Some questions before buying Nord Lead 4R

[stevie_windows]

Just going back to the multi-timbral aspect specifically, I’m also a hardware newbie and I’ve literally just got my NL4R through last night. Absolutely loving the sound I can get out of it 

My hardware experience is very limited, could someone help explain the process of using the multi-timbral functionality to have, say, 2 different patches playing different midi parts (on their separate channels in Ableton)?

I have set up the Ableton ‘external instrument’ device and midi is being sent to the NL4R, audio coming in from the stereo in on my soundcard (outputting from the first 2 stereo outs on the NL4R). All is good and I can play away to my heart’s content.

How do I duplicate this but make that new channel ‘know’ that it’s using one of the other 3 parts on the NL4R??

Please note that my soundcard only has 1 set of stereo in’s so I can’t set up the other channel to simply output to the other stereo pair.

Thanks for your help!


EDIT: I just saw another thread with this link http://www.askaudiomag.com/articles/usi ... leton-live

This makes me think I need to have more than one stereo input to achieve what I want?
So I need to assign each of the 4 parts within the NL4 to one of these 2 stereo outs - which means I need a new soundcard or mixer?

thanks!

[mjbrands]

Apparently the new Keyboard Magazine issue has a review of the Lead 4. This video segment has quite a number of interesting sounds. I especially like the two sounds that start at 2:36.

[mjbrands]

Let me start of by saying the chapter numbering in the Lead 4's manual confuses me. Chapter 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 6, 11, ... What's up with that?!

Anyway...

How do I duplicate this but make that new channel ‘know’ that it’s using one of the other 3 parts on the NL4R??

You configure your Nord to assign individual MIDI channels to the four slots. I would suggest setting the Global MIDI channel to 1 and the slots to MIDI channels 2 (slot A) thru 5 (slot D). This is just a suggestion though; maybe using channels 1 thru 4 for the slots and 5 for the Global MIDI channel. The point is that you want to assign individual channels to the individual slots and want to use an separate channel for the Global MIDI channel.

You then configure Ableton to use the specific MIDI channels for the slots. If you want to 'stack' slots, the easiest way is to just give them the same MIDI channel (i.e. give slots A, B and C MIDI channel 2 for a fat lead sound while keeping slot D at channel 5 for a pad sound). Again, the exact MIDI channels are up to you.

Please note that my soundcard only has 1 set of stereo in’s so I can’t set up the other channel to simply output to the other stereo pair.

For Ableton it doesn't really matter multiple sounds come in on the same audio channel, but it does mean you cannot apply effects, etc. to individual sounds. Given the fact that the Lead 4 has on-board effects this may not be a big issue though. A mixer could help you, but if you still only had a stereo input to you computer, it really wouldn't help you that much I think. The reason for that is that, in a way, there's already a mixer in the Lead 4 - you can already control the individual levels for the slots in the Lead 4. A mixer would be more flexible (especially if you want to add external effects via inserts), but I don't really see it as a requirement. A multi-channel audio input however would be a nice addition at some point.

I would recommend you run the audio from the Lead 4 first into Ableton before running it to speakers, because it allows Ableton to sync the sounds of your Lead 4 with those generated by Ableton itself. If you don't do this, the sounds Ableton makes would be lagging by at least a few milliseconds. This is generally only applicable when using Ableton to sequence tracks; if you're playing live, Ableton has a harder time doing this latency compensation, though there are still ways to do that. On sounds with a slow attack (like pad sounds) you likely won't hear a few milliseconds delay anyway (percussive sound are a different matter though).

EDIT: I just saw another thread with this link http://www.askaudiomag.com/articles/usi ... leton-live

This makes me think I need to have more than one stereo input to achieve what I want?
So I need to assign each of the 4 parts within the NL4 to one of these 2 stereo outs - which means I need a new soundcard or mixer?

At some point perhaps. Have fun first and use what you have now; you'll know better what you want if at some point you want more options, such as recording individual slots via individual audio inputs. Even without this, you can still multi-track different sounds into Ableton, one sound at a time, if you want to work with individual sounds.

Edit: I'm talking about the 'Global MIDI' channel here, but is seems the Lead 4 manual doesn't name it as such. Perhaps 'default channel' might be better. What I mean is the channel the Lead 4 transmits on and when MIDI gets sent to that channel, the state of the slots (active and/or selected) determines what slots make sound. If you have Ableton send MIDI to the MIDI channels assigned to the slots, the right channel will always make sound regardless of the state of the slots (active and/or selected).

[stevie_windows]

Thanks a lot dude!

There was once more thing - how to I initialise it to start with a blank slate!?

Can;t see anything in the manual?

[mjbrands]

On any synth I have I generally just create a sound with a really basic sound, usually the last sound in the first bank; on some synths this is even done in the factory sounds. Some synths may also have 'init' functions or buttons for this, but this basic patch suits me fine. Assuming you can categorize patches on the Lead 4, I'd create a simple starting patch with a descriptive name and place it in some 'user' category, so you can find it quickly.

I haven't checked the manual and there might just be a function for it on the Lead 4, but if I'd have to guess, I'd say there wasn't.

[chvad]

On the lead 4 to initialize a patch, hold shift and press the osc 1 wave select button.

That resets the patch to osc 1, sawtooth, filter at 24db nord filter at 50%.

[Kibosh]

Good news: I'm now a proud owner of the Nord-Lead 4R. So a big thank you for the help!

Didn't have time yet to test (learn), but went to some of the presets. It really sounds promising, some great sounds, now it's up to me to create my own!

Just one thing for Nord!! Serious, for €1600, they could not add a USB cable in the box? And off course, I don't have a 3m cable lying around and forgot to check it in the store.

LOL, another issue , I also bought the MOTU 828 mk3 with it. And yes, this one uses XLR cables for the main instead of Jacks... Forgot to check that also. But I bought 4 jacks for the NL to the MOTU...

[mjbrands]

Just one thing for Nord!! Serious, for €1600, they could not add a USB cable in the box? And off course, I don't have a 3m cable lying around and forgot to check it in the store.

Boo, Clavia! I've only bought my Stage 2 new and that came with a USB cable - it is also listed on the web page as an included accessory. However, the page for the Lead 4 and Electro 4 don't list a USB cable, which really surprises me. You could say that including a USB cable with every device is bad for the environment, but other than that I don't really see a reason not to since (like you see) the cost of that USB cable is rather insignificant when considering the whole price.

LOL, another issue , I also bought the MOTU 828 mk3 with it. And yes, this one uses XLR cables for the main instead of Jacks... Forgot to check that also. But I bought 4 jacks for the NL to the MOTU...

Huh? The two XLRs on the front are combo-jacks, so they accept both XLR and jack connections. And on the back, it's all jacks. Or am I missing something?

[Kibosh]

The main outs on the MOTU 828 are XLR: http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/828mk3/i-o.html

NL4 are nicely connected with 4x jacks to inputs 1 to 4 on the Motu in the back

[mjbrands]

The main outputs on mixers are generally also on XLRs. I assume you could use one of the other outputs if that is an issue, or would that cause issues with monitoring or effects?