Nord Wave 2 - Tutorial #1

Hello, here's a tutorial to get going with the Nordwave 2, and to understand a bit more of how to design your own sounds.
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[@RedMeansRecording]

This called for the BIG mirror

[@truecuckoo]

Big synth. Big mirror! ❤️

[@codydylan6042]

Pro trick: watch movies at Flixzone. I've been using it for watching a lot of movies lately.

[@valentinokayden6964]

@Cody Dylan yup, I have been watching on flixzone} for years myself :D

[@geoffreyscott4187]

One of the best tutorials on sound design with the Nord Wave 2 on KZbin honestly. And I’ve searched…!!!

[@truecuckoo]

THank you so much Geoffrey! Glad you found it!

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

Yes, Nord synths are awesome, but when the music comes out of Cuckoo's fingers it is doubly awesome. Happy Spring😀

[@HBCrigs]

Hi cuckoo, you help me sleep at night when I'm stressed out 😊 thank you for being lovely

[@truecuckoo]

🙏🏼

[@jupitermarx]

Just picked mine up! I half to say, just watching you for 5 mins ,…I’ve already learned more than other videos combined!!!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻what a great service your providing your audience!! Your a great teacher!!

[@kylew706]

I’ve watched the first 10 seconds of this video on repeat 😂😂 I can’t get enough of those sounds effects

[@ToyKeeper]

With such a versatile instrument, what's really on display here is Cuckoo's imagination. The synth is basically just a blank canvas and a bunch of paints. It's nice, but what makes it interesting is the person holding the paintbrush.

[@xXg4m3r.g1r1Xx]

You're one of my favorite people of all time, I don't even have a Nord but I am happy to be here with you buddy

[@g3cd]

Wow, I just got myself a Nord Drum and I already love how much fun it is and how easily you can create your own weird sounds. And now you give me an idea what to waste another two and a half grand on (that I don't have). Nord does awesome stuff, I'm pretty much convinced of that now!

[@downpatmusic]

Nice tutorial. Thank you. It's like the Korg Wave State with the 4 layers. And it's like the Prophet X with the combination of samples and synth waveforms. The Nord though has 48 voices vrs the 16 voices on the Prophet X. While the Prophet X has 50GB of user sample storage memory while the Nord has 1 GB only. So Nord has the voices and PX has the sample memory. With new Nord lower pricing this synth would be my choice. The Poly chord arp, and effects make it very useable in a pop application. I like the sound.

[@kinnectar820]

Straight to a "Cuckoo" signature sound with the synth. Your sound design voice is very distinct. Now we have the secret sauce!

[@cwelchgrapes]

Love how you explain things.....the simplicity!

[@lykhq496]

i don't have the nord wave . nor do i have any synths you make tutorials on . but boy you make intrstinig and may i say intertining tutorials and video that i watch it and really enjoy it. and really wait for the next one 👍🏻. keep up the good work man , 🙏. 😁😁😁😁😁👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@aiaccident]

Excellent as always. Thx again master! Best , a Gothenburgian AnyWave producer toddler

[@chaosercan]

Loved your explanation at the beginning about the simplicity of Nord keyboards. It became more meaningful at the end of the video. To me, the Arp control possibilities should be applied to any synthesizers nowadays. The rest is only about the characteristics of every brands. Well done👌

[@jthorpe4droid]

Awesome video didn't every knew it worked that way, reminds me of those 90s Yamahas with the joysticks. Lovely jam at the end.

[@joshlane6192]

Intro game is on point.

[@jostein6581]

Mega intro

[@AviPFine]

Thanks for the w2 walkthrough. Hadn't used FM on it yet quite how you showed here, which actually makes a lot more sense! Very cool and expansive sounds you often seem to uncover. Ive just been doing FM with only one layer. It almost sounds like theres more operators or carriers or whatnot, when you add more layers to that. One thing I love about this synth, is how, like you said, basically it's really easy to get to everything, very intuitive interface. One thing I love is how quick you can get to a dedicated vibrato section - also compared to other keybeds, the feel of this one is just amazing, and I can really feel the responsiveness of aftertouch, specifically, feels just really nice. One thing I've tried doing so far, is crossfading layer levels with an expression pedal, between the layers, so for example, id have 4 different static wavetable tones per layer, then morph from one, into another to get that kind of 'moving' wavetable sound, a little bit more [since you can't sweep or shape those using osc. control]. If I also include a filter on some of the layers, and some increased attack, it really starts to sound more animated. I maybe could apply aftertouch to crossfade levels, haven't tried that one yet. awesome content! eager to see whats going to be in your next w2 video

[@MusicIsSanity]

Oh, that’s sounds like a really cool technique!

[@lopodyr]

Thanks for the great video. I thought the stage was awesome. But as a « synth » person, the wave appeals to me a lot more than I thought. The 4 layer system is super cool. I would love to see more aftertouch controlling the layers. This looks like a really cool synth for performing live.

[@truecuckoo]

Thanks! Yeah, it’s a good instrument.

