All user reviews for the Novation Supernova II

Synth analog modulation with impressive features:
3 osc, 1 noise, possibility of 3 operators FM
2 ADSR envelopes,
2 LFO
Filters 12, 18, 24 db + comb filter ...
Complete FX section: rev its own keys, ditto for deadlines and other vocoder +
1 arpeggiator by
The multitimbral is 16 polyphonic 24 voice expandable up to 64 voice pro version.
Programs 1024 and 512 combinations.

Keyboard 61 semi weighted keys, sensitive aftertouche and velocity.
Many controllers facade: a = a function controller.
Many outputs on the back of SN2 + midi in, out, thru. an input for the vocoder.

UTILIZATION

Ergonomics is the strong point of SN2: One button, one function for 95% of them. Some menus for further but essential research your sound programming will be done from the control surface is a joy. And then, as soon as the fate of the card, it puts the first preset and it is surprising to grind it on the first half-hour without listening to other sounds ... Brilliant.
The other strong point is provided by FATAR, the keyboard is excellent, the best I've had in my little fingers. The black keys are long and slightly grainy and reduce the risk of skidding, which often happens to me during trac ... This is an incredible pleasure to play on this synth. I think it's the same kind of keyboard that the E-synth from E-mu I tried and had really really liked.
Two points, however, have laid me more difficulties: first, the manual is in English, found in French unless we take the translation of the nova. There is hell to certain functions such as programming the arpeggiator, which is the second "black" issue. Programming is really confusing and I struggled to understand how it works.
I finally put a slight damper on the quality of the knobs. Values ​​do not necessarily follow nickel but nothing nasty.

SOUNDS

While thinking sounds of SN2. Broad debate on the forums. Mmon personal opinion amateur musician: I find the sounds tops in tops. Having never owned one of his illustrious ancestors analog (minimoog, prophet, CS ...), I can not make a comparison on the sound spectrum that emerges from analog modeling. However, I can say that the sounds are powerful, they cover a wide horizon sound (bass, pads, piano EP, brass, fx ...), envelopes slam, as the filters. We arrive back to the sounds of our artists reference. Arpeggios allow small kidding good techno.
Combi mode and the multitimbral possible to obtain the complexity, rich sound and scalable as it should.
The problem, as there is one: the reverb that is metal and there is no need to be an expert, it's too obvious. ENTERING A so sparingly for amateurs. Deadlines are tops and allow to air the sound. The flanges, phaser and distortion do the job. The vocoder is not bad, experiment! But you can not touch the tape, shame ...

OVERALL OPINION

I played on the SN2 for 5 years. Five years of happiness to discover the excellent sounds of this synth. This is the most powerful on which it has been my synth to play up buying my kronos but that's another story ...
It is a beautiful synth robust, bluish that exudes quality workmanship. I think Dave Smith was the part before creating his own box. He laid a beautiful Machine I repeat myself opening a wide spectrum of sounds that can be used in many predominantly electro style.
What I like most: the look, the control surface, touch excellent, sounds
What I like least: the metallic reverb, sometimes some complex functions: eg arp mode.
In 2001, the value was very ok considering the impressive capabilities of the machine. Competition was less than today.
Is what I would do this choice today? L'argus 900 € is still a little high I think. But between € 500 and € 700 (for pro and platinum Version) yes well I should rest my fingers on this wonderful keyboard ... It offers the playability and creativity, and that is all that is asked.

The main CHARACTERISTICS this dsormais are essentially classical, the CONTRL time rel pramtres of virtually all available in the machine and the concept of vintage analogue with 3 Ocilla, synthse subtractive + FM. I will not go into the dtails Synthse of AES, but I would say that résumé is really powerful! Simply put this is the processing chain: 3 Ocilla (Carr triangle, Sine) + of paramtres to change these basic shapes (master oscillator and slave), a large modulation matrix, two ring modulators, filters large rsons 12, 18 and 24 db (with numerous cross), the LFO, ADSR 3 (1 and 2 Assignable VCA) and the effects, pltoriques ... Almost all that is cyclical and the Time syncronisabe code!

When this synth is multi, one can compare 8 synths, with a processing chain for each channel. So eight channels indpendantes treatment, including effects and arpgios indpendant by chain!

The polyphony is 24 voices based extencible 36 and 48. A map ADAT / SPDIF also be adding some.

Section effect is good trs: EQ, Pan, distortion, time limit, Corus / flanger / phazer, reverb, and many paramtres to change all that.

UTILIZATION

If you know a little synthse subtractive, setup is a breeze, trs intuitive. And how not to be trying to fiddle with all these knobs, has returned all alone ... One small snag in the Fast Fashion arpggio The same is somewhat complicated, the top t have to have one more step said ...

The manual when it is clear. I apprci same right that the party tration expliqnant modifictions the waveform by a particular paramtres (hardness, squew ...) or just over complte as also part of Fast Fashion arpgios.

The keyboard is excellent craftsmanship and expression reactions are excellent.
Note that version 2 of the OS is a real treat and no longer a consultant: A new waveform sawtooth, and the memory almost brim: 1024 with 512 sounds including new sounds using waveform sawtooth, (the one she dchire, serious!). New banks arpegios (+ 3 banks of 128) and 512 slots in total. Further performances: 512 with 256 users and 256 plants. More new paramtres everywhere, notament in MIDI, Full trs.

