Nord User Forum

Or buy a used Lead 2. They show up at great prices often enough.

23skidoo wrote:Well the 4 is basically a Lead 2 with some more stuff bolted on so if that's for sure what makes the sound you want I think you've got your answer right there!

Hey. Me again - I have just explored MORE demo's of the A1. And I AM SOLD! WOW. YES.

Only thing is... there is just ADR (no sustain)... that's unusual - do you find this to be an issue? I just feel like that is a staple with all synth's right?

It's less of an issue than you might think and it leads you to some creative sound design choices. It certainly hasn't stopped me from making great music with the A1. And no, it's not a staple with all synths, though it's certainly common enough.

ianpatrickroe wrote:

23skidoo wrote:Well the 4 is basically a Lead 2 with some more stuff bolted on so if that's for sure what makes the sound you want I think you've got your answer right there!

Hey. Me again - I have just explored MORE demo's of the A1. And I AM SOLD! WOW. YES.

Only thing is... there is just ADR (no sustain)... that's unusual - do you find this to be an issue? I just feel like that is a staple with all synth's right?

If you want ADSR then have a look at the Wave 2, as already mentioned. It's a newer synth, so there may be less demos out there, though.

Sent from my phone in brevity

Well I just purchased and received my Nord A1, and I have to say - I am just so confused by it all
I am reading the manual but the problem is there are thing LFOing and shaking and doing strange things and it's impossible to know where to start, because when I want to try out what the manual says it's hard to get an accurate outcome because of stuff sounding like it's got a mind of it's own. maybe this was a step too quickly

To start with the basics, put the A1 into program mode, not performance mode. Navigate to bank 5 - there you have initialised patches using just a single sawtooth wave oscillator.

Play with OSC config + OSC CTRL knobs.
Do the same with different wave types.
This in itself will take some time, but will give you a basic idea of the sounds that can be made.
Play with various effects.
Then play with the filters. Go through the filters and play with cutoff and resonance knobs.
Then mess around with amp env, and see how it shapes the sound.
Then go to mod env, then LFOs.
Go through preset programs and performances
Familiarise yourself with program management, storage, copy paste etc
When you get stuck on something, go to the manual.

It will take some time, but you have no choice but to go through a process like this to familiarise yourself with the keyboard (and synthesis in general)

CountFosco wrote:To start with the basics, put the A1 into program mode, not performance mode. Navigate to bank 5 - there you have initialised patches using just a single sawtooth wave oscillator.

It will take some time, but you have no choice but to go through a process like this to familiarise yourself with the keyboard (and synthesis in general)

Thank you, this makes me feel less intimidated. I imaged to really have a good play yesterday - but the manual isn't great at all. It doesn't explain why, when I turn the OSC CTRL nob all the way to 10, all I hear is what I have set on the OSC Config nob. I thought this was meant to be a blend of two oscillators? So much to learn, but thankfully plenty of time to learn it - although I am impatient hehe

ianpatrickroe wrote: when I turn the OSC CTRL nob all the way to 10, all I hear is what I have set on the OSC Config nob. I thought this was meant to be a blend of two oscillators?

Wave gives you an oscillator
Osc config gives you a method to mess with the oscillator
Osc ctrl controls how much messing
The function of Osc ctrl depends on the selected Osc config.

CountFosco wrote:

ianpatrickroe wrote: when I turn the OSC CTRL nob all the way to 10, all I hear is what I have set on the OSC Config nob. I thought this was meant to be a blend of two oscillators?

Wave gives you an oscillator
Osc config gives you a method to mess with the oscillator
Osc ctrl controls how much messing
The function of Osc ctrl depends on the selected Osc config.

Okay, this feels less scarier now. Thank you. everyone on here is so nice!