Nord Lead 2 Program Slots C&D Make No Sound!!!

theabtheory · Joined: Jul 09, 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Austin, Texas

Okay, I'm going insane right now. I just dealt with the biggest pain the arse ebay deal EVER! But, I kept my cool, because it was all going to worth it to get my Nord Lead 2. I am writing for the following reason:

Okay, so as far as I can tell the Nord Lead 2 is excellent. However, program slots C and D make no sound at all when I have my studio headphones plugged into the headphone jack. A works. B works. No C program makes any sound whatsoever. And no D program makes any sound whatsoever. Weird thing is that if I disconnect my headphones from the headphone jack and plug them into the Slot C/D out, Program Slots C and D work (only in the left ear though due to them being Mono I assume). It's like the keys aren't registering with Program slots C and D though. I know the sound work though, and everything else works (as far as I can tell) flawlessly.

Maybe I am a completely n00b. I really hope that is the case to be honest, as I got a GREAT deal on this synth. However, if they don't work then I'll know why I got such a good deal. The seller specified that EVERYTHING worked great electronically though.

I have spent about 2-3 hours reading everything on this forum and reading the Manual front to back trying to figure out the problem.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP! Thank you!!

Wout Blommers · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject:

Try [Shift+(2x)SlotB > Outmode=*.cd] ?[2.cd] or [4.cd?]
Scroll (Up&Down arrows) to [-.cd]
Hope it helps...

Wout

This formula of an ancient curse also changes the seller into a dyslectic blue frog... Wink

theabtheory · Joined: Jul 09, 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Austin, Texas

You, sir, are a life saver. I knew it had something to do with that, as I was messing with it earlier. I just had no idea you could use the arrow keys to change things up though. What exactly is the -cd called, and why did the help? Thanks so much! It is insanely appreciated! (Looks like the deal was definitely well worth it!)

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:44 am Post subject:

Oops, I forgot welcome

theabtheory Embarassed

theabtheory · Joined: Jul 09, 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Austin, Texas

Haha, thanks!

Okay, so I've been playing with the synth a lot more. The manual says (in headphones and when plugged into your sound equipment) you should use -cd mode. I'm a bit confused, however...Does that mean there are only 2 Program slots of sounds (A and B)? Are C and D supposed to be different slots of sounds or the exact same as A and B? The reason I ask is because the manual said to think of A, B, C, and D as four separate synths. What exactly do they mean by that then?

Also, what exactly do cd1,2,3&4 mean and when (if ever) will I want to use them?

Sorry for all of the questions. Your help is greatly appreciated though. Thanks so much.

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:52 am Post subject:

I'm not at my own computer at the moment, so when I get home I'll try to explain.

Wout

theabtheory · Joined: Jul 09, 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Austin, Texas

Thanks. Please do that! Also, is it okay for me to assume that my Nord Lead 2 is in good condition then?

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject:

It’s best to look at the NordLead/Rack2(X) as 16 (20) mono synthesizers under one hood: the Voices. In fact it is the way a digital synth works. These synths are grouped in 4 Slots (A,B,C and D) producing the same sound. And last but not least there are 4 different physical Outputs, which are also named A, B, C and D, just to get some confusion...

When only one lot is active (LED is lit and blinking) and one key is pressed, the first synth (which I will call Voice from now) is sounding. The algorithm is calculated, changed into a analogue signal (DC-converter) and send to an Output. This Output has to be connected to a mixing desk and is send to the amplifier/speaker combination. When a second key is pressed the same thing is happening to the second Voice, and so on. Using the Arpeggiator and only one key, the synth will play all 16 (20) voices and will start from the beginning again.

Slots are loaded with Programs, which is the setting and routing values of the parameters, in short: a sound. Activating two Slots and playing one key, two sounds are heard, so also 2 Voices are used.

All 4 Slots activated means 4 sounds will be there. Using 16 Voices, each sound can use 4 keys (trigger and pitch) or also known as 4 Voices polyphony.

Unison means two Voices will be triggered at once in the same Slot, only there is a little delay and some detuning. Also each Voice will be physical directed to a different Output, which could be called stereo. Note, Unison can be chosen for each Slot or not, which results in a different amount of Voices available.

