Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Nord Lead 2X or Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard ??

aeonsound · 12th January 2009

i've never used the waldorf keyboard (are they even shipping yet?) so i can only hazard a guess at the key quality...

the desktop Blofeld is reasonably put together, but most Nords are built like the proverbial tank. i love the desktop Blofeld's appearance, screen, footprint and endless rotaries. but Clavia make perhaps my all-time favourite tactile interfaces, and have a great pedigree in performance keyboards, so i'll hazard a guess that they're going to edge it when it comes to the quality and feel of the keys.

bear in mind that the Blofeld has no MIDI out, which might affect your decision somewhat

putting aside the midi controller issue, it really depends what sound you're after... the Blofeld is more akin to a TI in terms of its sonic palette; it's a digital/hybrid sounding synth, at home with complex evolving alien landscapes and weird wavetable goodness. it has effects and good routing possibilities. it has the best display i've ever seen on any digital synth - watching a comb filter sweep is just beautiful. of course programming isn't as intuitive as a pot-per-parameter interface, but the power and flexibility are there. it has that Waldorf sound, too... there's this crushing gritty oopmh about it.

Nord Lead is... a (the?) definitive subtractive VA. very straightforward, at-a-glance operability with knobs for all major functions. it is much more limited in terms of range of sounds which can be produced, but what it does, it does very well. no FX, which some people say actually makes it easier to fit into the mix. incredible HP filter and raw saw wave; really distinctive. as a Virus owner i lust after a Nord just for that filter

it really is something else. the Nord will have more i/o and better connectivity in general, i think.

i'm craving an ice-cream at the moment, so to my mind, the Blofeld is like a maple and Cognac with chocolate-pecan cluster - rich, deep, slightly odd, not immediately accessible, and won't be to everyone's tastes. the Nord is like a really good quality vanilla - plain, but perfect; it goes with everything.

if it were my money? i'd get the Blofeld, because i <3 spiky digital weirdness and would get bored with the Nord's modulation. actually scratch that, if it were my money i'd save for the Nord modular

oh, and you may wish to consider moving this thread to Electronic Music & Production forum - there are more VA synth-headz to be found in those parts

good luck!

12th January 2009	#2
aeonsound Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 716	i've never used the waldorf keyboard (are they even shipping yet?) so i can only hazard a guess at the key quality... the desktop Blofeld is reasonably put together, but most Nords are built like the proverbial tank. i love the desktop Blofeld's appearance, screen, footprint and endless rotaries. but Clavia make perhaps my all-time favourite tactile interfaces, and have a great pedigree in performance keyboards, so i'll hazard a guess that they're going to edge it when it comes to the quality and feel of the keys. bear in mind that the Blofeld has no MIDI out, which might affect your decision somewhat putting aside the midi controller issue, it really depends what sound you're after... the Blofeld is more akin to a TI in terms of its sonic palette; it's a digital/hybrid sounding synth, at home with complex evolving alien landscapes and weird wavetable goodness. it has effects and good routing possibilities. it has the best display i've ever seen on any digital synth - watching a comb filter sweep is just beautiful. of course programming isn't as intuitive as a pot-per-parameter interface, but the power and flexibility are there. it has that Waldorf sound, too... there's this crushing gritty oopmh about it. Nord Lead is... a (the?) definitive subtractive VA. very straightforward, at-a-glance operability with knobs for all major functions. it is much more limited in terms of range of sounds which can be produced, but what it does, it does very well. no FX, which some people say actually makes it easier to fit into the mix. incredible HP filter and raw saw wave; really distinctive. as a Virus owner i lust after a Nord just for that filter it really is something else. the Nord will have more i/o and better connectivity in general, i think. i'm craving an ice-cream at the moment, so to my mind, the Blofeld is like a maple and Cognac with chocolate-pecan cluster - rich, deep, slightly odd, not immediately accessible, and won't be to everyone's tastes. the Nord is like a really good quality vanilla - plain, but perfect; it goes with everything. if it were my money? i'd get the Blofeld, because i <3 spiky digital weirdness and would get bored with the Nord's modulation. actually scratch that, if it were my money i'd save for the Nord modular oh, and you may wish to consider moving this thread to Electronic Music & Production forum - there are more VA synth-headz to be found in those parts good luck!