Nord Wave 2 Performance Synthesizer In-Depth Review - Their Most Powerful Synth Yet!

[@AndertonsKeyboardDept]

↪️ Episode Guide ↩️ » Intro (0:00) » Init Patch (1:30) » Basic Osc's (2:10) » Shape Osc's (2:43) » Shape Sine Osc's (3:55) » Multiwave Osc's (4:55) » Waterfall Keybed (5:54) » Superwave Osc's (6:15) » Noise (6:45) » Wavetables (7:07) » FM Synthesis (8:08) » Samples (9:56) » Osc Mod Env (11:49) » Filter Section (12.44) » Amp Env (14:42) » Transient Control (15:05) » LFO Section (16:47) » Arpeggiator (19:08) » Master Clock (23:29) » Voice Modes (26:02) » Pitch Bend (26:40) » Mod Wheel (27:52) » KB Hold (29:22) » Global Function (30:59) » Layer Panel (31:10) » Adding & Editing Layers (31:35) » Panning Layers (32:32) » Splitting Layers (33:15) » Building a Patch (36:12) » Morph Section (37:02) » Aftertouch (37:26 » Group Function (39:25) » Delay (40:00) » Reverb (44:55) » FX & EQ (49:31) » Conclusions (51:34) » Impulse Morph! (53:00) » Outro (53:35)

[@matthewwhitaker4849]

Just got my Wave 2 today! As someone who is blind, I love the fact that there's no touch screen and everything is one to one. Now to just remember where things are located physically and I should be fine. Love this video! Keep up the amazing work.

[@Cyprusg21]

Just ordered a Nord Piano 4 because of your Nord demos Jack. It may be the end of the world but man I'm going to sound good before I go.

[@AndertonsKeyboardDept]

Glad to help with your purchase choice... Enjoy! 🤘

[@jackduxbury1632]

Glenn my Man, thank you for the kind comment mate. Really hope you're digging the NP4, stunning sounding bit of kit of kit indeed Sir, wishing you all the best, Jack X

[@cmath8577]

Purchased one today. Probably the best well rounded all around blend of everything

[@johngreen3704]

Got my Wave 2 last week. A great big thanx to Jack for providing such great insight into this keyboard. This is the second Nord this year I’ve got from Andertons I come back to you guys because I get a good honest & in depth appraisal from Jack.

[@benedictjohnson2176]

The best thing about this Nord is that the filter envelope amount knob has full range with an invert button! So many synths only provide a half-and-half range on their envelope amount knobs (including on my Stage 2). This is the kind of luxury we’re paying for : )

[@MRFThorne]

The first "full length" video presentation of the Nord Wave 2 I've seen - you've answered some of my questions about it, without realising! Yes, it is certainly impressive. Much obliged!!

[@ghostkilla092]

I started looking into this synth today and you magically uploaded just the video I needed. Thanks for the hard work this was very very informative.

[@soundvapor]

Thanks for the long over due deep dive into this synth Jack! Fantastic, definitely multiple synths in one unit!!!

[@AndertonsKeyboardDept]

Glad you enjoyed the video... Thanks for tuning in! 🤘

[@TH-gu4wj]

This is a fantastic demo. Thanks for taking the time.

[@stevemalu6780]

Jack, I have followed you for a while now. Let me just say this. You're the only one that I trusted when it comes to keyboard reviews. I bought a few boards after I watched them and listen to your take on them. Thank you for all your time spent explaining it clearly to us. keep doing what you do! and thank you for entertaining us while in lockdown. Cheers mate!

[@jackduxbury1632]

Oh Maaaaaan, thank you Steve 🙏 Really appreciate your kind words mate and support Brother. Sending a big digital man hug 🤗

[@obwanz1921]

Thanks Jack! Great review as usual, and it took me to a much happier place for about an hour! Stay safe my brother! 👍

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

I love my Nord Lead A1 ❤ but this is sensational!

[@obwanz1921]

Killer! Nice widdling! Widdler on the roof. Bette widdler! 😆 great video as per usual Jack!

