Clavia Nord Modular G2

Actually this review is in addition to my previous review. After now owning the G2 was some time, I have had a chance to get more practical use out of it.

Using the latest software....1.4.

Presets? This thing comes with presets? Eh...well yes it does, but I don't use them. I bought this instrument to make unique sounds.

Editing patches is marginally easier than working with a hardware modular synth, in my opinion. However I do find it pretty irritating how when using a performance, trying to have everything (sequenced drums and arpeggiated bass and lead, in this particular scenario) synced to the same clock. You can do it, but any time you add or subtract a module, you have to do the following (this is assuming you already have your appropriate clocks set to the master clock and your tempo set it there): Unclick Run at the master clock section (everything sequenced should stop). Hold down keys (to play arpeggiater), and while doing that, click run again. I'm not actually sure if that's 100% necessary, but after a few tries it seems to work. The second "bug" is that sometimes when I load the performance up the arpeggiater is acting differently from how it is set in the performance...meaning I may have it only set to "Up", but it may actually be functioning as "Down," or vice versa. Following the previous suggestion a few times seems to alleviate this, as well as cycling through variations.

Which leads me to the new Patch Mutator feature...very cool stuff, a kind of useful tool when you are too lazy to move knobs around and an easy way to get something radically different or to try around different settings. Anything that induces your creativity without getting in the way is good. As I think for many people the G2's programming style would get in the way of work, if they were unfamiliar with signal flow.

Polyphony...could be better, but being accustomed to the Micro Modular that preceded it, I have yet to have a reason to buy the expansion board. I don't have to try to program really efficiently with the G2 like I did with the Micro Modular to get the most out of it...which is undoubtedly due to the fact that this isn't a cut down version of anything. But I can see some people running out of voices...just not me.

What I would really like out of this machine is more and smarter I/O. I would be happy with an ADAT out to compliment the analog i/o, or even cutting down some of the analog input jacks to get more analog out. I can see why someone would need 4 analog ins...but I don't think that's a typical situation. 2 would be sufficient for me for most applications. I really actually wish I could have ADAT I/O to eliminate that unnecessary D/A conversion step (as many people that are using this in the studio are undoubtedly going in digitally...why add more conversion steps than necessary?). But since I'm sure many people are gigging with this also...they need to keep the analog i/o in too. Still 4 outs is not enough for a multitimbral synth...I would prefer to mix in the mix...not in the instrument! I think this is a huge oversight on Clavia's part.
Not using any other multitimbral synths (hey, what other synth do I need?), I can't verify if Clavia is merely doing what everyone else does or not...but it would make sense to me anyway.

I think this is a dance-electro beast...that goes without saying...what good is a synth if it isn't? Well actually I don't do a lot of dance stuff typically, but my current bands are actually more machine music than I usually do, and it seems to be an ideal candidate. This is a really cool tool for film effects too.

When using this for leads and such, I do seem to be needing some distortion on this instrument more than on my Micro Modular...which is probably due to the better converters on this and not sounding as...1990s D/A converters I guess. I mean, good that the converters are better, but for some reason the Micro Modular just sounds a little bit meaner to me. This is more "pristine Euro dance beats" machine unless you do some of your own distortion (or use the favored digitizer module...which I find myself looking to a lot).

I can depend on it...but I will not do it without a computer to be able to do the "non-syncing" work-around at a gig. In fact, because of that, I would be reluctant to use it live, but I will anyway for lack of a better instrument (besides the CD player).

See last review.

If this had better I/O options and didn't have the syncing issue, this would be my "go to" synth. In fact, despite those issues, it is my "go to" synth. But damn, if it had that...I wouldn't have much to complain about. Still a great buy for the money, though figure in the cost of the expansion board if polyphony is an issue. There is no way to get the kind of sounds this will do without it. And that is what I look for in a synth.

If you aren't a programmer, and don't have the time to learn, though, I would recommend the demo software version before deciding to lay down the cash. It would be a WASTE to use this machine as a preset-player.

This is based on the rack version (Nord Modular Engine) V1.32.

Since there are quite a few reviews on the net already, I try to give this review a different spin and offer some information I had to learn the hard way. That should make it easier for you to judge whether this the right tool for you.

A great variety of preset modular setups and preset sounds is offered. They range from classical analogue synthesizer rebuilds with leads, pads and basses to very complex setups with several step-sequencers, capable of creating sounds you simply cannot get out of "regular" synthesizers.

When it comes to ease of use, an important aspect to point out is the following: You do not necessarily need to generate modular setups (called patches) from scratch whenever you want to synthesize a new sound.

For example, you can simply use the preset Nord Synth which resembles a regular Clavia Nord Lead and edit its parameters. Then if you want some additive synthesizer sound, pull up that patch and there you go. Or you want an Yamaha DX FM style bass, pull up the patch DX bass - there you go.

This is great to learn about modular synthesis and even more so to get inspired. I thought I knew a lot about synthesis. Well, seeing those patches created by some far-out sound designers, I realized that for the last 15 years I have merely been scratching the surface with hard wired synthesizer.

The next level up would be to alter the preset patches and add your own modules, e.g. extra oscillators, filters, envelopes, or all these odd modules you will usually not see in hardwired synths and which alter signal levels, multiply them, logically operate on them and so forth.

The highest level of synthesis then is to create a patch from scatch. You will have to think about what types of oscillators to add, how to influence their sound, how to mix and modulate them.

Now if at this point you have no idea what all I am writing about: The Nord Modular G2 is defintely not for you (yet). I do not want to discourage anybody from trying it. But I remember how difficult it was for me to learn to program my old K4 in 1990 or so. You need a sound understanding of at least subtractive synthesis and should not wonder about abbreviations and names such as LFO, OSC, LP filters, ADSR envelopes to get going with this machine. (And that is the easy stuff.)

If you do and consider yourself a true sound archiect: Get this machine.

The editor, which runs on your PC, is a great piece of software. Considering the difficulty of the task and 150 modules or so involved, it is very usable and features many options to structure the modules and cables with colours and names, so you can actually maintain an overview of what you are doing. Also, you can change modules with maintaining as many wires as possible and re-arrange everything at any time.

The manual is also very good. (Get the latest version from the net.) It explains everything in great detail and also features some basics on synthesis.

Clavia has some very bright people creating their synthesizers. But even so, the learning curve is steep. It is so steep because this synthesizer is deep as the oceans and tall as the K2. So my rating applies only when you know about modular synthesis.

The polyphony is the weakest spot and has frequently been pointed out.

If you want to use the unit studio-based and play several sounds at once (multi mode), you should get the expansion board boosting its processing power. Even so, you will only be able to use 4 different sounds (i.e., patches) at once and typically have 14-20 notes of polyphony with medium complicated patches. Depending on your type of music that may be okay.

It becomes tricky if you want a lot of bieps and blipps, sound effects or generally changing sounds in your music. You can change the patch settings in real-time, but not the patch itself. What does that mean in practise? If you are for example using your patch "My all-favourite 2 OSC synth", you can have up to 8 so-called variations for this patch. (Those are basically the settings of all buttons, but not the modules or cables!)

In our example: The first variation is the big PAD and the second is the Crunch Lead. You can switch between the two at any time. However, if your big PAD is still decaying and you switch to your lead sound, the sound of the decaying pad is altered to that of the crunch lead. Depending on how drastic the parameter change is you can hear artifacts. If you want to change the patches itself - let's say from your "Favourite 2 OSC-Synth patch" to "The Feng Shui Sparkle Engine patch", you cannot do so while any sound is playing, because the engine will shortly pause all sounds!

Now this may seem like a let down, but for a DSP based engine that seems to me like the best you can achieve. I just wish you could have more patches at once and thus more multi timbrality.

As far as modules go: There seems pretty much everything I have ever heard of. There are around 150 modules. Starting with different Oscillators (you can even rebuild a Yamaha DX synth with this machine!) you can slowly work your way to the logic modules and sequencers to modulate your sound.

If you want to check this out: Go to their website. You can run the programming software without the actual unit to see how it works and what it offers. They even have a PC based demo which generates one G2 voice on your PC. Unless you have a very powerful PC, even for one voice this will not work very well because of the very huge CPU demand, but it gives you an idea of what the hardware unit is capable of.

The built in effects are "digi-modular style" and not meant to replace external gear. Even so it is nice to be able to fly in tempo-synched delay, chorus, and spring type reverb without any load on external gear.

As mentioned, there is an expansion card available which basically doubles the processing power. For studio users this seems mandatory. Also you can stack several units and then programm them all through one PC software interface.

The unit needs a USB capable PC to be programmed.

I have not really lived through the analogue age, so I will not compare. All I can say is: The sample-free sound quality (24bit, 192 khZ) is outstanding. You need to hear it for yourself to understand how "living" and detailed it is.

Go to their website www.clavia.se to hear and understand.

You can use this for any music in which analogue style synthesizers seem appropriate. Due to its morphing qualities, it can react to all sorts of controlers and create a very living sound.

On word of advice speaking of controlers: I thought you needed to add modules which respond to e.g. velocity and literally wire them to other modules to influence for e.g. the filter with your attack velocity. This is a lot of programming work and eats up a lot of resources. But you can simply assign Morphs to each parameter and directly change the settings. (Those buttons are coloured red instead of blue. You will see that quite often in presets.) Keep that in mind when you start creating patches from scratch. I had to learn the hard way and to me it seems that it is a pit one can easily fall into.

I do not use this live. But I can say that much: PC software based synthesis continues to be a pain... latency and stability issues everywhere - once you start combining software. (If you do not have them, you are probably very lucky). I have not tried any software based modular synths, but I want to power up my gear and play. Not adjust settings or install patches to avoid drop outs.

The unit and software has not once (!) crashed on me.

They still offer free sounds and updates for the synthesizer engine and the software. So that is nice. I do not rate this since I have not dealt with the support itself.

If you start wondering whether I am a sales person. I am not. I am a guy who has dreamt of modular synthesis for many years and almost bought a Doepfer system. I felt uneasy back then because of the huge price for basically one voice involved and the impossibility to save your settings.

(For reference, I carefully picked the following synths in my life based on their sound uniqueness and programming possibilities: Korg Wavestation, Emu Morpheus, Korg Prophecy, Emu samplers. So far I was lacking an analogue machine.)

Clavia is the Synthesizer Mercedes-Benz and has rather high prices. So the G2 Engine is actually rather inexpensive with a street price of 900 ? (plus 400 ? for the expansion board).

The Nord Modular G2 is simply a master piece and offers fantastic sound and incredible sound design freedom. For me, it sums up several decades of analogue synthesis and combines the best of both the analogue and digital domain as well as hardware DSP and software programming.

Hey if you buy this I'm assuming you have some previous knowledge with some real or software synths...and have a good grasp on the basic concepts. This is my second Nord Modular, the first being the tiny but killer MicroModular (which I still own...later on that). I will admit that I had to crack open the (nicely wire bound) manual to clarify a few things (mainly the string sim algorithm), but its nice to have it because they clearly don't expect you to know it inside out before purchasing it.

I'm going to give this device a 9 for Ease of Use, because switching between patches also changes the volume...the apparent volume is not kept universal (though I am aware this would be difficult to impliment...however the option for a hardwired limiter on the headphone output would be nice), or at least the MIDI patch volume on your controller should have the ability to auto-change the patches MIDI volume. As a headphone tweaker...I've switched patches and found that many of them can very quite drastically...deafeningly drastically (have your hand on the fader when switching patches). Or at the very least, the engine model (I do not know if this is an issue with the keyboard model) should have a hardwired master volume control. This is pretty irritating, and it keeps me from playing with Clavia's patches (which tend to be set all the way up...yeah I know I didn't buy this instrument to play somebody else's patches, but sometimes I'm looking for inspiration and just want to find something to jot down an idea), however I find it not a concern when using my own patches (which are not set at full blast).

And another great improvement from the MicroModular to the G2...no wall wart! Software in Windows is great, though I wish they would update it more frequently.

Modules are great, for the most part, but the ommission of a few of my favourite modules from the old model leave me a bit empty...there were a couple of really strange oscillator modules in the old Nord that I liked that are gone (sorry the name escapes me), and also I do not like the new filters so much. The old filters were better setup for me to modulate with envelopes and velocity and this time around...they only have one input, and the sound is different... Definitely smoother sounding, which is good for some things, but I remember the old Modular filters having a bit more bite to them, which is something that I now have to make up for elsewhere in my patches. But anyway, the quality of the modules is for the most part...what you put into them. I would like for them to put some old favs back in, and maybe allow users to create their own modules.

This thing sounds great! Create some insane pads and this is also quite awesome for sound design...create some very unique things. But it doesn't have the bite that I believe the old Modular had. Very suitable for dance/trance if you are into that crap, but I much prefer to use it for industrial/ambient type music mixed in with real instruments.

Never had an issue with it not working...except the original software that is shipped with did not work in Windows (had to update software to get editor to work). I would definitely gig without a backup.

I realize that only 20 people work at Clavia, and don't expect miracles, but I have sent them a few emails over my (what I believe to be valid) concerns and suggestions with the product, and would have been comforted at least if they acknowledged receiving it. I also am concerned about the lack of updates in the past couple of months since the announcement of the "1.40 beta" that they have a video of.

If it was lost or stolen...yeah I'd probably buy it again...but I might also instead by the older Nord Modular proper so I could part with my Micro Modular. Or I may also look into the Dave Smith Poly Evolver, which to me shares a league with this instrument. The G2 Engine to me doesn't replace the old Modular...it more supplements it. I sold a Future Retro 777 for stupid money when they were worth a lot so I could buy this instrument, and I definitely don't regret it...this instrument is clearly the most flexible on the market, especially at the nice price ($900 new! this is the first synth I have ever justified buying brand new). I used to own a lot of old monosynths but just sold them off for profit because I did not use them enough to make it worth carrying them around when I moved...these days my only synths are the G2 Engine, the Micro Modular, and a Juno 106, and that's all I really need, though a Nord Electro might be nice some day, though for the price I could get a real electric piano.

Software version 1.32
This is a virtual modular synthesizer. I think that compared to other virtual modular software and real modulars this is very easy to use. You can create a patch in a few minutes.

The features of this machine are awesome. The only thing that would be better is parameter control. I mean you have 120 parameters to control and this is ok, but if you want to change simultaneously two parameters that are in different pages it would be a problem.

What can I say? It can sound as you want it to sound! With very good quality.

I own it since 1 year and all seems to be ok

Never had problem with my machine. I gave 10 because clavia often upgrades os and patches for no charge.

I think that Nord modular g2 is a wonderful machine. Is very easy to use and it allows me to use original sounds in my music without loose too much time to program it (even that I love to program and experiment with it). The pc software is simple and it don't stress my cpu so I can use it simultaneously with my hd recording software without any problem. It sounds very good and it is useful to better understand the art of synthesis too. I really love it in studio and in live too.
-
Sorry for my english. I hope that my words are all understandable...

Software v1.30. Presets sound really good. The Modular Editor makes it so easy to edit patches. The patche editor makes a huge difference. The manual is well written and easy to read. Contains some good examples of how to use the modules.

Polyphony is dependant on what kind of patch you have. I'm not using the keyboard - I'm controlling it with a master keyboard. It takes a bit of time and patience to make a good patch in this thing... but it's so flexible and very rewarding. It has an FX section that is useful. The syncable delays are great. The step sequencers and control sequencers lock to midi clock really well. Much better than the original Nord Modular.

Plucked instruments, FM Bells, to subtractive synthesis. Not the best synth for rude sounds. More of a smooth sounding synth.

I've only been playing with it for a few days now. It seems really solid. It hasn't crashed, the editor or the synth.

haven't havd to use it.

If it were lost or stolen I'd start looking for another one. It's worth the price. I own a bunch of other gear. Synths, computers, guitars, basses, etc. I love how easy it is to make cool sounds. It compares to the Nord Lead 3 sonically. It's more versitile but has less polyphony. If you don't have the time to spend with the patch editor and aren't interested in making your own sounds - buy something else. If you like modular synths, virtual or analog, then you should have the Nord G2.

This synth has a very high learning curve, if you are planning to purchase this as your first synth best look somewhere else but if you are an experienced user then prepare for a challenge but it is all worth the effort for its sound.

Ok, 32 voice polyphony that constantly decreases if you are using a more complicated patch involving more modules; and only 4 part multi timbral doesn't sound that appealling considering that there are many other synths out there that have the same or even better specs; but your not buying this synth for these things in the first place. This synth has the ability to control all your midi devices including your plug-ins all together, what other device can do that? not to mention 160 modules to choose from, in a very well designed user friendly editor that can be very addictive. It could also store 4096 patches internally and you could store just about as much as you want in your computer.

As far sounds go this thing is currently untouchable right now, you are looking at the world's most powerful VA synth at the moment. You can produce almost any sound imaginable because you create your own synth then develope a patch from there and you have 160 modules at your disposal to do all that. If want a synth that has 12 Ocs no problem just create it. it is also capable of grainy textures if you are going for that IDM feel if you are thinking of buying an NL3 forget it and get this instead it has an NL3 patch in it that reacreates the NL3 synth so why even bother unless your after that 5 simultaneous unison feature but this can also handle that to some extent.

But the best part is that there is a pretty good user community on the web that just shares all their patch creations for everyone to enjoy!

Also a hint of warning the editor can be very, very addictive ( I opned a patch the other night just to check what modules I used I ended up messing with it for 4 hours! Handle with care!)

This thing seems a bit fragile to me. I have the engine version and I never take it out of the rack. As far as the editor is concerned I use mine in OSX and it is very stable no crashes what so ever and I have been hearing a lot of good things on windows from other users as well and the editor is the most important thing to be reliable in this synth and for that I'll give it a 10

Don't even bother clavia's customer support is legendary for it's incompetence.

After demoing this unit at my friends studio I quickly decided to sell my Access Virus C and Waldorf XTK so I could buy this synth as well as another computer monitor cause you'll be falling short of screen real estate once you have the G2's editor open along with your sequencer.

After a couple of months of playing with this synth since then I have also sold my drum machine because this synth also has a drum module that could easily create most of the drum sounds I need. I also have sold my DX7 and my Korg MS2000R and have used the money for other things to complement the G2.

The G2 has completely turn my studio upside down it is now the center piece of everything I do all my leads, pads and even drum programming with the it. The only hardware synth I have left in my studio other that the G2 is my Waldorf Pulse (I really need to use a real analog for my basslines) but sometimes there are some wild basslines that only my G2 can produce. I also use NI Reaktor which it also a modular synth that excells in other things but it is a complete CPU hog and even in its complexities there are still sounds that only my G2 can only touch. Take my advise give some of your other gear up and give the G2 a try you'll never look back and sound synthesis will never be the same to you.

"Ease of use" is tough on this one. The reason is that modular synthesis isn't easy to use at all.

That being said, the G2 makes it about as easy as possible. The computer-based editor is very visual, and a lot of fun to use. And the G2 front panel is just great. The controls are lighted endless rotaries, with LCD screens above them that contain the values and labels. There are 15 pages of 8 controls each, so you have up to 120 knobs to tweak while playing or editing.

