The Remix // Rework competition is now closed! 

We had a fantastic response to the competition and feedback so far shows you all had fun creating your entries!  Due to the number of entries we received, we had to extend the shortlist to 30 as our task became impossible.

It's time to go and make your vote count on our Facebook page

Gear Showcase at NAMM Show & Controllerism.com Event

Novation artists are hitting the 2012 NAMM show with a bang, with gear showcases from three artists on the show-floor demo stage.

San Fransisco-based DJ/producer/vocalist Ill-Esha will be performing with Twitch, the Touchstrip Controller, using its external mic inputs and one-to-one effects control inside Serato ITCH to blend her vocals and dubstep-infused beats.

Controllerist supremo Moldover will also be using Twitch as a controller, this time with Ableton Live and a host of custom-designed Max patches, which transform Twitch from a dedicated DJ platform into a powerful and versatile music controller.

Also on the Novation line-up is Adriano Clemente, who uses Ableton Live and Max For Live alongside multiple Launchpads to create an interactive music-making experience. Adriano will also be implementing Novation's UltraNova synthesizer into his performances to provide additional sound sources, but also to take advantage of its unique touch features. The full schedule for artist performances will be posted on the Novation booth at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California (booth #6464).

Also during NAMM week, Novation are sponsoring an event with the Controllism.com music-making community, featuring a performance from NYC-based Mike Slott on the Launchpad.

Press Kit: www.novationmusic.com/namm2012

 Attention all! Our latest video shows our very own Continuum making a track in a day with Novation and Focusrite gear.

Download the stems, create your own version of the track and win a selection of the gear that Continuum uses to make his track in a day.

Continuum and The Nextmen's Brad will shortlist 25 of the best tracks when the competition ends at 16:59 GMT on 31 January 2012 — a public vote will follow, so get all your friends to vote for your track here!

Go to Facebook to find out more and get involved!

Novation is proud to be an official partner of the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (BEMF), which takes place in Williamsburg, NY in November.

The BEMF showcases the cutting edge of the electronic music scene, with artists including Hudson Mohawke, Cubic Zirconia and Four Tet, and DJs such as Matthew Dear and Fischerspooner on the lineup.

The event takes place over two nights on the 11th and 12th November 2011, in bars and clubs in North Williamsburg. For further details, including lineup and location information, head to www.brooklynemf.com.

Novation have partnered with Ableton as tech sponsors of the festival. To buy tickets, visit http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/71379.

Kinshasa One Two remix competition launched...

Focusrite and Novation are proud to announce their support of the DRC Music project, a collective of 11 UK & US producers who worked with over 50 musicians from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to make 'Kinshasa One Two', an album released by Warp Records in early November 2011.

Focusrite and Novation are contributing prizes to the DRC Music Remix Competition — organised by Warp Records — where the producer of the best submission picks up a collection of music gear, including a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface and a Novation Impulse 25 controller keyboard. Other prizes have been provided by Blue Microphones and Soundcloud.

To enter the competition, simply visit http://remixhallo.drcmusic.org/, download the stems, and submit your completed remix to the same web site. The competition runs until November 25th 2011. The album Kinshasa One Two is available to purchase in physical format from Bleep.com and Amazon, and online from iTunes and FairShareMusic.

Profits raised by the DRC Music project will go towards Oxfam's work in DRC (http://drcmusic.org/oxfam). For more information on the remix competition, visit http://remixhallo.drcmusic.org/

Twitch - The Touchstrip Controller - at Scratch DJ Academy, Los Angeles, Wednesday November 16, 7pm.

Everyone who attends will get a free copy of the Novation Bass Station worth $179!

• Win 1 of 2 Twitches on the night
• Full demos from Novation product specialists
• Performances from Ill Esha & Cal Green
• Get totally hands on with Twitch

Please register here to reserve your place at this free event - hurry, places are limited!

7-10pm Wednesday November 16 @ Scratch DJ Academy, 2324 Cotner Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (click to view on map).

Automap 4.1 is here, bringing the brand new, full-featured version of Novation’s music software control application to all Novation controllers, including the flagship SL MkII.
Automap is free software that comes with all Novation controllers. It gives you instant access to your DAW and plug-ins so you can get hands-on control of your music software. It features a software edit page that graphically shows what software parameter is assigned to which knob, fader or button on the hardware. Automap 4 also has a re-designed GUI and now features a notification system that pops up in the corner of your monitor to tell you what you are controlling when you move a knob, slider or button.

