Novation Keyboards – full integration with Logic, Pro Tools and Ableton Live

By Paul Dakeyne

March 10, 2010 | Posted in Music Technology

News has reached us today from the Novation camp regarding a much anticipated update to the company’s Automap control surface software. This is great news for users of Novation’s SL Mk II and Nocturn keyboards (Zero SL included) who run Apple Logic Studio 9 and Pro Tools 8, plus Ableton Live too. Up until now, control of Logic and Pro Tools by SL and Nocturn keyboards has been limited to just the basics of transport and mixer page operation but this major improvement brings fully integrated, full functionality effects and instrument plug-in control of not only the DAW’s native tools but plug-ins from third parties too – awesome!

The user can address any active window for control simply by bringing it to the front or using the keyboard’s browser mode. From here, everything is evidently pre-mapped for instant control. If the pre-mapping isn’t to the users taste, then a simple, ‘learn-click-reassign’ mouse sequence can change a parameter to be adjusted by whichever dial, fader or knob he or she wishes. As well as this new functionality, both Pro Tools and Logic 9′s mixer page are comprehensively controlled as standard support to address fader levels, pan, mutes and sends etc.

One of the best things about the Novation’s SL Mk II range for example, is the super large LCD screen which gives a clear indication over an eight parameter span of exactly what is being controlled at any one time. The cool control pad is also rather nifty if you are assigning any plug-in that has an x/y axis control to manipulate. The Nocturn keyboard, though not possessing the above model’s favoured blue screen, brings those ever so useful drum-pads to the user, so whichever you may choose between the two, this new updated Automap functionality makes joining team Novation a bit of a no-brainer right now.

But hey, wait a minute, I thought we started this blog by mentioning the new Novation software update working with a future version of Ableton Live – and indeed it will. Ableton tells us that this version is coming soon, so watch this space.

About Paul Dakeyne

Paul Dakeyne has written 592 post in this blog.

Paul Dakeyne is a DJ/Producer who has dedicated the past two decades of his life to dance music production and DJ'ing. For six years, he toured globally for the world famous Ministry of Sound and has played DJ sets for the likes of U2 and for the legendary, Kraftwerk, Although remixing around 250 records in his career, as an artist in his own right, Paul landed one of dance music's seminal crossover moments with his "18 Strings' monster hit by Tinman - scoring a UK top ten in 1994. He also co-wrote and produced the music for BBC's Watchdog and Crimewatch when they were both revamped in 2001 and '06 respectively. His other career highlights have included an A&R stint for Mercury Records, lecturing in 'DJ culture and music technology' and creating mash-up mixes for Radio 1's, Chris Moyles. Paul joined the DV group in 2003 leading to his role as blog and feature author here at the DV Mag.

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Tags: ableton live, automap, keyboard, Logic Studio 9, Nocturn, novation, Pro Tools 8, SL MkII

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