[@martinjmusic]

Finally the first proper review and it’s really the best!! 🎹

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Loved it all...thanx Jackplug Duckingworth and Taytay

[@derekbaker3279]

Great job! 👏 In terms of demonstrating & explaining the details re: the Nord Wave 2's functions, flexibility, and ergonomics, you filled in a large part of the copious amounts of empty space that existed. You demonstrated a lot of the options this keyboard offers without overwhelming the viewer. I finished watching this vid feeling inspired, not intimidated. Kudos! 🖒🖒 All that remains for a full overview is giving us an opportunity to hear just how good it sounds, which is - of course - the most important question. With this in mind, it would be awesome if you went beyond the presets & programmed some patches yourself to demonstrate just how reasonable of a job the synth can do with emulating iconic vintage & modern analogue synths, e.g. well-known pads, basses & leads from the Prophet 5, OB-Xa, Minimoog, PPG Wave 2.2, Juno 6, Jupiter 8, and so on. While I enjoy sound design & mucking about with writing songs, I mainly gig. So, for me, if the Nord Wave 2 cannot do a great job emulating signature sounds from iconic synths (either via designing from scratch or starting from a quality sample), then all the functions, ability to be configured, layering, etc., etc will be moot. Looking forward to your next demo. Stay safe & healthy! Cheers ☺

[@browe]

Thanks much - this was so helpful! I'm a long time Nord owner and was excited when Wave 2 was announced. Demos up to this point, however, were just disappointing 😩Your thorough coverage here was the first time I've seen anyone really dig into this thing and highlight what makes it interesting. Cheers.

[@geirnordheim6986]

Brian Rowe I very much agree 😊 Finally a great demo. Coockos FM video was an inspiration too, but too short. I have a nord wave 2 coming next week, and this video was just what I needed. I’ll watch it again tomorrow. Great work!

[@fburton8]

Will you be reviewing the Nord Stream 2?

[@Helvanic]

Hey mate, do you ship worldwide (or at least my country: France) ? Because I want to buy from you from now on. You've provided some much needed information and I feel like that's my only way of thanking you for it.

[@PsytoxKoma]

Nord Wave 2: I'm the most powerful Clavia synth yet! Nord Modular G2X: Hold my beer

[@janedman]

nice revuiw and now waiting for next test to here the patches:-)

[@NordWaveTime]

Hello, I realy enjoyed the video and it helped me with my Nord wave 2. I make Videos with my Nord wave 2 and the Korg Pa 700 now. 😁😁

[@japnapmap]

Nice video! hope someone will import this thing to my country soon. It's really nice sounding synth!

[@tom221263]

Thanks for your reviews etc.....waiting for my Wave 2 Mid of April.......Greetz from Germany

[@harperlambrecht]

Nice review guys👍🏻👍🏻🙏🙏

[@anthonyprice5596]

I can't play the keyboard, or piano, but your playing is brilliant, where can we see you just playing? You do little snippets but where can I find a peice of your music. Ace reveiw.

[@geoffwebber8272]

you could try this one.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zl6zlX6od61pa6s or this one ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4Wci36tncZspNk

[@bhaveshmistry3255]

Nice review! Just curious to know about the Live mode. How many sounds I can save in live mode?

[@juliodavidcanoarias3527]

Really thankyou for this video, you help us pianists really much!

[@getitcaptured]

Hi!Jack How does the wave 2 stack up again the JunoX... are you able to "cover" Roland sounds on the Nord?

[@tonyjones6256]

Thorough demo - can't afford it but appreciate the effort!

[@jackduxbury1632]

Thanks for stopping by Tony, me neither!! Xx

[@alexandrosroussos]

Thanks for the detailed review, I have a question about this as a MIDI controller : When in split mode, can we send the MIDI notes of one of the parts to an external synth/sound module while still being able to play the Nord on the other part ? The idea is to have this as main keyboard but being able to play another synth at the same time with it by assigning one of the parts to the appropriate MIDI out channel.

[@MrStevo955]

bro that chord at 13:00 was so evil I got scared in my room with the lights off😂😂

[@Music-qx3tr]

♥Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech

[@VinceVega303]

I enjoy your presentation style and always make Anderton's my first port of call for shopping! well done!

