MitchellT

As a new NW2 owner I've been following this tread with great interest. It help me gain a better understanding of what the instrument can and can't do. I am unquestionably a member of the "broad appeal" crew. I have much less knowledge and experience with synths then most contributors and readers of this forum. However, I am a reasonably experienced musician. I spend more time with my acoustic piano and acoustic guitar then I do with my synths. But I do enjoy playing with synths, especially in the winter months. I've cycled through various synths along the way, including those embedded in Logic Pro and Ableton, and still mess with Omnisphere and Chromaphone from time to time. I know what I like and I know my limitations! Nords work for me because they are simple. I had a Korg Kronos for awhile and I did have fun with it. But ultimately I felt like the instrument was playing me, whereas with Nords I feel like I'm playing the instrument. I'm comfortable with how they are organized and I feel that I have a basic understanding of what I'm doing. All of the comments here about what the Nord can't do I'm sure are absolutely fair and for the advanced synth user they matter. Alot! For the more casual user (me) the criticism of not being able to load the Nord Pianos is absolutely spot on. And if I didn't have a Stage 3 Compact I would never have bought the NW2. Even a casual user like me misses the vowel formants that are in the A1 and the Stage compact. Also, I would have loved seamless transitions between programs, although some of that can be mitigated by using the four layers well. So the criticism that Nord moves you into buying multiple instruments is exactly right, and that is similar to Apple for sure. The NW2 is unquestionably a luxury and somewhat repetitive of the Stage and the A1, although not so repetitive of the A1 that I'm ready to sell it. However, as I've mentioned before on this forum, the feature that matters most to me is the ability to work with four layers. Yes, other synths do that. Yes, you can create four layers with the Stage, as long as two of them are pianos and/or organs. What I love about the NW2 is how easy it is for me to create unusual layers of samples, or to mix different guitars and/or bells and come up with some very cool hybrids. I've got one very basic patch that allows me to morph between two electric guitars, give it body with some FM, and then add a cello. That's how I use it. Basic for sure. But throw in some delays and arpeggiation and you can get suitably lost and inspired. Finally the NW2 really does sound great. The casual user can mess with sounds very easily. Still, there are many missed opportunities with the NW2 as folks are pointing out. And it is something of a luxury synth for me as it forms a great pair with the Stage. Thanks again to all the contributors to this discussion. As I follow this thread, reading about the strengths and limitations of the instrument, I gain a much better sense of the capabilities of the instrument, its limitations notwithstanding!

Thanks again, Stephen, for this comprehensive review of the Nord Wave 2. I've learned alot from it and it has enhanced my enjoyment of the instrument. I'll add two additional features (you've discussed them already) but I find them invaluable. First, I'll emphasize the seamlessness of having four different layered samples and then using the morphing capability to switch between them. For example, I love exploring the relationship between bells, plucks, and choirs, or between guitars and cellos, or exclusively using tuned percussions. Add a wavetable or two, or some FM, or virtual analog, the effects, and you can get into some very interesting territory. Of course, as you suggest, you can do this sort of thing with the MODX6, or any of the major workstations, but it is so accessible and transparent with the Nord Wave 2. Second, from my perspective the keybed is outstanding, the most versatile Nord keybed I've used. The MODX6 keybed is astonishingly pedestrian. I don't wish to compare these synths. In my view as a 70 year old who remembers the excitement when my brother bought a reel-to-reel tape recorder in 1966, all of these synths are pretty incredible. I stick with Nord synths because I've become reasonably familiar with how to navigate them and they have a purity about the sound that I love. It is too bad that the USB doesn't provide an audio interface, but at least you can sync up a mobile device to add some beats. As you contemplate some additional videos, I'll put my vote in for some tips on how to get the most out of syncing the arpeggiator with the delay effects and the Master Clock.

I just updated my forum name and started a new account as the old one is from about fifteen years ago. So Mitchell T is the same as Mthomashow. Anyway, thanks again for the great posts and I look forward to your comments and tips on using the arpeggiator. The missed opportunity with the presets does matter. For example, there are numerous presets with just one sample. It's easy enough to play that preset and then switch the sample. In effect, they just wind up being empty slots or bare bones for you to work from. What is helpful are the numerous examples of what you can do with the FM mode. There's a preset where the different partials and harmonics comprise a neat-sounding harpsichord, another where they become horns, another as tines. A few twists of the knobs takes you into very interesting territory. In the past (with the Nord Wave and the A1) Nord released many excellent designer sound banks. They are helpful because they show off the range of the instruments and serve as an opportunity for sound designers to show off their skills. I suppose eventually the Nord Wave 2 will have a similar preset library. The samples are, for the most part, magnificent, especially the strings, accordions, mellotrons, tuned percussion, and choirs. It's worthwhile to download the Chinese orchestra set, too. The guitars are much improved and you can coax some beautiful sounds from them. And as you demonstrate with the video, the pads and leads are rich and luscious. There is a purity and immediacy about the Nord Wave 2 that's very compelling.