Review: Clavia Nord Wave 2

Eleven years have passed since the renowned Swedish manufacturer Clavia launched the Nord Wave. The combination of virtual-analog synthesis, sample player, FM synthesis and wavetables with a stage-ready keyboard and direct operation made a lot of friends, but also reaped some criticism. Many users wanted an arpeggiator and layering capability. Its successor, Nord Wave 2, has been improved in many respects.

Compact and Solid

The metal case is painted in well-known Nord red. Despite its solid build, the Nord Wave 2 is still relatively compact and weighs less than 10 kg. That makes it easy to transport. The 61-key waterfall keyboard allows for very nuanced and precise touch dynamics and aftertouch. The weighting of the keys feels good and offers a very nice compromise between playing synth/organ sounds and pianos. Compared to the Nord Wave 1, the performance control features have been significantly improved. In addition to the pristine lacquer finish, the wooden pitch stick and the slim, yet robust modulation wheel leave no doubt about the synthesizer‘s origin. The Pitch Stick