Nord Lead 4 Synthesizer

One of the leading manufacturers of performance synthesizers has just improved their line even further. The Nord Lead 4 is a subtractive synthesizer with 2 oscillators per voice that incorporates innovative performance features, advanced layering and synchronization possibilities, new filter types and incredible on-board effects, making this a synthesizer dream come true.Oscillator SectionWavetable synthesisThe Nord Lead 4's Oscillator 1 section features a wide selection of wavetables including a unique type called Formant Wavetables with resonant qualities that are independent of pitch. Frequency Modulating the Formant Wavetables can produce some truly magic results with distinctive acoustic qualities.Oscillator 2 features a Noise generator with a dedicated filter cut-off and resonance.True UnisonThe true Voice Unison mode lets you stack up to four voices on top of each other per note (including the complete signal path of the Nord Lead 4) for really thick, wide leads and basses.Hard & Soft SyncHard Sync generates an irregularly shaped waveform resulting in a harsh, dirty effect rich with harmonics, first made famous by the Prophet 5. Soft Sync is a bit smoother, but by no means subtle. The Nord Lead 4 also features Frequency Modulator capabilities for adding spectral complexity and occasionally, nastiness.LFO and Modulation SectionNord Lead 4 features two very flexible LFO-sections per slot. A wide selection of LFO-shapes is available from sines and pulses to ramping saws perfect for creating wobbling basses or pulsing pads.Each LFO can easily be synchronized to the Master Clock and assigned a desired time division. The LFO can be re-triggered manually with an Impulse Morph button or a key. The LFO destinations include a unique option to modulate the FX section.Modulation EnvelopeNord Lead 4 offers a very capable Modulation Envelope section with an expanded choice of modulation destinations. The Modulation Envelope can also be triggered manually with an Impulse Morph button!Filter sectionThe filter section of the Nord Lead 4 features classic 12, 24 and 48 dB Low-Pass, High-Pass and a Band-Pass filters with a dedicated ADSR filter envelope and selectable filter tracking.Ladder filter emulationsTwo great new additions are the stunning emulations of the diode and transistor ladder filters from the legendary Mini and the TB-303 synthesizers. The emulations capture the dirty, squeaky resonance of the originals and combined with the new unison mode you'll have plenty of opportunities for making fat, squelchy basses and leads.Filter DriveThe Filter Drive operates separately per voice, distorting the waveform before it passes through the effects sections.Effect SectionEach of Nord Lead 4's four slots has its own dedicated effects section: FX and Delay/Reverb.DriveThe overdrive is modelled after a vintage tube amp. Make your lead sound a little "furry" or crank it up for a truly authentic overdrive that distorts increasingly the more signal you shove through it.CrushThe Crush effect lets you reduce the sound's sample rate radically. Give your bass line a subtle lo-fi touch or pulverize it into crackling, digital stardust.TalkThe Talk effect creates a voice-like talk-box effect, with two different simulations of a vocal tract.Comb filterThe Comb filter effect can create chorus-like effects when controlled from an LFO or static spectral changes in your sound.CompressorThe compressor effect offers Threshold adjustment and can also be modulated to obtain side-chain effects and more. The Crush, Talk, Comb filter, Compressor and Drive effects can all be manipulated with the Morphs and Impulse Morph performance controls as well as with the LFO or the Modulation Envelope.Reverb / DelayThe Delay effect has 3 feedback levels, a Dry/Wet control and the Delay tempo can be synchronized to the Master Clock. The Delay features an optional analog mode that behaves like an old school delay when changing the delay tempo on the fly. A great sounding Reverb effect is available when not using the Delay, with dry/wet controls, 3 reverb types and a brightness control for rolling off the treble when desired.PerformanceImpulse MorphThe Impulse buttons are extremely powerful and let you alter your sound instantaneously - brilliant for creating spontaneous, synchronized rhythmic and tonal mayhem. Doubling the LFO rate, changing the oscillator from Saw to Square, enabling Glide, cranking up the resonance and muting the Reverb - all at once - for 2 seconds in the middle of