KVR Audio

vieris · Post by **vieris** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:32 am

(Rant warning. I have no where else to rant)

Ok i lost a bid on a used Novation K-Station. I would by an X-station in a sec if it didn't come with the freakin built in audio interface. Why don't they make a stand alone synth with keys anymore! I've all ready paid for an Audio Interface & a better one at that. I don't want to pay for the extra overhead for something i don't need. I like K-station better as well same technology but with a vocoder that the X-station dosen't have. Why did they take away the vocoder!?

The alesis micron is looking more attractive, but i loved the realtime controls of Novation gear. Ok someone convince me the Micron is better.

Cygnus X-1 · Post by **Cygnus X-1** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:31 am

The Micron is definitely a much stronger and deeper synth than the new Novation offerings. Lack of knobs on the Micron is a serious turn off for me as well.
How about the XioSynth? I know, it's still has the audio interface stuff + you can not use internal fx on external audio but it seems like a good budget middle ground between the X-station and A-station. Otherwise, just get a K-station if this is what you want.

If you really dig the Novation "liquid" sound, save more and get the Nova (or Super nova II). This was the flagship, and maybe the most powerful full-featured synth Novation ever made.

And to answer your question as to why did the vocooder feature was left behind, well, probably to be able to cram the audio interface functions in there

vieris · Post by **vieris** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:13 am

I said F'it picked up a micron today.. Holy S^%$. This little guy packs allot of power! I like I like.

Goseba · Post by **Goseba** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:28 am

I almost bought a Micron the other week and also looked at a KS5, Sirius and Ion.

In the end I got a Nova 11 keyboard and although I haven't had much time with it, I love it. I had a Supernova 2 module once so I guess I knew what I was getting.

dry bones · Post by **dry bones** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:29 am

Goseba wrote:In the end I got a Nova 11 keyboard and although I haven't had much time with it, I love it. I had a Supernova 2 module once so I guess I knew what I was getting.

I've been using a Nova IIX as my only hardware synth for some time, and I'm still finding new things I can do with it; I really wanted the Supernova II Pro 48, but I'm very happy. I'm considering getting a Micron to take on journeys though.

elephant stone · Post by **elephant stone** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:36 am

vieris wrote: The alesis micron is looking more attractive, but i loved the realtime controls of Novation gear. Ok someone convince me the Micron is better.

Also look for Oberheim OB12

JimmiG · Post by **JimmiG** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:54 pm

I have an old Novation Nova synth, and I'm surprised that current Novation synths, even the "high-end" ones, fall short of matching it. It was produced in the late 90's, and comes with 16 voices, 6 parts multitimbral (with per-part effects and arpeggio patterns), doublesaw waveform, layering, splitting, tons of modulation, tons of filter options etc. etc., lots of knobs and buttons and a very good LCD display. The Supernova and Supernova II synths are even more impressive, leaving "toys" like the XioSynth completely in the dust.

I wish Novation would produce a new proper high-end synth, but they seem to focus on releasing low-end/mid-range synths based on their existing ASM technology these days.

vieris · Post by **vieris** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:39 pm

I know itś odd.
I ended up with the Micron because itś a well made sturdy stand alone synth. Same with the past novation stuff. The K-station was nice, that was just 2 or 3 years ago. All i know is my micron will still be kicking around long after the X-station. The faders are so flimsy on that thing. I am 80% software based, i just wanted a nice piece of hardware that does what it does really well. I didnt want a synth tied to USB or would have redundant hardware that would be useless when (Windows Apocalypse 2012 SP9 or Mac OS XII Gerbil) is released. Novations midi controllers are built way better then the X-station.

kodama · Post by **kodama** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:21 pm

The Micron has no interface, shoulda gone an ION instead!

Owell, the X-Station synth is just like a K-Station but with better control surface, XY pad, newer os with a few more features (more wave types, etc..), and no vocoder.

vieris · Post by **vieris** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:28 pm

Nah the micron is more powerfull.. And there is a nice automatable VST interface for it. Same engine but with FX and for $300 less.. Just a lack of knobs. But thats what the VST and my midi controller is for.

JimmiG · Post by **JimmiG** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:06 pm

The Alesis synths look very interesting, but I can't justify buying either the Micron or Ion.

The Micron just has too few knobs to allow any kind of serious sound editing. It's too minimalist and menu/button-centric. Sure, there might be patch editors for the PC and Mac, but the whole reason I still spend any kind of money on hardware synths these days, is for the realtime editing possibilites. I hate editing sounds using the mouse, and creating templates or using midi-learn etc. to edit with a midi-interface is way to cumbersome and time consuming to be considered a time saver.

On the other hand, I can't justify paying the extra money for the Ion, either. I don't need (or have room for) another full-size keyboard as I already have a UF-7, and paying such a premium over the Micron seems a bit silly when they're almost the same synth under the hood.

I'd love a desktop/rack version with the same features and lots of knobs and buttons.

vieris · Post by **vieris** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:29 pm

A desktop ver would be cool.. The micron is my only hardware synth other then some circut bent drum and noise makers, Well i have a etherwave but thats in a whole other class. I've been all about the software for the past few years. The micron was just the best thing i found in the $400 and down VA market. I have to say it's a better sounding bass synth then my Ultra Analog, Tassman, or operator. The filter models are nice. I need to play with it longer but it covers all my VA needs i can think of. The pattern/arpeg, phrase recorder. & step sequencer make it really fun when you dont feel like touching a DAW to program. It's now the best analog sounding drum machine i have. I didn't even buy it with these features in mind. Makes me want more of them to use as stand alone filter/vocoder, drum module, and of course a synth. But multi passes will do for now. I just see this thing ultimately more useful & able to hold it's value in the years to come for me. I didn't see that with the Xiosynth or X-station.

3*s · Post by **3*s** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:31 pm

I also miss the classic Novation sound. The Supernova II was the peak of the Novation sound, then they started making mediocre synths for some reason.

Damn you Novation