NOVATION 49 SL MK2 USB MIDI Controller

This is the 49 key version of the SL MkII series of MIDI keyboards from Novation. The SL MkII series from Novation makes music performance and production so much more pleasurable through the use of the ground breaking automap technology. The most realistic feeling USB keyboard on the market. The SL Mk II combines a high quality semi-weighted keyboard with a full DAW and plug-in control surface, that visually feeds back all control information to the user. A giant 144-character display, back lit LED buttons and LED ringed encoders show the status of all controls. Ultra-quick mapping of all 56 knobs, faders and buttons is managed by the groundbreaking Automap 3 PRO software.

Physical controls

Assignable controls:

8 Encoders (Infinite Rotation) with touch-sensitivity and 11 segment Led rings

8 Pots (270 Rotation) with touch-sensitivity

8 Sliders with touch-sensitivity

32 Buttons with integrated LEDs (37 in MIDI mode]

8 soft feel Trigger pads

Xpression Pad (as on existing SL)

Xpression Stick (as on existing SL)

Touch sensitive Speed Dial (as on Nocturn)

System buttons:

General Automap Operation Buttons (Learn, View, Browser Groups etc.)

Octave up/down buttons with LED indicator

The central system buttons from the SL have been simplified; there is now:

1 Automap button with LED to toggle Automap mode on and off (this replaces the PLAY button) - this way, manual MIDI mode is separate from Automap mode and can be avoided completely if preferred

Template and Edit modes have been combined into one edit mode, for editing both individual controls and overall settings within one Template

Connectivity

Rear Panel connections are as follows:

Data Port: 1 x USB (Win XP/Vista and Mac OSX - Not Class Compliant

MIDI: MIDI ONE: IN, OUT and Thru, MIDI TWO: OUT

Sustain Pedal: 1 x 1/4 Jack Input

Expression pedal: 1 x 1/4 Jack Input

Power switch: Ext DC/USB

Minimum Operational Requirements (taken from Nocturn):

Mac OSX 10.4.0 or greater (Leopard also supported) or Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or greater (Vista 32/64 also supported)

Minimum Computer spec: Mac - G4/1GHz, both with 256MB RAM or PC - Pentium 3/1GHz/256MB RAM (machines running Vista will require a higher spec)

High quality professional keyboard
Velocity-sensitive, semi-weighted action keyboard from Fatar, with assignable after-touch. Novation deliver the feeling of playing an instrument, rather than just a computer peripheral.

Illuminated controls provide instant visual feedback
Brightly lit LED rings around the eight smooth encoders, and backlit buttons throughout provide instant visual feedback for every physical control, further reducing reliance on the computer screen.

Giant 144-character LCD screen
Frees the artist from being chained to the computer screen, placing all the essential data right alongside the relevant controls.

Huge array of touch-sensitive controls
Full control surface supporting ultra flexible DAW control and Auto-mappable plug-in controls, 16 knobs, 8 faders and 32 assignable backlit LED buttons.

Automap 3 PRO Control Software
Automap 3 PRO software comes bundled free with SL Mk II, and boasts the following features:

Intelligent control over all sequencers and VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins. Automap 3 removes the pain and time involved in assigning MIDI parameters, and all layouts are fully customisable.

Heads-up transparent control GUI Places a transparent control map across your computer screen - see at a glance how the parameters are automatically assigned to each of SL Mk II's controls.

Instant ‘learn' function Simply click on the software parameter and touch a touch-sensitive control to assign it. Now you can re-assign every control in seconds.

Keystroke Assignments - Automap 3 can assign almost any computer keyboard shortcuts to hardware controls. For example arrow key functions can now be assigned to hardware controls, allowing you to flick between tracks using buttons on your SL/Nocturn. You could also zoom in and out, open windows or create and jump to markers in your DAW.

Innovative MIDI support within Automap Name your parameters and store mappings for later use. The same heads-up display provides quick and simple assigning of regular MIDI parameters. This ensures SL MkII can also turn its hand to controlling the few software application that still rely solely on the MIDI protocol.

Plug-in and Mixer Browser Lets you review all open plug-ins, then quickly switch to control and one of them. Mixer ´MIDI maps´ can be created, saved and recalled via the same map browsing facility.

Autoview Mode - Optional Autoview mode means that the GUI only becomes visible when a controller is touched, then it disappears again allowing you to get back to your DAW.

What is Automap3?
Put simply, Automap is a bit of software that enables you to assign parameters in your sequencer and plug-ins with incredible speed and ease, to the buttons, knobs, faders and other controllers on your Novation SL or Nocturn.
Anyone who has used a hardware controller can testify to how time consuming and awkward this can be - searching through hundreds of MIDI continuous controller numbers and trying to match them with numbers assigned to knobs on the hardware.
For many plug-ins, Automap enables you to simply touch the controller, click on the parameter and its assigned! Novation controllers also provide instant and comprehensive control over all major sequencers - Automap even allows you to instantly assign almost any QWERTY or ASCII keyboard shortcut to buttons and other controllers on the hardware: So you can open and close windows, jump to locators in your DAW and make edits without touching the mouse or keyboard!
Remembering which parameters are assigned to which controllers is a problem of the past. As soon as a controller is touched, all your mappings are shown on the computer screen via Automap´s GUI, as well as the LCD screen of the SL. You can also manage all your mappings from the on-screen GUI; rename them, swap them around by dragging and dropping, or even change the resolution of each control. If the GUI starts to clutter up your screen, you can turn on the "Autoview" function which only brings it up on the cressn when a controller is touched, then hides it again after the controller is released.

MIDI control interface.
Built in MIDI I/O Interface and comprehensive MIDI implementation provide complete control over all external hardware synths and other external MIDI devices.

Novation's unique ‘speed dial'
A touch-sensitive rotary encoder that instantly takes control of whatever your mouse is focused on, providing real time access for composers and performers alike.

Programmable ‘soft-feel' drumpads
Eradicates the need for a separate set of drumpad triggers, providing the ideal platform for sketching out beats or triggering samples

Unique 2-Axis Controls
Fantastic ‘Xpression' pad and adjustably sprung pitch/mod joystick, both freely assignable in MIDI Controlling mode

Dedicated, yet fully-assignable transport buttons.
Control the sequencer's start/stop/loop/record/forward/rewind actions, direct from the MIDI controller, reducing reliance on mouse and screen, or switch them out to allow use of more assignable buttons. SL Mk II recalls how these buttons were previously assigned.

USB buss powering
Provides the artist with a mobile MIDI control solution, freeing them from the confines of the studio

Includes the Xcite+ bundle
Featuring a host of royalty-free loops and samples. The Xite+ Bundle consists of the following:

Ableton Live 7 Lite software (DAW)

502MB of Mike the drummer drum loops - Quality live drum loops

Novation Bass-station synth

Loopmasters Samples library consisting of1GB of royalty free samples