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Nordwave Synthesizer

The introduction of sample players in the mid eighties created a gap
in the world of synthesizers - a gap that twenty years later only has
grown further; the amount of voices and memory sizes are more important
than the sound itself - as if the more ‘dead’ samples you can play at
one time would bring your sound more to life. The Nord Wave closes that
gap, and brings digital samples to life by integrating them in an
virtual analog environment. Does the best of two worlds sound too
pretentious for you? Wait until you have heard the wave.
WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT

By having two oscillators capable of producing a vast
array of sounds from classic analog waveforms (with sync), via
FM-synthesis, wavetables, sampled waves (single cycle waveforms with
attack) as well as noise and other miscellaneous waveforms to - yes -
playback of sampled waveforms, the nord wave has an unprecedented pallet
of sounds for you to use as foundation.
You need a rich and full string quartet? No
problem - just bring up the samples. A highly resonant screaming lead?
Sure - virtual analog is there, but why not combine them - not just mix
them together - but create an analog sound with the harmonic content of
the sampled string quartet!
With oscillator modulation you can transfer the
character of one sound to the other - for instance a sampled string to a
analog square - and by controlling the amount of modulation the effect
can range from very subtle to heavily aggressive were the original sound
is no longer recognized.
Within moments you will experience sounds never
heard before; sounds that will function as a great source of inspiration
and lift your playing and sound design to new levels.
DIGITAL SAMPLES IN AN ANALOG ENVIRONMENT
The sound of a resonant 24dB steep filter applied to
a sampled sound brings it so much to life that some times that is all
you need. But there are so many more items available to your samples -
all elements of a analog synthesizer can be incorporated: amplifier and
modulation envelopes, LFOs, filters as well as effects.
Also some convenient sample modifications are
available. By using alternative start points, you can loose the attack
portion of the sample and use only the body of the sound for modulation.
OSCILLATOR MODULATION

Two types of oscillator modulation gives you
different characteristics to your sound: Phase Modulation and Frequency
Modulation. Very different results can be achieved depending on the
combination of type of waveforms generated by the two oscillators, type
of oscillator modulation, and amount of oscillator modulation.
Using Phase Modulation, an analog triangle waveform
will adopt much of the details of the modulating waveform and make an
almost transparent, synthesized effect. An analog saw waveform will
still sound hard when modulated, and wavetables are great for creating
different variations in tonal character.
Frequency Modulation has a more dramatic effect as
it will create a wider harmonic content and preserve more of the
character of the waveform being modulated
HIGH QUALITY SAMPLES
To us, quality supersedes quantity - great samples are not determined by
their size in bytes, but rather by the level of preservation in detail
and character. Further to producing our own top quality samples holding
up to the highest Clavia standard, we have also teamed up with several
sample houses and licensed some of the very best samples available,
including Kirk Hunter, Sonic Reality as well as the complete Mellotron
instrument library.
The Clavia web site offers a large amount of top
quality samples specially created for the nord wave - available free of
charge. TWO SYNTHS IN ONE
Two synths-in-one means that you can seamlessly
switch between two sounds without cutting off any sustaining notes, or
layering two sounds together to create a massive sound palette.
Everything is easily controlled by the Slot A & B
buttons, and to keep things simple - every parameter there is actually
two of is printed against a gray background.
EFFECTS
The
effect section gives your sound the final touch - whether it is just a
small amount of reverberation, a massive delay tap or a boost using the
tube-style overdrive.
5 different reverb algorithms are provided, from a
small room to a large hall. The delay have both mono and stereo
operation, and have tap-tempo function as well as selectable feedback
amount. FILTER
MANIA

High quality resonant filters are one of the most important ingredients
in sound creation. The nord wave incorporates a total of 6 different
filter types of the highest quality. Ranging from standard low-, high-
and band-pass filters, you also have a multi peak filter, comb filter as
well as a format filter, creating vowel effects. Filter parameters can
be modulated via the dedicated ADSR-envelope, velocity or any of the
LFOs or Modulation Envelope. Using the Morph function you can even
modulate the modulators - creating very dynamic and evolving effects.
IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Ergonomically
fitted around your left hand are controls for pitch and modulation -
naturally - but also Program Change-dial, Octave Shift-, Chord- and
Panel & Keyboard Focus-buttons making it quick and easy to switch
settings on the fly. BUILT FOR
PERFORMANCE With 25 years of experience of
designing instruments to be used by professional musicians, we know the
importance of making the technology completely transparent. When
performing it is all about being in control of our sound. That is why we
have a physical knob or button for every sound related parameter on the
front panel. No menus or page buttons should be in the way to limit your
expressiveness during a performance. |