NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x Table of contents Table of contents 1. Introduction ......................................................... 5 Welcome ....................................................................................... 5 About the Owner’s Manual........................................................................................................ 5 Reading the manual in Adobe Acrobat Reader........................................................................... 5 Clavia on the Internet ....
Table of contents NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x Deleting Programs ....................................................................18 Downloading Programs via MIDI..............................................18 5. Panel reference ................................................. 19 The Organ section.....................................................................19 The Drawbars ..........................................................................................................................
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x Table of contents System functions...................................................................... 33 MIDI Ch ................................................................................................................................. 34 Lower Ch................................................................................................................................. 34 Local..............................................................................................
Table of contents NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 9. History ................................................................ 49 The story behind the Electro 2 instruments ........................49 What is an ‘electromechanical’ instrument? ............................................................................. 49 How does an electromechanical pick-up work? ........................................................................ 49 The Electro 2 organ section...................................................
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 1. Introduction: Welcome 1. INTRODUCTION WELCOME We’d first like to thank you for purchasing the Nord Electro 2 - Virtual Electromechanical stage keyboard. Clavia’s goal when developing the Nord Electro instrument was to create the best emulations of traditional electromechanical keyboard instruments on the market, and to make the instrument compact and lightweight. Nothing else. No brass banks, no orchestral sounds. No compromises.
1. Introduction: Clavia on the Internet NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x With Adobe Acrobat Reader it is possible to use special navigation features like hyperlinks. This means that you can click with the mouse on a word or sentence and automatically get to the location indicated by the word/sentence. To better show what words or sentences are hyperlinked in this manual, these words are written in magenta. CLAVIA ON THE INTERNET If you have access to the Internet, you’re very welcome to visit http://www.clavia.se.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 2. Overview: The Nord Electro 2 front panel 2. OVERVIEW THE NORD ELECTRO 2 FRONT PANEL Left panel section THE The Organ section The Piano section The Effects section LEFT PANEL SECTION MASTER LEVEL The MASTER LEVEL knob controls the output level from the two OUT jacks and the HEADPHONES output. The MASTER LEVEL knob does not send or receive any MIDI CC# but is used to control the entire instrument’s output level.
2. Overview: The Nord Electro 2 front panel THE ORGAN NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x SECTION The Organ section comprises four sub sections: the Percussion section, the Vibrato/Chorus section, the Manual section and the Drawbar section. The nine drawbars of Nord Electro are represented by up/down buttons and LED chain graphs instead of ordinary mechanical drawbars. This gives you a big advantage: when you change presets, the correct drawbar settings are shown immediately by the LEDs.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 2. Overview: Nord Electro 2 rear panel NORD ELECTRO 2 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS • Make all connections before turning on your power amplifier! • If you are using a Nord Electro 2 together with a MIDI keyboard, connect a MIDI cable from MIDI Out on the keyboard to MIDI IN on the Nord Electro 2. • All signal cables used with the Nord Electro must be shielded. • The two audio outputs (LEFT OUT and RIGHT OUT) are line level and unbalanced.
2. Overview: Nord Electro 2 rear panel NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x It’s also possible to use only one single Sustain pedal connected to the SUSTAIN PEDAL input to control sustain for Piano sounds and Rotary Speaker speed selection for organ sounds (see page 14 for details on how to configure this). (For more detailed information on how to set up Nord Electro 2 for use with sustain and expression pedals, see page 13).
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 2. Overview: Nord Electro 2 block diagram NORD ELECTRO 2 BLOCK DIAGRAM Below is a schematic overview of the sound and modulation building blocks and the signal flows in Nord Electro 2. The filled lines indicate audio signal routings and the dashed black lines control signal routings. The ‘/2’ sign printed next to some filled lines indicates that the signal is/can be in stereo.
3. Getting started: Selecting Programs 3. GETTING NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x STARTED SELECTING PROGRAMS Programs are single sounds that are stored in the internal memory of Nord Electro 2. The Program memory in Nord Electro 2 consists of 6 Banks each holding 8 Programs for a total of 48 Programs. All Programs can be edited and replaced at any time. To select a Program for playing/editing, do like this: 1. Select Bank (A-F) by pressing the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons if you want to change Bank. 2.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 3. Getting started: Transpose TRANSPOSE It’s also possible to transpose a sound up or down in semitone steps. Press the SHIFT + PROGRAM 6 (TRANSPOSE) buttons. The DISPLAY reads ‘0’. Press the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons to transpose the sound up or down in semitone steps. The range is +/- 6 semitones in steps of 1 semitone. Press any button (except for the SHIFT, STORE or UP/ DOWN buttons) to exit.
