Nord User Forum

Hello,

I was looking at google, but did not find any useful document, so I want to ask my questions here:

1) What are the differences between the Nord Lead 2x and the Nord Rack 2x (except the integrated Keyboard)?

2) How are the OS upgrades made with these both synths (cannot see any USB-Port, SD-Slot or anything) ?

3) When I go from the unbalanced line-outs of the Synthesizer to the balanced line-ins of my Audio Interface, do I need to put DI-Boxes between them?

Thank you very much for your help!

Greets

pcinhaber wrote:1) What are the differences between the Nord Lead 2x and the Nord Rack 2x (except the integrated Keyboard)?

The keyboard has support for a keyboard split, a pitch stick and a mod wheel. In the case of the rack, it is up to whatever controller you're using to implement these things. So essentially the difference between the keyboard and the rack version is the keyboard + associated functionality (pitch stick, modwheel and split).

Both the Lead 2X and the Rack 2X use the same manual. They might even use the same firmware (I don't know this for sure, check to make sure if you ever need to update your firmware).

pcinhaber wrote:2) How are the OS upgrades made with these both synths (cannot see any USB-Port, SD-Slot or anything) ?

You send them a new firmware via SysEx (MIDI). All you need is a MIDI interface and a suitable SysEx utility for sending it.

I've successfully used Bome's Send SX (Windows) and snoize's SysEx Librarian (Mac).

Note that if you are unable to update the firmware (perhaps because it gets stuck halfway or something like that), the utility you're using may be sending the SysEx data faster than the synth can handle (I've had this happen with my DSI Poly Evolver). In that case you need to configure the utility to slow down a bit.

pcinhaber wrote:3) When I go from the unbalanced line-outs of the Synthesizer to the balanced line-ins of my Audio Interface, do I need to put DI-Boxes between them?

You could, but you don't have to. One of the big advantages of balanced connections is the fact that outside (electrical) noise has little to no effect on them, unlike unbalanced connections. The signal on them is also 'hotter' (stronger) and in combination with low noise susceptibility this allows you to use very long cables without problems.

If however your cables are fairly short (like they usually are at home) I wouldn't bother with a DI box. Most audio interfaces can handle unbalanced signals and they do this automatically when they detect an unbalanced connection. If you plug a balanced cable (say a stereo/TRS jack) into an instrument with unbalanced (mono/TS) jacks the audio interface should be able to detect you've plugged the cable into an instrument with unbalanced outputs.

However, I've had issues with this. Specifically, I had issues with my Waldorf Blofeld, where the right output is a TS jack but where the left output can either output a mono or a stereo signal (based on whether you plug in a mono/TS or stereo/TRS jack). This caused the right output to be treated as an unbalanced connection (good) and the left one as a balanced one (bad). The solution was to use a mono cable for the left output.

Using mono cables with unbalanced connections makes sure weird stuff (like the Blofeld's left output) also works as expected (= as unbalanced) with balanced audio interfaces. So I'd recommend using mono (TS) cables; if you've only got stereo cables lying around, I'd try those first since it will probably work fine. If you get a very weak signal, you might want to test with a mono cable just to make sure the audio interface isn't treating it as a balanced signal (in my case the volume on the Blofeld's left output was very weak, while the right one was normal).

If case you're wondering why I keep mentioning TS and TRS:

Sorry, but you can't change the firmware by SysEx.
Only thre NordLead3 has this option.
Clavia or a special tech has to replace the Ee-prom chip.

BTW to the NordLead2X there is no other firmware as V1.0

Wout

Thank you very much, for your answers. The thing is, my audio interface has only balanced XLR-Inputs. So I would need to use two XLR-to-TS-cables.

I've seen that there is a VST-Editor for the Nord Lead 2/x from rekonaudio.com. Has anyone of you experience with this editor? Concerning this I've written a mail to rekonaudio, whether the editor is compatible with Cubase 6.5 and Nord Rack 2x.

pcinhaber

I always wondered tyhe use of such a tool...
Just being able to turn the knobs from the computer?

Wout

WoutBlommers wrote:I always wondered tyhe use of such a tool...
Just being able to turn the knobs from the computer?

Yes and no.

One of the advantages is that it makes it easier to automate parameter changes on the Lead, since you can use the functionality for automation that most DAWs have in them. Additionally it would also be possible to implement a 'better' interface (one that works better from a soft synth-perspective) for existing equipment. So theoretically you could do much more than just turn knobs.

In this specific case, the UI implemented is just a digital version of the normal front panel (same looks, same features) . And automation: well, that could also be done by just recording the MIDI CC messages for them. That might not work with stuff that needs NRPNs or SysEx, but in DAWs like Ableton Live that won't work anyway (as I found out). I'd say the Rekon Audio plugin for the Lead is of rather limited value, because in practice (in my opinion) it comes do a fancy interface for turning knobs without letting go of the mouse.

Something like the plugin for the Access Virus TI is a whole different story; the interface is very different from the one on the synth itself and you can do stuff with the interface (a VST or AU plugin) that you cannot do as easily (or in some cases, not at all) on the front-panel of the synth itself. Access thought this was important enough to warrant adding it in the name of the product (TI stands for 'Total Integration').

Inderdaad
An librarian would be another story, or some tool which is able to create Performances from Programs and vice versa or a tool which is able to create Morphs, like loading a Program and after loading another one (same button configuration, of course) it creates a mortph between the two...

Wout

I wanted a randomize program function

I had some of those and will try to find them again...
(As the alpha testing tool of the NordModular G2 Mutator)

Wout

Hi All,

There is also a significant operational difference between the keyed and rack versions of the Lead 2X. On the keyed version the four slots are each individually engaged/disengaged by simply hitting their respective slot buttons. This does not work the same on the rack version. WIth the rack, predetermined midi channels are assigned and that's that.

Pablo