Nord User Forum

I purchased one of the last brand new Lead2X:es available here in Finland a few of weeks ago (didn't care about samples so much, so chose it over the Wave) not necessarily lusting for the new features in the NL4 either (and, after all, novelties also always cost a little more!)

It sounds wonderful and has the easy tweaking with knobs I wanted to get. But there is something wrong with the brand new thing too ! (have submitted to the support - no answer in 2 weeks time). How can a new Nord be at fault fresh from the shipping?

Anyway, these things (having to do with the RAM function ) don't work: the 0 bank for performances and all but the first two drum kits in banks 1 -3. Have scrutinised the manual and checked the midi global ch (16) and the local on (on). The perf 0 doesn't sound at all, and selecting the programs all leds stay the same. The other perf banks work OK, so do the program RAM banks. The drum kits 3-4 make a slow, whining weak sound.

One more strange thing: during the defunct perf, the slot Midi ch shows 1 and if I try to change it with up/down the instrument switches off altogether ( can be re-booted with the on switch).

Now, my NL2 still does all the music I`ll need with my summer project, so wouldn't want to ship it back or anything now. Also, I`m unwilling to go the MIDI way (was also anti-computer but had to comply in the end... ) but I understand I could try to sysex bulk Midi files from my Cubase Artist 6 or even from my old Boss BR1600, but there are some details in this I haven't yet been able to find at the net. The files I downloaded from Nord pages or on the supplied CD rom are "factory library". If I manage to "play "them and have the MIDI cable connected , does the NL have to have perf on and A0 visible? And do all the perfs in the 0 bank enter the Lead this way one after another? And if need the drums, do I have to try to sysex all the program banks? (they are library files only called that, no specific programs mentioned). If this fails, will the present sounds disappear?

And do you think the RAM is OK at all or faulty? Like I said, I can fortunately still use the instrument, so I won´t have to do anything right now, and it sounds every bit as grand as everybody said it would. But the thing is, it bugs me to have a new instrument that´s not completely OK. Thank you for your time reading this! Ikenord from "Ison Sian Music" free enterprise.

Ikenord wrote:How can a new Nord be at fault fresh from the shipping?

Things break unfortunately. All Nords are thoroughly tested, as shown briefly in the video below. The issue your Nord has either slipped through the test or only became an issue after it test produced and tested.

Ikenord wrote:Anyway, these things (having to do with the RAM function ) don't work: the 0 bank for performances and all but the first two drum kits in banks 1 -3.

What do you mean with 'do not work'? Do they make no sound when you play them, or do they seem to behave strangely?

Ikenord wrote:Have scrutinised the manual and checked the midi global ch (16) and the local on (on). The perf 0 doesn't sound at all, and selecting the programs all leds stay the same. The other perf banks work OK, so do the program RAM banks. The drum kits 3-4 make a slow, whining weak sound.

If you have Local on and you can play it via MIDI, you should also be able to play it from the keyboard. Normally you want to disable the arpeggio function when sending it MIDI.

Ikenord wrote:One more strange thing: during the defunct perf, the slot Midi ch shows 1 and if I try to change it with up/down the instrument switches off altogether ( can be re-booted with the on switch).

That really sounds wrong.

Ikenord wrote:Now, my NL2 still does all the music I`ll need with my summer project, so wouldn't want to ship it back or anything now.

If it is broken, there isn't really a way around it. What you could try is bring your NL2 to the shop you bought it, show them there is something wrong with it and try to get them to swap it for a different one. If they have one in stock, you might be able to take the new one immediately with you, while the old one goes back to the distributor as defective. If they don't have one in stock, you may be able to get them to order a new one while you keep the old one (this probably requires involvement of the distributor). The problem with taking the old back home until the replacement is that the shop might not really want you to do this.

As I mentioned, I think the distributor needs to be involved here. The shop may only be able to send it back for repairs and ordering a replacement might cost them money, so they might be very reluctant to do so; the distributor on the other hand has more options. The shop and you might be able to convince them to send a new one to replace the one you have now, at which point the old one gets sent back to the distributor. Anyway, I'm just guessing here.

I really advise you not to wait too long with this. Let the shop know of the issue (ideally bring the NL2 with you) and explain to them you currently can't afford to send back your Nord for several weeks. After having had a Nord for quite a while defects could develop, but a new one should be working flawlessly. Discuss with the shop (and the distributor) what your options are and try to find a solution that works.

If you go to the Nord website, there is a link called Distributors at the top right. If sends you to a page with the contact data of the different distributors. I'd talk to the shop first and I mention getting the distributor involved. If it turns out you're getting nowhere with the shop, call the distributor directly, explain the issue to them and let them know you tried to get it resolved with the shop, but where unable to.

Ikenord wrote:Also, I`m unwilling to go the MIDI way (was also anti-computer but had to comply in the end... ) but I understand I could try to sysex bulk Midi files from my Cubase Artist 6 or even from my old Boss BR1600, but there are some details in this I haven't yet been able to find at the net. The files I downloaded from Nord pages or on the supplied CD rom are "factory library". If I manage to "play "them and have the MIDI cable connected , does the NL have to have perf on and A0 visible? And do all the perfs in the 0 bank enter the Lead this way one after another? And if need the drums, do I have to try to sysex all the program banks? (they are library files only called that, no specific programs mentioned). If this fails, will the present sounds disappear?