Automap 4 was launched with the Novation's new Impulse controller keyboard range in Summer 2011. The v4.1 update enables Novation’s top of the range SL MkII controllers to work with Automap 4 for instant assignment and convenient control. Other Novation controllers and keyboards are now also compatible with Automap 4, including: Nocturn, Launchpad, UltraNova, ReMOTE SL, Nocturn Keyboard and the SL Compact.

Automap is the original music software control technology. It was launched in 2006 and has evolved over the years with significant workflow improvements. It is simple to set up and start using right away, and gives you unparalleled control over your DAW’s mixer, effects and virtual instruments. It will be available for free download by the beginning of November 2011.

Interactive Ableton Live Installation debuts during AES weekend...

Ableton Certified Trainer, sound designer and musician Adriano Clemente will be debuting an interactive sound installation during the 131st AES Convention in New York. Featuring eight Novation Lauchpads and two computers each running Ableton Live 8 and Max For Live, his installation demonstrates numerous creative uses of these powerful audio production tools. Adriano explains the system: “I'm using two computers running Ableton Live 8, synced via a WiFi network, so I can control eight Launchpads simultaneously. My system uses native features of Live, such as follow actions and Max4Live patches for step sequencing, instrument performance and real-time loop manipulation.”
 
“I think that the Launchpad's ability to put Live's interface under your fingers with visual-LED feedback is fun and powerful”, says Adriano. “My installation takes advantage of the LEDs to recreate an environment similar to a gallery exhibition. The paintings are made by light and sound, and the frames are the Launchpads themselves: some of them are used to play sound atmospheres, others to sculpt in real time improvised rhythmical parts.”
 
Although there are numerous controllers that could perform a similar role, Adriano chose Launchpad because of its simplicity and ease of use. “As a Sound Designer I'm constantly looking for new and intuitive ways to create, edit, and perform my music. When Ableton asked me to create something for AES in NYC, I immediately thought about the Launchpad. It's been part of my studio setup since it hit the market. At Devotion Gallery, along with Ableton Certified Trainer Brian Jackson, I teach Ableton Live 8 classes, and the Launchpad is the controller that we use to immerse the student in Session View from the very first day of class. Once we did an experiment using 6 of them, which is also the maximum number of control surfaces you can use in Live. Now it's the time to try something bigger.”
 

We will be joining Dave Clarke, Derrick May, Len Faki, Andy Weatherall and more at the Amsterdam Dance Event special at Melkweg on Friday 21st October.

It will be a techno extravaganza with Joseph Capriati, Daniel Miller, Darko Esser and Estroe joining the line-up. If you are heading to ADE or planing on being in Amsterdam for weekend drop in for some of techno's biggest names and freshest talent.

Outlook festival was one of the most talked about events on the festival calendar this year. 12 000 people crammed themselves into a fort on the wild coastline of Croatia for a strict 4 day diet of bass-music. We went along to give the revellers something to play with in-between helpings…

Check out our facebook page for more images - www.facebook.com/novationmusic

Automap 4 is the latest version of the award winning control software that powers Novation controllers. Automap was first developed in 2005 alongside the ReMOTE SL series of controllers as a way of simplifying the process of assigning hardware to software. It has evolved into a powerful and streamlined way of controlling your DAW and plug-in instruments and effects, working with all major DAWs and AU, VST3 & RTAS plug-ins. 

The main change to Automap 4 is a totally revised set-up process and workflow. It is now fast and simple to install and get started with Automap with a step by step guide that ensures your DAW is properly configured. Getting control of your software is now more streamlined and logical, meaning less time assigning controls and more time making music. The GUI (or software edit page) has been overhauled to display the information you need more clearly. The GUI now uses notifications (which appear briefly in the corner of your monitor) to tell you when control events are taking place. You can then chose to click on the notification to open the Automap window and display more information on the control surface layout - or you can turn them off altogether.

Automap 4 will work with the new Impulse range of controllers as well as:

• SL MkII
• Nocturn Keyboard
• Nocturn
• ReMOTE SL
• Launchpad
• UltraNova
• iPhone/iPod Touch

Automap 4 will be a free download for all Novation users and will include the features of Automap 3 PRO. The public beta of Automap 4 will be available next week and we are keen to get feedback about your experiences. 

