'll have to struggle to refrain from sharing the news on places like this).

As far as the G2 (non x) - the reason I didn't get it is b/c it's a 3 octave keyboard. My thoughts are that if you're gonna make a hardware synth, at least make it performable on (more than 3 octaves). The G2X was an awesome upgrade including the 3 led embedded stone mod wheels (AWESOME!) but for $2500, I'm getting a Voyager or PolyEvolver. Or if they incorporated a Korg or Roland style full color monitor on the G2X with touchscreen, that would justify the $2500, imo. But bouncing editing back and forth b/w hardware and computer seems like a hassle, which is why I just bought a NL3.

[teknobryan]

The NL3 is still on the Clavia website. I don't think it's discontinued.

[kramerica]

The NL3 is still on the Clavia website. I don't think it's discontinued.

So is the G2X, but (a) my friend, a Nord rep, (b) Nord Customer Service, and (c) my friend at Guitar Center, confirmed that both products are discontinued. GC can't order anymore and the price lists are gone from their database.

[thelike5]

The Nord Lead 3 has been discontinued.



I want a NL2x with a NL3 UI or something waaaaaay more powerful.

How about a Nord Lead 4????

[kenporter]

The rumor is that Clavia couldn't get some of the parts anymore, that's why they will/have been discontinued.

Ken

[kramerica]

The rumor is that Clavia couldn't get some of the parts anymore, that's why they will/have been discontinued.

Ken

I heard that with regard to the G2X but haven't hard any explanation with regard to the NL3. You?

[rikhyray]

I heard that NL 3 was their worse selling product and 2X the best so perhaps there will be something like poor mans NL3. NL2XL or whatever with a display but with some other cost cutting downgrades.
I wonder why they dont make high end controller on the basis of G2, all we have are same plastic junk ( even if they are sometimes relatively expensive)
There is no single product of quality. I would pay up to a grand for G2 controller only, well since there would be space perhaps with built in FW interface or better 19 inch rack slot to put whatever you want.. Will definitely ask them in April in Frankfurt.

[dmacintyre]

I heard that NL 3 was their worse selling product and 2X the best so perhaps there will be something like poor mans NL3. NL2XL or whatever with a display but with some other cost cutting downgrades.
I wonder why they dont make high end controller on the basis of G2, all we have are same plastic junk ( even if they are sometimes relatively expensive)
There is no single product of quality. I would pay up to a grand for G2 controller only, well since there would be space perhaps with built in FW interface or better 19 inch rack slot to put whatever you want.. Will definitely ask them in April in Frankfurt.

IMHO I think they should develop the G2 from where it is now. Imagine the G2 (G3?) as a modular plugin with hardware DSP like the Ti (but without glitches ). Really is more progressive and commercial than the C1 organ they just announced. It's nice to stick to your principles but nicer to make desireable products.

D.

[Poster]

I think a Modular table top G2 with enough knobs to twist and VST integration would definately be a great seller..

Who wants the G2 rack engine anyway?
I never got that one.. The NM1 Micro/Rack were/are so popular..

but.. soundwise I still love my NM1 more as any G2..

[SecretAsianMan]

I really hope it's not a G3, because I just bought a G2X!

I know my G2X will be obsolete some day, but just a couple of days after it arrives? That's a pretty raw deal.

[Poster]

congrats with the g2x..

the n.modulars are smart investments..

the NM1 has become very popular again overhere..
think mainly because the new crossplatform editor..
that cleared it from it's somewhat obsolete status due to lack of development of the editor..

as a matter of fact I'm buying a NM1 Rack (expanded) this weekend to replace the Micro..
poly! poly! poly!