16 | Nord Stage 3 USer MaNUal oS v1.X
tHe arPeggIator
as a final exercise, let’s create a sound using the Synth section and its
arpeggiator.
1
Make sure that only the Synth section is turned on and perform a
SOUND INIT
(Shift + Unison). Set the amp env
ATTACK
time to 0,
the
DECAY
to around 3, select a sawtooth waveform and open up
the filter a little bit. this will produce a percussive sound.
2
Press
ARP RUN
, play a chord on the keyboard and turn the arpeg-
giator rate knob. this will play the notes that are held down, one
after the other in a repeating fashion.
3
Press
SHIFT
and the arpeggiator
selector
button to select a differ-
ent direction.
When no direction led is lit, the direction is Up, from the lowest
key and up to the highest and then it starts over again. the other
directions are
DN
(down),
UP/DN
(up and down) and
RD
(random).
4
Press the
selector
button repeatedly to select a range.
When none of the range-leds are lit, the range is exactly the
keys that are held down. a setting of
2 OCT
extends the range by
transposing the arpeggio one octave up and plays this octave after
the initial octave,
3 OCT
adds yet another octave and
4 OCT
gives a
range of four octaves.
5
Press the
KB HOLD
button to keep the arpeggio going without the
need for pressing the keys.
MaSter CloCK
Now that we have an arpeggio going, let’s try the Master Clock feature
to synchronize the arpeggio and to bring in an effect as well.
1
Hold
SHIFT
and turn the arpeggiator
RATE
knob to lock the arpeg-
gio to the Master Clock, the
MST CLK
led lights up.
2
Press down on the Mst Clk
TAP/SET
button in the Program area to
dial in a tempo with the
PROGRAM
dial. You could also press
CLOCK
(Shift + tap/Set) to view and adjust Master Clock settings without
having to keep the button pressed down. the display will indicate
the BPM. Set this to 130 BPM for this exercise. release the button
to exit, or press
EXIT
(Shift) if in “Clock” mode.
Tap four times on the Mst Clk button to set the tempo on the fly.
3
turn the arpeggio
RATE
knob to select the meter subdivision (or
note values) that the arpeggio should play. the setting is shown
in the Program area display as the knob is being turned. Notice
how 1/4 is half the “speed “ of 1/8. a “t” after a numerical value
indicates triplets. Set the subdivision to 1/8.
4
turn on the
DELAY
effect and make sure that the source is set to
Synth by pressing the
SOURCE
button repeatedly until the Synth
led lights up.
If you carefully adjust the delay time, you could match it to fit the
rhythm of the arpeggio, but there is another way. let’s synchronize
the delay to the same clock as the arpeggio.
5
Hold
SHIFT
and turn the delay
TEMPO
knob to activate Master
Clock for the delay. the
MST CLK
led lights up.
6
turn the delay
TEMPO
knob and again refer to the Program area
display to monitor the setting.
7
try 1/16, which will be half the note value or twice the “speed” of
the arpeggio. turn up the amount knob up to but not beyond 12
o’clock to hear the delay taps together with the arpeggiated notes.
the arpeggio, the lFo on the synth, the delay and the effect 1 rate can
be synchronized to the Master Clock in this fashion.
What’s more, the Master Clock operates on both panels simultaneously
so you can control arpeggios, lFos and effects on both Panel a and B.
Some of the units have division settings that are larger than 1/1 that
allows for sweeps that are longer that one bar. and you can of course
synchronize some functions, while leaving others free-running if you like.
