Clavia introduced the Nord Lead — the world’s first virtual analog synthesizer — in 1995. A year later, co-owner Magnus Kjellander came aboard and brought with him a different approach to thinking about software design. Kjellander was instrumental in developing the Nord Modular. This innovative synth was the first digital modular synthesizer, and it could be argued it was the most versatile synth to hit the market to date.
There’s no denying the sound and vibe of classic electro-mechanical instruments of the ’60s and ’70s. But these vintage instruments both suffered from reliability issues and were often hard to transport. Enter the Nord Electro. Introduced in 2001, the Electro brought together the classic sounds of these instruments in a reliable — and more importantly, portable — package.
The Nord Stage, introduced in 2005, merged all of Nord’s groundbreaking steps forward into a single performance keyboard. Packed with the sounds and features modern keyboardists demand, the Stage quickly became a first-call keyboard for serious performers. The combination of sounds and feel made it an instant hit, and its popularity continues to grow well over a decade after its introduction.
Today, Nord has grown well past its humble beginnings in the little basement workshop it started in back in 1983. Theirs has been a journey of dedication, with a singular principle in mind: a love of music. Nord’s factory is situated in the heart of Stockholm, and a mere staircase is all that separates R&D from the production area. You can rest assured that every Nord keyboard is built lovingly by hand and tested before leaving the factory floor.
