NORD Lead 4 - 49-key Virtual Analogue Synthesizer

OSCILLATOR SECTION

The Nord Lead 4 is a subtractive synthesizer with 2 oscillators per voice. All the classic waveforms are present, Saw, Square, Sine, Triangle, Pulse and PWM.

Wavetable synthesis

The 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 Unison

The 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 Sync

Hard 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 SECTION

Nord 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 Envelope

Nord 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 SECTION

The 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 emulations

Two 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 Drive

The Filter Drive operates separately per voice, distorting the waveform before it passes through the effects sections.

EFFECT SECTION

Each of Nord Lead 4's four slots has its own dedicated effects section: FX and Delay/Reverb.

Drive

The 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.

Talk

The Talk effect creates a voice-like talk-box effect, with two different simulations of a vocal tract.

Compressor

The compressor effect offers Threshold adjustment and can also be modulated to obtain side-chain effects and more.

Crush

The 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 star dust.

Comb filter

The Comb filter effect can create chorus-like effects when controlled from an LFO or static spectral changes in your sound.

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 / Delay

The 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.

LAYERING

Having 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 STICK

The 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 MEMORY

The 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.

ARPEGGIATOR

The 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!

PATTERNS

The 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.

MUTATOR

The Nord Lead 4 Mutator feature is a Automatic program generator with adjustable style and strength.

MASTER CLOCK

At 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 SOUND MANAGER

The Nord Sound Manager application, available for Mac OSX and Windows, makes organizing, backing up and transferring programs to your Nord Lead 4 a breeze.

-4 parts Mutlitimbral with 4 independant ouputs, Polyphony: 20 voices

-Subtractive synthesis modelisation

-2 oscillators with frequency modulation, Wavetables, OSC MOD section with Hard- and Soft sync plus 3 different Frequency Modulations of OSC 1 from OSC 2

-Morph: One or more continuous (knob-type) parameters can be controlled by keyboard velocity and/or the Modulation Wheel/Control Pedal

-Impulse Morphs: Both continuous (knobs) and switch parameters can have alternate value settings activated by Impulse Morph buttons. 7 unique Impulse Morphs possible by pressing a combination of the 3 buttons

-Synthesis including unique waveforms

-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

-ADSR envelope, Cut off, Resonance, envelope amount, envelope amount controlled by velocity

-2 LFO per Slot (one with an arpeggiator) and envelope modulation with many routing possibilities

-LFO, arpeggiator and delay fully syncable to the Masterclock or to an external MIDI-clock

-FX section: Crush, Drive, Talk, Compressor, Reverb and Delay

-49-key octave velocity sensitive keyboard

-Modualtion wheel and Pitch Stick

-All control knobs and switches send and receive control change messages

-4x99 Programs (single sounds)

-99 Performances (multi sounds)

-4 line level outputs and 1 headphone output

-MIDI In and MIDI Out, USB connector with MIDI capabilities

-Sustain and Control pedal inputs

-Dimensions and weight: 864 x 94 x 272 mm, 4.5 kg