Novation Nova II XL

Using the latest operating system (OS2), to which I upgraded from OS1.5. The preset sounds are terrific, and the big selection gives a very good overview about what this synth can do.

The big advantage of this synth is that everything can be edited via the front panel. However, understanding the structure of an existing sound at one glance is impossible, since knobs and faders are not automated. You have to move them around to see their actual value in the display. A patch editor would definitely be helpful in this case, but the ones I've looked at are way too expensive in my opinion.

The manual is very good as far as the theory of sound modelling is concerned, and it explains each and every setting. Especially compared to Yamaha's and Roland's manuals I have, this is wonderful. The font size is a bit too small though, and chapter titles are hidden in the page headers.

The "bug" described in a user's comment below (05/11/2001) is not a bug. If the Nova is set to "local off", i.e. acting as a master keyboard, the Nova only responds to incoming MIDI messages, not directly to its knobs. This is useful when having the Nova controlling other MIDI gear, or when using a MIDI sequencer with MIDI feedback.

If the above is a problem, you either set the synth to "local on", or set up the MIDI sequencer so that it sends back (=echoes) incoming MIDI data to the Nova. The latter is actually the most common setup.

For the list of features, please refer to the Novation website at www.novationusa.com. I can add the following:

I got the impression that some dealers, and Novation itself, do not know the polyphony/expansion cards situation. All Nova II keyboards are identical, except for the polyphony, which depends on the kind of pre-installed expansion card. Nova II has 12 voices (no expansion card), Nova II X 24 voices (built-in 12-voice expansion card), Nova II XL has 36 voices (built-in a 24-voice expansion card).

This means: to expand a Nova II X's polyphony from 24 to 36, you have to discard the existing 12-voice expansion and replace it with a 24-voice expansion one. This is what I did.

The audio inputs really make this a special synth. I've barely scratched on the surface of the possibilities (vocoder effects, weird sounds based on other audio material), and I'm fascinated by the endless possibilities this opens up for experimenting.

A definite plus is that the Nova II can play in multi-mode (i.e. up to 6 different sounds at once) with completely different effects on each part. This is really a brilliant feature. Additionally, one effect part can be used for external audio sources!

In my impression, the Nova II has been mostly advertised as a "dance" type synth, but I find it very versatile for all kinds of genres. The preset E-piano sounds and warm background pads are a good example for this.

Whether or not the synth is doing a good job at simulating analogue gear was not really my concern. I wanted a synth that could create a big variety of sounds, and am very happy with the results.

You can actually get the synth to produce digital clipping if you push the volumes. Although I was taken aback by this fact initially, I realised that this allows a hot output even for typically quiet sounds. If Novation had artificially limited the amplitudes at an early stage, the final output volume on many sounds would have been too low.

The keyboard action is good, very sensitive to velocity/aftertouch. Even my other gear really comes to life when I play on the Nova as a master keyboard. Another Nova II keyboard I tried before had a harder touch to it though, which I found even better.

It seems to be very sturdy, but if you have to transport it, take care of not damaging the knobs and sliders. I like the fact that the AC adapter is built-in, since I hate having external AC adapters all over the place.

Opening the cover for service, or to add expansion cards, is a breeze: two screws only, and you can flip the cover open on its hinges - cool! The only problem is getting rid of already-installed expansion cards, since they are fitted in very tightly, and you don't want to break the mainboard!

The Novation distribution was the worst I've ever experienced. I had ordered a Nova II XL. Instead of that, Novation delivered a Nova II X (24 voices), in a box labelled "II XL". Although the serial number on the keyboard and on the box matched, the synth was thus a different model! As if that was not enough, it was a "fully checked in-factory demo piece" (according to Novation), in pretty bad condition, instead of a new one.

Of course I refused that delivery, sent it back - and the next delivery went exactly the same way. Again a used piece of gear (albeit in better condition), again the wrong type of synth!

In the end, we agreed to settle for it, but since I wanted a 36-voice synth, they tried delivering the correct expansion card. They sent me the wrong one twice (SIIEX-12) before getting it finally right with the arrival of the correct expansion card (SIIEX-24).

It was quite a waste of time and money in the end, so I guess I wouldn't do the same thing all over again. Too much of a hassle. It's a pity there was no real alternative to the Nova II for me back then (and still isn't). I don't think I'd try buying anything from Novation anymore.

In fairness, one thing I have to mention though: tech support was very quick in responding to my technical questions, and very helpful, when contacted via e-mail.

It's definitely my most flexible piece of gear, so I don't think I'll ever part with it. It's so versatile that it would be hard to find anything else that could replace it. Believing in slim setups, I'm currently using a Yamaha FS1R (synth) and a Roland JV1010 (sample player) alongside the Nova II. With this gear I'm able to do pretty much anything.

If Novation had put some RAM on board to allow uploading of samples, this would have been an all-in-one workhorse.

Let me start by saying, I hope I just got a lemon, because this synth was nothing short of a nightmare. I returned it after only 1 week of (attempted) use. I upgraded the OS myself to 1.5. The presets sound great. There are so many great sounds which is why I went for the nova, but the operation of the actual synth was terrible. Settings would not save at all, including global settings and midi/patch settings in performance mode, making it virtually worthless from the start. Editing patches is easy, but the midi transmission on the synth I had was extremely sporadic. The same can be said for incoming midi data. THE MANUAL SUCKED, and of course was wrong in area, including how to upgrade the OS which I had to contact Novation directly for. Further, when I would change patches or performances the number would change but the name would stay the same. CAN YOU SAY BUGS!!!

The effects and polyphony on this synth is top notch. The ability to have individual effects per instrument is pretty much unheard of, and with 7 effects per instrument you're talking serious effects. Sadly though, my synth never made it that far as it could not do anything in performance mode. I had the fully expanded 36 voice Nova II so voices would not have been a concern. And the effects I did play with in program/patch mode sounded very nice. One thing I dont like is the delay settings. You cant set delay to milliseconds or bpms. You can only set it to a value of 0-127 which makes it impossible to manually set delay speed. You're other option is synch to midi and then chose a note to delay on, but I personally dont like that option.

This is flat out a dance synth. I know plenty of big name dance artist that swear by it. Obvioulsly the have fully working versions. Again the sounds and effects are top notch, so if you have one that runs as its designed to, you're in luck.

HAHAH! See my above statements. Can I depend on it? A BIG HELL NO! Never worked.

Well tech support was way to late. I left voice mail with them and mailed them 3 times. Although they did respond to my requests, it was to late and I had already made arrangements to send the synth back. They took 2 days to respond to email and almost a full week to the voice mail. That is unacceptable for any working musician. My access virus is now on the way.

I got this synth at about half of what it retails for, which goes to show you get what you pay for. but I really think I got a lemon. The synth was brand new when I received it, straight out of the box. Again, loved the sounds hated the OS. Performance mode was useless. And dont care for the delay settings.

O.S. 1.5 Presets sound quite ok. There are too many knobs to simply use a preset. Turn some knobs and a new sound is created.. Manuel is ok.

36 voices. 42 effects -> 7 per part (6 parts) Vocoder. I've got a Nova II XL. This means that expanding voices is no longer possible I would love it to have more parts. No on boards sequenser. Very usefull arpeggiator section

Analog like sounds. Super.

I would use it live in combination with a PC.

Upgrades work. Sequencers don't always. Although you wouldn't expect many things to reasonable get any better, novation is still upgrading this synth. Super

I would buy this product again, maybe I'd go for a supernova II (more parts). Sounds and handling is superb.