UVI Digital Synsations (SY77, M1, VFX, D50), free with Korg controllers

[UltimateOutsider]

Yes, maybe the 2 is an improvement on the 1 after all. I couldn't use the 1 on the plane, it was so noisy (OVER the noise of the engines!) that I was afraid of waking up my fellow passengers. A computer keyboard doesn't come close to having this issue.

I wonder whether I got a lemon. I've had significant problems getting the nanoKey2 to work properly. When I plug it in, I usually see it in Device Manager, and it's not banged-out or anything, but the Korg Kontrol Editor software usually doesn't detect that it's plugged in and Cubase and Live don't see it as a MIDI device. I've gotten it to work before by hacking the USB registry (the Korg PadKontrol came with a utility to do that, but now that I've sold the padKontrol, I don't have its software installed anymore), but I doubt they're expecting most users to do that.

The nanoKontrol, on the other hand, works great whenever I happen to need it.

[Asuyuka]

Just got a message back from the support center.

No go on the missing PIN thing. I feel kind of bummed now, ah well. I'll see how my finances look after rent etc.

Not that I've spent the morning looking through boxes of stuff (one with a spider x_o)

If all goes well, I'll go buy a nanoKontrol on Friday to make me feel better.

[kbaccki]

If all goes well, I'll go buy a nanoKontrol on Friday to make me feel better.

Ahh.. always lookfor the silver lining. You can't afford not to go buy more gear...

[kbaccki]

For feel and noise level in 25 keys check out the Akai LPK25... keys feel solid and smooth for a little minikey device.

Interesting how opinions differ; I had a LPK25 for a while and hated it. I'm not a great keyboard player anyway but found it really infuriating to play, kept catching the black keys. Whereas, I love the nanokey2. Maybe because I'm more used to tapping my laptops keys, NK2 has a very similar feel and 'resistance', just suits me better. Feel it's a better ergonomic choice than trying to shrink a conventional keyboard.

All minikey devices suck, IMO... thing is, I was a bit interested in the nanokey, but after some debate I figured the NK would be fine for some type of playing, but any sort of "real" chords and scales is just going to feel weird, because it's like a bizarre lovechild of oversized computer keys laid out sorta like a piano... so I figured I'd also need the option of a more familiar look and feel. Turns out you can get used to playing chords and scales on the NK (even the reverso black model, which is the one I got). I considered the IK mini model because it has a sustain pedal jack (the only one with that, I think), but I was not impressed with the feel of the keys... I really really don't like the overly light keys -- it's bad enough the keys are minitiarized, and for them to be light and mushy as well is just a double whammy... On the full size end, I always point at the m-audio Axiom controllers -- very light and mushy, IMO. Much prefer a stiffer, beefier feel of the Emu X-board, the Akai MPK, my old Alesis QS6.1 had a nice feel, the old DX7, etc. Same for the LPK25 -- I like it specifically because it's a bit springier/stuffer than the iRig, the m-Audio mini offering. Although I don't think GC had a microkey on display, specifically, and I'm interested in trying one of those as well, if the 37 key model is portable enough...

The keys do clack like hell though.

+billion on that... on the plus side, when you do some crazy 2 octave run you get a little extra aural feedback... like, wow, I just played helluvalotta notes there... I will also say that the nanokey also makes a great alternative to a pad controller for drumming... it's much more responsive than your typical drumpad mechanism, IMO, plus if you're running your drum samples through keyboard0centric mappings (like Kontakt), having the piano key layout makes a little more sense in terms of visual relationships etc.

[syncII]

I have bought the following UVI stuff (my marks out of 10 in brackets).....

Emulation One (7/10)
Emulation II (8/10)
Digital Synsations (8/10)
Synths Anthology (7/10)
Grand Piano Collection (8/10)
Vintage Legends (8/10)
Mello (5/10)
The Beast (Synclavier II) (7/10)

All are used with free UVI Workstation.

Some are better than others. I used to own Emulator II, Ensoniq SD1, Synclavier II, Korg M1. Still have an SY77.

Main criticism is not all samples I might expect are always there. For instance there are a few famous sounds missing from The Beast (Synclavier II FM) which should have been included at the price point. The library for the Synclavier II isn't particularly large to start with presumably due to the difficulties the relatively small NED team had in FM programming. Same missing samples thing goes for Emulator II.

Direct SY77 comparison is more difficult because the number of possible waveforms from the real thing is endless. Digital Synsations DS77 version sounds good but SY77's can be picked up on ebay for £100. They are amazing sounding keyboards. Think DX7 on steroids that can sound as fat as any analogue synth.

But what UVI do include is always very high quality. DSX samples from Ensoniq VFX are very close to the original as compared to first generation samples of SD1 that I made before selling. SD1 has the same waveforms as a VFX plus a few more and more polyphony.