3. Getting started: Using a Rotor Speed switch pedal NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x • As a sustain pedal for Piano sounds and as a Rotor Speed switch for the Organ sounds (see Sustain Pedal Configuration below) SETTING UP THE SUSTAIN PEDAL POLARITY Set up the pedal polarity as follows: 1. Press the SHIFT + PROGRAM 7 (PED.POL) buttons. The DISPLAY reads ‘CL’ or ‘OP’. 2. Change sustain pedal polarity between ‘OP’ (Open) (open when pressed) and ‘CL’ (Closed) (closed when pressed) with the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 3. Getting started: Using a control (expression) pedal USING A CONTROL (EXPRESSION) PEDAL As indicated in the illustration on page 9, a regular resistive (range 10 kOhm to 50 kOhm) expression pedal can be connected to the CONTROL PEDAL input, using a stereo (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) cable. The connected pedal can be used to control either Organ Swell (the characteristic B3 volume control) or Wah-Wah modulation.
4. Editing Programs: What’s a Program? NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 4. EDITING PROGRAMS WHAT’S A PROGRAM? A Program in Nord Electro 2 consists of a selected Instrument (an Organ sound or a specific Piano sound), the settings you have made for the instrument, e.g. Drawbar, Percussion and Chorus/Vibrato settings for Organ sounds or Presence settings for a Piano sound, Octave Shift settings plus all the settings of the Effects section.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x SELECTING INSTRUMENT 4. Editing Programs: Reverting to the original Program (ORGAN OR PIANO) No matter what Program you’re editing, you could always select a different instrument type at any time. There are two main instrument sections in Nord Electro 2: the Organ section and the Piano section. You switch between these sections by pressing the INSTRUMENT SELECT button located between the Organ and Piano sections.
4. Editing Programs: Copying Programs NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x COPYING PROGRAMS Copying a Program from one memory location to another is just a variation of storing: 1. Select the Program you want to copy. Press the STORE button once. The Bank and Program number starts flashing in the DISPLAY 1. Select Bank (A-F) by pressing the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons (if you want to change Bank) and then Program location by pressing the corresponding PROGRAM button (1-8).
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. PANEL 5. Panel reference: The Organ section REFERENCE THE ORGAN SECTION The Organ in the Nord Electro 2 is based on a digital simulation of the mechanical tone wheels of the B3 organ.
5. Panel reference: The Organ section NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x THE DRAWBARS The drawbars of Nord Electro 2 are represented by buttons and LED chain graphs instead of ordinary mechanical drawbars. This gives you a big advantage: when you change presets or Programs, the correct drawbar settings are recalled immediately and shown by the LEDs. In other words, no need for the regular ’trial and error’ method. It’s very easy to get the hang of changing the drawbar settings in a natural way with the buttons.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x USER DRAWBAR 5. Panel reference: The Organ section PRESETS There are 9 user configurable drawbar presets in addition to the 9 fixed ones described above. These are located on the LOWER DRAWBAR button row. Press SHIFT + the corresponding LOWER DRAWBAR button to select one of the nine user configurable presets. STORE YOUR OWN DRAWBAR PRESETS To store your own drawbar preset, do like this: 1.
5. Panel reference: The Organ section NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x VIBRATO The original B-3 chorus and vibrato scanner consists of a tapped delay line in combination with a rotating scanner. For the Vibrato effect, phase shift is applied to the signal. For the Chorus effect, the phase modulated signal is added to the original signal. A lot of time and effort have been spent in accurately recreating the chorus and vibrato scanner effect.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: The Organ section 3. Select the same MIDI channel on the Nord Electro 2 by first pressing SHIFT + PROGRAM 2 (LOWER CH) buttons and then scroll with the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons. Note: The MIDI channel set for reception of the additional MIDI keyboard should be different from the “public” MIDI Channel (see “MIDI Ch” on page 34).
