Nord User Forum

Hi,

I'm about to buy a Nord Rack 2x, but I want to know if certain sounds are possible with this thing.

Are these sounds possible to make?

- good strings/pads
- bell sounds
- Just a girl - No Doubt
- Radio Gaga and other Queen synth sounds
- Toto's africa
- Steve miller Band - Abracadabra

And is it possible to replicate or come very close to other sounds used in famous songs?

Thanks in advance,
Lennaert Tol

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Oops!
Difficult to say. When originally made on a NordLead2X, yes, but still it is a hard job, because there are a lot of parameters which determine the sound.
When it is made on another brand of synth there is a very little change you will succeed.
And then there are all the FX’s which make it even harder.
Don’t forget the musician him/herself can do a lot of the sound by simple playing a different technique.
So, to be honest, I would say… Neen!

Wout

So you're saying that I can't play the songs with a similar sound unless I buy the synths used in the songs? How close can I get with the Rack 2?

I disagree on this one, Wout. I would say: it depends on what degree of resemblance Lennaerttol wants.

The Just a Girl lead is a Sync stuff. The Nord can do this. Now maybe it will not have the same exact grain as the original synth used ion the tune. But our friend may be happy with any close Sync lead.
About pads, sure the Lead can sound great in that domain. Not a Prophet, but still.
I saw a tutorial once where the guy made the Africa's pad with a Nord Lead (I think...): it was satisfying anough to me and suremy any average audience.
Bell soudns? RongMod!!
Radio Gaga? Stabs!

I would say the Nord worths be tried out.
Maybe knowing your degree of synthesis knowledge or the gear you already have could help?...

stiiiiiiive wrote:I disagree on this one, Wout. I would say: it depends on what degree of resemblance Lennaerttol wants.

The Just a Girl lead is a Sync stuff. The Nord can do this. Now maybe it will not have the same exact grain as the original synth used ion the tune. But our friend may be happy with any close Sync lead.
About pads, sure the Lead can sound great in that domain. Not a Prophet, but still.
I saw a tutorial once where the guy made the Africa's pad with a Nord Lead (I think...): it was satisfying anough to me and suremy any average audience.
Bell soudns? RongMod!!
Radio Gaga? Stabs!

I would say the Nord worths be tried out.
Maybe knowing your degree of synthesis knowledge or the gear you already have could help?...

About the quality of the sounds I would like to be able to make: if I'm playing along with the original, I would like to get about 90% of the original sound. Is that possible?

I only have the Nord Electro 3, and I haven't had any synths before. I don't have enough knowledge of synthesis to make a sound similar to the original without listening whilst turning the knobs, but I have the patience and time to get the right sound.

You may need some effects (at least a delay, a chorus ?) for the sound you mention.

lennaerttol wrote:About the quality of the sounds I would like to be able to make: if I'm playing along with the original, I would like to get about 90% of the original sound. Is that possible?

I only have the Nord Electro 3, and I haven't had any synths before. I don't have enough knowledge of synthesis to make a sound similar to the original without listening whilst turning the knobs, but I have the patience and time to get the right sound.

I think you will be happy with the Nord Lead then. Try it before any purchase, if you can, or find a dealer with a return policy.

Tell us what you decide

stiiiiiiive wrote:

lennaerttol wrote:About the quality of the sounds I would like to be able to make: if I'm playing along with the original, I would like to get about 90% of the original sound. Is that possible?

I only have the Nord Electro 3, and I haven't had any synths before. I don't have enough knowledge of synthesis to make a sound similar to the original without listening whilst turning the knobs, but I have the patience and time to get the right sound.

I think you will be happy with the Nord Lead then. Try it before any purchase, if you can, or find a dealer with a return policy.

Tell us what you decide

I hope I can go to the music store very soon to try the Rack 2x and of course other new products announced at NAMM and Musikmesse

Once I've been there, I'll certainly post my opinion on the instruments here.

Maybe al little bit OT, but how is the Waldorf Blofeld at producing these sounds compared to the Rack 2x? That thing looks great too and is costs a little bit more than 50% of the Nord. I don't care about the 'knob per function' on the Nord, because it doesn't look too hard to make sounds on the Blofeld.

I'll leave the room to connaisseurs here as I have never used the Blo.