More information about Automap:

What is it?

Automap is a piece of software that comes with all Novation controllers. It makes it fast and simple to control your music software with knobs, buttons and faders.

How can it help?

Impulse gives you control over the mixer, transport and plug-ins of all major DAWs, as well as plug-in instruments and effects that don’t come with your DAW, like Native Instruments or Waves. Automap enables you to instantly see which knobs; faders and buttons are controlling which part of your software. It also makes it easy to quickly change what the knobs are controlling.

See what you are controlling

Automap has a software edit page that looks like the Impulse control surface. This labels what each knob, fader and button is controlling, because with so many things in your DAW and plug-ins, it is easy to lose track of what is assigned to what. You can hide this window once you are finished with it so you can continue making music.

Get instant control

Impulse’s controls can be used to control your plug-in instruments and effects. When you open a software instrument/effect, the 8 knobs will already be linked to things in it. If you want to control different things, just press the ‘Learn’ button, click on the software thing, and wiggle the knob that you want to control it. This way you can get hands on control of exactly what you want almost instantly.

"My name is Amp Fiddler and I‘ve been in the business for over 20 years as a solo artist, keyboard player, and vocalist. I’ve also recorded and played with P-Funk Allstars , Maxwell, Seal, Basement Jacks, Was Not Was, Tony Allen, Sly and Robbie, Moody Man, Carl Craig, Keven Saunderson, and several others.

I was first attracted to Novation’s Bass Station keyboard on the road with George Clinton and P Funk years ago and loved the portability and the bass sounds plus knobs. I ended up losing it when I let Rodney "Skeetz" Curry the bass player use it and never saw it again. He put it to good use and I wanted to see him play synth as well as bass guitar. And now my Novation UltraNova is about to be a Funky sparkle silver!"

Amp uses UltraNova with a laptop in his second studio. "I really like the power of the UltraNova. I like the futuristic sounds and the use of the touch sensitive knobs for effects and filter manipulation. The UltraNova has a gang of possibilities for creating your own personal sound banks, which I love. And to beat all that, you can use it as an interface, which kicks double ass when it comes to other portable keyboards."

After sound, portability is also important to Amp. "Traveling on flights is a headache these days and the UltraNova can fit overhead on most flights. That means that on certain airlines, I may as well just have the keyboard and a backpack with a few clothes and other necessities. I'll know when I start my next tour that the UltraNova will change the way I love to freak the sounds."

Amp's love for Novation gear is deep-seated. "I use Novation gear because of it's Innovation. All of my Novation pieces have rarely had repair issues, which is BIG! They are very durable and consistent in that the technology keeps getting better. Novation has supported me for years since I had my first Bass Station. They were the first company to support me and they helped me to grow as a keyboard player when I needed it the most. And they still continue to do so. Thanks y'all and may the universe continue to give you the 'freakwhensees' to keep moving forward as you have and beyond."
     

Master controllerist Tim Exile has launched a new online stage, where he will take crowd-sourced sounds from people over the world and turn them into music, live on the web.

At the heart of Tim's control system is the Novation Launchpad, among other specially selected pieces of equipment. Sounds are submitted through Soundcloud, then piped automatically to his Reaktor rig, where Launchpad displays the sounds on its 64-button grid. Tim explains further, "there's a special script that pulls down sounds, tops and tails them and assigns them to the Launchpad." Once he has selected and triggered the sound from his launchpad, Tim manipulates the sounds using various other keyboards and controllers.

Tim explains why he chose Launchpad to control his system. "Launchpad allows me to colour-code functions for the buttons. When a new sound is coming in, the pad goes red, when its selected, it flashes yellow; that's a really important thing. Also, the fact that you have 64 buttons and you can design your own interface is great, and it's good value for money, too."

To watch or take part in the Online Jam Stage, head to timexile.tv. You can submit sounds at any time. The first live jam takes place on Thursday 18th August at 20:00 BST (UK).

For their 2011 Summer tour season, dubstep supergroup Magnetic Man turned to Focusrite and Novation to supply software controllers and audio interfaces for their three laptop systems. They chose Novation’s flagship Zero SL MkII USB/MIDI controllers and Focusrite’s recently announced Saffire Pro 14 audio interfaces.

