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twÿce « Compact, complete, and oriented for live »
Published on 06/28/12 at 09:02- Keyboard Type 37 keys with aftertouch + a very nice touch in terms of synth that I've been testing in this price range (R3, GAIA or lead North). Supplied with a microphone for a vocoder, a usb cable, the power supply and various driver CD.
For Characteristics: http://novationmusic.com/products/hardware_synths/ultranova/Specifications/
Level controls for live, there is the walk total:
-> The pitch and modulation wheels classic are present.
-> Aftertouch that reacts quickly, but I can do without it.
-> Most importantly, the famous touch controller! The real innovation of the product. In fact, the 8 knobs which are used for editing, can be set to send a fact or a parameter change just hit! Very difficult to explain but great to use. Watch demos. It can also be used conventionally: assigning one or more parameters for quick access live.
-> There is also a grooos knob, which can be assigned to fix or who may replace one of eight knobs momentarily, which by its size, makes it easier to let go (ideal for filter cutoff: D)
The ultranova has two commercial PC / MAC: library for managing presets and VST to put in his DAW to control A.
In addition, A can be used as an audio interface 2in/4outs + midi controller (the knobs can be used to control a VST through the automap).
At preset, there are four banks of 128 patches. The entire memory is available to the user (not as a protected bank north Rack 2X for example).
Suffice to say that in terms of features given the price, it's not bad. However I put 9 because:
-> Mono timbral
-> No FM
-> No option to use as the A midi interface so it can be used as an audio interface.
-> Not possible to put your own samples for the oscillators.
UTILIZATION
The ultranova seems little knob and controller provided, but very quickly you realize that ergonomics has been well studied. Is accessed very quickly editing sound parameters, each time with a big button backlight for different parts of sound design: Oscilateurs, filters, LFO, effect, vocoder, arpeggiator ...
Then there are menus, but we remain in the no reasonable "under submenu". Is edited by eight pages of editable parameters directly with the 8 knobs located above. We put five to ten minutes to figure out the trick, then it flows. A system halfway between a blofeld (too many menu) and a north rack (ideal but more expensive). The knobs are of course infinite (no hopping parameter).
After, we are in a classical architecture VA (Osc, filters, envelope, effect, ...), so it's always easier when one is accustomed.
The manual is pretty clear as a whole, except the part connected to a PC, at the audio or noon, I did not find sufficiently complete.
SOUNDS
The engine sound is very rich in possibilities for an instrument in this price range. To my taste it lacks the FM to be on top.
The sounds are not realistic in the sense: Copy acoustic intruments, because it was not made for that. However the few waveforms sampled sounds allow cheap acoustic.
The synth is very good in tablecloths, skank or keyboard to type agreements. It is rich in possibilities of modulation therefore enables all kinds of sounds out of nowhere. For bass, it's okay.
Filters are many, but I do not find them in marking their sounds. A push to see.
OVERALL OPINION
I got a microKORG XL, a R3, blofeld, and a north 2X rack (before or at his side A).
I use it for a year soon, and I get tired soon. Its many can still find new sounds. To say I sold a lot of my synths, but not this one. Yet he was a compulsive buying, a thunderbolt.
The most:
- Keyboard of good quality for this price range.
- The expressiveness is the key word on this keyboard with all the controllers have available, and especially the knob 8 "touch" that are truly innovative for my taste. It is oriented live, ergonomics, and I like it.
- The library and the controller VST (although I do not use too many DAW).
- The look (completely subjective! But no less important to me, saw it was a thunderbolt).
- Accessibility to the edition.
Cons:
- Mono timbral (we always want more)
- Can not be used as a midi interface to connect an expander / external keyboard to the PC.
- The ASIO driver not at the top (it works better with ASIO4ALL home)
- Vocoder not transcendent or difficult to resolve (compare microkorg/R3).
- Not possible to add air sampled (we really want even more).
PS: for the part, A and integration into the DAW, I can not really give an opinion because I never use it that way, I find it easier to use than the UN itself VST his alter ego.
For Characteristics: http://novationmusic.com/products/hardware_synths/ultranova/Specifications/
Level controls for live, there is the walk total:
-> The pitch and modulation wheels classic are present.
-> Aftertouch that reacts quickly, but I can do without it.
-> Most importantly, the famous touch controller! The real innovation of the product. In fact, the 8 knobs which are used for editing, can be set to send a fact or a parameter change just hit! Very difficult to explain but great to use. Watch demos. It can also be used conventionally: assigning one or more parameters for quick access live.
-> There is also a grooos knob, which can be assigned to fix or who may replace one of eight knobs momentarily, which by its size, makes it easier to let go (ideal for filter cutoff: D)
The ultranova has two commercial PC / MAC: library for managing presets and VST to put in his DAW to control A.
In addition, A can be used as an audio interface 2in/4outs + midi controller (the knobs can be used to control a VST through the automap).
At preset, there are four banks of 128 patches. The entire memory is available to the user (not as a protected bank north Rack 2X for example).
Suffice to say that in terms of features given the price, it's not bad. However I put 9 because:
-> Mono timbral
-> No FM
-> No option to use as the A midi interface so it can be used as an audio interface.
-> Not possible to put your own samples for the oscillators.
UTILIZATION
The ultranova seems little knob and controller provided, but very quickly you realize that ergonomics has been well studied. Is accessed very quickly editing sound parameters, each time with a big button backlight for different parts of sound design: Oscilateurs, filters, LFO, effect, vocoder, arpeggiator ...
Then there are menus, but we remain in the no reasonable "under submenu". Is edited by eight pages of editable parameters directly with the 8 knobs located above. We put five to ten minutes to figure out the trick, then it flows. A system halfway between a blofeld (too many menu) and a north rack (ideal but more expensive). The knobs are of course infinite (no hopping parameter).
After, we are in a classical architecture VA (Osc, filters, envelope, effect, ...), so it's always easier when one is accustomed.
The manual is pretty clear as a whole, except the part connected to a PC, at the audio or noon, I did not find sufficiently complete.
SOUNDS
The engine sound is very rich in possibilities for an instrument in this price range. To my taste it lacks the FM to be on top.
The sounds are not realistic in the sense: Copy acoustic intruments, because it was not made for that. However the few waveforms sampled sounds allow cheap acoustic.
The synth is very good in tablecloths, skank or keyboard to type agreements. It is rich in possibilities of modulation therefore enables all kinds of sounds out of nowhere. For bass, it's okay.
Filters are many, but I do not find them in marking their sounds. A push to see.
OVERALL OPINION
I got a microKORG XL, a R3, blofeld, and a north 2X rack (before or at his side A).
I use it for a year soon, and I get tired soon. Its many can still find new sounds. To say I sold a lot of my synths, but not this one. Yet he was a compulsive buying, a thunderbolt.
The most:
- Keyboard of good quality for this price range.
- The expressiveness is the key word on this keyboard with all the controllers have available, and especially the knob 8 "touch" that are truly innovative for my taste. It is oriented live, ergonomics, and I like it.
- The library and the controller VST (although I do not use too many DAW).
- The look (completely subjective! But no less important to me, saw it was a thunderbolt).
- Accessibility to the edition.
Cons:
- Mono timbral (we always want more)
- Can not be used as a midi interface to connect an expander / external keyboard to the PC.
- The ASIO driver not at the top (it works better with ASIO4ALL home)
- Vocoder not transcendent or difficult to resolve (compare microkorg/R3).
- Not possible to add air sampled (we really want even more).
PS: for the part, A and integration into the DAW, I can not really give an opinion because I never use it that way, I find it easier to use than the UN itself VST his alter ego.