Nord Modular/Modular G2

[moize]

I'm really enjoying #92! Such soft, smooth sounds coming out of your Nord...

Thanks Matt (that is your name?)

Really pleased you are enjoying it.
:)

I found routing the outputs to the inputs of the Nord really softens things up, equally playing with the gains, boosting and cutting pre/post etc seems to help too.

Need to make todays actually…

Thanks again

[cebec]

I'm really enjoying #92! Such soft, smooth sounds coming out of your Nord...

Thanks Matt (that is your name?)

Yes, it is, and you're welcome, Martin!

Your techniques to soften and smooth things out has certainly worked on these...

[moize]

Thanks again. :)

Do you have a Nord Modular yourself?

[cebec]

Thanks again.

Do you have a Nord Modular yourself?

No, I used to have the original Nord Modular and then the G2, from 1999 to around 2006 or so.  I saved all my patches and like to revisit some of them in the G2 Demo software but I've been thinking of picking up an original NM, again. 

Currently, I'm using a Serge Modular and Kyma so I have hardly any time or brainpower left for anything else but the NM always felt like an old friend I want to reunite with.

[moize]

I almost sold mine some time ago as I really needed some money, but my partner insisted I should keep them, which I am very pleased she did. I would have regretted it.

I like the modular way of working, although I am coming at it form a Nord perspective so never found the temptation to buy something like the Serge, I have used the Roland System 100, very nice. Although Kyma, I have wanted that for a looong time. I really like the ide of something being in a box and also the flexibility would keep me amused for a life time.

Someone in my building has one, but I have yet to try his out yet…I should do that.

Yeah, I think everyone should have a Nord Modular somewhere ticked away in their studio :)

How does the Serge compare?

[cebec]

Yes, that is one really appealing aspect of Kyma to me, as well.  I am taking my time with it and enjoying the ride. I did have an experience early on with it like someone who is afraid of heights and ooks down -- panic and discouragement!  Do try one in person, though. Even the older Capybara hardware, which I have (with expansion cards), is endless fun. They sometimes come on the secondhand market for a good price.

Some of the conventions and design of the NM editor remind me of the Serge, actually! I learned so much about synthesis and using modulars in a musical context from working with the NM.  However, I found I was spending a lot of time on the G2 trying to achieve a certain sound that I found was much easier to achieve with analog hardware. So, I invested in some Blacet modules and found an Evenfall Mini Modular on the secondhand market and that was that.  Eventually, I had the opportunity to get a couple of used Serge panels, and since it had always been a dream to try them, I sold off a lot of things to afford them.

So, I obviously love the modular workflow, too, and sitting down at a (usually) blank slate is inspiring to me. For the sounds I like to make I found that a medium-sized analog modular was the way to go and I have been really happy with it. Still, the Nord Modulars are so fun to use and I really like the raw sound of the original Nord Modular.

[moize]

I must agree, I am really enjoying that blank canvas in which to create. I find it strange that it has taken me so long to really dive into the Nord Modular, as I always created 99% of my sounds from scratch in almost every single track I have ever created, and yet for a long time it just didn't gel enough for me to continue using it.

I have always worked in more complex ways, even with I had an old Atari STE and synths, and took the route of modular based software environments, such as Audiomulch, Bidule, Max etc. I wonder if my hesitance was due to it being similar to the Nord Rack visually, yet insisting a very different way of using it.

It has taken me a while to find a way in, but I must say I am really enjoying using the Nord Modular more and more each day.
Its become my old chum I hang out with for a few hours each day :)

[moize]

Thanks for the plug Matt on the the other forum, appreciated :)

[haesslich]

woah! no.92 and 93 are absolutely beautiful!
would you mind giving a hint on the modules / wiring used?

i guess some sine osc, random triggers, noise, bandpass filters and compressors?

[moize]

would you mind giving a hint on the modules / wiring used?

Thanks, glad you are enjoying them :)

As for the wiring, yeah sure I am happy to share :) although you have pretty much got it.

