BT Productions: Nord C3

1 Equalizer, 122 Keys, 3 Vibratos, 2 Manuals, 4 Choruses, 1 Massive Overdrive,
1 Tonewheel Organ, 1 Feedback Delay, 3 Speaker Simulations,
2 Transistor Organs, 11-pin Connector, 20 Drawbars, 3 Reverbs

THREE IN ONE
Some distinct organ sounds have remained popular during recent decades of pop and rock & roll music – soulful sounds that breathe and growl that can only be found in heavy, bulky vintage instruments. Apart from difficulties in sourcing, restoring, and maintaining these vintage organs, their shear size and weight make them anything but ideal for the gigging musician – especially when you add their amplifiers, stands, and other necessary gear. Clavia has dedicated itself to making these instruments available to the musician on the go, and has created a keyboard that combines best of those classic setups in a single package – the Nord C1 Combo Organ.

UNDER THE HOOD
What gave the Hammond B3 its awesome sound was its tonewheels, and the Vox and Farfisa organs’ sound came from their transistors. Each instrument’s sound was the result of diverse interactions between different electromechanical parts of the sound generating process. Modern sampling technology is only able to play back the result of these interactions, but cannot duplicate the processes involved. Without these crucial steps represented, the response and feel of actually playing the source instrument is inevitably lost.

To solve this Clavia has applied modeling technology - a real-time, DSP-based digital model describing the construction and interaction between each part involved. This gives the Nord C1 a more accurate and life-like sound, the sonic result of each electromechanical part of the tonewheel and transistor designs recreated faithfully.

DIGITAL DRAWBARS & SWITCHES
Clavia didn’t stop with simple recreation, though – the C1 improves upon the original instruments. The original instruments are big and heavy, and prone to damage – the Nord C1 is light, portable, and built for the road. The originals had no means to store favorite sounds – the C1 includes a program bank that allows you to switch between wildly different setups in real-time. Physical levers and drawbars can be damaged and hard to see in some stage lighting – the Nord C1 features LED drawbars, so you always know where you are. The C1’s digital drawbars are just as fast as their physical counterparts, and setting up your sound from scratch – even live - is done in no time at all.

BASS PEDAL INPUT
No combo organ would be complete without the ability to play bass notes on a pedal board. The Nord C1 can be controlled with any MIDI-enabled bass pedal board, and you have an instant dedicated bass register you can play with your feet.

LIVING EFFECTS
Tonal control isn’t just limited to the organ models. The Nord C1 offers a 3-band EQ, three speaker simulations, and a very powerful new overdrive. A tap delay with multiple feedback settings, as well as three reverb types, are also added. This diverse and stunning effects section gives you the tools to take your sound beyond the limitations of the original instruments, as well as giving you a tangible tonal control rarely found in sample-based instruments.

ROUND AND ROUND
The rotary speaker simulation from Clavia’s award-winning Nord Stage and Nord Electro series just got better, and features an even more life-like experience. The Nord C1’s rotary speaker sim incorporates the acoustic variations that occur as a physical rotating speaker throws the sound around in a room, providing the experience of truly moving the air around.

TREMENDOUS OUTPUT
Got volume? The Nord C1 has it in abundance. In addition to its standard quarter-inch outputs the C1 features an 11-pin Leslie connector, as well as controls for the rotary speed. You even have two options for control – use the C1’s rotary speaker sim controls, or add the optional Half Moon Switch accessory for more physical control. If your speaker cabinet does not feature the 11-pin Leslie standard connector you can use the high level quarter inch output offering a massive 11 Volts RMS for sound transfer. With both the 11-pin Leslie output and the quarter-inch outputs, the high level volume guarantees you that massive drive found only previously in the actual vintage instruments.

AMPLIFY AND TESTIFY
You can divide the stereo line output to separate tonewheel and transistor organ outputs, and connect them to separate amp set-ups.

A FEEL-GOOD EXPERIENCE
An ultra low trigger-to-sound response time in the Nord C1 Combo Organ offers superior performance compared to any hardware and especially software product. Also, like the vintage original, the sound generation is started the very instant a key is pressed down, not like conventional digital keyboard action, where the sound begins when the key hits bottom.

MORE THAN VOLUME
One type of input that is often neglected, and yet plays a vital role your performance, is the swell pedal. Without the proper response of the pedal you can easily lose focus when expression is called for. In the Nord C1, the swell pedal is used for more than just volume control - the frequency response characteristics of the original organs are modeled as well, providing the subtle, but integral, timbral response a swell should provide. The C1’s hardware architecture supports of a wide array of expression pedals from different manufacturers so that you have the perfect volume swell in every situation.