From humble beginnings in Croydon, South London, the trio of Artwork, Benga and Skream built the foundations of one of the mightiest dance music collectives of the 21st century. Magnetic Man, as they became known, are at the forefront of the dubstep sound, originally making beats that mainly got plays on pirate radio stations and mixtapes. That's when dubstep was underground.

Now, with the genre engrained in the psyche of popular culture, Magnetic Man sell out tours and perform at festivals around the world. Each of the members has a Zero SL MkII at his fingertips, providing full control over Ableton Live, and all three of their laptops run Saffire Pro 14 audio interfaces, providing unsurpassed audio quality.

Making the transition from studio to stage required lots of effort. Artwork explains how they put together their live setup. "We've got three laptops, all linked together. One's got bass, one's got drums, one's got top lines, and the effects are split between them."
With three identical MacBook Pros running Ableton Live, Novation’s feature-packed Zero SL MkII controllers were the obvious choice to provide hands-on control of their sounds. With an array of touch-sensitive faders, knobs and buttons and a bright display that adapts to show the parameters currently in use, Artwork, Benga and Skream can control all elements of their session from one surface.

The choice of audio interface was critical, too. With Magnetic Man playing on giant stadium sound systems, their audio has to be crystal clear to make the most impact. So they chose to use Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 audio interfaces. "It's a nice little setup," Artwork remarks. "In our old setup, we used the original Focusrite Saffire interfaces, and they worked really well for us. We upgraded to the Pro 14s and were blown away with the sound quality. I can't fault it."

The flexibility that the new Magnetic Man live rig provides allows Artwork, Benga and Skream to manipulate individual channels in the track they're playing. "If you've got the drums at that point, you can filter them, you can choose if you want sections longer, you can repeat things, you can add loads of effects, you can switch to another beat; you can do whatever you want to do really. It's endless." 

View original news story (15/07/2011)

The musical phenomena that is Madeon, the French DJ/producer who's been touted as the next Deadmau5, continues to permeate his way through popular culture, with a little help from Novation's Launchpad and Zero SL MkII, and the power of YouTube.
 
In the video that's taken the online world by storm, Madeon triggers clips and controls parameters in an Ableton session of epic proportions. The mashup comprises segments from 39 songs, all perfectly tempo- and key-matched. At the pinnacle of the video, he performs a synth solo using a custom map built in the Launchpad's User 1 mode. If you want to know how the Launchpad works, view our video or view more information about the product.
 
Madeon is the perfect example of the modern-day DJ/producer. With his Launchpad and Zero SL MkII setup, he has full control over all aspects of his Ableton Live session, allowing him to improvise with the different parts of his arrangement. What's really amazing is the simplicity of his setup; with just two Novation hardware controllers, a laptop and Ableton Live, he is able to create what one YouTube viewer called "The most amazing musical live performance I have ever witnessed."
 
Decide for yourself and join the discussion on YouTube:

Novation will be contributing to the next Ableton experience - which will be taking place at USC Thornton School of Music, Los Angeles on Friday July 29th.

The event is hosted by Ableton and USC and will feature Ableton experts and guest artists holding practical applications including Music Production Techniques, Film and TV Scoring as well as Live Production and Performance.

Novation's controllers will be an integral part of the experience and AVID will also be contributing. The event is absolutely FREE, just register at: www.ableton.com/usc

French producer of the moment Madeon has stirred up the online community with a truly brilliant YouTube video featuring the Novation Launchpad and Zero SL MkII.

Within three days of the video going live, over 600,000 people globally had watched it, with predictions that the weekend traffic will bump the number beyond one million. The movie features Launchpad and a Zero SL MkII controlling Madeon's Ableton session, which comprises clips of 39 different songs.

The video has been so successful that CBS News and the UK's Guardian newspaper have covered it, and it's caught the attention of Kylie Minogue, who shared the video on her Twitter feed.

Here is Madeon's video:

 View news update (08/08/2011)

Date: Saturday June 25th

City: San Francisco

Venue: Public Works, 161 Erie Street (Near Mission & 14th)

Controllersists from all over the U.S will be battling it out to see which controller routine will catch the judges attention. There will also be special performances from controllerist supremo's Moldover and Ean Golden with a victory celebration from the awesome MOCHIPET.

Novation will be there in the Digital Jam Lounge along with other friends from the industry including Ableton. We'll have gear out on demo including Twitch, Launchpad and UltraNova. There will be workshops from 8pm and the battle will start at 10pm.