[@synthseeker]

Thanks for the great intro! I look forward to the next Nord Wave 2 tutorial, and am always interested in your approach to making patches. :)

[@stevejennings2394]

Thanks helped to unlock the fun, thanks!

[@aakash9058]

Underrated synth. It's too bad Nord charges so much for it because it deserves more traction in the market. If it were priced right at $1900 it would be such a compelling option.

[@truecuckoo]

Yeah I hear you. Nord is a small company in Stockholm. I think they assemble themselves, making it hard for them to compete with prices of bigger factory runs.

[@MusicIsSanity]

I found a used one for around 2k. Since it’s four complete synths in one, would I pay 500-600 bucks for just one of them? Ya, I think that’s fair for a sampling synth workhorse with killer effects, etc. Great video, look, forward to many more!

[@m1scj4rr0d]

Oh that megaman bit in the very beginning got me!

[@kyrrehaugen3027]

Really enjoyed! The Palladin patch was dreamy.

[@ravenblack5813]

32:17 Toejam & Earl 😄

[@krinzologicstudio]

nice one, is immediate to use, and sounds very well, i like the transient clear sound, musical synth, i bet it does sit very well in the mix too.

[@JaleTM]

Finally! I have been waiting for this tutorial!

[@digitaldobbie]

Been a while since your last tutorial. Love your tutorials!

[@Chicle777]

The drive within the filter is a filter drive and the other is the overall drive (per channel). That’s how it is on the A1.

[@joaxcol]

This video is gold

[@Garflips]

Cool. You obviously really like the Wave 2. I have 2 of the original Waves. 😛 Been playing around with a breath controller applied to morph. I think this is the best modern hardware sampler currently available and the software makes it really easy to create custom libraries.

[@jupitermarx]

Wow!! This is an excellent review/demonstration. And your method of teaching is spot on!!;)

[@RoomReflections]

Cool stuff, looking forward to watching the next tutorial!

[@0VRLNDR]

Not sure if I'd go for Nord Wave 2 or Nord Lead A1, if I didn't already have an A1. Some neat features unique to both. Honestly, as someone fairly new to synthesis (7 years?) I just like seeing a big synth KZbinr using Nord hardware. I'm mostly Moog semi-modular now with Arturia Keystep Pro (and Microfreak!), but my A1 is what I reach for when I need dramatic pads, every time.

[@josesoto2342]

7 years is only being fairly new 😭

[@0VRLNDR]

@@josesoto2342 It truly is. Grew up playing piano and multiple school band instruments. Only in the last few years have I really gotten a solid grasp on the differences in hardware synthesis. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@_Lux1219]

Nice Tutorial!

[@StefVR]

Amazing tutorial. Many many thanks!

[@difflocktwo]

Similar to the kingkorg/ electribe with each OSC having just one or two modifiers.

[@nigelrogers8690]

Great tutorial 👍🏾 Lovely sounds 👏🏾

[@aiaccident]

First sound sounds magic and like one of the sounds in Mega man 2 (NES)

[@choktmusic]

Dr Wilys theme

[@aiaccident]

@@choktmusic Impressed here! You rock!

[@m4nuz]

very nice instrument

[@analogicsynthism9447]

I love your movie’s ❤

[@charlesn.salgado-gouker118]

Hello, when can we expect a Cuckoo Signature Sound Bank from Nord? :) Thank you for the inspiring video.

[@iamnio2869]

it would be awesome if you did a tutorial on the Erica synth DB-01 bassline !!!! 💣

[@bis5260]

Thank you so much !

[@GiltaxRPG]

Si costará barato, ya tendría uno, pero es bonito soñar

[@lucasmartin7845]

Very good instrument but i think its a hybrid synth like the newest Roland And Yamaha workstations

[@markolijus]

Hi C! Do you still use and love this machine one year later? :)

[@gemini0x4d]

Hey, is there a way to have smaller steps for entry with the encoders? The filter frequency, for instance, is very coarse-grained (goes from 87Hz to 92Hz). I tried to hold down shift etc., but I couldn't find out how to enter more precise values. Any hints?

[@brendanm.9946]

Hi Cuckoo Do you prefer the wave 2 over the modular g2 Looking for great opinions like yours and anyone else who will chime in

[@ivanbuonanno3309]

Hi Cuckoo! beautiful tutorial as usual, you are a point of reference. Do you think that the NW2 is more suitable for playing live or for studio sound design?

[@benjaminwarner2667]

I think it is most suited for performance, but it is very fun in the studio too. I have had one for a year

[@MorningStrategy]

Thanks so much for posting! I've been interested in the Wave2 since release, in part because I had an og Wave a while back. Funny you settled on the mellotron samples in your one patch, as I always found they sounded so good - rough and crunchy - as underlayers. Are the envelopes snappy enough to make nice kicks? I'm imagining using the custom arps to build drum line accompaniment.

[@drumatic]

Nord Synth sample / sound pack for DIGITAKT please :)

[@EverettDudgeon138]

I really wish they went with synth action keys on this. It’s the only thing holding me back.

