Related Manuals for Clavia Nord Lead 4
Summary of Contents for Clavia Nord Lead 4
- Page 1 User Manual Nord Lead 4 Nord Lead 4R OS Version 1.3x Part No. 50407 Copyright Clavia DMI AB Print Edition: G...
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Page 2: Important Safety Instructions
Trademarks: The Nord logo is a trademark of Clavia DMI AB. All other trademarks mentioned in this publication are the properties of their respective holders. Specifications and appearances are subject to change without notice. -
Page 3: Table Of Contents
| 3 Nord Lead 4 User Manual Modulation Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1Introduction... - Page 4 System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Nord Lead 4 MIDI operation .
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Page 5: Introduction
. Low Pass 48 dB slope, Band Pass, High Pass and two First we would like to thank you for purchasing the Nord Lead 4 . The emulations of classic vintage analog filters, the Ladder M and the Nord Lead 4 is built on Clavia’s legacy of making virtual analog syn-... -
Page 6: Panel Overview
. Traditional synthesizer functions are expanded with a powerful set of modulation capabilities, rhythmic features like arpeg- There are four Slots in the Nord Lead 4 . A Performance can use up to gio with synchronized effects and a delay/reverb . All the settings of the four individual sounds at the same time . -
Page 7: Lfos And Modulation Envelope
Grab a knob or press a button, it is that easy to change a sound in the with an expanded choice of modulation destinations . The Modulation Nord Lead 4 . There are a few different types of buttons, and some of Envelope can also be triggered manually with an Impulse Morph but- the controls change their behavior depending on overlying modes that ton . -
Page 8: Buttons
8 | N ordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x Paste Buttons To Paste the content of the clipboard, hold Shift, then the Copy/Morph Lock and finally turn the knob or press the corresponding Morph or Slot Button to paste the settings . The pasted setting will be shown in On/Off buttons the display when a single parameter is pasted . -
Page 9: Getting Started
. A thesizer functions that is available on the panel . A program that is active in the Nord Lead 4 is said to be in the Edit Buffer . performance can be made of up to 4 programs/sounds at once . -
Page 10: Slots
. The 4th bank in the Nord Lead 4 memory is empty when shipped from the factory . This means that you can start saving your programs in this... -
Page 11: Storing A Performance
. The content of the virtual clipboard will remain until you copy another setting or parameter, or turn off the Nord Lead 4 . This makes it pos- sible to paste the same data to several destinations . -
Page 12: Slots And Memory
The Slot buttons, labelled A to D, are used to set the Slot focus, and the active state of the Slots . The Nord Lead 4 is a four part multi timbral synthesizer . This means To change focus to another Slot, simply press that Slot button . If focus that you have four independent synthesizers to be used simultaneously . -
Page 13: Program Handling
Stick Program Handling Performance Mode The Nord Lead 4 handles two different program entities; Programs The Perf Mode button is used to cycle between Performance Mode and Performances . The memory contains 396 Programs divided into 4 and Program Mode . -
Page 14: Master Clock & Patterns
The Master Clock is a feature that can synchronize several functions in Display if the Mst Clk button is pressed . the Nord Lead 4 to a common tempo . The LFO 1, arpeggiator, LFO 2 and the delay can be synced to the Master Clock . -
Page 15: Synced Delay Repeats
5MastercLock&PatterNs | 15 Press Hold Enable (Shift + Hold), and then Hold to hold the notes Hold the Mst Clk button and turn the Program Dial . The tempo you’ve played . Each Slot has a Hold Enable control, providing changes and the three rhythmic things we have running in this greater flexibility when creating Performances . -
Page 16: Morph
Velocity There are 36 available continuous parameters and 21 “switches” or This Morph source uses the Note Velocity from the Nord Lead 4 key- selectors that can be Morphed . This gives you plenty of real-time board and from any incoming MIDI messages . -
Page 17: Assign A Morph Source To A Parameter
6MorPh | 17 Assign a Morph source to a parameter Impulse Morphable parameters Hold down a Morph Source button . Oct Shift Mono Mode Glide LFO1 Wave If the Morph has any previously assigned parameters, green LFO1 Dest . LFO1 Rate LFO1 Amount LFO1 Clk Division... -
Page 18: Editing Morphs
18 | NordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x Editing Morphs Edit a parameter’s Morph range: • Hold the Morph Source button and turn the destination’s knob to a new position . Clear all parameters assigned to a Morph Source: • Hold Shift + the Morph Source button that is to be cleared . Clearing one parameter from a Morph: •... -
Page 19: Mutator
. Some parameters are The Nord Lead 4 Mutator is a great and easy-to-use tool to spark the less likely to be changed than others . As an example, if the original pro- creative process with totally new or just slightly changed programs . -
Page 20: Mutator Examples