SOUNDS

The quality of sound, often indict their cot, is an inspiration ... inpuisable
The new waveform sawtooth (SD: 2.0) is a real treat.
The coloring is throughout plutt hot, but the rest Faceguard trs also wide with sounds of acid-mtallico Echiré.
Sounds ideal use, how to say ... electronic music ... The sound palette is rich and seems unlimited. Any time it is clear that these are just purely electronic sounds. There's no piano, sax, bass .... basically no PCM. In any fawn that is not what is asked.

OVERALL OPINION

This keyboard is duly!

In the same Trampe as Waldorf or Nord Lead, but I think all the same a little more complete ...

A real pleasure, in blue.

I can not detail the machine, I begin by synthesis, and I have the super nova 2 since 3 months, but I love trance, and very intuitively, I can understand and learn from it quickly, and the possibilities are amazing, I may even play a lot of trance tracks, the speed at Calle ear .... al d after the catalog of music stars paris: 76 notes, after touch, 8 multitimbral polyphony 64, rom 512 sounds Programmes: 1024 + dont128 performance128 users, midi in out thru host, card + SPDIF and ADAT option, 43 knobs, 8 sliders, 2 3ocsilateurs and ring modulator, a total of 144 control buttons, vocoder, arpeggiator and multi synchronisable.ce I know : an echo with full adjustment ditto reverb chorus, distortion and filter effect on output (AC kills!) 2lfo shyncronisables with square, saw, tri sh; 2controlleurs envellope of a fader, hand edit: 16 controllers buttons + 1 rotary 1solo and mute, vocoder, with control of input impedance of gate and control, 24 control buttons for a bank dirrect access, direct control of bass and treble for the purpose, setting deferment of bone multi trigger, noise, ect, ect, c is a gas plant, I cross that I never would do the trick, I love it and the same if I buy another keyboard has !!!!!! I keep it so, three pedals to control optional 3 outputs to the stereo, 2entree in, one headphone, one off (not sure on the keyboard: if! if!) controls direct change of octave keyboard .....

UTILIZATION

May still have to print documents only in french (notice the + instructions Nova2 supernova2 rack for 30 euros + or less) in the former printer of innovation (c is the same, or of the Gallery to find) there is a Lyon: Director: Mr Alexis 04 37 90 25 22 No. of printing. (I find most name this printer) but the I did it, and the boards I received a week after, the two documents were not always simple there are diference connections between these records and supernova2 + qq details, but it comes well up in the asymmetric synthetic ensemble.la configuration is a bit complex, but is accessible directly on the keyboard: 1 = 1 function button ( 144 in all) a few small flat "cracking" notament when we change the program of reverb or other effects ....

SOUNDS

As for sounds, all sounds that I love are in trance, and triturating a thank you, for those who like to make their own sounds, and yet, there's no picture, just self-evident, I l love it, but unfortunately production was discontinued. against by the sounds of water or other than "pure electronic" are not great, but c is not what is asked

OVERALL OPINION

The effects are synchronizing for MIDI and serves its electro! J had an arranger before, I've replaced the by it and miraculously, it all became clear: for the tech, c is great and the price is very honest a + d OCCAZ euros or -1000, as it will become collector's and hello's firepower, plus she is gorgeous, a real toy alien, super solid appears, the knobs are of a sublime prescision and a sensitivity ... . + different types of synthetic bass sounds .... fatal sounds of drums also

I have already given an opinion on the NOVA II, here therefore SUPERNOVA II.
Apart from the characteristics that mark when we receive this machine is its look absolutely fabulous. A dashboard full of gigantic buttons. There are a lot more control than for example NOVA .. Then it was his weight. It weighs twice as much NOVA. Its thick, much thicker than the NOVA. This ensures short synth.
It has 8 parts multitimbral thousands of memories, one of the most comprehensive arpeggiator, an effects section of impressive quality (reverbs are the best qeu NOVA), a lot of chorus / flanger ... Filters with saturation and resonance adjustable, allowing the subtleties in the sounds that only the C virus can do, a vocoder, which deserves its name (not just a toy that destroys the voice), CSOs with lots of possibilities notament a kind of supersaw that was copied by Clavia's latest IT (which is totally buggy that said).
CSOs are unique, instead of proposing tens or even hundreds of waveforms, we end up with ... 2 waveforms! But the fact is that to deform more possibilities. With OS 2 was also hypersaw saw mixed for 6 layers to Roland. FM modulations can make sounds of bells or electric piano. Cepandant these limits create the sound of very special SUPERNOVA. No sounds of choirs as a JD-800 for example, piano or realistic.
One detail that counts, while Clavia keyboards and Access have pretty average (that is a matter of taste , The Supernova II keyboard is simply the best keypad I was in the hands. Semi-heavy, with aftertouch the class. The black keys are slightly anti slip 'which allows to hang a little better during a solo .. This is the famous manufacturer of master keyboards, Fatar has provided the time Novation!
In short still the Supernova II keyboard is a madness among the very best.

