Nord's classical Virtual Analog Synth Nord LEAD 1/2/2x/3/4/A1 and Nord Rack versions

Nord Lead Memory

Postby Davidp » 11 Dec 2012, 18:53

Hello All

I am a completely new member with a question which I am sure will appear very stupid to Nord experts. I am saving to buy a pre-owned Nord Lead (either a 1, a 2 or a 2x - whatever turns up and looks functional and cherished!). My question is - Do the Lead series machines use any kind of 'on-board' battery for the patch memories (a la DX7) or is the memory non-volatile flash memory? I ask because if they do use an internal battery it might be an issue (old dead battery) for me when assessing an older machine (as it is with older Yamaha DX7s). Hope someone will help! :thanx:

Regards,
David
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Nord Lead Memory


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Re: Nord Lead Memory

Postby mjbrands » 11 Dec 2012, 21:29

Hello David and welcome to the forum.

I'm no Nord expert, but I think I can answer your question.

The Nords themselves do not contain batteries, but the older ones (1 and 2) generally use PCMCIA S-RAM cards to store your own sounds and those do contain batteries; the batteries only last a few years and properly working S-RAM cards are getting harder to find. According to this page you might still be able to get new ones from a company in Germany. The 2X stores its programs in flash, so doesn't have that issue.

While they pretty much work the same, the 1, 2 and 2x do have a number of significant differences. The original Lead only had 4 voices, but could be expanded to 12. The Nord Lead 2 is an improved version of the original Lead and has 16 voices. It also adds a few more waveforms, drumkits, a ring modulator and has 4 outputs instead of 2. Both allow you to store 40 user programs (without a PCMCIA card plugged in - much more with one installed).

The 2X is still a current product and as far as I can tell, it is a version of the Lead 2 that was 'improved' with some technology Clavia used for the Lead 3, specifically the DACs. It also increased polyphony (voices) to 20 and has lots of room onboard to store your own sounds.

They all sound somewhat different, though I've only heard the 2X myself (had one for a while). Supposedly the Lead 1/2 sound a bit duller/warmer (more 'vintage'), while the 2X with its higher quality DACs sounds brighter and colder.

Note that the pitch stick wears out after a lot of use and may need to be replaced. You might also want to pay extra attention to pots that are used a lot, like the filter frequency cut-off knob. If you can see the red paint trough the blue paint that surrounds that knob, it is sure to have a seen a lot of knob twiddling. :lol:

There's a bit of a trick (at least on the 2X, might work on Lead 1/2 too) that lets you show the MIDI value of a knob. If you hold the SHIFT button and then press the LFO1 waveform selection button, it will show you the MIDI value for the last knob you turned. Turn a knob and it'll show you the current value, so you'll see it change as you turn the knob. If you're not turning a knob and you see the value move around a bit (say between two adjacent values, so 55 and 56 for example) that's not too bad, but if you see it move around all over the place, that's a good indicator that specific pot is busted and needs replacing. Pots can be 'reconditioned' somewhat, but it is only a short-term solution, it will go bad again pretty quickly. You might also be able to do the same thing with the pitch stick and the mod wheel - replacing those is far easier than a pot though.

Edit: note that the keyboard versions don't have a keyboard that has aftertouch, though they (well, the 2X does - not sure about the 1/2) do respond to it (via MIDI) but you can also use an expression pedal.
Last edited by mjbrands on 11 Dec 2012, 21:36, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: Nord Lead Memory

Postby Davidp » 11 Dec 2012, 23:49

Hi mjbrands

Ta very much for a lot of great info. Not bad for a non-expert! I'm sure your advice will be very useful when it's purchase time. It may also save me from making a cosly mistake! Thanks for taking the time to help.

Regards
David
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Re: Nord Lead Memory

Postby stiiiiiiive » 12 Dec 2012, 17:49

Hello David, and welcome! :)

Don't worry about a mistake: these can be sold in few days.

Thanks mjbrands for all this knowledge :)
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