"A short update on the browser based Nord Modular Editor that I am currently working on as a fun hobby project."
Additional details via https://nordmodulareditor.com where you can try it out yourself if you own an original Nord Modular:
"Nord Modular G1 Editor
Create, edit and (soon) share your Nord Modular patches with the community.
Some quick remarks:
This is still a very early version. A lot of things don't work or don't work correctly yet. You should be able to edit patches, browse slots, add modules and cables, adjust parameters and load patches into a slot. You probably want to run this in the Chrome browser, i haven't tested others. I have only tested this with a Nord Modular Keys for now, I assume the Rack version will work the same but I don't know about the Micro. I assumed it would work the same but it appears that some people have issues getting it to connect. Parameter values are often shown as their raw 0–127 values. None of the displays work yet. When something is wrong, updates don't come through, or communication seems to be stuck: refresh the page. When using a trackpad, you probably want to use "scroll to pan" navigation. You can select this in the settings. To add a module, drag it from the toolbar on top. To delete a module or cable, select it and hit delete. The tab key in the editor will toggle rendering cables behind or in front of the modules. If you were following my personal YouTube channel for updates, please follow my other channel instead. Feedback is much appreciated, but I don't have a proper way to do that yet. This is a personal hobby project. I am not affiliated with or connected to Nord in any way. Peter van der Noord"
"Using patterns from the Schlappi Nibbler to control the current stage of the Joranalogue Step 8, with the Make Noise Math attenuating and offsetting the cv signal to create variations. Sounds are coming from Quad Drum, SSF Entity Ultraperc, Mutable Instruments Plaits, Winter Modular Zaps and Basimilus Iteritas Alter.
"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. There is no shortage of synth manufacturers offering costly top-shelf instruments: PolyBrutes, UDOs, all the old stuff but new and even Roland started channeling their inner Teenage Engineering.
Today, however, we are going to talk about Nord Modular. This range of digital high-end modular synths was introduced in 1998 and not only is there no modern successor in sight, they also made it incredibly hard to use the originals properly. This time it’s personal!
Chapters: 00:00 Intro tune 00:56 Overview Nord Modular G1 01:12 The Nord Modular Range 01:17 The Concept, UI, Computer Integration 01:43 The Software Editor Situation 02:00 Freeware Editor ( Byte Order ) 02:16 The Modules ( Oscillators, Drums, FM ) 02:54 Generative Patches vs. Normal Synth Duties 03:04 Filters 03:40 Modulators 04:08 Using it as a Groovebox ( Clock Generator, Sequencers ) 04:43 Effects (or lack thereof) 05:09 Features for Keyboardists 05:26 Even more weird Features 05:44 What else??? (Connectivity, Pricing,...) 06:10 H*te Screen 06:35 Jam 1 ( Techno Groovebox Patch ) 07:29 Jam 2 ( Many, Many Patches Jam ) 08:34 Finale ( 90s Psytrance ) 08:46 VERDICT"
30 modular systems in a multi-instrument and sequence designer
Quadra Modular is a powerful 4-part multi-instrument and sequence designer, ideal for the creation of dynamic, rhythmic, and evolving sequences utilizing an incredible selection of patches created on a wide range of modular synthesizers, from vintage to modern, stand-alone to fully customized and purpose-built systems. We approached recording these beasts as if they were acoustic instruments, creating discrete velocity layers and round-robins in order to capture their organic soul.
Quadra is a versatile instrument, capable of a wide range of sounds and uses from standard fare instrumentation to evolving, complex, and adaptive progressions and harmonizations that can be morphed and performed in numerous ways to suit the needs of your production. With a masterful selection of hundreds of professionally designed presets, Quadra offers incredible sound quality and near endless inspiration on-demand.
Quadra leverages a powerful instrument selection, deep factory library, focused and intuitive workflow, and expressive performance controls to deliver cinematic sound quality and near endless musical inspiration.
Curated Instrument Selection Quadra provides 4 robust instrument layers that can be used together to create striking and evocative performances. Each layer can be assigned from a selection of 30 multi-sampled sources including massive stand-alone systems like the Colossus, to popular small format systems like eurorack.
