AudioPilz Gives the Nord Modular a Piece of His Mind

In the latest episode of “Bad Gear,” AudioPilz delves into the world of the Nord Modular, a digital gem that first saw the light of day in 1998. Long before Eurorack setups came crashing into our lives like a barrage of punk gigs, there was the Nord Modular—a beacon of digital synthesis innovation. Despite its pioneering role, this synth has somehow ended up in the back alleys of the electronic world, gathering dust alongside old rave flyers. Florian, with his inimitable style, gives us the lowdown on why this piece of gear is both legendary and infuriatingly inaccessible today.

We’re introduced to a battle arena of LEDs instead of the spaghetti mess of patch cables typical of the modular scene. Instead, this synth relies on a software editor for patch creation, which presents its own set of hurdles. Clavia, the manufacturer, stopped supporting the software almost as fast as they dropped it into the lap of eager musos, forcing users to scramble for alternatives. In the quirky and enthralling universe of “Bad Gear,” AudioPilz argues that the lack of a modern successor is a gaping void that cries out to be filled.

Once you plunge into the Nord Modular, you’re in for a ride through a labyrinthine interface that feels a bit like trying to navigate a rave in the dark—complex, bewildering, but bursting with potential. AudioPilz doesn’t mince his words as he takes us through the nitty-gritty of this digital beast’s features. The original software editor is notorious for being as user-friendly as a dodgy kebab at 3 a.m., abandoned without fanfare by Nord just a few years after the device’s release.

Thank the synth gods for ByteOrder, who hacked together a freeware editor allowing enthusiasts to unlock the treasure trove of oscillators and modulators lurking within this beast. From spectral oscillators to FM patches, the Nord’s offerings are a smorgasbord of sound design tools. Yet, getting to them feels a bit like a challenge on an old-school game show—you know it’s worth it, but is it really worth the hassle?

AudioPilz, ever the humorous cynic, shares the features that either make you want to kiss your computer screen or throw it out the window. It’s a bit of a love-hate relationship, not unlike those scenes where the Spinal Tap amps crank all the way up to eleven just for the hell of it. This modulator-heavy selection offers a peek into the gear’s underbelly, revealing both its age and elegance.

In a spectacular show of what the Nord Modular can do, AudioPilz culminates this episode with a jaw-dropping live jam session. A veritable mushroom cloud of techno beats and ambient soundscapes, it nicely ties together everything discussed in the video. Imagine a bustling rave with the Nord at the helm—the master of ceremony in a sea of digital delights.

Techno purists would nod in approval as AudioPilz kicks off with a groove box patch that stings and soars through the session. Much like a battered speaker stack in a dingy London pub, it pushes out sounds that feel raw and captivating. The jam evolves into a rich tapestry of melodies and rhythms, blending everything from techno to 90s psytrance in a fluid dance of knobs and patches.

AudioPilz knows how to host a party with this synth, and the session showcases its versatility, albeit with a nostalgic tint. The performance isn’t just a test of the Nord’s abilities but a nod to its past glories and a wink at what could be if only modern successors existed. It’s a dazzling end to an episode that both honours and laments this wayward piece of gear history.