Specifications

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OSCILLATOR MODULATION
Oscillator 1 uses two types of oscillator modulation
to bring out different characteristics to a blended
sound: Phase Modulation and Frequency Modula-
tion. Disparate sounds can be achieved depending
on the combination of waveforms generated by
the two oscillators – using oscillator modulation,
particular characteristics of those waveforms can
be seamlessly blended and enhanced to make a
new kind of sound. For example, an analog triangle
waveform will adopt much of the details of the
modulating waveform and make an almost trans-
parent, synthesized effect using Phase Modulation.
An analog saw waveform will still sound hard when
modulated, so wavetables can be used instead
to create variations in tonal character. Frequency
Modulation has a more dramatic effect, widening
the harmonic content and preserving more of the
character of the original waveform.
HIGH QUALITY SAMPLES
To us, quality supersedes quantity. Great samples
are not determined by their size in bytes, but by
how well their detail and character are preserved.
To assure that our samples meet the highest
NORD standards, we have teamed up with several
sample creators – such as Kirk Hunter Studios
and Sonic Reality - and licensed some of the very
best samples available. NORD online offers a large
number of top quality samples specially created for
the Nord Wave - available free of charge.
USER FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY
By storing sample data in a Flash memory, exist-
ing samples can be easily and quickly replaced,
including the factory preset samples. NORD’s
compression algorithm allows for, on average, 2 to
3 times data compression of any samples you want
to download to the Nord Wave – without any loss of
quality. Flash memory also means that samples are
instantly available, meaning fast load times even for
complex programs. No hard drive or other type of
media is needed for storing samples when
you shut down the Wave; once the
unit has powered up you have
direct access to all the
samples at the turn of
a knob.
THE RETURN OF A
LEGENDARY SOUND
Exclusively available to the Nord Wave are the classic sounds
of the Mellotron, the tape-based sampling pioneer from the
early sixties. When it comes to instruments having an impact on
modern music evolvement, the Mellotron is second only to the
electric guitar. A tape-based electromechanical keyboard was
invented by Harry Chamberlin as early as 1946, but it wasn’t until
16 years later that the Mellotron company adopted the technol-
ogy, making the instruments commercially available. Playing
back recorded sounds from a keyboard instrument had a major
impact on the music scene in the sixties and the seventies, and
opened the door to modern sampling technology. The memo-
rable aspect of the Mellotron are the choirs, brass, and string
sounds created to simulate orchestral textures, and they were
used by synthesists to enhance countless classic recordings
which could be reproduced live. The Nord Wave comes shipped
with a selection of the 68 tapes used by the Mk I, Mk II, M300
and M400 Mellotrons. The rest of this amazing library will be
available for free to the Nord Wave users on a DVD or as down-
loadable archives. By sampling the sounds using fresh tape cop-
ies and a newly manufactured Mellotron instrument - built using
vintage components - the Nord Wave reproduces these sounds
with all hisses and fizzes exactly as they were meant to be.