Check out the teaser video here 

If you want to register to battle visit: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEhiWWlheHQtbXN5eDJZY2hXNGxkU0E6MQ or if you just want to come along and enjoy yourself, make sure you drop into the Digital Jam Lounge and say hello!

More information at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105912651809

http://lovetech.org/

http://controllerism.com/battle/

Our friends at Gearjunkies played an April Fools on us this year... here they are on the show floor at Messe with their "V-Station iPad app".

Sadly the V-Station for iPad was not launched by Novation this April 1st, but we had a good laugh at ourselves when the mischievous Gearjunkies 'launched' it for us with a bit of Photoshop trickery.

Thanks Marc, Mark and Eric! Maybe you're trying to tell us something...

Check it out here: www.gearjunkies.com/news_info.php?news_id=6230

For the first time in the USA, Novation will be showing off UltraNova, the brand new virtual analogue synth, at the AES Convention in San Francisco. Join us on Booth #708, where you'll be able to get your hands all over UltraNova!

The AES Convention takes place between the 5th-7th November 2010 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco. If you haven't already got passes to visit the show, Novation welcome you to register for your free Exhibits-only badge. Click here for your free pass, which will allow you entry into the Convention's exhibition hall for the duration of the show.

www.aes.org/events/129/

Scottish-based electronic music label LuckyMe and New York-based Good Peoples are partnering with Novation for a special, one-night-only showcase in NYC on the 24th September 2010. 

Check out some of the world's hottest new electronic music talent, including Hudson Mowhawke and Rustie (Warp Records) plus The Blessings, Mike Slott, Eclair Fifi, Lunice, Machinedrum, Cubic Zirconia and Nadsroic. You'll witness great music, all influenced in some form by Novation. 

Keep your eyes on novationmusic.com for further reports. Tickets and event information are available at: http://ticketf.ly/bGHUmy

LuckyMe NYC Showcase from LuckyMe on Vimeo.

Activision's DJ Hero computer game was a big hit when it was launched in 2009. It provided gamplay like that of Guitar Hero, but for the wannabe DJ as opposed to the brooding rockstar.

October 2010 sees the release of DJ Hero 2, which is packed with lots of exciting new features to keep players on their toes. One of the new features in the game is the inclusion of Novation's Launchpad in the on-screen gameplay. Players can choose to pimp their turntable setup with the Launchpad and watch as the avatars of superstar DJs including Deadmau5 and Tiësto spin their records with Launchpad in their rigs.

It's not just on screen that Launchpad has had an impact. The team of remixers at FreeStyleGames in London, who make all the unique mash-ups in the game, use Launchpad alongside Ableton Live to create the mixes and play with ideas.

Josh Grigg, a remixer at FreeStyleGames, comments "I use the Launchpad as a creativity tool to help me sketch out some of the gameplay elements. I have set up buttons that let me record crossfading in real time, which is what the player is mimicking." Fellow remixer Roi McCaffer adds, "When I'm creating the mixes, I treat it like I'm actually DJing using the Launchpad. I come from an Ableton DJing background, so I want to keep it as dynamic as possible, and that transfers into the game."

Commenting on the decision to use Launchpad, DJ Hero 2 Producer Luke Vernon states, "We're very excited to work with Novation on getting Launchpad into the game. We wanted to show that it's a great tool that many people are using to make music around the world."

DJ Hero 2 is due for release on 19th October 2010. To find out more, head to www.djhero.com, and check out our video below:

Novation controllers now fully integrated with Live 8

 Watch the video

Having co-developed the Launchpad, Ableton have worked with Novation to make the Novation SL MkII range fully integrated with Live 8. Now, SL MkIIs are the most comprehensive bus-powered Ableton Live 8 controllers on the market, and the only ones with on-board keyboards. The new integration makes controlling Ableton's Session view, Mixer and plug-ins and devices quick and easy, because all of Ableton's major controls are instantly assigned to SL Mk II's 56 knobs, faders and buttons:

• Live's plug-in devices are assigned to controls as you load them up. Open 'Auto Filter', for example, and instantly see parameters such as 'Cutoff' and 'Res' — along with their current values — appear on the LCD above each knob on the SL MkII, with LED rings around each rotary encoder. 

• Comprehensive mixer control. Touch a fader on the SL MkII and see the channel name and volume level on the large LCD; activate and record-enable Ableton tracks using the fader's corresponding backlit buttons, and take control of all Sends. 

