NOVATION NOCTURN

I’ve got to say that I’m quite a fan of Novation’s products, having previously reviewed the superb Ultranova, and being the owner of an SL61 controller keyboard. So I had no complaints at all when I was asked to take a look at the Nocturn! Let’s see if it lives up to the standards of some of it’s siblings shall we?

NOVATION NOCTURN - WHAT IS IT?

The Novation Nocturn is described as being ‘an intelligent plug-in/sequencer controller’. It comes equipped with a high-quality keyboard (as would be expected from a Novation product), 8 drum pads, and a more than useful range of 33 assignable controllers, allowing you to intuitively manipulate your plug-in instruments, effects, and sequencer. To make life easy, the keyboard comes bundled with Novation’s ‘Automap’ control software, which graphically shows you exactly what each knob and button is controlling in your plug-in/sequencer. Even more helpful, the software also allows you to instantly assign many parameters by simply clicking on them and touching a control! Simplicity at it’s best!

NOVATION NOCTURN - AUTOMAP SOFTWARE

It’s sometimes a problem with MIDI controllers to visualise how a software parameter setting relates to the position on the hardware encoder…not with the Nocturn. Each dial is surrounded by a ring of LEDs, which light up in synchronisation with the software settings, to give a helping hand in forming a connection between software and hardware.

As well as the Automap software, all Nocturn products come with the powerful V-Synth software, AND the coveted Bass Station analogue modelling synthesiser. Oh, yeah, and I forgot to mention Novation FX Suite software, which provides five historical Novation effects, including Chorus, Delay, Tremolo, Phaser, and a powerful filter with overdrive. Novation claim that ‘each and every one of them offers a significant upgrade from your DAW/sequencer’s own effects’.

NOVATION NOCTURN - WHAT ELSE?

The Novation Nocturn keyboard is of high-quality Italian build, and features assignable aftertouch, to cater for expressive playing styles. The trigger pads are velocity sensitive, as would be expected from a professional product, and so are extremely useful for assembling beats and samples.

As well as the 8 previously mentioned continuous rotary encoders, there are 8 assignable LED-lit buttons, and a transport section, which can be unlocked to create a further 6 assignable buttons. For added flexibility, the trigger pads or any additional expression/sustain pedals can be freely assigned to any control you wish.

NOVATION NOCTURN - A NEW CHAPTER AND A NEW PAGE!

One extremely useful control feature that is worth mentioning is the Page control function. What this function does, is allow you to create a number of control ‘pages’, meaning that the eight existing control buttons can be manipulated to control an almost limitless number of parameters, by assigning each hardware control to a different software control on each page. Simply move between controller sets using the Page Up and Page Down buttons on the controller itself!

And finally there is the 9th Speed Dial controller. I’m ashamed to say that in the couple of years that I’ve owned my SL61, I’ve never even bothered to look at what this button does! Lucky I was asked to do this review then, because it’s a superb addition to the controller! It allows you take instant control of any software parameter that you wish, simply by placing the mouse over your chosen parameter, and turning the Speed dial! This eliminates the assignment process, so is perfect to use with software parameters that you tend to use too occasionally to assign to an immediate encoder.

NOVATION NOCTURN - TOUCH ENCODERS

As with many Novation products, including the Ultranova, the encoders on the Novation Nocturn are all touch sensitive. This allows you to simply touch a control, and it will bring up information about what it is controlling, with the name and value of whatever it is assigned to in your software appearing beneath it in the Automap’s edit page. It’s not as impressive as the touch sensitive features of the Ultranova, but it’s still cool, as it means that you don’t have to make a physical adjustment to an encoder to determine what it is controlling.

So whether you’re making simple parameter adjustments to find the perfect static setting, or are using the encoders to record automation changes over time, the Nocturn delivers with pure quality!

The Novation Nocturn is fantastically low priced for what it is, and is available in both 25 and 49 key formats, and can also be purchased in a money saving bundle with the Spectrasonics Omnisphere software.

[Purchase the NOVATION NOCTURN 25 MIDI CONTROLLER KEYBOARD]

Purchase the NOVATION NOCTURN 49 MIDI CONTROLLER KEYBOARD

Purchase the SPECTRASONICS OMNISPHERE PLUS NOVATION NOCTURN 49 BUNDLE