Nord Micro Modular - Digital Spaghetti from the 90s [No Talking Demo]
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- Nord Micro Modular - Digital Spaghetti from the 90s [No Talking Demo]
Tonight I demo some patches from the Clavia Nord Micro Modular. Released in 1999, this really was an innovative synthesizer. It's limited to 4 voices, so you will see/hear some voice stealing taking place especially with patches with long release times.
I did use some reverb and delay in Ableton to make things sound a bit more enjoyable.
This synth I've owned for a few years but haven't really had a chance to dig into it. Well, tonight I start! I did do some playing around with it on a live stream some years ago, but nothing really useful to folks so I wanted to give it a proper audio demo video.
Most patches are factory patches, but I did have a go with some patching, I used a preset as a starting point, but created something totally new. This really makes me want to try to pick up the actual Nord Modular or the G2. Let me know what you think of the Nord Micro Modular!
00:00 - Intro
00:14 - E-Lead Marshal (Custom Patch)
01:13 - 4you
02:35 - Fiver
03:13 - didgeridoo2
03:59 - Random Bubbles
05:00 - Shaky VCF
06:40 - Classic S&H
07:35 - Compu Filter Pad
08:58 - Machiner
10:36 - Ramp Echo
11:20 - Patternoia
12:51 - RampantLFO2
14:04 - E-Lead Marshal (Custom Patch)
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Tags:
#NordMicroModular
#NordModular
#NordMicroModularDemo
#NordModularDemo
#NordMicroModularSounds
#Nord
#Synthesizer
#ModularSynthesizer
#ModularPatches
#ModularSounds
Note, the Nord Micro Modular does not have delay or reverb modules, I've used some in the box FX in Ableton to liven up the sounds a bit. Enjoy!
Some powerful & outworldly sounds there to say the least. Well done!
Many thanks, Dark Side!
Cool stuff! Awesome sounds! Liked!
Thanks, SyncdAlien!
Damn, superbad tones! Love all of this. Holy f”ck. Drop that beat! Very inspiring!
I had one of these dusty in the closet. and pulled it out. Inspiration. Thanks.
So presumably I can recall various patches from the box, each with different assignments for the four knobs, and it's capable of full polyphony?
What is this??! 😮
Never seen or heard it before. Daaang!
I've been tempted to buy one of these a few times but not bit. I did spend some brief time with the free g2 demo software that is still on the nord site and replicates a lot of this solely in software and that was interesting to play with - this video might tip me into buying one finally. Thanks Marshal.
That's awesome! Let me know if you end up picking one up. My only real complaint is that the Micro really doesn't have enough poly. Most patches really only get you 2 voices. If you can swing it pickup one of the big Brothers. This though really has a great tone, it has that Nord sound. Reminds me of a much better Lead 2x.
I think you won't regret getting one, soundwise and in terms of usability. It's still a great concept to upload patches to that little machine and then just use it, independently from a computer. I bought a used one in 2003 I think, it was about 300 Euros. The price is more or less the same today.
this is a factory library? or custom mod sounds? sounds very fat very tasty, tell me how? external DSP?
I know a couple albums from around '98-'99 that use the synth at the beginning of the video.
Man, it's been a while since I thought about the Nord Modular! This takes me back to the year 2000. In my opinion, it's one of the better-sounding VA synths of its time, and that modular softare interface is really cool! Due to its reliance on software, it's probably best suited for the studio. I've never used one, but I can imagine losing hours and hours just diving into that modular interface.
I think that's the best part about it. While the basic sounds may not all that amazing, the programming interface is unlike anything else of its time, and the creative possibilities are nearly endless. I'd love to get my hands on a rack version, although I hear that the G2 is even better.
Agreed, really quite innovative. The UI is really easy to understand and surprisingly it runs on modern Windows 10, with the exception of the built-in browser and the Help file. No USB, so no need to worry about outdated drivers either. The Micro is pretty affordable as well, however the 4voices aren't enough at all. I'll be looking to snag a rack modular or a G2 rack probably at some point, but for now this is quite fun. Also, the vocoder is really good. Will have another vid focusing on that specifically.
On the contrary, it is very suited for live sets, only way to reach a proper modular sound without a computer or hauling eurorack cases, plus you have 99 memory slots, Ive used it for ages to have nice evolving noodles to accompany the regular drum machines and synths live.
Is the software available for Mac and if is so is it compatible with Mac OS Sierra? I have the synth and never use it. I friend gave it to me!
I've heard it will work on Mac using Wine, but I'm a PC guy so I don't know for sure what version of Mac OS you'll need.
