Nord User Forum

[rvdh190]

Hi I currently own an Electro 3 and consider adding a Nord Wave to my rig. Can I connect a Slim Phatty or Prophet 08 synth module to the Wave and use the Wave as a masterkeyboard for the module? Anyone here have any experience with this sort of setup ?

Thx for all useful advice
Ralf

[mjbrands]

You can and since both modules pretty much have the same knobs as the keyboard versions, the end result is also pretty much the same. In other words, the keyboard, pitchbend and the modwheel should just work fine.

The Phatty doesn't have splits, but the Prophet likely does (on my Poly Evolver I could achieve something like splits with combos). Since the Wave doesn't have splits, the combination of a Prophet '08 module and the Wave also won't have splits. Also, turning a knob on the Wave (like filter cut-off) might not necessarily change the same parameter on the Phatty/Prophet (filter cut-off might not be a good example, since it's a pretty standard one).

Anyway, given both modules have pretty much all controls built into it, I think it'll work very well. As a MIDI controller however the Wave doesn't add much more functionality than the Electro, with the exception of the pitchstick and the modwheel.

Btw. since the sequencer in the Prophet can generate MIDI (95% sure it can), it should also be able to control the Wave.

Edit: I've used my Wave as a keyboard for my Waldorf Blofeld.

[rvdh190]

I have tried to Blofeld at my local store. Isn't there a lot of overlap with the Wave, when it comes to sound ? It has nice sounds but somehow it doesn't rock for me. of course it is all personal and everyone should play on keyboards they like. For me the question of the module is that I would like to have analog processed sound next to the dsp of the Nord. For some songs (I play own music from bluesrock to prog) the analog sound just adds what I need.

[mjbrands]

I'd say Blofeld overlaps more with the Lead than the Wave, as both are virtual-analogs. Of course, the Wave has most of the Lead heritage too and thus the overlap with Blofeld.

What Blofeld adds over the Lead is LOTS and LOTS of modulation options, excellent wavetable support (something most Waldorf synths are very good at), support for custom samples (the Wave can do more with them though) and the awesome comb filter. The very deep synth engine lets you make really complex sounds, but it is also one of its downfalls: the firmware isn't super stable, the interface (even though it works fairly well) is rather complex and involves lots of menu diving and it is rather hard to get it to sound other than digital (though I've heard it done).

One of the awesome things about the Nords is the immediacy of their user interface; when you want to change something, you just grab the right knob and you know what's going to happen. Easy as pie.

I don't know if you already have a Moog and a DSI Prophet '08 (Mopho), but I would think that with both a Moog ladder filter and the Curtis filter in the DSI synths you can make pretty much any 'vintage' analog sound.