[@truecuckoo]

Have you felt the keybed in person? This is the best keybed that I’ve ever felt out of everything that I’ve tried. I think it’s the perfect sweet spot.

[@kgbinfo]

Great tutorial! This seems like a sweet instrument. Do you still have your Nord Modular? I'd love to see some new videos about that.

[@truecuckoo]

Yeah, I love that thing. But the software editor isn’t running in 64-bit, so I don’t know how to use it creatively anymore. Run some sort of old Mac emulator on the Mac? Or a Windows emulator?

[@kgbinfo]

@@truecuckoo you could get an iMac G3 for use as a dedicated Nord Modular editing system!

[@Prizm44]

3:08 (sets pulse wave to 25%) Hey I see where this is goi... *busts out Dr Wily theme*

[@joseph395]

Does the nord stage 3 have all these patches included in the wave 2 ?

[@solidaudio6764]

👍great Tutorial. Is it possible to layer (i.e.) 4x FM sounds?

[@truecuckoo]

Thanks. Yeah. Each of the four layers can use its own synthesis of choice, with an individual patch. So 4 x FM is totally possible. Or 3 x FM, and 1 sample layer. It’s up to you.

[@phlox7792]

I know the Nord stage models have incredible piano samples but how are the Nord wave 2 piano samples? Are there decent ones that come out of the box? or would you have to buy additional sample packs from nord to get a decent one?

[@truecuckoo]

There are very decent ones out of the box. But the biggest difference is that the Nordwave 2 does not support the advanced piano libraries that the Nord Stage, Nord Piano, or even Nord Electro plays. It only supports samples in the Nord Sample 3 (and 2) format, which is the format that we creators are given to work with when it comes to making custom samples for all Nord instruments. We do not have access to the much richer format, which is an in-house proprietary format allowing for velocity layers and more delicate stuff. These higher quality instrument formats are not supported on the Nordwave 2, which is a shame. The keybed is inspiring to play like a piano, so it would've been great.

[@phlox7792]

@@truecuckoo thanks for the reply! I'm really considering getting one of their keyboards but for that very reason I'm really conflicted on which one. I'd like to have the synth capabilities of the wave but id also really like to have the incredible piano capabilities of the stage models. For their price I feel like they should have both. I guess it is always be a midi keyboard for digital synths so maybe the stage model is the better option? Idk. Thanks again!

[@johnruschulte2593]

That arp is amazing. Does it happen to send the layers out on different midi channels?

[@MusicIsSanity]

I don’t believe it sends arp midi out, but it does send key note midi out and you can control four different midi channels using four zones. Maybe future update will have arp sending midi out?

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Why oh why does it not allow multisample, wavestate does :/

[@truecuckoo]

It allows for multi samples. But not velocity layers.

[@smackdammit4266]

No polyphonic glide?

[@theclaverman]

Nope.

[@TheDubwize]

You look like Ben Sinclair from High Maintenance tv show.😅

[@spectralknights2]

Nord is expensive...Pls do polyend tracker tutorials

[@dannynysus]

Quality is expensive

[@truecuckoo]

Yeah I should do another Polyend Tracker video. I only have the pre production model though. The buttons are much nicer now.

[@jerem680]

Where are glasses ?

[@frankschneider7190]

too expensive for what the Wave2 can do.

[@ZetaCarinae]

Yeah its nice but not $2700 nice.

[@ToyKeeper]

For similar (ish) features, I see a couple others which might be worth comparing to... Prophet X for $3500, or the Korg modwave for $800. The Korg is only 3 octaves though, with a fairly cheap build.

[@synthseeker]

Depends on how much value you place on it's workflow. I think it's worth it.

[@CarlosMunoz1980]

Key-berd hab ha ha

[@BrunoWiebelt]

I like my A1 better lol

[@Shadowbait]

I've been thinking the same thing. I sold my A1 a few years ago and recently got the NW2, but there's a LOT the A1 can do that the NW2 can't. I'd switch back in a heartbeat if I wouldn't lose so much money reselling the NW2 used.

[@lucasmartin7845]

But... The wave 2 can load samples 👍

[@Shadowbait]

@@lucasmartin7845 I don't mean to say the A1 is universally better, the Wave 2 does add a lot of valuable features (i.e. aftertouch, customizable arpeggiator patterns, easier layer management, and samples as you mentioned).

[@lucasmartin7845]

@@Shadowbait that chorale Reverb is very convincing too

[@Shadowbait]

@@lucasmartin7845 The main reason I want the A1 back is just the ability to combine any of a long list of osc mod modes with any starting waveform. I got a lot of fascinating sounds that I can't recreate on the Wave 2, and with an all digital synth I can't imagine why Nord didn't just make their new expensive flagship do everything the A1 can do. In theory they still could with a firmware update, but I'd be shocked if they do.

[@howvfx]

When you walk through in my eye views with that machine, I thought you will throw it away, the purpose was show you will do that: it is Not good... I will drop it away from my room..., so I have a suggestion for you: When you ready to introduce some new to us, do it in Serious and formal. yes, that is important. in my opinion, just.