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Why would you get the wave 2 over a stage 3? My understanding is that both have 3.0 sample support and both can process through their onboard synths. A1 engine vs wave engine I fuse ? Would love your input

[@jackduxbury1632]

Hi Derek, interesting question. Looking past the Big Elephant in the room (Piano's and Organ Sounds) and just at layering synths and samples the New Wave can let you stack/split 4 engines on top of each other compared to the Stage 3's limit of 2. Really going after two different players and fulfilling different musical purposes I reckon. Hope that helps and thanks for watching X

[@untamedgorealist]

Bruhhhhhhhh 🔥🔥🔥

[@666JGNotts]

cheers mate great video

[@jackduxbury1632]

No problem, thanks for watching my waffle and for the kind words X

[@666JGNotts]

@@jackduxbury1632 LOL. An in-depth demonstration of this synth is exactly what I was wanting. Other videos have shown the presets available but none that I've seen so far have given me such insight as to what this synth is capable of. The only problem is that you've made me want to buy one :)

[@scothinckley]

The maestro is back.

[@thoreenmusic]

Jack you totally rocked this review, you are a bitchin' piano player and hands down have given the best tour of this crazy machine on the web! I've been a bassist primarily for 20+ years, but in the last couple years I've rekindled my interest in piano and especially synths. I'm currently having long terrible internal debates on what to get for my 1st polysynth given the overwhelming number of options out there. Currently my setup is a Subsequent 37, DFAM, Mother 32, Roland TR8, Beatstep Pro and a 2002 Roland FP3 for piano sounds, but still probably my favorite keybed. I'm working on trying out doing solo performance stuff for the first time (mainly just for fun and therapy, I work as a nurse which has been a little intense lately). I do a weird combo of lounge style covers and originals interlaced with ambient/EDM sort of stuff to mix things up. Obviously won't be playing gigs anytime soon, but can at least stream. My question for you good sir, or anyone else here for that matter, is to help direct me to a good fit/complimentary polysynth or just the pros and cons of my options. I've narrowed it down to a Matriarch (I know its 4 voice paraphonic, but it sounds ridiculous and I'm madly in love with Moog), Novation Summit, Hydrasynth, Prophet X, and just now the Nord Wave 2. The Wave 2 really grabs me for many reasons, but especially that you can get decent piano sounds out of it, or just load your own samples, which should eliminate some gear to lug around and still have what sounds like a great keybed. Sorry for my long post but this review got me pretty excited, and yes I watched it all. Thank you for your work and take care!

[@MrStevo955]

youre hilarious man love these reviews

[@tombasports]

Can you bring up 4 samples? Or is it only one sample and then three synth parts? Can every part be just samples?

[@christianyi3848]

How is the action on this? What kind of action is on this?

[@markb716]

I would like to know if you had to buy either the Nord Wave 2 or the Roland Jupiter X, which one you would go for..??

[@jackduxbury1632]

Oh shiiii! Hi Mark, thanks so much for watching mate and for the question. Personally I'd go for the Nord every day. It's just that I love the Nord Sample Library and its so fun using them with traditional subtractive synthesis and effects in hardware. All my best wishes to you Sir X

[@markb716]

Cheers for the response Jack and my Nord Wave 2 was delivered yesterday - couldn't agree with you more - heaps better than the Jupiter X..!! Great channel BTW 🤜🤛

[@jackduxbury1632]

Awesome news, glad you're digging it Mark. Thanks for the kind words mate, enjoy having schwang on that beautiful new board of yours Sir!! X

[@nexussky4135]

Ok Jack. Moment of truth: In terms of sound quality and sonic capabilities: Nord Wave 2 or Summit?

[@jackduxbury1632]

Ooooh, that’s a good VS!! Tough to say from memory

[@brianvanhaaren2713]

ok so maybe I do need a Wave 2 added to my Nords (NL2X and NE2.) I love when I see a video and at the start I think "naah, not for me" and at the end I go "damn I need that right now" Thanks Jack, great stuff as always

[@robydeep]

Great video, thank you, still shame they didn't provide a simple midi thru port, it will cost them few bucks to open a ton of new possibilities to implement the synth to the chain with other synths.

[@dirkkeersmaekers4343]

A PC4 i have now,and i was planning a JP-X but now i'm not sure with this demo.

[@TheGuacamoleXplosion]

Miles Davis has been Rickrolled?

[@jackduxbury1632]

You knows it!! X

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Can each part have the same engine going? For example can each of the four parts all be on the sample engine or is each engine limited to one part?

[@jackduxbury1632]

Hi Everett, yes they can Sir, thanks for stopping by X

[@ruudvincent6078]

No comments about the size of the keybed. I played one in a store and saw that the keys were a bit smaller compared to the keys of the Nord 2x. Didn't feel nice . Why. Such a pitty.