Which brings the story to the physical outputs. There are 4 of them, in a way split into A+B and C+D. These physical outputs can be set in different modes. First it is important to realize the setting [-.cd] means Slot C and D will act the same as Slot A and B. If the latter will be directed to Output A and B, Slot C and D will also be directed to these two outputs. Are A+B working in [3.Ab] Slot C and D will do this also to the same physical outputs.

The Output mode is perhaps the most difficult thing in the NordLead and therefor probably the most not-used feature. When set in [1.Ab] the synths works just mono. When activate alone Slot A will produce the same signal on Output A and B. The same will happen to Slot B, so the two signals will be mono at both output A and B. Interesting? Sure! One can construct a heavy mono lead sound with a lot of FineTune beating or Unison-like effect. It isn’t called for nothing… Or when Slot B has the same Program loaded as Slot A and the later is set to Unison, there are three signals: left+middle+right. The next mode [2.Ab] provides a very strong mono sound, also in Unison and all 4 Slots can be used, although 2 will do the job. Just create here these fat and raw lead lines sounds Put the Voice mode also to mono and add some Portamento.The most annoying output mode is [3.Ab]… That ping-pong thingy, who ever invented that!!! Well, those guys are millionaire now! Using Unison smashes the number of Voices, so don’t use Unison, special when chords are needed! Different Voices, triggered by different keys (notes), have different pitch. So the first note of the cord at the left, the second on the right and-so-on. The chord will be exploded over the stereo channels. When feed in different channels on the mixing desk the stereo image can be changed. Again use the FineTune and also Pulse Width Modulation (LFO1) to create an Unison like effect, and there are beautiful chords without the loss of Voices. But never play a lead melody line using this! Output mode [4.Ab] is ideal to use in 4 different inputs on the mixing desk.

Another issue about the physical outputs is the use of a Splitt keyboard, if you are playing a NordLead2(X). To create a good mix [-.cd] isn’t the thing to use then…
Of course these things have an important role in the performance mode, in which all these things can be saved. The thing is, left out the Nordlead2X, the Leads can’t save Performances other then on PCMCIA cards, which aren’t available anymore… Almost NOWHERE…

And then there is Percussion mode. But that’s a complete different story!!! Just keep in mind Percussion mode provide 8 very limited synthesizers in one Slot, which means 32 mono synthesizer in total (Only half of them can play at the same moment, at the most).

And to keep you awake every night: there is an Arpeggiator too!

Wout

theabtheory · Joined: Jul 09, 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Austin, Texas

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I'm definitely going to have to read that one a few times (and, trust me, I will...) to even begin to understand everything you just wrote...

In the simplest words possible, can you help me out with these questions:

1) Am I to assume that my synth is, in fact, working well then?

2) Okay, so there aren't supposed to be 396 different sounds preset that I can change/mofify and save for my live performances? (99 in each program slot.) There are only 198? (All of the 99 sounds (minus drums) in each Slot A and Slot B?)

3) And, if that is the case, that means during my live shows I can basically only switch between A and B slots to get my different pre-saved synth sounds. (As in, during a song if I have 2 synths I want to use at different times, I'm always going to be swtiching from Slot A and Slot B (never C and D)- going from Sound 83 on Slot A to Sound 34 on Slot B?

4) Am I making any sense ("synths" if you have a lisp and like puns...)? I'm a complete rookie at this whole synth thing...

Again, thank you so much for all of your help. It is very much appreciated.

(EDIT: I just realized that A,B,C,D all produce the exact same sounds, which means I'm utterly confused now...haha....Can I completely modify any of these sounds? When would I ever need to switch to, say, B, C, or D live now, especially if they will just be the exact same sounds? Thanks...)

(EDIT AGAIN: I just realized that even when I modify the sounds, they don't save when I turn the synth off...So what exactly is the use of of the Programs if I cant save the sounds I create? What do I use to create/save my sounds for my live performances?)

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

There is one thing you have to realize: this is quite an old design, dating from the beginning of the 1990, so in fact almost 20 years old!!!