20 | NordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x Mutator Examples Lets try the Mutation process. Initialize the program and and make some adjustments to the Let’s have a look at the three different generation methods, Variation, oscillator mix and waveforms so that you can tell them apart . Mutation and Random . -
Page 21: Panel Reference
LFO2 Rate LFO2 Amount LFO2 Clk Div . Short LED flashes indicates that MIDI messages are received but not used in any way by the Nord Lead 4 . Longer flashes are indications Glide Mod Env Attack Mod Env Dec/Rel Mod Env Amt that the MIDI messages are actually recognized . -
Page 22: Led Display
. The separate Hold Enable feature makes it possible to Hold only selected programs in a performance . Store is used when Program or Performance settings are to be stored in the Nord Lead 4 memory . Read more about the Store procedure on page 9 . Chord Memory... -
Page 23: Octave Shift
• LEDs to the right of the center LED will indicate a shift upwards . another copy is made or the Nord Lead 4 is turned off . • LEDs to the left of the center LED will indicate a shift downwards . -
Page 24: Pitch Stick
24 | NordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x • Unison 1 adds one slightly de-tuned voice, slightly panned and with Impulse Morph destinations no decrease in polyphony . Oct Shift Mono Mode Glide LFO1 Wave • Unison 2 adds two extra voices, with increased de-tuning and pan- ning, each key will use three voices of polyphony . -
Page 25: Low Frequency Oscillators (Lfo)
Creates a smooth random modulation . widths, the pitch of the oscillators or the filter Cut Off Frequency . There are two LFOs in the Nord Lead 4, with slightly different features . LFO Destination Selector The LFOs in the Nord Lead 4 are monophonic. -
Page 26: Master Clock (Mst Clk)
Imp Sync is enabled . The polyphonic Modulation Envelope can be used to modulate functions in the Nord Lead 4 . It is an Attack/Decay envelope that can be changed to Attack/Release operation . It will be triggered when you... -
Page 27: Attack
. press a key . There are two oscillators in the Nord Lead 4 . You can mix the output Range: 0.45 ms to 45 s of the two, and detune them for a fatter sound . One oscillator can also modulate the other, creating very complex and constantly changing harmonic structures . -
Page 28: Sound Init
Low-pitched note High-pitched same triangle, saw- There are three different FM settings in the Nord Lead 4 . The differ- tooth, pulse and sine ence can be described as different levels of “keyboard tracking” of the waves as oscillator 1 . -
Page 29: Osc Mod Amount
8PaNeLrefereNce | 29 regardless of the position of oscillators 1’s waveform . Harmonic 1 Soft Sync nudges and locks oscillator 1’s frequency into the sync amplitude oscillator frequency . This creates a somewhat smoother, and in some cases, less detuned sound . Main oscillator (non-synced) amplitude harmonic... -
Page 30: Oscillator Mix
30 | NordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x Attack Amp & filter envelopes 2 Oscillator mix amount Osc Mix Oscillator Mix sets the balance in amplitude be- tween oscillator 1 and oscillator 2 . Amp & Filter Envelopes time attack (time) The Amp and Filter envelopes are used to control how the sound key down changes over time . -
Page 31: Sustain
(time) decay (time) can be modulated with several functions . The Nord Lead 4 features a selection of traditional synthesizer low pass, band pass and high pass filters, a steep 48 dB low pass filter and two unique emulations of filters... -
Page 32: Filter Resonance
32 | NordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x • With KB Track at the 1/3 setting, the cutoff frequency will track the Filter Resonance keyboard in a 1:3 relationship, play one octave higher and the cutoff Filter Resonance is used to emphasize frequencies around the Filter frequency will move by 1/3 of an octave . -
Page 33: High Pass
. A unique feature in the Nord Lead 4 is the ability to modulate the FX Filter Frequency amount with the Mod Envelope and/or LFO 2 . -
Page 34: Note Trig
The Reverb effects simulates natural sound reflections in various a great synthesizer sound . Every program in the acoustic environments . Nord Lead 4 can use either delay or reverb, even in the Performances when 4 programs can be Dry/Wet active at the same time . -
Page 35: System Requirements
Nord Sound Manager Nord Sound Manager is a free application that allows you to organize the various memory areas, the partitions in the Nord Lead 4 . It is also used to download performances or programs to the Nord Lead 4 or to upload any of these items - called sounds - from the Nord Lead 4 memory to the computer hard drive . -
Page 36: Oscillators And Waveforms
The purpose of this chapter is to give you a quick introduction to this Noise Mixer world of subtractive synthesis as used in the Nord Lead 4 and its ana- log predecessors . If you’d like to know even more, there are number of Oscillator... - Page 37 Normally there are three ways to change the frequency of an oscillator: Sawtooth The Sawtooth wave has a simple spectrum . All harmonics are present • By making settings on the front panel . On the Nord Lead 4 for Sawtooth in the wave, in proportional values .