At the heart of each of Quadra's instrument layers is a powerful, multimode 64-step sequencer with MIDI effects, allowing you to quickly add rhythmic grooves, create arpeggiator sequences, add harmonies, and even quantize the incoming notes to specific scales. Choose a global rate, gate length, and max velocity, then customize your sequence with per-step velocity, link, harmonization, pitch offset, octave offset, gate, step repeat and panning. Save your patterns to disk as presets to share, or use the handy "copy-to" button to quickly duplicate your finished sequence from one layer to another.
Quadra includes a number of MIDI effect modules that allow you to embellish and augment your sequences in creative ways, including Euclidean Emphasis which adds rhythmic accents, MIDI Delay, Random, and Pitch Drift which enrich your sequence, and a scale quantizer that allows you to snap all notes to a scale of your choosing. You can even drag-and-drop the modified sequences as MIDI into a track of your DAW.
"This listing is for a Clavia Nord Modular Keyboard with a CD-R.
This CD-R contains Modular Editor, PDF Manual, Preset Patches(Nord Modular Factory Presets, micro Modular Factory Presets and Extra Patches; Total about 600 Patches).
This unit is 100% perfect working."
1) using generator (C harmonic minor) to make a Init Sequence with Prophet 6
2) add some Juno60 sounding stuff using Step Mode
3) delete some Events - Live Eraser
4) Drums (Jupiter Xm) - Step Mode
5) recording Bass & Pads from G2X - Live Mode
6) mute some Tracks
7) add another Bass (Jupiter Xm) Track - Step Mode
8) small Melody by MicroFreak - Live Mode
9) showing Track Transpose...
Preface: Sometimes developer are so deeply connected to their project that they don't reach customers, so they don't manage to transport the real message. Hence this preface, which should explain the basic idea behind the concept of MidiTraC.
The actual inspiration comes from a video showing "Vince Clarke" and the "BBC Computer". Based on this, plus a lot of imagination and feedback from beta testers, the current version of the MidiTraC sequencer was developed.
The initial spark was the idea of the polyphonic step sequencer, which is often found in hardware synthesizers. Unfortunately many implementations are only half-hearted and have many limitations (monophony, number of steps or complicated impractical handling). MidiTraC tries to counter these shortcomings.
MidiTraC can handle 16 tracks, each track is assigned to a fixed midi channel. The tracks can be independently muted, quantized, deleted or transposed.
All midi events, that arrives at the midi input are recorded. Therefore all settings have to be done at the midi input source, e.g. the choice of the midi channels. Usually the input source is a Midi-Keyboard, but it can be everything that send midi notes or CC data.
The principle is comparable to an audio Looper, with the difference that the amount of data is not generated by the time axis, but by the number of recorded events.
The device works on the basis of five slots, each slot can handle patterns up to 1024 midi events (a pattern manage 16 midi channels).
Notes can be generated, recorded live or step by step. An infinite number of overdubs are possible, each of these overdubs can have different lengths [Loop]. The longest recorded loop, represented here by the total lengths [Bars] (from 1 to 999 Measures).
Every operation can be done while running, so patterns can be loaded, saved, copied or merged to/from the Slots (for now, there are 128 memory locations). There is always one [Undo] step possible. [See the user manual for more].
Quick Specs:
+ 16 tracks, 1024 events (notes / midi CC) per pattern
+ 5 patterns with variable pattern lengths: 1 to 255 bars
+ Scales and quantization on recording or via ChannelQuantize
+ 18 quantization grids 1/64 - 1/1 (including triplets & dotted notes)
+ Note Editor (Microtiming 1/192, Pitch, Velocity, Duration, Channel)
+ unlimited smart overdubs with variable loop lengths (consolidate)
+ polyphonic step input with individually adjustable gate lengths
+ Pattern Generator (polyphonic / monophonic / drums / scales)
+ individual transposing / muting (live/lock) for all midi channels
+ Merge / load / save while sequencer is running...
"This listing is for a Clavia Nord Modular Keyboard with a CD-R.
This CD-R contains Modular Editor, PDF Manual, Preset Patches(Nord Modular Factory Presets, micro Modular Factory Presets and Extra Patches; Total about 600 Patches).