• Launch clips and scenes. Launch and view the status of Ableton scenes and clips with the SL MkII's backlit buttons. Real-time LED feedback ensures you always know what's playing and what's waiting to be launched. 

25-, 49- and 61-note variants of the SL MkII are available alongside the compact, keyless Zero SL MkII. All products in the range are USB-powered, so they require no external power supply. This makes the SL MkII the most versatile Ableton controller solution available, whether on stage or in the studio. To take advantage of the new functionality, the latest version of Novation Automap is required to update the SL MkII firmware. This is free for all existing SL MkII users and is available now from www.novationmusic.com. The latest Live 8 update is also required, and will be downloadable from www.ableton.com

Download the Automap software here

 Watch the video

Ableton and Novation invite you to experience an evening of pure music-making bliss. Learn the unique elements that make Live 8 the performance program of choice amongst professionals worldwide, and why Novation has taken over the industry with their innovative and diverse controllers. Hosted by veteran electronic music producer and Ableton Live certified trainer Thavius Beck, the tour features an in-depth look at Ableton and its optimized integration with these dynamic controllers through product demo stations, and produce your own set with the help of product specialists and Thavius. The Live Bests Series is free to the public and coming to a city near you, but you must register to attend. Space is limited so secure your seat today at www.livebeatseries.com Latest dates: Los Angeles, CA Tuesday, March 16 Scratch DJ Academy LA, 7PM 2324 Corner Ave, Los Angeles San Francisco, CA Thursday, March 18 Pyramind, 7PM 832 Folsom Street, San Francisco See you there.

Novation will be exhibiting at the 2010 MusikMesse in Frankfurt, between the 24th and 27th March. On show will be the critically acclaimed SL MkII and Nocturn ranges of DAW controllers, as well as the best-selling Launchpad.

Show visitors will be able to get their hands on the ultimate Ableton Live control bundle: the Launchpad and the SL MkII, with numerous demo stations set up to discover for themselves just how deep the integration is between hardware and software.

Find us on Booth B57, Hall 5.1 at MusikMesse.

For all Novation Musikmesse information, head to www.novationmusic.com/messe

SL MkII controllers empower RM64 artists

Novation are proud to announce their involvement with the RM 64 Artists Record project, which follows the career course of seven uniquely different but exceptionally talented young bands. Each act has embarked on a creative journey that will be digitally self-documented by them and made available on the RM 64 Artists Record blog for the world to see, hear and comment upon.

At www.rm64artistsrecord.com you’ll follow L.A.-based duo All Wrong & The Plans Change, Austin’s folk/rock band The Eastern Sea, Salt Lake City rockers The Devil Whale, NYC-based pop artists The Narrative, Midwest Upbeat electro-pop-punkers Sweatshirt Weather, Atlanta’s own raw The 54, and singer/songwriter/guitar shredder Bud Carroll, who will all tell their day-to-day stories in their own words and videos. The RM 64 Artists Record project also brings music and technology together as never before. The artists digitally chronicle not only their personal touring and gigging experiences but also show how fundamentally intertwined technology is with creativity today. All seven of the acts have been equipped with Novation SL MkII controller keyboards, along with technology from other music technology developers, which they will incorporate into their art, productions and workflow. For the first time, all the right elements — real musicians, music industry veterans with proven track records of picking hits, and technology from leading developers — have been put together to show what it’s really like on the road, in the studio, on stage and everywhere in between. The RM 64 Artists Record project chronicles these compelling stories of musicians on a mission to both explore and define the Brave New World of music as a business and as an art in the 21st century.

Novation have launched StepSeq, a free Max For Live Patch that turns Launchpad into a fully fledged melodic step sequencer. Conceived as a cool but powerful sequencer to enable Launchpad users to programme melodies, leads and basslines quickly in Live, the buttons are configured diatonically (as opposed to chromatically, as with a traditional step sequencer). The degree of the scale and its tonal centre can be set by the user, meaning that, once set up, any note you trigger in your sequence will fit in harmonically with your track, making it really easy to keep within the context of the song.

 Watch the video

Logic, Reason & Pro Tools standard plug-ins and instruments fully mapped!