- Page 38 “hollow” quality . On many synthesizers (including the Nord Lead 4) the pulse width can be adjusted, to set the timbre of the pulse wave . The more narrow the harmonic pulse width, the more “thin”...
- Page 39 10syNthesIsBasIcs | 39 When applied to the example wave, this filter cuts away some of the Filter 3 high frequency material in the wave, like this: Filter The filter in a synthesizer is used to remove or emphasize frequencies in a spectrum .
- Page 40 12 dB/octave 24 dB/octave freq freq In the Nord Lead 4, the lowpass filter can be switched between 12, 24 and 48 dB modes . Cutoff frequency The most important parameter for a filter is its cutoff frequency, which is the setting that determines where in the frequency material it should Resonance start cutting .
- Page 41 “softer” character . If you have the envelope On the Nord Lead 4, the Modulation Envelope can be set as either an routed to the filter, it might give the sound a “wah” type of start .
- Page 42 42 | NordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x LFOs An LFO is an oscillator, just like the ones that produce the sound in a synthesizer, but with two main differences: • The LFO produces very low frequencies, often below the hearing range . • The LFO is not used to produce sound, instead it is connected to other modules to provide modulation of parameters .
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Page 43: System Menu
The Memory Protect setting determines if Programs and Performance 7 - Ctrl Pedal Gain can be stored to the Nord Lead 4 memory or not . The setting is On when the Nord Lead 4 leaves the factory . Add some gain to the output of a connected Control pedal if it does not reach the maximum level . -
Page 44: Midi Interface
. Range: On (default), Off Local defaults back to On every time the Nord Lead 4 is powered 3 - Control Change (CC) Mode Control Change Mode specifies how the front panel’s knobs and but- tons are handled in the MIDI communication with MIDI Control Change messages . -
Page 45: Sound Menu
11theMeNUs | 45 Sound Menu Mutator The Mutator is an automatic program generator with three different 1 - Mst Clk Kbd Sync methods of generating programs . The A and B process will use the current Program as a starting point . The strength setting (1-5) will Master Clock Keyboard Sync On will reset the Master Clock when a determine how “different”... -
Page 46: Midi Settings
Nord Lead 4 MIDI operation Sequencing: Global MIDI Channel The Nord Lead 4 is designed to be very flexible in a MIDI setup . You Connect the Nord Lead USB connection (or the 5-pin MIDI In and Out) can use it as a keyboard to control its internal sounds and other to a computer/MIDI interface/sequencer . -
Page 47: Control Slots With Another Keyboard
MIDI Local If a sequencer is set to echo back incoming MIDI data, this can cause double triggered notes if the Nord Lead 4 keyboard is used . If this oc- curs, set MIDI Local to Off . MIDI Thru Slot C &... -
Page 48: Midi Controller List
48 | NordLead4UserMaNUaLv1.3x Single Programs will be placed in the Nord Lead 4 edit buffer, you need Nord Lead 4 parameter MIDI CC to Store these if you want to keep them . Mod Env Impsync The currently active Program Bank in the Nord Lead 4 will be overwrit- Osc 1 Waveform ten if a System Exclusive package of a complete Bank is received . -
Page 49: Midi Implementation Chart
12MIdI | 49 MIDI Implementation Chart Function Transmitted Recognized Remarks Basic Channel 1 - 16 1 - 16 Indiv . channels for Slot A, B, C & D Default Channel 1 - 16 1 - 16 Mode Default Mode 1, 3 Mode 1, 3 Message Altered... -
Page 50: Specifications
• Filter: 7 different types of filters with Frequency, Resonance, Key- Dimensions and weight board Tracking, Drive and ADSR bipolar (+/-) Envelope control . Nord Lead 4 • Amplifier Envelope: ADSR controls . • 864 x 94 x 272 mm (34 .0 x 3 .7 x 10 .7 inches) . -
Page 51: Audio Connections
Headphones puter . The computer can run the Nord Sound Manager application or be used if the Nord Lead 4 operating system needs to be updated . A 1/4" stereo connector for headphones . Playing at a high volume level can result in hearing impairments USB MIDI such as permanent hearing loss. -
Page 52: Display Messages
Memory Protected . Mst Clk Tempo Master Clock is synchronized to external MID Clock, tempo cannot be manually set on the Nord Lead 4 . Copy and Paste related Copy Slot, where x is a, b, c or D . - Page 53 14INdex | 53 14 Index Arpeggio 26 Headphones 51 Noise Freq 28 Undo 20 Arpeggio directions 26 High Pass 33 Noise Res 28 Unison 24 Arpeggio range 26 Hold 22 Note Trig 34 USB Connection 51 Attack 30 Hold Enable 22 Audio Connections 51 Octave Shift 23 Vibrato Amount 45...
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Page 54: Declaration Of Conformity
This product, when installed as indicated in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirements. Modifications not expressly approved by Clavia may void your authority, granted by the FCC, to use the product. 2. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/ or another product use only high quality shielded cables.
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