5. Panel reference: The Organ section KEY NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x CLICK CONTROL On an original B-3 organ, the key click produced by the random contact bounces is actually an artifact. This artifact later became quite desirable an effect amongst musicians. In the Nord Electro 2 you can select the amount of key click that should be present in the organ sounds. The key click level is global for all organ sounds in the Nord Electro 2. 1. Hold down SHIFT and press the PROGRAM 8 button twice.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: The Piano section THE PIANO SECTION The Piano section of Nord Electro 2 comprises a selection of electromechanical pianos. Nord Electro 2 features a unique multi-sample playback, catching every nuance from soft to hard key strokes. Each piano instrument was carefully multisampled in a vast amount of velocity levels. That’s one of the reasons they all sound and feel so authentic.
5. Panel reference: The Piano section NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x PRESENCE The Presence section features a parametric EQ with frequency and amount controls. Use it if you’d like to amplify or attenuate frequency bands of the piano instruments. Activate and deactivate the Presence function by pressing the ON button and set the frequency to be amplified or attenuated with the FREQ knob. With the AMOUNT knob you set the amplification/attenuation in dB. Note that the Clavinet D6 instrument that comes with OS V2.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: The Piano section A Clavinet D6 has two separate pick-ups, one on the “neck” and one on the “bridge”. By selecting either one pick-up or both in different combinations you can alter the character of the sound quite drastically. On the Mega Clavinet sound, the AMOUNT knob works as the pick-up selector according to the figure below By turning the AMOUNT knob you select one of the four Clavinet D6 pick-up configurations.
5. Panel reference: The Effects section NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x tention was that when you play a Electric Piano sound, for example, it should almost feel like you are playing a Electric Piano. However, If you want the piano sounds to respond more easily to keyboard velocity, you can set this in the Config menu. The Velocity Sensitivity setting is global for all Pianos in the Electro 2. 1. Hold SHIFT and press the PROGRAM 8 (CONFIG) button four times. The DISPLAY reads ‘U.0’ (Velocity Sensitivity). 2.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: The Effects section • Rotary Speaker. Simulates a Leslie rotary speaker including its built-in amplifier • Treble & Bass EQ. Offers treble and bass amplification/attenuation In addition to the five sub groups there is also the OUTPUT LEVEL control for adjusting the output level of each of the Programs separately. MODULATIONS The Modulations section offers six different types of modulation.
5. Panel reference: The Effects section NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x TREMOLO Tremolo modulation is basically an automatic volume control that continuously varies the output signal volume. Tremolo is a commonly used modulation, especially on the Wurlitzer electric pianos. The filled curve indicates maximum AMOUNT value and the dashed curves indicate lower AMOUNT values. At zero AMOUNT value the output level is constantly at maximum level Use the RATE and AMOUNT knobs to control the Tremolo rate and depth.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: The Effects section EFFECTS Nord Electro 2 offers six types of vintage style effects to add that extra flavour to your sounds. Activate or deactivate the Effects section by pressing the ON button. PHASER 1&2 The phaser effect is a very characteristic “sweep” effect and is frequently used in all sorts of music. You control the rate of the phase shift with the RATE knob and the phase shift amount with the AMOUNT knob.
5. Panel reference: The left panel section NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x OUTPUT LEVEL The OUTPUT LEVEL knob controls the individual output volume for each Program. It’s fully programmable for each Program and sends/receives MIDI CC# 7 (Main Volume). Note: The Output Level is always active even if no other sub groups of the Effects section are active. TREBLE & BASS The last group of the effects section is a 2-band equalizer which features controls for bass and treble.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: System functions STORE The red STORE button is used for storing Programs and Drawbar presets and also for executing various system related operations. PROGRAM BUTTONS The PROGRAM buttons 1-8 are used for selecting Programs from the internal memory and also for accessing the different system functions described below.
5. Panel reference: System functions NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x MIDI CH Press the SHIFT + PROGRAM 1 (MIDI CH) buttons to enter the MIDI Channel function. Here you set the MIDI Channel for the Nord Electro 2 to send and respond to. Select MIDI Channel with the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons. Press any button (except for the SHIFT, STORE or UP/ DOWN buttons) to exit.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: System functions the Nord Electro 2’s MIDI In. Since the sequencer echoes back incoming MIDI data, Nord Electro 2 will respond normally to your playing and knob tweaking via the MIDI “loop”. If you use Local On in the sequencer setup described above, you will get double-notes when you play: from the keyboard internally and via the MIDI “loop”. This is not what you want. Therefore, always use Local Off together with sequencers.
