The Modular G2's panel is divided into two main sections, the System Control section, and the Sound Control section. The System Control section contains everything you need for programming and navigation throughout the G2's system independent of the G2's software Editor.

The Modular G2 features audio inputs and outputs, and the Master Level control attenuates the output level of all four mono outputs simultaneously (as well as the headphone output). Since the G2 comes with a built-in microphone input, a separate Mic Level control exists for its input volume.

Navigation from one program to another is done using the Main Data Encoder (aka "main knob"); the Up & Down Navigation buttons get you through the G2's banks, and the Left & Right Nav buttons move you through each program's 8 variations. The Octave buttons jump through a total of 5 octaves, and can be used as a performance controller for fast multi-octave runs. Because each program in the G2 is a separate synth, the G2 needs a second to load the modules and configuration set up for that program; once a program is selected using the main data encoder, press the Load Patch button and the program only takes a moment to load.

The System button accesses the G2's global functions, such as the MIDI channels for each slot, pedal polarity, and local control. Pressing the Patch button allows you to access certain menu-selectable parameters of the current patch's modules. Pressing the Store button once will prepare you to save a program you've edited, and pressing a second time stores the program. In between you can store it to a new location in a copy-paste manner. The Focus/Copy button is a means by which you can copy and paste parameters within a program.

The Display Mode button is used to toggle between parameter views in the Sound Control section of the G2's panel; see below for more.

Using the four Slot buttons, you can have access to four different sounds at a time in Program mode, making it easy to switch between them live. If you want to layer or split programs in different slots, you can do so in Performance Mode, accessible by pressing the Performance Mode button. While in Performance Mode, you can assign a split point by pressing the Keyboard Split button.

The Shift button is how you access all the other buttons' secondary functions. Primary functions are listed above the button, and secondary ones are listed below. For example, the Store button is used to save a program once edited; Shift+Store allows you to rename it. The Navigate Down button will move down through each program bank; Shift+Nav.Down changes the bank sort mode, allowing you to move through groups of sounds by category (synth, bass, pad, etc.), alphabetically, or by bank and program location.

The Sound Control section is where you find a variety of real-time control options. All the knobs are lighted rotary encoders that turn 360 degrees, which gives you ultimate control over any parameter. When a new program is loaded, or module is displayed, the value of the parameter assigned to that knob is displayed in the LEDs aroid the knob, so you never have to guess where it's set.

Along the bottom of this section are nine buttons. In a performance, these fulfill the functions of Patch Variations. One program is really one synth model which can create countless sounds, and 8 of your favorites can be saved as quickly-accessible variations. If you run out of variations, simply press the Store button, choose a new program location, press Store again, and create more variations of your favorite synth model ... go ahead and splurge; you have 4,100 program locations to fill!

Pressing the Morph button gets you into the Morph Grouping controls. Morph Grouping is a unique Nord feature that allows you to assign multiple parameters to one controller. For instance, you could assign both a filter's cutoff frequency and the envelope's attack to the Velocity Morph Group - as you play soft you'll get a mellow pad, but playing harder shortens the attack and brightens the sound, giving a plain ol' square-wave comp greater personality and expression. You can assign up to 25 separate parameters to one Morph Group, and there are 8 controllers available - the modulation wheel, key velocity, keyboard range, aftertouch, the sustain pedal, a control pedal, the pitch stick, and one of the encoders in the Sound Control area.

The Patch Settings button in the upper right gains you access to common patch parameters, which are shown in pairs on the LCD displays, and adjustable using the knobs below them. These common parameters are master MIDI clock, voice mode (polyphony), arpeggiator kind and behavior, vibrato, glide (portamento), pitch bend range, and output level.

The real power of the Sound Control section, though, is using the Parameter Pages. Using the G2 Editor, one can easily assign any parameter from any module to any knob on any page very easily. There are 5 page groups (A - E), 3 pages (1 - 3) per group, and all 8 parameter knobs are assignable per page - this gives you access to up to 120 program parameters at once! While they can be configured any way you like, one useful way is to put all the performance controls on the "front" page, and all others on the other pages. It's a great way to create new sounds and variations using just the physical knobs, freeing you from having to connect a computer and use the Editor.