User manual

Pedal Noise
The Nord Stage 2 is compatible with the accessory Nord Triple Pedal
(not included, sold separately) which offers an unprecedented function-
ality. The Piano Pedal adds dynamic control of the mechanical noise
during operation, and the ability for you as a player to use half pedaling
and “release and catch again” techniques.
When the sustain pedal is operated on an acoustic grand or upright
piano, many different sounds are produced by the mechanical com-
ponents of that instrument’s pedal mechanism. Your Nord Stage 2
reproduces many of these natural sounds. When the sustain pedal is
pressed down, lifting the dampers from the strings, a beautiful sizzle
can be heard.
When the pedal is released, the dampers are returned to the strings,
which creates a different, muted type of sound. The Nord’s sustain
pedal is dynamic, allowing you to experiment with varying forces both
for pressing the pedal down and also releasing it. If you allow your
foot to “slip” off the edge of the pedal, it will spring back with full force,
creating an obvious sound.
The “floor sound” is heard when the pedal reaches the bottom of its
travel. You can experience this in isolation if you press down the pedal
completely, then lift it less than halfway back up and then press down
again.
If you lift the pedal and immediately press it down again, a very rich
sound will be heard. Another big sound is The Stomp, which requires
you to start with your foot above the actual pedal, in order to be able to
reach the high velocity that is required to get this sound.
The Synth Section
The Stage 2’s powerful synthesizer engine was built from the DNA of
the Nord Wave. Capable of classic analogue synthesis, three operator
FM synthesis, Wavetable synthesis and, crucially, compatibility with the
Nord Sample Library.
The Nord Sample Library not only give Stage 2 owners access to the
huge free library of world-class sounds, including the famous vintage
Mellotron and Chamberlin samples previously only available to Nord
Wave and Nord Electro 3 users, but thanks to the included Nord
Sample Editor for Mac and PC, allows user-created samples to be
loaded into the instrument and thus opening up a whole new creative
world of sound.
The Synth engine itself features classic analogue synthesis with dual
saw, hard sync and pulse wave modulation, three-operator FM synthe-
sis with 32 different modulation frequencies, Wavetable synthesis with
77 waveforms and Sample based synthesis. A new great-sounding
multimode filter features 12 and 24 dB low pass, high pass, band pass
and notch filters. And with an Amp envelope, Modulation envelope, an
LFO, and Unison control, the Stage 2’s synth capabilities are hugely
powerful, delivering amazing on-stage sound.
The Synth section also features a new Arpeggiator that can be
synchronized to the Stage 2’s Master Clock for perfect timing with all
elements of the Stage 2 including its effects.
Chapter 2 aboUt the Nord Stage 2 | 7