Clavia Nord Wave 2 Performance Synthesizer

General

The trademark red paint-job only hints at the incredible potential lying within the Clavia Nord Wave 2 Performance Synthesizer since, yes, they have indeed done it again. This might be the most adaptable and flexible chunk of kit the super-smart Swedes have ever unleashed. The basics are there: a stunning keyboard fit for seasoned players, satisfyingly thick sound and impeccable effects and no need for dozens of parts for extensive sequencing since this Nord is focussed purely on performance.

The Many Features of the Clavia Nord Wave 2

The Wave 2 gives you power over four simultaneous engines/layers to design colour-rich sound: virtual analogue, FM, wavetable and samples with a sample engine that already grants access to 1GB-worth of memory to load in sounds from the Nord Sample Library 3.0. Every layer comes with its own tasty collection of effects including reverb, EQ, delay and an incredibly extensive arpeggiator with (among others) a polyphonic mode and pattern mode that plays back a pattern depending on the key that's hit.

The Practical Jobs

The keyboard comes with comfortable semi-weight keys with aftertouch and three split-points can be set, so that different sounds can be spread across the keyboard. Sitting on the left side are the familiar and classically-Nord pitchwheel and still highly-unique modulation stick while two OLED displays offer extra info as needed while they oversee the already richly populated control panel. Everything is here: an incredible level of sound-quality, excellent performance flexibility, super-fast controls and a stunning keyboard. It's as if Nord just can't help but be good.