5. Panel reference: System functions NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x TRANSPOSE The Transpose function is global for all sounds in Nord Electro 2, i.e. changing it will affect all Programs. Press SHIFT + PROGRAM 6 (TRANSPOSE) buttons. The DISPLAY reads ‘0’. Press the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons to transpose the sounds up or down in semitone steps. The range is +/- 6 semitones in steps of 1 semitone. Press any button (except for the SHIFT, STORE or UP/DOWN buttons) to exit.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: System functions 2. If you’re using two separate sustain pedals: one in the Sustain Pedal Input and one in the Rotor Speed Input you probably want to use the sustain pedal in the SUSTAIN PEDAL input for sustain also with Organ sounds. In this case, select ‘P.S’ (Pedal Sustain) with the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons. Exit by pressing any button (except for the SHIFT button).
5. Panel reference: System functions NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 3. Press any button (except for the SHIFT, STORE or UP/DOWN buttons) to exit. VELOCITY SENSITIVITY FOR THE PIANOS Some of the piano instruments sampled for the Nord Electro 2 have very wide dynamic ranges by nature and naturally we wanted to capture this as accurately as possible.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 5. Panel reference: System functions DUMP Press the SHIFT + LEFT OCTAVE SHIFT (DUMP) buttons to enter the Dump menu. Here you can perform a MIDI Sysex dump of the currently selected Program or of all Programs of the internal memory. You can also perform a dump of all MIDI Controllers for the selected Program. Select the type of dump to perform by pressing the UP/DOWN NAVIGATOR buttons.
6. Factory Presets and OS: Internal memory 6. FACTORY PRESETS NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x AND OS INTERNAL MEMORY The Operating System, Programs and Piano samples in Nord Electro 2 are stored in a so-called Flash memory. A Flash memory keeps the data also when the power is shut off. Another big advantage is that you can replace data in the Flash memory at any time.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 7. MIDI 7. MIDI functions: About the MIDI implementation FUNCTIONS ABOUT THE MIDI IMPLEMENTATION The following MIDI messages can be transmitted and received from Nord Electro 2: NOTE ON/OFF • Note On and Note Off messages are of course transmitted when you play the keyboard. If you use the OCTAVE SHIFT function (see “Octave Shift” on page 33), you can transpose the Nord Electro 2 keyboard ± 2 octaves (if the selected instrument supports this).
7. MIDI functions: Using Nord Electro 2 with a sequencer NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x MIDI SYSEX (SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE) Single Programs or all Programs can be transmitted and received as a System Exclusive dump (see “Dump” on page 39.). USING NORD ELECTRO 2 WITH A SEQUENCER CONNECTIONS 1. Connect the MIDI Out on the Nord Electro 2 to the MIDI In on your sequencer. 2. Connect the MIDI Out from your sequencer to the MIDI In on the Nord Electro 2.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 7. MIDI functions: Program and Controller dumps However, in our example this wouldn’t help much, because the Drawbar opening was the first Controller message recorded in the song. The sequencer has no information about the Drawbar setting before the recorded change, and therefore cannot “chase” the settings properly. To solve this, you could record a “snapshot” of all Controller settings of the Nord Electro 2 Program(s) at the beginning of your sequencer song.
7. MIDI functions: Program and Controller dumps NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x RECEIVE MIDI SYSEX DUMPS To receive a MIDI Sysex Dump, do like this: 1. Connect a cable from the MIDI Out on the transmitting device to MIDI IN on the Nord Electro 2. 2. Initiate the transmission on the transmitting device. If the dump contained all Programs (AL), it will replace all Programs currently stored in the Nord Electro 2.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 8. MIDI 8. MIDI implementation: MIDI Controller list IMPLEMENTATION MIDI CONTROLLER LIST The following is a list of the MIDI Controller numbers used for all KNOBS and BUTTONS on the front panel. All parameters use the entire control range 0-127. For BUTTONS and for some other parameters the range is divided into equally big “sections” depending on the number of states of the parameter.
8.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 8.