your lead solo is now as easy as 1-2-3. Doing wobbly bass lines and complex choppy pads live, in perfect sync is a breeze! Impulse Morphs are a simple, yet universal concept that offers almost limitless flexibility.Assigning an Impulse Morph is simple - just hold down an Impulse Morph button and turn the desired knob(s) to the desired new value! Nearly every parameter can be controlled with an Impulse Morph and LED-lights indicate which parameters have been altered. By pressing different combinations of the 3 Impulse Morph buttons up to 7 unique combinations are available, per slot.Mod Wheel and Velocity MorphThe Morph is a classic Nord feature that lets you control any "knob-type" parameters with the modulation wheel, control pedal or velocity. The possibilities are endless - like changing arpeggiator range or adjusting the sample rate reducting Crush effect with the modulation wheel.LayeringHaving 4 identical, equally powerful synthesizers at once at your disposal opens breathtaking layering possibilities, both rhythmically and sonically. The Split-mode gives you two 2 slots on each side of the split. A flexible Hold functionality lets you latch and hold slots independently in the background while playing something else on top.Pitch StickThe unique Pitch Stick can be used for bending notes as well as creating subtle vibrato effects, much like a guitarist or violinist as there is no dead zone in the middle position. The bend range can range from zero to 48 notes up/down and can be unique to each program. It's even possible to have separate bend ranges up and down: -12 or -24 semitones or + 2 semitone.Chord MemoryThe handy Chord Memory function memorizes combination of notes so you can play a fifth or a chord with one finger, brilliant for leads and quirky themes.ArpeggiatorThe Nord Lead 4 includes a classic Arpeggiator with Up/Down and Random modes and a 4-octave range. The Arpeggiator can be synced to the LFO and Delay using the Master Clock. A new Poly mode pulses all the notes you're holding as a chord instead of cycling through the individual notes, great for choppy chord stabs when combined with the new Patterns and Impulse Morph buttons. Having four slots means you can have 4 Arpeggios running at the same time!PatternsThe Pattern feature applies rhythmical figures to the Arpeggiator or the LFO's. A wide selection of patterns are available, ranging from basic building blocks to more complex groove oriented figures.Master ClockAt the heart of the Nord Lead 4 is the Master Clock controlling the global tempo. The LFO, Arpeggiator and Delay can all be synchronized to the Master Clock. The tempo is easily changed globally with a Tap-tempo button so you can tap in to the beat of your drummer and play intricate rhythmically interlocked parts in perfect sync. The Master Clock can also be slaved to an external MIDI clock.

• Nord Lead 4: 49-key octave velocity sensitive keyboard with octave shift buttons (+/-2 octaves)
  3 momentary Impulse Morph Buttons, 7 combinations
  Keyboard Split with 2 slots for the upper and lower sections
  Nord Lead 4: Modulation Wheel
  Nord Lead 4: Pitch Stick (with no dead zone at zero crossing)
  Programmable Pitch bend range, up to +/- 4 octaves
  Separate up/down bend range: -12 or -24 semitones, + 2 semitones
  1 pedal input for sustain
  1 pedal input for expression pedal.
  USER INTERFACE
  3 character LED display, 29 knobs and 20+ buttons for program and performance editing.
  OSCILLATOR SECTION
  OSC 1 generating sine, triangle, sawtooth, fixed and modulateable pulse waveforms and 128 wavetables.
  OSC 2 generating triangle, sawtooth or fixed and modulateable pulse waveforms or noise.
  OSC MOD section with Hard- and Soft sync plus 3 different Frequency Modulations of OSC 1 from OSC 2.
  OSCILLATOR SECTION
  OSC 1 generating sine, triangle, sawtooth, fixed and modulateable pulse waveforms and 128 wavetables.
  OSC 2 generating triangle, sawtooth or fixed and modulateable pulse waveforms or noise.
  OSC MOD section with Hard- and Soft sync plus 3 different Frequency Modulations of OSC 1 from OSC 2.
  FILTER SECTION
  Multi-mode filter with 12 dB (2-pole) low pass, 24 dB (4-pole) and 48 dB (6 pole) low pass, band pass, high pass, Ladder M and Ladder 303 characteristics.
  Cut off, Resonance, envelope amount, envelope amount controlled by velocity.
  ADSR envelope.
  Filter keyboard tracking can be set to off, 1/3, 2/3 or 1/1.
  Adjustable Filter Distortion.
  AMPLIFIER SECTION
  ADSR envelope, velocity control on/off, gain control.