This unit is 100% perfect working.
This synth is AMAZING Synthesizer.
You can build any synthesizer patches as you want even."
"In good working condition. Comes with non-factory rack ears. Has a missing cap on the encoder knob (doesn't affect anything) and non-factory volume knob. Everything works perfectly. The original editor runs great on Mac up to Monterey through Wine emulation, so in theory it should run on M1 Macs without any issues. But you better to check if you have M1."
"This listing is for a Clavia Nord Modular Keyboard with a CD-R.
This CD-R contains Modular Editor, PDF Manual, Preset Patches(Nord Modular Factory Presets, micro Modular Factory Presets and Extra Patches; Total about 600 Patches).
This unit is 100% perfect working. In good condition."
"Patching a modular synthesizer can stimulate your musical creativity. On the other hand, retracing specific patch points through dozens of cables can boggle the mind, and reproducing a patch after you've moved lots of cables is nearly impossible.
In 1997, Clavia introduced the Nord Modular to uniquely address these issues. It combines hardware with a software editor to digitally transform the modular synthesizer experience. The Nord Modular Keyboard's hardware portion consists of a 25-note velocity-sensing keyboard with 18 user-assignable knobs and four independent voice channels for multi-timbral sound, and it sounds incredible!
The Nord Modular's editor software allows you to configure your own synthesizers on a Macintosh or Windows computer - complete with a bevy of module types and virtual cables for conducting audio, control, logic, and slave signals among modules - and download them via MIDI (not USB) to the hardware unit. As long as you don't need to add new modules or reconfigure cable routings, the synth doesn't require an attached computer and can function as a stand-alone electronic instrument. Among the available modules are multiple types of oscillators, envelope generators, filters, EQs, LFOs, step sequencers, waveshapers, audio and logic processors, control modifiers, and mixers. You can design complex patches without hitting the DSP ceiling, the supply of patch cords is essentially endless, and available synthesis types include subtractive, additive, FM, AM, and ring modulation.
List prices in 1998: $2,795 for the Nord Modular Keyboard and $799 for the optional voice-doubling expander board, which this unit has (attached power cord for U.S. AC). It's also running the latest V3.03 OS.
Included in the deal are both a cushy softshell carrying bag and a footswitch. All have belonged to me since 2003 and have never been subjected to cigarette smoke. There are no dings or scratches in the Nord Modular's case and the synth is in perfect working condition. Also included is the original manual and CD-ROM with Macintosh and Windows editors, but you can find updated editor software for both platforms online."
"Virtual analogue synth hardly used, near mint condition 2 octave synthesizer capable of modular, subtractive and FM applications. The Nord Modular allows you to build your own synthesizer specification using the internal modules provided from oscillators, envelopes and filters tomini sequencers, mixers and effects using the editing software from a DAW. Infull working order with its original packaging/ box, Operation manual, powerlead, 3 pin plug adapter and editing software CD-ROM.
Basic Features include:
- 4 note polyphony and 4 part multi-tumbrel
- 4 outputs,2 inputs, sustain pedal, control pedal and headphone input (1/4 inch jack)
- MIDI in and out plus PC in and out
- Front Panel - 18 editing knobs and 18 function buttons, master volume, rotary encoder and Navigator2x20 character backlit LCD display
- Software Editor CD-ROM - Runs on PC (Windows 95 on to Windows XP) and Mac (OS9 - OSX10.4)
- Note: This Nord Modular unit is NOT fitted with the polyphony expansion board. (This expansion board does not increase the modular’s synth engine power, just the polyphony)
Présentation du Concept de The Pool video by Laurent Baloran
"Quelques lumières sur le concept de The Pool ;)"
Googlish:
"Some light on the concept of The Pool;)"
Quick disclaimer, the video is in French, but you can enable captions by clicking on CC followed by the gear icon, and your language. The following is based on what I read. I'm not sure how much pertains to the development of the product vs. final product. That said, it looks like Laurent will be producing two versions of "The Pool" - one with a full control panel, and one minus the controls, plus and external software editor, similar to the Nord Modular Rack in concept. The reason? The cost of the full control version looks like it will be roughly 3500 to 4000 Euros. As that is not in everyone's price range, he plans to release a version minus the hardware controls priced around 1000 to 1200 Euros. Note the software editor is already developed. What's interesting is it sounds like he will allow you to trade-up if you decide you want the full control panel, but I'm not sure if that only applies to those jumping in early to help test and develope the synth. The platform will be open to developers to create new features. Not sure if this only pertains to development as well. The plan is to have it ready for purchase for the public sometime in 2022, and the name of it, currently refered to as "The Pool," is not set.
See the Baloran label below for additional posts featuring the development of "The Pool."
The above is a playlist featuring videos of Mike Perkowitz's custom sequencer running on a custom Yaeltex controller. You might remember Hachi from this previous post of it running on a Novtion Launchpad pro. You can find some additional info on Hachi there, and here's a post of it controlling a Nord Modular rack, a Morphing Terrarium, and a Fantom XR. You can find info on Yaeltex custom controllers below.
Playlist for the above:
Hachi Sequencer Running on Yaeltex Controller (1st 2 videos)
Hachi UI mockup
First sound from the new Hachi
And some info on Yaeltex: the following is an image from Yaeltex's website featuring their custom controllers. Note the Hachi is top center. According to Mike, his might be the only one with the Hachi branding, although he believes Yaeltex is set up so you can order controllers that other people design. You can also design and buy your own custom controller online through their site.
"Yaeltex // Custom MIDI controllers made in harmony between humans and machines in Buenos Aires, Argentina."
Note this is the first Yaeltex post on the site.
Below is a video of their configuration editor, KILOWHAT, followed by some user performance videos.
Yaeltex
Configure your device with our web-base tool
– Per component configuration
– Keystrokes for controlling any app
– Send Notes, CC, NRPN, RPN, Pitch bend, Program change
– Up to 8 banks
– Multiple encoders modes: double CC, remote feedback, shift to bank x, velocity to color, VU mode, etc.
– Integrated value scaling or pick up
Playlist:
THYLACINE - Lockdown full Live set
Paula OS - Buenos Aires Live Set
Quick demo of Yaeltex Niklou
Maqueta - Intro + Nadie + Espero Aca [En vivo @ Proyecto Exilio 160619]
Sidartha shit Sesion 362 x Mambogratis
I-O InstrumentoOptico "heka Ω" Live Chela 2018
THYLACINE - Live set @Château de Versailles
Pulse
Ambient Synth Jam - Enveleau
"Nord Modular Rack (1st Generation) made by Clavia. This model is fully functional; all pots, switches, jacks, and displays tested in working order. It has a UK plug (230v version), and the latest firmware installed (v3.03).
This unit has only ever seen light use in a home studio, as you can see by the condition. It’s not quite mint - there’s a scratch pictured to the left of the Master Volume label.
It’s worth knowing that Byte Order have recently released a new G1 editor, compatible with OSX 10.11, Audio-Unit, and VST3 plug-ins."
"Clavia Nord Modular G2 keyboard synthesizer with an original voice expansion board installed. This is a powerful virtual analog synthesizer, a flexible performance instrument, a four channel effects platform and a complex modular synthesis platform capable of outputting 4 independent patches. There is nothing quite like it being produced at this time.
This hybrid hardware/software virtual analog modular synthesizer is in perfect working condition and excellent cosmetic condition having been owned by the seller for over a decade and gently used in a smoke free studio. The paint, panel and labels are clean and crisp, no dents, chips or scratches. All data encoders, LEDs, rotary LEDs, back-lights, and screens are working. All keys, knobs, switches, pitch stick and wheel are working. All outputs and inputs (audio/MIDI/data) are working. In short, everything is working.
The original packaging, manual, software CD and power cord are included. The legacy Mac/PC software is still available for download on the Nord website and is known compatible with Mac OS up to Mojave but will not run on the latest Mac OS Catalina as the software is not 64bit. I have no experiencing running the G2 Editor on Windows myself but I hear it still works."
"The first of the Nord Modular series, the G1 is an era-bending blend of portable keyboard interface with the endless flexibilty of a modular setup. The G1's patches are made via a computer editor and loaded into the keyboard. Features two-octave keyboard, and 16 assignable knobs."