You could start by dumping all patch and performance banks from the NL2 to your sequencer (archiving them). The process is briefly described on page 78 of the manual; you can either send a single sound or send a whole bank. You should put every bank in a seperate file (or track in a DAW) and give them a sensible name (maybe something like bank0.syx or bank0.mid, but I prefer .syx). You could use your DAW (like Cubase), but using a free program like MIDI-OX (Windows) or SysEx Librarion (Mac) is probably more convenient.

MIDI-OX: http://www.midiox.com/
SysEx Librarion: http://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/

A brief document from Korg with some info on using MIDI-OX: http://www.korg.co.uk/downloads/m1/supp ... MIDIOX.pdf

After you've saved your own programs and performances (I think the percussion kits are included, but check the manual on this) you can try overwriting complete banks with the factory sound set (you can also download it from the Downloads section of the Nord website).

If you have question regarding the use of either program, don't hesitate to ask.

Ikenord wrote:And do you think the RAM is OK at all or faulty? Like I said, I can fortunately still use the instrument, so I won´t have to do anything right now, and it sounds every bit as grand as everybody said it would. But the thing is, it bugs me to have a new instrument that´s not completely OK.

Hard to say what is wrong, but to me it does sound like something is wrong (especially the thing where it shuts down when you change the MIDI channel). I would go a bit further than say 'it is not completely OK' - it sounds like there's something seriously wrong with it. Even if it turns out we overlooked something (since I also can't think of a thing that might be causing the behaviour you described), the important thing is that you get this resolved and get an instrument that is a joy to play and can be depended upon to work.

As for not getting a response from Nord: your queries get forwarded to the distributor, who is in a much better position than Nord to help you (the speak the local language, etc). No idea why you still haven't gotten an answer, but you don't have to sit on your hands and hope for the best. Talk to the shop and contact the distributor directly if you're not getting anywhere with the shop. You can also contact the distributor, but they might ask you to talk to the shop first.

Thank you for you kind and informative reply! You're probably quite right about contacting the shop and the distributor! Still, it's very unfortunate that Nord has already discontinued this old version. It's possible there aren't stocks left... Admittedly it's also tempting to delay, because that way I could already use the many splendid sounds (that work) for my arrangements the coming summer... It would be nice though if things worked out the way you suggested and I could be spared the MIDI fiddling, which is beyond my old-fashioned mind (thanks for the required websites anyway!) Will have to decide. But thank you very much for answering! The Same

I don't know how warranty works in Finland, but waiting a few months before reporting a defect might make it harder to claim warranty in the Netherlands, for example.

Just noticed that I can in fact change the midi channel without the unit switching itself off when anything that sounds is on (even the defect drum kit programs P 3 and P4 in the first four banks - the banks themselves are ROM but drum kits are RAM) , and if I press one of the slots in a defect 0-bank performance (RAM) so that it flashes, I may be able to do this, but sometimes not, and then the thing dies. I think I'll phone the shop tomorrow and start the talks. From experience (having been using , ordering and suffering faults with various music equipment for more than thirty years) I know there might be something less than helpful ahead! But going through the sounds again and trying the front panel knobs to modify them has again left me with admiration for this instrument , in spite of all this bad luck with it being deftive! Ikenord

Ikenord wrote:From experience (having been using , ordering and suffering faults with various music equipment for more than thirty years) I know there might be something less than helpful ahead

I haven't had a lot of equipment fail on me while in my possession, but I did have some stuff that was already broken when I got it. At a time like that, a shop (or a distributor for that matter) can really show if customer satisfaction is actually as important to them as they usually say it is.

You can say that again! Unfortunately, the times things have has ever really been so have been so rare I can hardly name one... Being a Nord user is still pretty new to me, having acquired my Electro 3 HP only a little over a year ago, so they're still to show their colour! I thought might contact the distributor first, but today was such a heavy working day I couldn't bring myself to take up to it yet... The Electro is for the pianos and organs. (The hammer action really makes the pianos, and for the organs there's the possibility to use my Midi keyboard - the only way I like to use any Midi! ) It worked without hitch at least with my last summer's project. There are these free downloadable sounds too ( to which I may have to resort if I am to lose the use of the NL for any longer times this summer ) I've also had a Yamaha Motif Rack Es for seven years. Its sounds are pretty good actually ( although its pianos and organs always sounded rather average to me) but to modify them is almost impossible due to its incomprehensible jungle of menus and submenus, cramped display and hopeless "operation " manual! Seven years of similar sounds does feel like too long... That's why I turned to the Lead in the first place, with its famous sounds and easy way to fine tune them. Ikenord

A most optimal solution! Nord's colour seems to be distinctive not only physically but also service-wise. The distributor apparently has a service facility here in Finland, so the Lead won't have go to Sweden, and what's best, I'll be able to delay the reparation until the recording project is ready! So, very happy with this! Ikenord

Ah, good to hear