KVR Audio

beowulf · Post by **beowulf** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:23 pm

Hey all,

I am very interested in buying the SL MK2.. however, I see it's been around since 2009. 3+ years seems a long time for a company to go without a new updated product. Given Maschine, Korg, Yamaha, and more have come out with new models recently, typically with more led colors and controls, I am concerned that if I drop $300 on the 25-key now.. soon they'll have an updated and better product and I'll be a bit upset that I could have just waited.

Right now I have the Edirol PCR-300, and use Reaper with Alchemy as my primary go to sound library with various NI options on the back burner. I also have a Maschine controller. I really like the option to use the MK2 along with the automap to map various knobs and such to the Alchemy synth and for real-time recording movement like the x/y pad.

So is there any idea if they'll be releasing an updated/better controller.. any rumors? I know if I ask them they'll tell me they cant say anything, and I don't think I can go wrong with the MK2.. just don't want to spend the money if I can wait a couple months and get something more updated/better.

Thanks.

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:40 pm

Last time they upgraded the SL, they lost a screen, so who knows what the next upgrade will lose!

I'm still on an mkI and I have no desire to upgrade it. I prefer the two screens.

beowulf · Post by **beowulf** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:50 pm

I am curious why they took out the 2nd screen.. that's too bad, but it looks like they added a bit too. Not sure if the touch of knobs/sliders was that big of an innovation or not, but I do like all the leds and such with info on their settings.

How is they keyboard itself? I've always liked the feel of the roland and korg boards. I am most interested in how solid it feels.. or is it flimsy feeling? My PCR-300 feels great (Being a roland product).

Also, the x/y pad and the mod/pitch stick.. how do they feel.. good quality, good control? I am looking to use the x/y pad in conjunction with Alchemy's performance mappings to automate various changes in a patch while recording.

beowulf · Post by **beowulf** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:37 pm

On a side note.. is there any other comparable midi controller with knobs/sliders/xy pad with similar lighting info and good solid keys?

ksandvik · Post by **ksandvik** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:41 pm

beowulf wrote:On a side note.. is there any other comparable midi controller with knobs/sliders/xy pad with similar lighting info and good solid keys?

I would try the new Samson Graphite if any of the local stores finally have one for the obligatory keyboard-feels-right test...

beowulf · Post by **beowulf** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:46 pm

Just looked it up.. it doesn't appeal to me overall. I am mostly about functionality with the xy-pad as I use Alchemy (and NI synths) that make use of the xy pad for performance changes in real time, along with knobs/faders of course. Oddly..I don't like the wheel style mod/pitch bend. I prefer the stick sort like on my PCR-300 and what the Novation seems to have. But thank you for the suggestion, hadn't heard of that one before.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:48 pm

beowulf wrote:I am very interested in buying the SL MK2.. however, I see it's been around since 2009. 3+ years seems a long time for a company to go without a new updated product. Given Maschine, Korg, Yamaha, and more have come out with new models recently, typically with more led colors and controls, I am concerned that if I drop $300 on the 25-key now.. soon they'll have an updated and better product and I'll be a bit upset that I could have just waited.

They released the Impulserange earlier this year. I have the original SL25 with 2 screens ... very happy with it.

beowulf · Post by **beowulf** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:54 pm

I'm an impatient fellow. ZZSounds had it.. but it was cheaper on amazon. So ZZSounds has option to "match" price PLUS do it in 4 payments. Not only did they approve the match, they lowered it to $308 shipped, payable in 4 payments. No extra cost, no financing needed. Hopefully Novation doesn't release a new updated/better one anytime soon!

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:01 pm

beowulf wrote:I'm an impatient fellow. ZZSounds had it.. but it was cheaper on amazon. So ZZSounds has option to "match" price PLUS do it in 4 payments. Not only did they approve the match, they lowered it to $308 shipped, payable in 4 payments. No extra cost, no financing needed. Hopefully Novation doesn't release a new updated/better one anytime soon!

I'm still using a Novation Remote 61. No Automap, but it's a fine keyboard. The keybed feels a thousand times better than the Edirol I once had, but it was 6 times as expensive. I also have a Remote 25SL mk1 and it's a fine midi controller IMO.

Is Novation working on a new midi controller...