The previous post here:
http://www.12k.com/forum/index.php?topic=880.msg8400#msg8400

…shows a screen grab of the patch used in Snd 92, and the triggers set up for one Oscillator, I basically had multiple of these on two separate patches as left and right audio, run through to a third patch which works more as an outboard really, so input>gains>Eq>compressor>gains>smooth…that sort of thing. I think there was a bit of FM in there to create some harmonics in the high area.

93 is much the same sort of thing, just smoother transitions on the triggers I think, although there are some squares modulating to create the clicking which dips the compressor giving that subtle rhythm.

Basically I try to find a balance with repetition and subtle shifts here and there to keep things moving.
I also run outputs 1&2 back into 3&4, as I find helps is the sound and also my brain work things out…haha.

92 was based on a remix I did of an old track I made when I was a teenager, and it happened to come on just before I made that days upload, so I based it around that.
93 was actually sounding really bad for a little while, and then as these things tend to do, it just clicked. I must admit I am quite pleased with both those. Be nice if it was like that everyday :)

I am really pleased you like them and so very nice of you to say so too :)

Do you have the same Nord as mine or the G2?

[taylordeupree]

ok, i have to jump on the 92 + 93 bandwagon here... beautiful.. 92 is quite the beauty... there's a patch i used a few times, that was a tweaked version of someone else's.. that's sort of similar.. but yours is much more controlled and gentle...

i continue to be inspired by your postings and NEED to make time to dig into the modular every day.. (or every other day)... i can't imagine how much you've learned since january 1st!

[haesslich]

Tanks for the picture! The smoothed triggers are a clever i never tried before.
I have a g1 key. Haven't used it for a while, but your sounds made me grab it and pay it again! Not only so they sound great, they're inspiring and motivate to try something new (at least for me)
As a result of a little injury i can't play the guitar for a while and will have to change plans for a gig in three weeks. I migt end up with the Nord on stage actually.

[cebec]

Thanks for the plug Matt on the the other forum, appreciated

You're very welcome, Martin! 

[moize]

Thanks again Taylor for the support, really appreciate your comments.

I like how you wrote to use your Nord everyday, and then thought maybe every other day hehe :D…this sounds very familiar to me , in so much that the Nord hardly got used, first every other day become every other month, and it almost got sold at one point many years ago, thankfully my partner talked me round.

I have actually tried to limit my using the Nord for about 1hr 30mins each time, and this has made creating something easier when having off days, uninspired, or very busy etc etc

It is more that regular usage that has really helped, more than the amount of time I use it in one sitting. Just knowing I will on it the next day has really helped the learning. It would be AMAZING to hear you creating some Nord Modular sounds…you should definitely do it. A little bit each day. I'll even send you some patches if that helps inspire you :)

there's a patch i used a few times, that was a tweaked version of someone else's.. that's sort of similar

I think your right, there is certainly some similarities in this uploads sound to what you may have used before, and for me I feel there is a connection in making these sorts of sound to certain works of yours that I have enjoyed and been inspired by over the years, its possibly become embedded over time. I always feel it reminds me of something between certains aspects of your earlier releases combined with perhaps Steinbrüchel…or at least somewhere around there. I tend to use artists names to categorise sounds on DAT or HD, helps me remember the year, what I was listening to, and place the sounds somehow. This could be why I hear what I hear, but you seem to hear it too…interesting :)

Thanks again

[moize]

Hey haesslich

That is amazing, it really means so much to think these sounds inspired you to maybe use it on stage. If you do use it, you HAVE to tell me how it went, or let me hear something, that would be incredible.

I would love the Nord G1 Keyboard, actually my friend who had my Rack before, only sold his rack due to getting the keyboard. At the time I didn't really see the need for one, until I saw his and tried it out. It is really nice having the keyboard there as an option, and it really changes the way the sound is created, or at least I have found that.

Generally I use it without, although there have been occasions, with the DX7 stuff, that I used it…although saying that even then I taped or held the keys down…hmmm…maybe I should do something about that in some future posts.


I hope your injury is nothing serious and its heals well, but it is great to hear you are using this time to explore other options.
Please do keep me posted on how the live event goes.

Thanks again