UTILIZATION

I find it very good ergonomics. Nothing to do with the rack, or you need to use multiple buttons to use and with whom you get lost quickly.
In addition, the basic sounds are delivered very good quality, there is something for everyone.
The manual in English is relatively good, not as much as those of Roland, but hey, I have not had to open it

SOUNDS

This synth can do anything for synthesis. He manages to reproduce the sounds of analog, it happens to a good distortion ... overall it's a synth with a very round and warm sound, the opposite of Waldorf, for example.
We find that heat in the Evolver his master David Smith. The creator of the series Nova / Supernova is gone and it's a bit the soul of Novation is a party with him. The sound of the Supernova, and the possibilities go beyond all that to come out from Novation.
The term keyboard is exemplary. Many use sound velocity associated with the filter or even the effects (soft sound that becomes saturated by pressing harder).
Personally I prefer the sound of that too overload Supernova series of Virus, or too simple Leads North ...
His only problem is a big limitation in the possibilities of the oscillators. It is frustrating to have so few waveforms and despite the possibilities of distortion and other sync, it was always a bit the same sound, warm and bo but still much smaller than a virus or a real vintage .

OVERALL OPINION

A great machine. Whose side tends to rise because of the quality of the keyboard and the scarcity. We see from the Supernova II keyboard to more than 2000 EUR ... so if you have a Bichon on, with the advent of synthesizers made in China, with components of a second zone, the keyboards sound good and well made to withstand time. Look at the price of a DX-1 from the DX-7, a Minimoog compared to a Moog Rogue, the premium goes up. Nova small desktop will be worth nothing soon as the Supernova II keyboard always worth the quality synthesizer and controller keyboard.
It only lacks the wood ... as in the heyday of Sequential Circuits

It is a very complete machine, with the summary: analog modeling synthesis, 3 oscillators + noise FM and 3 operators, opportunities for many modulations, 2 LFOs ranging from very low to very high frequencies, a beautiful range of filters (12 , 18 and 24dB over a wide range of filters coupled), an effects section very rich, an 8 part multitimbral (effects included, which means independent effects per game), a polyphony of 24 voices (or on earlier called "pro"), a powerful arpeggiator, programmable as desired, a memory of 1024 programs and 512 performances, a collection of percussion sounds, a vocoder, the input signal processing and so on ...

We can blame the Supernova II to offer only 3 waveforms (saw, square and doublesaw) but this limit is relative to the existence of a specific parameter that can alter the basic wave (a "pre-filter" of sorts). It may not be equivalent to other forms of waves but this possibility can reach very specific subtleties.

The keyboard features semi-weighted keys and large enough. On this point, it is hard to beat: the touch is very pleasant and efficient, probably the best compromise between the heavy touch piano-style keys and small plastoc many synths. In return, the lack aftertouch can be a little flexible.

The set is beautiful and sturdy with a metal case covered in blue. There are some details that are poor, including the determination of the card that carries the connections: it is easy to move just by touching the jack plugs for example. Moreover, the quality potentiometers disappoints me a little for a machine of this range. These points deserve particular care but the rest is solid.

UTILIZATION

The ergonomics of the instrument is a true pleasure. Besides the quality of the keyboard, access to parameters is straightforward because 90% of them are represented as buttons, as in the days of pure analog and hard. The layout is well thought out, complete with an LCD screen that is simple and effective.

Documentation, meanwhile, is not exemplary, but once you understand the intricacies of some machine, you no longer need. Another point to note: the excellent MIDI implementation that allows to control all parameters. The arpeggiator also sends MIDI signals.

SOUNDS

The sounds of factory show the extent of the sonic palette, but too often forcing effects. Anyway, you can always season your sound to your taste and cut the effects if they bother you. Of course, Supernova does not have an analog sound reproduction authentic but is generally satisfactory and the opportunities are large enough to evoke the mythical old machines, the Minimoog to the D50 through the Prophet, Jupiter, OBX, DX7 and others. .. In short, it is possible to get out hard-hitting bass as deep as tablecloths and subtle, to mention only these two families.

Obviously, not everything is perfect but the overall quality is very good and the presence of some rare settings allow you to get sounds that you will hardly occur without Supernova. Its range extends into the digital synthesis, which is an additional interest. Some compare it to elsewhere in JD-800 even if he misses even when the samples that come with it!
The sound is very good, although I regret a slight hiss in the treble that can charm but is sometimes undesirable. That said, this synth provides a wide tonal palette and rich while providing its own nature: what more?!

To illustrate this, I created a show based on a series of sounds that I concocted. While not entirely representative of the extent of its ability, it gives a glimpse of the character of this instrument: Supernova II demo ( http://www.arts21.net/index.php/studio/69-supernova-synth )

OVERALL OPINION

I am very happy with this instrument which is at the heart of my equipment and encourages my creativity. It gives me a good master keyboard, the possibilities of sound research and extensive facilities to cope. Finally, the only real criticism that he can do is not to be a true analog synth ... But very few analog synthesizers are able to provide the same opportunities, even by putting the price.