  MODULATION SECTION
  LFO 1 generates a square, triangle or any of 4 different types of saw- and inverted sawtooth waveforms. LFO 1 can be routed to Filter Frequency, Osc Mod, Osc Mix, Osc 2 Pitch, Amplitude and FX section. The modulation amount can be set as positive or negative/inverted. The LFO 1 rate can be synchronized to the Master Clock.
  The LFO 1 section is used to control the rate, range and directions for the arpeggiator. Arpeggiator: Range: 1 - 4 octave. Modes: up, down, up/down, random, Poly. The Arpeggio rate can be synchronized to the Master Clock.
  LFO 2 generates a square, a regular and inverted sawtooth, LF filtered noise and random staircase waveforms. LFO 2 can be routed to Filter Frequency, Osc Mod, Osc 1 and/or Osc 2 Pitch, Pan and Pulse width. The modulation amount can be set as positive or negative/inverted. The LFO 2 rate can be synchronized to the Master Clock.
  Modulation Envelope (Attack, Decay/Release) for Osc Mix, Osc Mod, Osc 1 and/or 2 Pitch, FX section and LFO 2 amount. The modulation amount can be set as positive or negative/inverted. The Modulation Envelope can be manually triggered by the Impulse Morph buttons.
  Patterns: the cyclic waveforms of the LFOs can be replaced by a pattern behavior. There are 128 different patterns, grouped in 6 different styles.
  AMPLIFIER SECTION
  ADSR envelope, velocity control on/off, gain control.
  PERFORMANCE SECTION
  Voice modes: Poly, Legato with portamento, Mono, True Unison 1, 2 & 3.
  Four program slots for layering possibilities.
  EFFECTS
  FX section with continuous Drive/Modulation control. Crush, Drive, 2 different Talk effects, Compressor and Comb Filter.
  Selectable Delay or Reverb. Delay times at up to 1400 ms can be manually set or synchronized to the Master Clock. Reverb has three algorithms, Room, Stage and Hall with adjustable brightness.
  MEMORY
  Programs (single sounds): 4 x 99 locations
  Performances (multi sounds): 99 locations
  AUDIO OUT
  4 outputs. Each slot can be assigned to its own output.
  Headphones output.
  High resolution low noise 24 bit DACs.
  MIDI FEATURES
  All control knobs and switches send and receive control change messages.
  System exclusive bulk dumps. One program or all programs.
  Master Clock will sync to incoming MIDI clock.
  Soft Thru
  CONNECTION
  4 Line Level Audio Outputs - ¼", 6,35 mm jacks, unbalanced
  Stereo Headphone Output - ¼", 6,35 mm stereo jack
  Sustain Pedal - ¼", 6,35 mm jack. Use a momentary pedal, like e.g., Roland DP-2, DP-6, Yamaha FC-4, FC-5, Fatar VFP1-25 etc.
  Control Pedal - ¼", 6,35 mm TRS stereo jack. Use a Yamaha FC-7, Roland EV-7, Roland EV-5, Korg EXP2 or Korg XVP10.
  USB connector with MIDI capabilities
  MIDI In & Out - 5 pin DIN connectors
  INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
  User Manual
  Power Cord with IEC C14 connector
  Nord CD ROM with Nord Sound Manager
  DIMENSIONS
  Nord Lead 4: 864 x 94 x 272 mm (34.0 x 3.7 x 10.7")
  WEIGHT
  Nord Lead 4: 5.3 kg (11.7 lbs)
  

• Oscillators
• 2 oscillators per voice / 20 voice polyphony
• FM, Hard & Soft Sync
• Modulation
• 2 LFO sections plus Modulation Envelope
• Flexible syncing and routing options
• Filter
• 12, 24 and 48 dB low-pass filters
• High-pass and Band-pass filters
• Transistor and diode ladder filter simulations
• of Mini and TB-303
• Effects
• Crush, Drive, Comb filter,
• Talk, Compressor, Reverb/delay
• Nord Lead 4 vs Nord Lead 2X
• Comparison Chart (PDF)
• Performance
• 4-part multi-timbral
• Master Clock Sync of Arpeggiator, LFO and Delay
• Impulse Morph
• Velocity and Mod Wheel Morph