[@jelnet]

Will someone talking about this keyboard please just explain what a freekin waterfall keyboard is...

[@jackduxbury1632]

Hi Jeremy, it’s going after the feel of Hammond Organ keys. Not weighted, slightly “dumpier” and more square than standard piano or synth keys with more rounded edges. That’s how they feel to me anyways. They’re essentially in between a synth and piano I reckon 🎹 Hope that helps Brother X

[@digitaldiezel5870]

I don’t know Jack, looks like you had to earn your pay with this one. You saved the best stuff for the end though! You should have started with that! Lol

[@karstenvangijzen5117]

Fantastic demo! How many choir samples are there in the Nord Wave 2? I read that there are 400 programs. Does that mean 400 factory presets? And what about space for user presets?

[@jackduxbury1632]

Hey Karsten, thanks for even attempting to sit through any of this really appreciate the kind comment. There a few in there but what's great is that you can add as many as you'd like in to the 1gb wave rom (quite a lot as the Nord compression algorithm works wonders on shrinking files without audible loss) All of the 400 odd patches can be overwrtten but the last few letter banks are blank ready to get cracking so plenty of room for creation and storage Sir. Thanks again X

[@karstenvangijzen5117]

@@jackduxbury1632 Thanks for the info Jack. Love your video's. Keep up the good work!

[@IAmR1ch]

Not very impressed with the Nord Wave 2.. Your presentation was great, impressive. The OSC wave shape all sound the same. They sound like they are going through a filter. Some sound like they change octave as well. I thought this was going to be great stuff but I was not impressed. When the VFX-SD came out with transwave there were some waves that would way more interesting that anything you played on the Nord. I turned it on to make sure and the tanswaves like inharmonic-x, spectral-x, omega-x all had huge shifts in harmonic content compared to the Nord wave and multiwave shapes you played. Now maybe you didn't play all the possibilities but all the ones you played sounded thin and like it was a filter filtering out harmonics just like a normal filter would. Some of the other features of this synth are pretty impressive but the most important thing.. the sounds are not that great /different in the wave shaping area. The VFx does not have a filter but it is ages old. I think hardware keyboards may be a thing of the past for studio (performance the Nord is a good offering.. VST's are doing a pretty good job now days,

[@robertlynch7520]

It is just SUCH a pity… That on the right hand-side, in that big blank red space, that there isn't a 10 key pad, (plus a 'store' button, hit twice … once to enable store, then a PAIR of digits, then 'store' again, to actually confirm the save). 99 memories. Lemme tell the developers: once you get used to your keyboard, and you 'find' a lot of cool sounds, you want to be able to pull them back instantly during performance. And a big, usefully lit 10-key keyboard is just the ticket. Heck… add a 12th key: 'performance'. 10 performances. Default '1'. Something you'll eventually need as you get more sophisticated in the performance mix. I'd use '1' most of the time, but I'm pretty sure I'd use '2' for playing 1960s-1970s rock-a-billy, and '3' for Gospel at services. A blue 7-segment digit for 'performance' and 2 red ones for the memory number. Just saying. Maybe $20 worth of raw materials, turning this thing into a LIVE performance beast. Sheesh. Why, NORD, why? Mmmm… I could see utility in a > and < button, to step to the next program. Faster … during performance, to just get to the next program. Or back 3 when needed. Rather than typing in 33, 34, 35, 36 then 33. Or, maybe not. Dunno. As long as the buttons are a DIFFERENT COLOR, under weird stage lighting, it'd be useful. In the manual, include a 'best practices' section that tells the user the benefit of using double-numbers as the beginning of a performance patch list. 22, 66, 33, 11, and so on. FAST to type in, especially with BACKLIT numbers. BIG numbers. BIG buttons. Because when you're jamming, big-but-not-too-ridiculous is helpful. Yah know? Thinking really inside-the-outer-box. ⋅-=≡ GoatGuy ✓ ≡=-⋅

[@charlescowper]

Hello is it possible to set each layer on a different midi channel? Thanks.

[@perruschke6691]

For sure!

[@hkstudio6617]

What synth sound in the intro ?

[@carljshoemaker5555]

Sure is a Purdy, sharp looking instrument

[@a-bass-player]

Seems to be the synth engine of the stage - right?