Polyphony ranges from about 4 to about 16, depending on the complexity of the patch. There are four audio outputs, and also four audio inputs, one with a built-in mic preamp. It's got the Clavia pitch stick, which I've grown to like.

The module set is similar to the Nord Modular, with lots of enhancements and a few omissions. The omissions first: the 6-oscillator sine module, the equalizer, and most of the random modules are not included, (in OS verion 1.1).

The additions are too numerous to list, but include: physically-modeled string oscillator, MIDI in/out processing modules, comb filter, pitch tracker, Bode frequency shifter, reverb, various delays, multi-input crossfaders, a waveshaper with 16 breakpoints, and a whole bunch of switches and mixers for assigning to the front panel.

Other enhancements over the original Nord Modular include an arpeggiator (pretty basic), the ability to store & recall multi-timbral four-patch combinations, and the ability to route signals from one patch to another.

The keyboard action is very light, which I like. The keyboard's velocity and aftertouch response work well for me.

The sound quality is excellent. The 96kHz 24-bit DACs sound great. The oscillator algorithms seem improved over the Nord Modular, because they don't alias as quickly.

I haven't yet used the audio inputs.

This synth supports lots of various synthesis types, including VA, FM, additive, modal, physical models, and mixtures of the above.

Although it comes with a nice assortment of sounds, this is a machine for you to design your own sounds. If you're not interested in synthesis, this is probably not the best synthesizer for you.

I should mention that this synth does NOT play samples. It has no sample memory.

No problems so far. I've had a Nord Modular for three years, which uses very similar construction, and have never had a problem with it.

I've never dealt with Clavia directly, because nothing has ever gone wrong.

It's just fantastic. I'd buy it again in a minute. If you're into modular synthesis, I think this is the best package out there, by far. It's like a giant polyphonic modular synth with patch storage, squeezed into a little red box. And you also get FM, physical modeling, and all kinds of other stuff thrown in.

Nord G2 is the new version of the virtual modular Nord Modular. Intuitiv, fun and easy if your into modular synthezise. Otherwise, choose another. The presets are xcellent, but in fact only a glimpse of the capabilities of the instrument.
The editing is in ways simplier than the previous Nord Modular but prepare to spent some weeks or month to learn patching if you are new to modular synths. It's worth it.

The old Nord Modular-concept has developed with pitch-trackers, an extensive swithching-group, and a more advanced sequenser & MIDI -modules. The fx contains now a (not so good) reverb and different delays with many possibilies.
Polyphony is dependent on the patchload, and can go down to 3 voices for extreme big patches, but normally there are sufficient number of voices. The voices can be expanded to the double with an expansionboard, but the thing with this synth is not the polyphony, it's the capacity to create sounds and patterns that's unique. and never heard anyplace else.
For the ones who had used the Nord Modular, the features of G2 is like coming to synth-heaven.

With new DACs, the sound is more direct in the face than the classic NM. I think this instrument goes well into all kinds of music, it can sound like and old monosynth and as tape-electronica of the 50ies as well as produce ripping dance leads.
The morph system makes the expressiveness nearly endless,and the pitchstick, modweel and other morph sources work well. It contains more expressive capabilities than you really can control.

I have owned Nord-synths (Modular, NL3, Electro) for many years, and they have never let me down. Accidents of dropping them has never caused any problems.

I have always got good an friendly support. I had problems with the USB of my computer, but did'nt understand what it was. I knocked on the door of the Clavia-factory, and some guys there updated my Electro.

This is simply one of the best hardwaresynths in the world in it's small segement, virtual modular synths. Create sounds and patterns at home, bring the machine to the rehersal or concert, than play and tweak teh knobs. With Electribe or another drum-machine, its possible to make a whole show just with the G2.
If you have no intrest in patching, buy something else. If you look for the ultimate sound, or a soundscape big as the universe, this instrument will be your best friend.