@@mroneil I'm on Catalina, and this software (the WINE port) is running smoothly: www.stage-engine.com/micro-modular-1
That software editor is dope! Probably revolutionary for its time too.
This little synth would work great for sci-fi soundtrack stuff.
So is it four oscillators? And then you can play one oscillator per-voice?
So it's 4 voice maximum, you could use as many oscillators (or any module) as the DSP can handle, which isn't a ton on this little guy, but depending on how much you push it, inevitably it loses voices fast. Most the patches I demoed were 2 voices 😭 I need to buy the bigger brothers to this to really get the full impact experience. Those can go up to 32 voices. But, the main reason I scooped this up a few years ago was the Vocoder, it's awesome! Video on that is in the the works 👍😁
It's actually not limited to 4 voices, I've made pads on the micromodular with even 11 voices, just depends on how much dsp you use,, of course the more modules you use the less voices you get, but voices depend on how much patch dsp is being used and can be more than 4 voices for sure, try just using a simple square oscillator, going to a simple adsr and turn up requested voices, you will notice you can get more than 4 voices on the micro, the full size nord modulars have 4 dsp chips instead of just 1 like the micro has, I think that's where people get the number 4 for voices idea.
Wow, thanks for this. I remember years ago I was GASsing for one badly, but couldn't afford it. Now I can afford it, but not sure it will fit my setup and workflow.
It's pretty cool, but 4 voices on the Micro really end up only being 2 with a lot of patches. I really want a rack G2 :)
@@MarshalArnold Still this is probably the most successful marriage of HW and SW worlds out there still. I wonder why they didn't take it to the new level with the modern DSP's
Where I can get tons of patches for the Micro Modular? Thanks
What midi interface(s) did you use? The Edirol midi interface I used to use with mine no longer works on modern Windows. I'd love to get NM running again. Thanks.
Still alive..🤔. Is a possible to build a nord lead module on this hardware?
The sounds are cool as well. Would be also nice to hear your thoughts on using this thing in 2021 ) Like - does the software run on Win10 for example.
For sure! Am working on a Vocoder demo also, I'll probably touch on some comments in that vid. But, the software does indeed run on Windows 10, though things like the help file and the built-in browser don't, for obvious reasons, though all of the core features and functions needed to patch and all that still work fine on modern PCs.
Hello! Im coming from your reason 3 video. Is theres a way to get reason 3 free, or i have to pay it? And where i can buy it? (I prefer to download free because of my country) thanks!
Honestly, I would not know where to get it if it existed online. My copy was purchased new at a guitar center by me many years ago. I would recommend try to picking up a hard copy VS looking for an online bootleg.
@@MarshalArnold Well yeah i tried to search in piratebay and others. But anyway thank you i will try again to find it
is midi also routed through the interface or its somehow direct?
So there's 2 sets of MIDI ports on this synth, one set I'm using a MIO MIDI to USB dongle, that connects to my PC and is how the software is able to connect to the synth. The other set of MIDI ports on the Synth also connect to a MIO and am using routing in Ableton to control note on/off with the Keystep. I could have connected the MIDI IO direct to the Keystep however. Hope that helps.
@@MarshalArnold yes. I was curious if there is a way to use it (or any other device with midi i/o ports) bypassing the daw/host... I myself have this little machine, but have not used it since years:) thanks for a quick reply! think I'm gonna pick out 99 patches I like best for it, map main parameters to the knobs and use it as a standalone synth/fx box for occasional fun... there is a big amount of self generating patches in the user database too. PS Should grab a MIO midi2usb for myself as well... thanks for the hints!
What editor is it? It works under MacOs?
Official Nord editor
Baby steps into eurorack.. babysteps.. ;p
Lol thought you'd be proud of me ha! 🤣
@@MarshalArnold Yeah dude. That software editor is like a primitive VCV rack. You're halfway there already. Better delete it and never use it again just in case. And maybe call an exorcist just to be sure. Don't want to end up with a wall of eurorack and wondering what happened.
@@impurfekt lol totally! 🤣
He doesn't know it yet but he's about to order $2M worth of patch cables and won't touch a softsynth till 2025.
@@impurfekt The exorcist is probably busy trying to untangle himself from the spaghetti monster he found in Marshal's room ;)
That's pretty nostalgiac XD
Your intro sound here is very Aeon Flux 7:46
Ah yeah, I see that! The intro is from the patch at 7:40. Is a pretty cool sounding synth!
Когда то был хорош, сейчас уже не догонит и вст-синты