E Q U Clavia Nord Modular G2 I Clavia has done some considerable mods to the Modular. Brad Watts gives P M his ears a Swedish massage. E lavia has been kicking around the electronic (doubling the G2’s grunt factor) and the G2 Engine. N instrument market since 1983. Its founding The G2 Engine is a single rack-mount unit sans T Cproduct, the ‘Digital Percussion Plate’ was a keyboard – expandable just like the G2 and offering world first in digital percussion units. Since then the the same I/O apart from the dedicated microphone company has expanded its ddrum line with great input like its bigger brothers. T success, and in 1995 it launched into the synthesis E realm with the ground-breaking Nord Lead. The Things of Stone & Wood Nord was the first of many ‘virtual analogue’ designs. When the G2 model made its appearance at my place S Although other manufacturers followed similar paths, it immediately awoke in me the aura surrounding T the Nord line has retained its crown as the cream of Clavia synthesizers. The stone mod wheel, that little analogue emulation even to this day. Having had such wooden pitch stick and the fire-engine red colour success with the Nord concept, the company is now scheme – Nords are sexy beasts and the G2 is certainly no exception. This second generation of Nord Modulars has the opulence of USB rather than Midi for connection to your computer. This facilitates software upgrades to the units and of course connection to the editing software. With the original modular series a second set of Midi I/O needed to be connected – this could offering four product lines based around the Nord’s prove to be a nightmare for some people with certain synthesis engines. With so much of its sound based in Midi interfaces and operating systems. USB on the the heritage of analogue synthesis, it was not surpris- other hand has proven to be quite a robust method of ing to see Clavia design a system based on subtractive data transferral – the editing software immediately saw modular synthesis – a modern incarnation of the now the G2, and just for the record… all via a USB hub. quite ancient art of combining modules via patch leads So let’s get into the architecture of the new to build a sound. Clavia’s systems, however, allow Modulars. Patch recall takes the typical Clavia these virtual modules to be compiled in software approach of four patch ‘Slots’. Each Slot can hold a and then downloaded to the Clavia hardware and patch with these four patches being able to be grouped executed via the unit’s DSP processors. The Nord into a single Performance. This system is quite typical Modular G2 is the second generation of development of the Nord design and results in some quite complex along these lines. possibilities. Equally, a Slot can be assigned an indi- Of course, the problems associated with a real vidual Midi channel enabling the unit to deliver four modular analogue synthesis system are many and separate discrete patches at a time. Performances use widely known: poor tuning stability, unreliability, the all four Slots of course. Over 160 different modules can impossibility of creating the same patch twice and the be utilised to build a single patch. These are arranged sheer bulk of such a system – once installed you’re not into 16 categories as follows: In/Out, Note, Osc, LFO, exactly keen to pull it all apart and lug it to a gig. And Random, Envelope, Shaper, Filter, Mixer, Switch, Level, this is the beauty of the Nord modulars. Once your Logic, Sequencer, FX, Delay, and Midi. The Midi sound(s) are designed and dumped to the unit it’s a modules are quite interesting, allowing one patch to simple matter to carry the synth to a gig, plug in and play another within the Nord’s four patch Slots. The let rip! module selection offers a variety of synthesis methods The G2 line consists of three separate models. The including subtractive, additive, frequency modulation, G2 falls in the middle of the range with a three-octave physical modelling or indeed any combination of these. keyboard. The G2x offers a five octave semi-weighted I counted around 16 different filter modules, nine keyboard and additional voice expansion card styles of envelope generator, seven separate shaper 106 modules, 17 oscillator modules, four sets of LFOs and the list simply goes on and on, and on. The G2’s polyphony stands at a notional 32 notes, but this figure is entirely dependent on the complexity of the patch in use – complex patches will result in fewer notes. Bear in mind that because of the DSP-driven nature of the G2, even effects will eat into your available power. That said, how many Nord sounds could you fit into a recording? Nord Discovery Editing such a complex system would be a difficult proposition without dedicated software. The G2 manual makes no bones about this and quickly launches into the edit software’s operation. Booting The Nord Modular G2's dedicated Software Editor Window. the NMG2 editor immediately pulls up the patch resident in Slot A. The software is extremely robust via the hardware but it’s not meant to be in the same – unlike previous Midi-based incarnations – and only league as the editing software. Owners of the original takes a moment to reorganise the unit’s DSP. When Modular system should be aware that patches created changing patches – either via the software or the in those units will not load into the G2 line. G2’s front panel – you’ll hear the sound drop out as As far as shunting audio to and from the G2 goes, the DSP reconfigures. Some may point this out as a there are various options. Four line-level jack inputs shortfall until they realise that each patch can store allow signal to enter the unit via 24-bit/96k A/D. An eight variations of the patch. These variations can be XLR mic input is included, with its own preamp and recalled via the hardware front panel. In short, varia- input level control on the top panel – this negates one tions allow edits to modules within the patch, without of the line inputs but is a quick path to some very cool changing any modules and thus DSP configuration. vocoding – or perhaps something a little fresher con- Consequently you’ll not experience any embarrassing sidering the century we’re living in. The flagship G2X dropouts using this feature. Furthermore, variations even comes supplied with its own gooseneck micro- will come in handy for those wishing to construct phone. Outputs consist of four line-level jack outs, all sequenced patches – eight sequenced variations can be with 24/96 D/A – you’d hardly expect less than 24/96 pre-programmed and then recalled easily within a live I/O from a manufacturer such as Clavia. performance. Getting back to the manual, rest assured, you will No Fly by Night have your nose in it more often than not. A device of The sound of the Nord Modulars and the G2 really this complexity requires it, so be prepared for some should be experienced to appreciate what’s going bedtime reading. Those familiar with the concepts on here. While the sound has never been a perfect behind modular synthesis will have a field day. There’s imitation of an analogue system it still offers the subtle- not a lot the G2 isn’t capable of doing on the synthesis ties of analogue synthesis combined with the ability to front. Chapter 12 covers synthesis basics and is well remain prominent and precise within a mix. Basses are worth the read. Don’t know the difference between an warm yet incredibly controllable, pads are lush (and envelope and an LFO? Start at Chapter 12. thick if need be) and the percussion sounds offer a far When it comes to saving patches and performances more advanced but still ‘quirksome’ quality. Creating the number you can save via software is only limited sounds with the G2 modular is a rewarding experi- by your computer’s storage. Memory in the actual unit ence but just make sure you know what you’re letting amounts to 6MB of flash RAM – enough to hold the yourself in for. This is a true behemoth synthesizer with data for 4,096 slot patches and 1,024 performances. a sound to die for. A unit that you won’t part with for Data for a single patch is a paltry 3kB. You’re your years to come. patches have been transferred to the G2 further tweaking is possible. Aspects of the patch can be Distributed by programmed to use the eight programmable pots. Up • Electric Factory to 120 parameters can be edited via these pots. The Phone: (03) 9474 1000 pots are continuously variable and provide quick Email: [email protected] visual feedback thanks to the now-familiar carousel of Web: www.elfa.com.au LEDs that skirt it. Morphing is also possible by setting various parameters to be controlled via a single con- Price troller such as the mod wheel, pitch stick or any of the • G2: $4,299 (3-octave); G2: $5,399 (5-octave); eight programmable pots. Editing of patches is possible Engine: $1,999; G2EXP: $749 (Expansion) 107.