DS90s (D50) sounds good but again I'm not sure how many of the onboard samples / partials are included.

As you would expect, Korg Legacy M1 is light years above the very limited UVI sampled DS1 version.

It would be nice if samples could be added to their libraries but I have never seen a library update.

Finally, I always wait for a sale as they are a bit expensive at normal price IMO.

But FOC with a Korg controller, Digital Synsations is an excellent inclusion.

[UltimateOutsider]

Main criticism is not all samples I might expect are always there. For instance there are a few famous sounds missing from The Beast (Synclavier II FM) which should have been included at the price point. The library for the Synclavier II isn't particularly large to start with presumably due to the difficulties the relatively small NED team had in FM programming. Same missing samples thing goes for Emulator II.

...

But what UVI do include is always very high quality. DSX samples from Ensoniq VFX are very close to the original as compared to first generation samples of SD1 that I made before selling. SD1 has the same waveforms as a VFX plus a few more and more polyphony.

I don't have first-hand experience with any non-Roland vintage synths, so I probably wouldn't know which classic presets were present or missing in most cases- but my general impression of their libraries is that rather than try to deliver "all 128 original presets!" of any given synth, they give you a bunch of nice original sounds designed on the actual hardware, and a few classic trademark sounds (licensing considerations permitting).

Even though most of their libraries aren't huge, the stuff they give you is mostly usable (not a lot of weird throwaway patches). And at least with their modern libraries, their UIs are both cool and functional.

Anyway, I agree with you- they're not necessarily comprehensive, but what they give you is solid.

[planetearth]

Just got a message back from the support center.

No go on the missing PIN thing. I feel kind of bummed now, ah well. I'll see how my finances look after rent etc.

Not that I've spent the morning looking through boxes of stuff (one with a spider x_o)

If all goes well, I'll go buy a nanoKontrol on Friday to make me feel better.

They won't let you send a photo of the nano or they just won't help you at all? I called Korg, and the woman told me to use the form on the Korg USA support site, and that "they can help me". Of course, if you're saying they won't help, that kinda changes things....

Steve

[Asuyuka]

Just got a message back from the support center.

No go on the missing PIN thing. I feel kind of bummed now, ah well. I'll see how my finances look after rent etc.

Not that I've spent the morning looking through boxes of stuff (one with a spider x_o)

If all goes well, I'll go buy a nanoKontrol on Friday to make me feel better.

They won't let you send a photo of the nano or they just won't help you at all? I called Korg, and the woman told me to use the form on the Korg USA support site, and that "they can help me". Of course, if you're saying they won't help, that kinda changes things....

Steve

Complete no go, sadly. I'll live, for now.

[Uncle E]

All minikey devices suck, IMO...

Try the QuNexus.

[Krubbadoo]

Is UVI Digital synsations included when you buy Nanokontrol 2? I am located in Canada is this deal available here?

[zakufan]

I am lucky I did not register my nanokey 2 when I bought it 3 years ago

[GaryG]

it's like a bizarre lovechild of oversized computer keys laid out sorta like a piano...

I think that's exactly what it is.

IMO. Much prefer a stiffer, beefier feel of the Emu X-board, the Akai MPK, my old Alesis QS6.1 had a nice feel, the old DX7, etc.

I briefly had an X-board, loved the feel of it but had some usb issues... Replaced it with a 1st gen axiom which was horrible, hated that extra push you had to give it to get the aftertouch working... Replaced that with a cheap Behringer controller which is pretty good for my level of playing, nice and responsive. Though best keyboard I ever had was a DX11 many years ago. Actually considered picking one up off ebay.

on the plus side, when you do some crazy 2 octave run you get a little extra aural feedback... like, wow, I just played helluvalotta notes there...

You could always mic it up and mix the recording in for a little extra percussive interest to your track?

I will also say that the nanokey also makes a great alternative to a pad controller for drumming...

Yep. I bought a Steinberg CMC-PD shortly before the NK2 and, although that's a great little light-weight drum controller, I often find myself not bothering to plug it in but use the NK2 instead as it's perfectly fine for that purpose too.

Though a little noisy.

[ZINO]

I just ordered a nanokey 2 from the UK. Our local distributor must have screwed it up. It seems he ordered a ton of the original nanokey (1) and the market was full of them. Perhaps he was waiting to sell them until he orders v.2. Good luck on that

Anyway, even if the controller itself is shit the deal is good just for the UVI. QuNexus from the same UK dealer is 170 Euros - yeah rrrrriiiiighhhtt.............

[murnau]

got UVI Synsations here @ marketplace for $20.

[UltimateOutsider]

Is UVI Digital synsations included when you buy Nanokontrol 2? I am located in Canada is this deal available here?

First question: Yes
Second question: I don't know.