Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Novation Nocturn Keyboard
Features
- 49 keys with Fatar “Fast Touch” keys
- 8 Encoders (Infinite Rotation) with touch-sensitivity and 11 segment Led rings
- Touch sensitive Speed Dial
- 14 Buttons with integrated LEDs, 6 of which are lockable transport controls
- 8 soft feel Trigger pads
- Sprung pitch wheel
- Modulation wheel
- General Automap Operation Buttons (Learn, View, Browser Groups etc.)
- Octave up/down buttons with LED indicator
- Button to lock/unlock transport controls
- Sustain Pedal: 1 x 1/4 Jack Input
- Expression pedal: 1 x 1/4 Jack Input
read the rest of the review
Posted in Gear, MIDI, Review | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
It’s been a while since my last gear lust post, probably a good thing because I ended up buying that one and am still slowly paying for it (well worth it though!). Ever since these were announced in September I’ve been drooling at the Novation Nocturn Keyboards. IMHO these keys are damn sexy and I already know how nice one will look along side my Mac Book Pro.
Novation Nocturn 49
Nocturn Keyboard is an intelligent plug-in/sequencer controller. It has a high quality ‘Fatar’ keyboard, with 8 drum pads and a total of 33 assignable controls, which allow you to get hands-on control of your plug-in instruments, effects and sequencer.
Most keyboard controllers have two big problems: The idea of being able to control software parameters with knobs and buttons sounds great. However, the hassle of assigning them, and remembering what they are assigned to becomes so tedious that you always end up turning back to your mouse.
Nocturn Keyboard’s Automap control software solves both these problems. To assign controllers, simply click on the parameter, touch a knob or button, and it is assigned! It also enables you to keep track of what is assigned to what – instead of using a small monochrome LCD screen, Nocturn Keyboard displays control information where you really need it: on your computer monitor. The Automap software graphically displays Nocturn’s control surface. The controllers themselves also tell you what is going on: LED rings around the 8 encoders show their current settings, and LED’s behind the buttons tell you if they are on or off.
It looks to be a fantastic controller with everything right where you’d want it, and not a lot of extra junk, if Automap works like they claim and the keys feel good, it looks like a killer package.
What I like:
Buttons with lights underneath
Rotary encoders with value indicators rather than a potentiometer that most likely won’t show the correct value.
Not unnecessarily large (like the M-Audio Axiom series or many others)
Drum pads in the middle
No faders or keypads I would never actually use
The one thing I don’t like is the pink buttons, but I think I could like with it.
I’ve got to get my hands on one of these and see how it really is. If anyone has used one of these, I’ve asked a bunch of times on Twitter with no response, please let me know what you think of them.
Full Details here: Nocturn Keyboard
Posted in Gear, Gear Lust, MIDI | 7 Comments »
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007
OMG, I saw this in Long & McQuade the other day, and just putting my finger down on a key, the huge bass that came out of the Little Phatty made me instantly want to buy it, although I didn’t. It’s a bargain at only $1400. It’s a 100% analog synth, that is digitally controlled and self calibrates, and sounds amazing.
(more…)
Posted in Gear, Gear Lust, MIDI, commentary | No Comments »
Sunday, June 3rd, 2007
Whoa, talk about a lack of contribution to the site from myself in the last… since I wrote my other article (The Digi 003, and why you don’t need it). So here we go with another gear review, this time about the Axiom 61 USB MIDI controller from M-Audio, which I am a proud owner of.
The Axiom 61 features 61 velocity-sensitive semi-weighted action keys (more…)
Posted in Gear, MIDI, Review | 6 Comments »
Monday, April 2nd, 2007
MIDI – Foundations
I Figured since MIDI is my specialty as of late I would write my first article here at Audio Geek Zine about it.
MIDI is to some, a great complicated mystery that they may never wrap their minds around completely… but that would be because their minds are feeble. When understood even in the most basic sense MIDI can be harnessed and used to make the impossible possible. I have designed this article to basically get you in touch with the basic concepts of the MIDI universe.
First and foremost, MIDI is an acronym which stands for…
Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
(more…)
Posted in MIDI | No Comments »