[@angelparedes9967]

What is the price 😅

[@roman13rooms]

Finally )

[@sivrisayzir]

Again, it should be 49.. it has not the original nord wave 1 soul with 61 imo.i hope they will make 49 key and ultralight weight like wave 1. Great video btw !

[@cwelchgrapes]

Can you do a comparison of the Nord wave 2 and roland Jupiter x

[@MakeMagic]

I have both. The Nord is much MUCH more user friendly. It so FAST and intuitive to do multi layered sound design with compared to the Jupiter. The samples in the Nord are also arguably higher quality and more modern than the equivalent tones in the 5080 section of the Jupiter. The Jupiter covers some alternative bases though so it'd be hard for me to decide between them. The Jupiter feels more like a connected integrated full studio vst device inside its own pretty enclosure, the Nord feels like a quicker and slightly dirtier performance device you take on tour with you. I am finding myself using the Nord more and more due to the great UI.

[@gerdbc9076]

mick and dans hat?

[@jackduxbury1632]

You knows it!! #thatpedalshow4lyfe ;) First person to ever spot it - thanks for watching and commenting Sir, wishing you all the best X

[@modro_haluska.3749]

I'm thinking about buying this keyboard but I don't know if you can use the piano without a laptop

[@Slaveknight_gael]

I wonder what it's like to live in a rich country...

[@EverettDudgeon138]

I just wish it had a synth action keybed instead of waterfall action.

[@RayyMusik]

EverettDudgeon138 Waterfall is no kind of action but the shape of the keys ends. I‘ve never understood why synths typically have those dust traps under the keys.

[@EverettDudgeon138]

@@RayyMusik Regardless, I hate this keybed.

[@RayyMusik]

I often play midi‘d synths from my organ with a waterfall Fatar TP/8O with lighter springs. No problem. The velocity response is good; the only con is the lack of aftertouch.

[@florif3792]

voice is too loud compared with the synth sound!

[@edjar10]

Nordwave or jupiter-x?

[@jackduxbury1632]

Nordwave for me 😬

[@dejangaletic7884]

Nice commercials, you must be rich by now 😂

[@TaeglicheNarzisst]

🥨🧀

[@douglascloud4484]

worst demo ever, come on show us some pleasant tune.

[@wakerickman]

wouldnt buy this in a billion years, as a live player i require at least 2 rows of 10 quick patch/perfomace selector buttons. cant understand why so many manufacturers of keyboards omit such, deal breaking for me, patch selection buttons

[@SPAZZOID100]

?????

[@wakerickman]

@unarmed blackman i give you that. cheers.

[@modalmixture]

I know your comment is old, but just so people know - on the Stage 3, you can use the five buttons under the program screen to dial in the bank and patch with three button presses. There is also a song mode that lets you group 5 patches so that they can be activated with one press. I assume it’s the same on the Wave 2.

[@wakerickman]

@@modalmixture ok so i get your point that there is some sort of limited patch selection buttons on the nord wave , but doesnt come even remotely close too my FA06 which has patch/perf favorites of 10 banks of 10 and each favorite can have 16 sounds split/layerd within each favorite.i believe that only roland have this arrangement which is on many of there keyboards. also many analoge keyboards only hav a rotery dial to select patches which for me is the hight of bad design. any way good conversing with you. cheers.

[@frankschneider7190]

poor demonstration

[@jackduxbury1632]

Thanks for letting me know Frank 🙏🏻

[@sinwithsebastian]

Worst presenter ever - Totally unorganised random ramblings

[@jackduxbury1632]

Thanks for letting me know Sin 🙏🏻

[@jackduxbury1632]

I just clicked through to your channel. Loved it! I used to be a massive fan of a show here in the UK called Eurotrash.

[@soundvapor]

@@jackduxbury1632 I can never get enough of your comedy....nice 😂 burn Jack...with a message from our sponsor....😳kzbin.info8fZn1Pjb2Pc?feature=share

[@theclaverman]

I disagree with you.I honestly think this is still the best walkthrough of the Wave 2 on KZbin at the moment…

[@MeAlexSenna]

Great synth, terrible host, Huge Thumbs down 👎

[@UcPhotos.Online]

Thanks for the information better than reading the F… manual, much appreciated jack !!!

[@Music-op3kx]

♥Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech