Clavia Nord Lead NL2X 49-Key Virtual Analog Keyboard

No longer available at zZounds
20-voice polyphony. 4 part multi-timbral.

Clavia is pleased to announce that the Nord Lead 2X is now shipping! During the past weeks, they've be able to push the limits even further regarding sound and functionality of the Lead 2X, so they can guarantee you it was worth the wait!

Nord Lead 2X - The Rebirth of a Classic
The original Nord Lead and Nord Lead 2 are among the most popular synthesizers ever built. Used extensively in studios, on stage and on records by the world's greatest artists, the Nord Leads have contributed with their characteristic sound on hit song after hit song. And of course, that's how they want to keep it!

So why change a winning concept, you may ask? Well, they didn't change the concept - or the sound, for that matter. Clavia simply improved the concept and upgraded the hardware to make it possible for the Virtual Analog sound to live on for many more years to come!

The Nord Lead 2X has the same characteristic sound and functions as the Nord Lead 2, except for some very nice improvements:

X-tra polyphony: The Nord Lead 2X comes with 20 voices polyphony -- very useful when creating layered sounds, "power pads", awesome leads and booming basses. 20 voices are also very beneficial in sequencing situations when you use more than 1 sound at a time.

X-tra memory: The Nord Lead 2X comes with a large internal memory holding 4 x 99 user Programs, 100 user Performances and 4 x 10 user Percussion Kits plus 6 x 99 factory Programs and 3 x 100 factory Performances! The Nord Lead 2X is 100% patch compatible read more with the Nord Lead 2 which means that you can transfer sounds directly between the models via MIDI.

X-tra high resolution: The awesome sound in the Nord Lead 2X is refined even further thanks to the brand new, crystal clear 24-bit DACs running at 96kHz.

Special Features
Velocity programming: Each function that is controlled by a knob, can be programmed to be controlled by velocity.

Morphing: Each function that is controlled by a knob can also be controlled by the modulation wheel/pedal to continuously fade between 2 sets of values.

Performance Controllers
4-octave velocity sensitive keyboard.

Octave Shift buttons (+/-2 oct.)

Keyboard Split, 2 sections.

Wooden Pitch Stick, designed to change the pitch continuously without any dead spots. It gives you complete control of the pitch and allows you to make true and natural vibrato. The effect increases exponentially as you move it further from the center. Patent pending for the "Pitch Stick."

Modulation Wheel for modulating a number of selectable destinations. Looks great, feels great, works great.

1 pedal input for sustain and 1 for expression pedal.

User Interface
3-digit LED display, 26 knobs and 27 buttons for program editing.

Oscillator Section
Oscillator 1 generating sine, triangle, sawtooth or pulse wave with adjustable width.

Oscillator 2 generating triangle, sawtooth or pulse (with adjustable width) and can also generate noise with a color control.

Oscillator 2 can be hard synced to oscillator 1.

Linear deep frequency modulation of Osc 1 from Osc 2.

A wide range of new waveforms with a strong formant character is achieved with the synchable noise, where noise can be synched to Osc. 1.

Filter Section
12 dB "2 pole" lowpass, 24 dB "4 pole" lowpass, bandpass or highpass, Notch + Lowpass.

Cut off, resonance, envelope amount, envelope amount controlled by velocity. ADSR envelope.

Filter keyboard tracking can be set to full, 2/3, 1/3 or off. Filter distortion.

Amplifier Section
ADSR envelope, gain control.

Modulation Section
LFO 1 generating triangle, saw, pulse, LF filtered noise and random staircase routed to Osc 1+2, Osc 2, filter, pulse-width and FM amount.

LFO 2 produces a triangle waveform, routed to Osc 1 and 2 or amplifier. It also controls the rate for the arpeggiator.

Arpeggiator: Range: 1 - 4 octave. Modes: up, down, up/down, random.

Echo can be set between 1 and 8 repeats.

Modulation envelope (attack, decay) for Osc 2 pitch, FM amount and pulse width.

Performance Section
Play mode: Poly, legato, mono, unison mono, unison poly.

Manual mode. Four program slots for layering possibilities.

Portamento/Auto portamento.

Percussion Kits
40 user "analog" percussion kits. Each percussion kit holds 8 independent sounds, configured in 8 zones across the keyboard.

Internal Memory
Programs (single sounds): 990 (396 (4 x 99) user, 594 (6 x 99) factory).

Performances (multi sounds): 400 (100 user, 300 (3 x 100) factory).

Percussion kits (multi zone sounds): 40 (4 x 10) user.

Audio Out
4 outputs. Each slot can have its own output.

Modes: Stereo, mono and multi-timbral mode. Headphones output. High resolution, low noise 24-bit DACs running at 96kHz.

MIDI Features
All control knobs and switches for program editing transmit and receive Control Change messages.

System exclusive bulk dumps.

One Program/Performance or all Programs/Performances in a bank.

MIDI clock synchronizing LFO 1 and LFO 2/arpeggiator restart.

Triggering of the filter and amplifier envelopes and velocity control from separate programmable MIDI channel and note numbers.

Fully patch compatible with Nord Lead 2/Nord Rack 2.
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Dimensions: 865(W) 265(D) 90(H) mm

Weight: 5.3 kg

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Web: https://www.nordkeyboards.com/support

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (46 ratings)
Submitted May 4, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com

"I'm satisfied"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I plan on keeping it - very glad I bought it.

Sound
I've only had it for a couple of days, but am finding inspiring sounds every day. It doesn't have effects, but I don't mind. I am learning to appreciate the quality of DRY sound. It CAN sound superb even dry. The other good thing is without much experience you can move a knob or two and quickly adjust the sound to your preference. I haven't started to build my own sounds yet, but I guess that will be a true adventure. I am using the Nord together with my Korg TR and I think they make a great combination.

Features
Overall very interesting gadget to play with constantly. Someone else mentioned the absence of the possiblity to precisely set the speed of the arp. Also, I'd like a display which could show the full name of the patch. Other than that, it's great.

Ease of Use
very easy to plunge into - I don't know about more complex stuff - still have a lot to learn, but I think it will be a rewarding experience

Quality
Superb! Looks great, feels great. You need to take special care when handling it though if you don't want to damage the knobs.

Value
Excellent. I've heard a lot of people say it's an excellent synth for delving into the analog synthesis. Also, it's been played by a LOT of famous people including Jarre, which is mainly the reason I bought it :) read more

Manufacturer Support
Didn't have any issues yet, so there was no need for the support.

The Wow Factor
Looks great - it's a unique piece of equipment. You can always recognize a clavia instrument with its red color and tons of knobs

Musical Background:
Hobbyist

Musical Style:
Ambient
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