Modor NF-1k: A cool new synth from a Belgian Boutique.

Modor is a boutique Belgian hardware synth company run by Marcel Belmans. And their new release, the NF-1k builds on the success and coolness of their NF-1 digital polyphonic synthesizer.

So, what’s different about the NF-1k?

For one thing, it has a 49-key weighted Fatar keyboard. These Italian-made keyboards set a high standard for feel and weight that gives synths like the Take 5 and Prophet series as luxurious feel. This is real instrument feel territory.

But the Modor NF-1k isn’t just an NF-1 with a premium keyboard. It also has several new features that impact the sound. The newly developed voice board ups to polyphony to 16 voices and makes the Modor NF-1k a 2-part multitimbral synth.

This means that essentially two NF-1s can be layered, split over the keyboard or sequenced independently. They’ve also added an arpeggiator, chord mode, and hold. Added to this is a unison mode that allows for detuning and stereo spread.

Another cool feature of both the NF-1 and the Modor NF-1k is the ability of these units to be programmed for micro-tonal playing.

Here’s a short promotional video of the Modor NF-1k. While I think it’s a nice start, I have always craved longer, more in-depth videos of their synths. Perhaps something similar to the Bo Beats video on the DR-2 drum machine.