ON THE ROAD
Having three vintage organs in your studio is fun, but it’s even better when you can easily carry them with you to a gig. With just the originals, you’d need a truck and a couple of roadies. The Nord C1 Combo Organ, though, weighs in at around just 30 pounds (15 kg), making it truly lightweight and very portable. With the optional C1 gig bag, you can carry the massive power of three monster vintage organs in one hand, and save your energy for the gig.

TRANSISTOR MANIA
The Nord C1 includes models of the two most popular transistor organs of the 1960s, offering you that massive savage sound created by their unique 12-top oscillator frequency-divided designs. This is a no-sample zone; you have the same behavior and response as the original instruments via complex and accurate models of their electromechanical engineering.

The Farfisa Compact Deluxe, considered by many to be the mother of transistor organs, involves routing matrixes and complex filter combinations that offer a tailored sound with massive energy and high-end. The Vox Continental’s brute design brings you a more hollow tone with a mellow, but still very intense, character.

As with the tonewheel organ, both transistor organs have their own unique, irreplaceable personalities. Combine them with any of the Nord C1’s speaker emulations, add some distortion, adjust EQ and they will definitely light your fire.

THE NEW TONEWHEEL BEAST
Clavia has been developing DSP-based vintage organ models for over a decade, and the Nord C1 is built on that award-winning legacy. Clavia’s new 2nd generation tonewheel organ model provides the perfect B3 sound and playing experience. You now have the most accurate response found in a digital organ clone - the Nord C1’s new B3 model moves beyond “close enough” to “dead-on” sound and feel.

GO WITH THE FLOW
The B3’s complex routing and hardware design connects each tonewheel to several keys. When you play two keys connected to the same tonewheel, energy loss makes that tonewheel speak at a slightly lower level, as its output is fed in two directions. As a result, the more notes you play, the lower the individual output volume of each note. This is what gives you the possibility to do slides and glides over the keyboard with a compressed harmonic sound that is full and pleasant. The Nord C1 treats each tonewheel model’s volume level in the same manner, providing that famous B3 compression.

PERC UP
The Vintage Percussion’s mono-polyphonic character creates an intuitive feedback as you play, and is a defining characteristic of the B3 model. All components involved - filter, distortion, and envelope characteristics - have been carefully and faithfully replicated in the Nord C1.

THE CHORUS/VIBRATO EXPERIENCE
The Nord C1’s chorus and vibrato were created in the same manner as the tonewheel models – analyzing and replicating the physical components involved in their mechanical ancestors. More than a mere simulation of these effects, the C1’s chorus and vibrato are as alive as the tonewheels themselves. The rotating design of the vintage scanner has a deep impact on the organ’s sound. Matching the correct speed is easy - the life is in the characteristics of the analog circuitry and cross-fades of the turning contact surfaces.

A THIRD SET OF DRAWBARS
Just like the real deal, the Nord C1 includes two additional bass drawbars, giving your MIDI-connected bass pedal its own set of controls. You can also connect the popular vintage TREK II bass synthesizer, giving you an extra analog sound source and controls for decay and release.

ACCESSORIES

HALF MOON SWITCH
With the Half Moon Switch you can control the speed of both the built-in rotating speaker emulation, and an external rotary speaker connected via the 11-pin Leslie connection.

GIG-BAG
The Nord C1 is an organ you would cherish as much as owning the original organs in mint condition. Keep your Nord Combo Organ in perfect shape with the C1 gig bag, featuring a plush interior, thick padding, and the distinctive Nord red color.

ADJUSTABLE STAND
The Nord C1 Legs attach to the bottom of the organ, and are easily detached and stored in the gig bag’s accessory pocket. The C1 Leg’s height can be comfortable for sitting down and playing, or can match the height of the B3 with it’s included Leg extenders, which provide enough comfort and space when using a pedal board.

MUSIC STAND
The strong, metal Nord C1 Music Stand attaches to mounts included on the back of the organ, and can accommodate four sheets of music.

And while you consider the wealth of possibilities for this gorgeous and truely musical instrument, Also consider that we offer a custom road case to protect this beauty. For more info, check out our full line of custom road cases, including the ATA 300 rated "Top Of The Line".

* Rhodes, Wurlitzer and Clavinet are trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated or associated with Clavia. These trademarks are mentioned only to describe the types of sounds reproduced by Nord Electro.