User manual

32 | Nord Stage 2 USer MaNUal oS v1.X
LED LCD Description (FB = feedback)
1.1 3-OP 1:1:1(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, same frequencies
1.2 3-OP 1:2:1(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 1:2:1
1.3 3-OP 1:3:1(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 1:3:1
1.5 3-OP 1:5:1(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 1:5:1
1.9 3-OP 1:9:1(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 1:9:1
1.f 3-OP 1:1:2(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 1:1:2
2.F 3-OP 2:1:1(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 2:1:1
3.F 3-OP 3:1:2(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 3:1:2
5.F 3-OP 5:1:2(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 5:1:2
9.F 3-OP 9:1:2(+FB)
Carrier + Mod + FB, freq. ratios 9:1:2
Tip! The one-operator algorithm can be used to produce a perfect
sine-wave, if the Shape knob is set to zero.
The Wavetable category
This category features 62 different digital waveforms with various tonal
characteristics. The waveforms have been carefully designed and
selected to provide rich and interesting timbres with a great variety,
for those exquisite sounds that could not be produced with the other
algorithms. Advanced wavetable synthesis techniques have been used
to reproduce the waveforms perfectly over the whole keyboard range.
Some waveforms have a number of peaks high up in the spectrum,
making them suitable for voice-like sounds (e.g. 3, 7, 8, 12), while oth-
ers are combinations of several overlapping spectra (e.g. 5, 6, 18, 19).
Yet others are extremely bright, with a fundamental that is softer than
the many harmonics (e.g. 21, 23, 26, 27). Using these waveforms with
the different filter settings, you should be able to create a wide variety
of timbres.
M The Shape knob does not have any effect in the Digital Wavetable
category.
Samples
The Samp option allows you to use samples from the Nord Sample
Library as an oscillator waveform and treat these with the other parts of
the subtractive synthesizer architecture. This provides the synthesizer
with a tremendous flexibility, but it doesn’t stop there. You can even
add your own samples to load into the Stage 2, with the Nord Sample
Editor application.
The sample memory in the Stage 2 can hold up to 384 Megabytes of
sample files in the Nord Sample Library format. Each and every one
of these samples can be replaced if you wish. The sample memory is
filled with sounds when the Nord Stage 2 left the Nord Factory, there
are many more samples to be found on the included DVDROM or on
the www.nordkeyboards.com website.
The samples are selected with the waveform dial.
Skip Sample Attack
When Samples are being used, the Shape control can be used as a
switch to active the Skip Sample Attack feature. When this is turned
on, the sample playback will begin at a fixed, alternative starting point
which will bypass most, if not all of the original attack portion of the
sample.
Load Sound
When you save a Stage 2 program the current synth settings are of
course stored together with all other panel settings, but you can also
select and store synth sounds separately from programs. In this way,
you can build up a library of your favorite synth sounds to access
whenever you need them.
Selecting synth sounds
There are 300 available memory slots for synth sounds/patches. Press
Shift and the waveform button, then turn the waveform selector dial
to scroll through the available synth sounds. The name of the sound
will appear in the LCD display and the sound will immediately become
active in the Stage 2.
Sound Init
To start with a “clean slate” when programming sounds you can use
the Sound Init function. This will initialize the synthesizer to a basic de-
fault setting. This is done by pressing Shift and the waveform selector/
Load Sound button and turn the waveform dial counter-clockwise until
INi is shown in the oscillator LED.
Filter Section
The Filter is one of the most important
components to create the overall timbre of
the sound. The harmonic content that the
oscillators produce can be shaped with the
filter and the filter itself can be modulated
with various functions. The Nord Stage 2
features a selection of classical synthesizer
filters.
The Filters share the same filter param-
eters: Filter Frequency controls the cutoff
frequency and the Resonance controls the
filter resonance.
Filter button
Press repeatedly on the Filter button to select the desired filter type.
The available filter types are:
Low Pass - LP 24 & LP 12
Frequencies above the Filter Frequency setting will be attenuated,
frequencies below will not be affected.
The LP12 (12 dB/octave slope) leaves more harmonics than the 24dB
variation. This type of filter has been used in e.g. early Oberheim syn-
thesizers. A 12 dB filter is also known as a 2-pole filter.
The LP24 is the classic “synth filter”, used in the Minimoog and
Prophet-5 among others. It cuts out frequencies rather drastically, with
a slope of 24 dB per octave. A 24 dB filter is also known as a 4-pole
filter.
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Resonance = 10
Resonance = 0
Resonance = 3
Resonance = 7
Filter Frequency
Resonance = 10
Resonance = 0
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Resonance = 10
Resonance = 0
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Resonance
Filter Frequency
Filter Frequency
Filter Resonance
Filter Frequency
Filter Vocal
Envelope range
Time
Filter Frequency