The Clavia Nord Modular series is a line of synthesizer

Synthesizer

A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...

s produced by Clavia

Clavia

Clavia Digital Musical Instruments is a Swedish manufacturer of virtual analog synthesizers, virtual electromechanical pianos and stage pianos, founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 by Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson.-The Company:...

, a Swedish digital synthesizer manufacturer. The Nord Modular series, in common with their sister range the Nord Lead series, are analogue modelling synthesizers, producing sounds which approximate those produced by conventional analogue synths by using DSP chips to digitally model analogue circuitry.

However, unlike most other analogue modelling synth hardware, which generally simulate one or a small number of (usually subtractive

Subtractive synthesis

Subtractive synthesis is a method of sound synthesis in which partials of an audio signal are attenuated by a filter to alter the timbre of the sound...

 ) synth circuit layouts, the Nord Modular range approximates the much more flexible world of modular synthesizers, offering an almost unlimited variation of synth architectures, with the facility to simulate, in addition to subtractive synthesis, additive

Additive synthesis

Additive synthesis is a technique of sound synthesis that creates musical timbre by explicitly adding sinusoidal overtones together.The timbre of an instrument is composed of multiple harmonic or inharmonic partials , of different frequencies and amplitudes, that change over time...

, FM, and, in the second generation of the series, physical modelling synthesis

Physical modelling synthesis

In sound synthesis, physical modelling synthesis refers to methods in which the waveform of the sound to be generated is computed by using a mathematical model, being a set of equations and algorithms to simulate a physical source of sound, usually a musical instrument...

 methods, as well as a number of other sound generation and processing techniques.

Because of the flexibility offered by these synths, patches cannot be programmed from the controls on the units themselves. Patch editing is instead performed on a PC (connected via 2 dedicated MIDI ports in the case of the first generation and USB in the second generation or G2 systems), running editor software bundled with the synths.

The editor software is in appearance and function not dissimilar to computer-based modular synthesis environments like Reaktor

Reaktor

Reaktor is a graphical modular software music studio of proprietary license developed by Native Instruments. It lets musicians and sound specialists design and build their own instruments, samplers, effects and sound design tools. It is supplied with many ready-to-use instruments and effects, from...

 which offer a graphical representation of the simulated modules and the associated connections between them. Unlike those systems however, the Nord Modular s are capable of functioning independently of a computer- the host computer plays no part in sound generation and is needed only to provide the patch editing interface.

The Nord Modular line of synthesizers features a range of modules familiar to users of hardware modulars: audio input and output modules, Oscillators

Electronic oscillator

An electronic oscillator is an electronic circuit that produces a repetitive electronic signal, often a sine wave or a square wave. They are widely used in innumerable electronic devices...

, Low Frequency Oscillators (or LFOs)

Low frequency oscillation

Low-frequency oscillation is an electronic signal, which is usually below 20 Hz and creates a rhythmic pulse or sweep. This pulse or sweep is often used to modulate synthesizers, delay lines and other audio equipment in order to create effects used in the production of electronic music. Audio...

, envelopes, filters

Audio filter

An audio filter is a frequency dependent amplifier circuit, working in the audio frequency range, 0 Hz to beyond 20 kHz. Many types of filters exist for applications including graphic equalizers, synthesizers, sound effects, CD players and virtual reality systems.Being a frequency dependent...

 of various kinds, mixers, audio effects such as distortion

Distortion

A distortion is the alteration of the original shape of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. Distortion is usually unwanted, and often many methods are employed to minimize it in practice...

 and chorus

Chorus effect

In music, a chorus effect occurs when individual sounds with roughly the same timbre and nearly the same pitch converge and are perceived as one...

 , logic gates and sequencers

Music sequencer

The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...

, which can be connected in almost any configuration- there is for example no restriction on connecting audio signal outputs to control signal or logic inputs (or vice-versa), allowing for a great deal of flexibility in patch creation. Patches are only limited in complexity by the available DSP resources.

However, the more complex a patch is in general, the smaller the available polyphony is, and in practice the specified full polyphony of the unit is only achievable when using a very small number of modules in a given patch. However, because of the flexible nature of the unit 'polyphony' does not correspond strictly to 'number of different notes sounding at one time'- indeed with some thought and careful programming it is possible to exceed the specified polyphony of the unit (by this definition of polyphony at least).
Clavia introduced the first generation in 1998. The series was discontinued in 2004 upon the release of the next generation Nord Modular G2 series. The G2 is an updated and more powerful version of the original Modular (the G2 uses a new version of the Editor software as well), with greater polyphony and a large number of new modules to address the perceived limitations of the first generation, most notably a range of MIDI sequencing and output modules (the first generation's sequencing capabilities were limited to control of internal parameters, a restriction which many users felt to be the system's biggest limitation), time-based effects ( reverb, delay

Delay (audio effect)

Delay is an audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.-Early delay...

, etc.), and physical modelling oscillators. However, there has been some debate in the NM community as to which generation produces the best raw sound, with many users feeling, for example, that the original series' filters had a more subjectively pleasing, grittier sound.

G2 series was discontinued in 2009.

