Nord reveal Lead A1 synth

Details have emerged on the Swedish manufacturer’s latest product, the Lead A1 analogue modelling synthesizer.

Leading digital synth specialists Nord, whose equipment specialises in emulating analog synthesis, have announced details of their latest keyboard synthesiser, the Lead A1. The 24-voice polyphonic, 49-key ‘lead for speed’ supposedly allows for far faster programming through a simple yet sophisticated front panel interface. It also comes with a newly developed “Wave Engine” – said to be capable of reproducing the loved character and nuances of vintage synths – and oscillator section, where configuration shortcuts mean patches can be created and edited faster than what’s “usually possible for synthesis of this complexity”.

Additional functions include four separate arpeggiators with up, down and random modes, there’s a master clock sync of the LFO, MIDI over USB capability, and four independent outputs. The Lead A1’s filter section features classic 12 and 24 dB low pass, high pass and band pass filters, together with what it describes as “stunning emulations” of the TB-303 synthesizer. It also comes packed with Nord’s Sound Manager software patch librarian. Nord have provided some short demos of sounds created from the A1 which you can listen to below. For more information on the A1 visit their product page.

The Nord Lead A1 will be available in April 2014 with an estimated price of £1299 RRP.