Additional LFOs for Nord Wave 2

[S h a w]

so... there a guy in the UK who created a box he calls the LFE (Low Frequency Expander) which added functionality to the Dave Smith OB-6. Specifically it added an Envelope, a Sequencer and 3 LFOs. His name is Steve Hunt (yoricktechltd@gmail.com) and he is considering doing something like this for the Nord Wave 2 (or adding Nord Wave 2 support for the version of the LFE that he has already created). [see YouTube video review by GeoSynths below]

I purchased one of these for my OB-6 and I can say this -- the unit is built like a tank and works like a charm. Conveniently, it saves presets that coincide with the OB-6 presets. So when I change presets on the OB-6, my LFE will also automatically change it's preset to coincide. Genius.

Anyway, Steve emailed me asking whether I thought there would be interest in this unit to go alongside the Nord Wave 2. So I am sharing the info here. If any of you are interested, please email him to let him know. Hopefully this is a project that will get off the ground as it will change the Nord Wave 2 from a great synth to a superb synth. And as I said, he has already done this for the OB-6 (with support for the Prophet 6), so he clearly has the talent and ability to bring this project to fruition.

[Mr_-G-]

Nice idea. The wave 2 is not out for sale yet, so I guess that the number of people really interested in buying one is close to 0 at the moment. I suppose that it would work with any synth if you could set the right CCs.

[LewTheKeysGuy]

I would be interested, but it seems that in order to achieve what you'd want from the wave, unless nord realise that they need to add further lfo's via firmware, etc, that buying other hardware to perform this, would sound a little awkward. what perplexes me is how this would provide extra sources to a nord wave when there are only standard outputs, etc.

lew

[Mr_-G-]

It controls the synth parameters via MIDI CCs. It is an interesting idea. I wonder for the W2 whether that is straightforward, I suppose that each slot needs to be controlled by a different MIDI channel?

[LewTheKeysGuy]

that would be right if the information was available. running external LFO's would rely on MIDI CC but would that also mean that it needs to process audio as a send source.

sounds like a good idea I have to admit. I do wish that the Wave 2 was a more modular affair where you could hook up 500 series modules or other external analogue gear to it to expand on it.

lew

[ResonantMind]

I can't figure out what they were thinking reducing the LFO section? The LFO section was integral to programming on the original Wave.

This is less of a synth, and more of an oldschool AKAI sampler that is playback-only model.

Nord Wave



Nord Wave 2


I guess they thought it would be cheesy to have TWO LFOs for the Nord Wave TWO? But the reduction in routing options? THIS MAKES NO SENSE.

IMO, they've been Ikea'ing their keyboards sine they discontinued the Wave and Modular. It's like they stopped taking acid when they should have kept going.

Here's to hoping a new modular is on the way...

[Mr_-G-]

that would be right if the information was available.

Well, that is what the available information says.

what perplexes me is how this would provide extra sources to a nord wave when there are only standard outputs, etc.

Because, it works by controlling synth parameters via MIDI. There is no messing with the audio pathway at all.

[Mr_-G-]

I can't figure out what they were thinking reducing the LFO section?

Most likely the synth DSPs cannot keep up with all that is necessary in 4 slots, all at the same time. Perhaps polyphony gets drastically reduced.
Sure that *can* be done, but surely it would require a different architecture or more powerful DSPs and maybe Clavia thinks that the instrument is still an attractive option.

[ResonantMind]

I can't figure out what they were thinking reducing the LFO section?

Most likely the synth DSPs cannot keep up with all that is necessary in 4 slots, all at the same time. Perhaps polyphony gets drastically reduced.
Sure that *can* be done, but surely it would require a different architecture or more powerful DSPs and maybe Clavia thinks that the instrument is still an attractive option.

Doesn't really make sense as you could just route MIDI into and control everything that way, hence this post.

I don't think it's a technical limitation, there's nothing technically limiting here for modern DSP by about 30 years with the exception of sample space perhaps. This is I'm sure Clavia overly under-design philosophy.

How are you even supposed to program interesting sounds? They should have at least made the single LFO push and hold button assignable to any parameter like when you are assigning the mod wheel, but even then, one LFO per slot is very limited.

I guess they decided to reduce it to essentially, a .wav player, because synth sounds will sound very canned and predictable from one user to the next.

[ResonantMind]

so... there a guy in the UK who created a box he calls the LFE (Low Frequency Expander) which added functionality to the Dave Smith OB-6. Specifically it added an Envelope, a Sequencer and 3 LFOs. His name is Steve Hunt (yoricktechltd@gmail.com) and he is considering doing something like this for the Nord Wave 2 (or adding Nord Wave 2 support for the version of the LFE that he has already created). [see YouTube video review by GeoSynths below]

I purchased one of these for my OB-6 and I can say this -- the unit is built like a tank and works like a charm. Conveniently, it saves presets that coincide with the OB-6 presets. So when I change presets on the OB-6, my LFE will also automatically change it's preset to coincide. Genius.

Anyway, Steve emailed me asking whether I thought there would be interest in this unit to go alongside the Nord Wave 2. So I am sharing the info here. If any of you are interested, please email him to let him know. Hopefully this is a project that will get off the ground as it will change the Nord Wave 2 from a great synth to a superb synth. And as I said, he has already done this for the OB-6 (with support for the Prophet 6), so he clearly has the talent and ability to bring this project to fruition.

If he does, I would be interested. But he should have it be dual purpose for the original Nord Wave as well as NW2