The original Nord Modular (or 'Classic') series

(from the Clavia website)

The (first generation) Nord Modular family consists of three hardware models: Nord Modular Key, Nord Modular Rack and Nord Micro Modular. They are all built around the same type of electronics and use the same type of DSP. Nord Modular Key and Rack have 4 DSPs as standard (can be expanded to 8 with the Nord Modular Voice Expansion Board), and the Nord Micro Modular has 1 DSP (non-expandable).

Nord Modular Key and Rack

General

• Programmable polyphonic modular synthesizer
• Minimum 4 voices expandable to minimum 8 voices
• Maximum 32 voices depending on patch complexity
• 4-part multi-timbral
• Holds patches (sounds) and operating system in flash ram.
• Software upgradable via computer.
• Dynamic patch storage in 9 banks with 99 memory locations. The number of patches which can be stored depends on their size (i.e. number of modules used).
• 24-bit internal processing at 96kHz sampling frequency

MIDI features

• All parameters, except for the Master Level, can transmit and receive MIDI Control Change messages.
• Notes can be received over the entire MIDI range.
• MIDI clock sync
  MIDI beat clock
  MIDI beat clock is a clock signal that is broadcast via MIDI to ensure that several MIDI-enabled devices such as a synthesizer or music sequencer stay in synchronization. It is not MIDI timecode....
  
  .

Hardware

• 18 user-assignable editing knobs
• 18 dedicated function buttons
• Rotary dial
• 2x16 character backlit LCD display
• Two analog audio inputs, line level.
• 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADCs, 48kHz sampling frequency
• 4 assignable outputs, line-level.
• 18-bit linear DACs, 96kHz sampling frequency
• Headphone output
• MIDI In and Out for "public MIDI"
• PC In and Out for communication with computer Editor
• Control pedal, Sustain or ON/Off pedal inputs
• 2 octave velocity sensitive keyboard with octave shift buttons (+/- 2 octaves) (Nord Modular Key)
• MIDI In trig indicator (Nord Modular Rack)

Dimensions (Nord Modular Key)
W x 264 mm (10.4 in)D x 90 mm (3.5 in)H

• Weight: 4.7 kg (10.4 lb)

Dimensions (Nord Modular Rack)
W x 176 mm (6.9 in)D x 118 mm (4.6 in)H

• 19" rack mountable with supplied rack ears
• Weight: 3.2 kg (7.1 lb)

Nord Micro Modular

General

• Programmable modular synthesizer with polyphonic capacity
• 24-bit internal processing at 96kHz sampling frequency
• Maximum 4 voices (practical limit) depending on patch complexity
• 3 user-assignable editing knobs and one user-assignable button
• 3 dedicated function buttons
• 2x7-segment LED display
• Holds 99 user patches (sounds) and operating system software in flash ram. Software upgradable via computer.

MIDI features

• All parameters, except the master level, can transmit and receive MIDI Control Change messages.
• Notes can be received over the entire MIDI range.
• MIDI clock sync
  MIDI beat clock
  MIDI beat clock is a clock signal that is broadcast via MIDI to ensure that several MIDI-enabled devices such as a synthesizer or music sequencer stay in synchronization. It is not MIDI timecode....
  
  .

Hardware

• Two analog audio inputs, line level. 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADCs, 48kHz sampling frequency
• 2 assignable outputs, line-level. 18-bit linear DACs, 96kHz sampling frequency
• Headphone output
• MIDI In and Out for "public MIDI"
• PC In and Out for communication with computer Editor

Dimensions
W x 120 mm (4.7 in)D x 40 mm (1.6 in)H

Used Nord Modulars can still be found for sale online.

The Nord Modular appears in the Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...

 video for Into The Void

Into the Void (Nine Inch Nails song)

"Into the Void" is a single by Nine Inch Nails, released in 2000. The song was the third single from the album The Fragile, released in 1999...

. Covenant

Covenant (band)

Covenant is a band from Sweden whose music comprises a mixture between electropop and electronic dance music. The band is composed of Eskil Simonsson, Daniel Myer and Joakim Montelius...

's Joakim Montelius is an avid user of the Nord Modular range since the late 90's, in the studio as well as on stage. After the introduction of the G2 his main live keyboards have been an NM Classic Keyboard and a G2X. In the studio the band also uses a G2 Engine for additional processing.

External links

• Clavia.se - Nord Modular G2 Page
• Clavia.se - G2 demo software - download page for a software demo that reproduces (to a limited extent) the sound and operation of the G2 (both Mac OS and Windows versions).
• Clavia.se - Nord Modular Page - for the discontinued NM 'Classic' line.
• Clavia.se - Nord Modular and G2 Manuals - download page for freely available.pdf versions of the NM and G2 manuals.
• Nomad - Nord Modular open source editor - alternative software editor for the Nord Modular
• Electro-Music.com - NM forums - largest online forums and patch exchange for the Nord Modular Classic and G2 series.
• Rob Hordijk's G2 Site - lengthy, in-depth, unofficial site on the Nord Modular G2 Synthesizer by artist and G2 enthusiast Rob Hordijk. Contains information, explanations, and techniques for the operation and modular synthesis of the G2.
• Retrosound - Nord Modular 1 sounds by Marko Ettlich
• eBook Wizoo Guide Nord Modular by Peter Gorges
• Advanced Programming Techniques for Modular Synthesizers - a Nord Modular free tutorial with downloadable patches of the examples