8. MIDI implementation: MIDI Implementation Chart NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART Model: Clavia Nord Electro 2 OS V2.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments 9. HISTORY THE STORY BEHIND THE ELECTRO 2 INSTRUMENTS The Nord Electro 2 is a stage keyboard focused on vintage instrument sounds -- specifically, sounds from popular electromechanical keyboards produced from the '50s to the '70s. These instruments are no longer in production, but they continue to play a remarkably important role in music today. In this chapter, we will focus on these instruments.
9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments THE ELECTRO 2 NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x ORGAN SECTION The organ chosen for the task to be simulated was a Hammond A-100. Except for its cabinet and the inclusion of a built-in sound system, the A-100 works the same as Hammond's almighty rock 'n' roll organ, the famous B-3. The Hammond organ was originally designed to be an alternative for churches instead of large acoustic pipe organs.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments Hammond filed a patent for the tone wheel organ in 1934, and one year later he introduced the first Hammond organ, the Model A. In the patent, Hammond catalogues the numerous objects that contribute to the complete design. He lists 29 different features. Among them you can find, for example, feature number 17, which states: "To provide an instrument of the type which is relatively light in weight and is portable.
9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x On the left-hand side of both manuals, Hammond tone wheel organs have one octave of reverse-colored keys. These don't trigger notes; instead, they call up preset drawbar settings. All tone wheel Hammonds have double manuals. What you see here isn't an original component on a Hammond organ; it's an add-on. It's the controller switch for the Leslie rotating speaker cabinet.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments Here is a picture of the inside of the Hammond tone wheel box. It's the basic design that elevated Hammond to the top of the organ manufacturer mountain. Each note on the Hammond corresponds to a tone wheel. Every tone wheel has it own pick-up comprising a magnet with a coil. The pitch of the sine wave generated by a tone wheel is determined by the number of notches on the edge of the wheel and the wheel's rotation speed.
9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments He filed a patent application in 1940. Don Leslie met with Hammond representatives that same year and gave them the opportunity to buy his invention, but they refused. Instead, he started his own company and launched the product into the market under the name "Vibratone." In 1946 the name was modified to "Leslie Vibratone". Finally, in 1949, The name “Vibratone” was dropped and the models where named only “Leslie” after its inventor.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments THE WURLITZER EP The next instrument to be sampled for the Nord Electro 2 is the Wurlitzer electric piano model 200. What became the Wurlitzer electric piano was originally designed by Benjamin Franklin Miessner, born in 1890. An American inventor who became involved with innovations in radio during his early years, Miessner designed an electro-acoustic instrument pick-up in 1921.
9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x The first electric piano released by Wurlitzer was the model 100, which came to the market in 1954. It was an instant success. The Wurlitzer Company realized the instrument's potential in music education and offered many special educational models.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x 9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments THE HOHNER CLAVINET The Clavinet is another story. It's based on strings and guitar pick-ups. Ernst Zacharias designed the Clavinet during the mid-'60s and filed his patent in 1966. Previously, Zacharias had designed an instrument called the Cembalet -- a keyboard that used accordion reeds as the tone source. This instrument was very popular at the time and was in production for ten years.
9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments Hohner unleashed the Clavinet C in 1968. This version features a slimmer design and better served the live keyboard player on stage. Its sales shot rockethigh. In 1971, the Clavinet D6 was launched. It became the most popular model. The D6 sported 15 different filter settings, four different microphone settings, and a mute function to dampen the strings. An improved internal string-dampening feature also reduced the acoustic feedback problem.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x BOOK 9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments SUGGESTIONS The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part One: A-M (Revised) & Part Two: N-Z, by Peter Forrest (Susurreal, Star House, Sandford, Crediton, Devon EX17 4LR, England; +44-1-363-774627; pforrest@mail.eclipse.co.uk; also available from Keyfax, www.keyfax.
9. History: The story behind the Electro 2 instruments Page 60 NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x Index Numerics 2nd, 3rd (Organ Percussion) 21 A Index download Programs via MIDI 18 Drawbar 20 presets 20 store your own... 21 user presets 21 Dump (Programs/Controllers) 39 E edit Bank selecting 12 Bass (eq) 32 buttons using 16 Programs 16 Effects section 28 El.
Index NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.
NORD ELECTRO 2 V3.0x R rear panel 9 E.Piano (Piano Type) 25 E.