The latest update to Novation's market-leading MIDI control application, Automap, has been released. Automap v3.4 brings with it dozens of new mappings for plug-ins and instruments, and also carries firmware updates for Novation keyboards and controllers. When developing Automap v3.4, Novation focussed on expanding Automap's on-board library of mappings (collections of assignments that tie knobs, faders and buttons of Novation hardware to software parameters) for Logic, Reason and Pro Tools. To acheive this, the mappings system was fully rebuild to allow thousands of new mappings across the Novation product range. Now, Logic, Reason and Pro Tools are fully mapped (although Logic's Sculpture and Ultrabeat have inherent limitations). This means all plug-ins and software instruments that ship with the applications now have bespoke Automap mappings, so you can get immediate, hands-on access to the most sensible parameters in your plug-ins and music software. Your music-creation workflow just got much more efficient!

Another big part of the v3.4 revision is the inclusion of firmware updates for Novation's Remote SL, Zero SL, SL Compact, SL MkII and Nocturn Keyboard. These updates transfer through the Automap user interface, with helpful on-screen directions guiding users through the updating process. Download the latest version of Automap here

Free Novation software for Launchpad & Nocturn 25/49 owners! Buy a Launchpad with a Nocturn 25 or Nocturn 49, and receive both Automap Pro and the Novation FX Plug-in Suite completely free! The ultimate Ableton controller bundle just got better!

Free Automap Pro upgrade for existing Novation controller users. Upon purchase of a Launchpad, a Nocturn 25 or a Nocturn 49, Automap Pro will be given free of charge to existing owners of the Novation Nocturn or controllers in the Remote SL Mk1 range. Realise the full potential of your controllers with Automap Pro.

Qualifying products: Nocturn Remote Zero SL Remote 25 SL Remote 37 SL Remote 61 SL Remote 25 SL Compact Remote 49 SL Compact If you qualify for either of these promotions, head to your MyNovation account (or sign up) and register your products. Once the qualifying serial numbers are entered, a code will be automatically generated and emailed to you. (Note that the registration system will go live in Mid-November. Both promotions are retrospective, so will apply to customers who have already registered.)

Come experience the power of Ableton Live, with the most creative beatmakers on the planet blasting beats for your listening pleasure. LA’s premier beat-scene club, Low End Theory, is partnering with Ableton to showcase the most creative Ableton beatmakers battling each other for your approval. Puma will also share in the fun with some exclusive giveaways. Come check out what the industry buzz is all about. Wed, Nov 4, 10:00PM Low End Theory 2419 N. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90031

Special Pre-Show Engagement @ 8PM Come early and experience the creative power of Ableton Live with expert Thavius Beck for a free special beatmaking clinic. Get hands-on with the new Novation Launchpad controller, receive exclusive workshop offers from music production school DubSpot, mobile accessories innovator Odyssey will provide exclusive giveaways, and Puma will be there with free limited edition tees. Come have a drink on us, see what’s new, win some great gear, and receive exclusive offers. Sign up here to attend this free engagement, and stay for the showcase. Space is limited.

Nocturn Keyboard Launched 

The Novation Nocturn has been an enormous hit with music makers. Now we've added a high-quality 'Fatar' keyboard, eight drum pads and transport controls which transform Nocturn into a full control solution for DAWs and plug-ins. 

 It still has eight touch sensitive LED-ringed encoders, a speed dial (which controls anything your cursor is pointing at) and back-lit buttons telling you whether they are on or off. Most importantly it has the latest version of Automap, with one-click controller assignment and a software GUI which graphically shows the control surface on your computer screen. 

 Nocturn Keyboard is available in 25 key and 49 key versions. Click here for more details

The world's best DAW-control software gains full compatibility with Propellerhead Reason and Record, and much more!

Both versions of the longest established, most powerful and best implemented DAW-control application, Automap from Novation, have been updated to bring full integration with Propellerhead's brand new Record software. On top of this, the v3.2 revisions of Automap Pro and Automap Standard feature enhanced support for Reason, plus other workflow optimisations, for unrivalled MIDI control.

Commenting on the update, Propellerhead's Product Manager Mats Karlörf said, "We at Propellerhead are very happy and grateful for all the hard work that Novation has done in the field of integrating hardware and software. Novation was the first hardware manufacturer to explore the deeper possibilities of Propellerhead's Remote protocol and the result is one of the best examples of integration that we have seen."

Both versions of Automap now feature the following:

• Full support for Novation's Automap product range with Propellerhead's Reason & Record

For the first time, users of Propellerhead Reason and Record can have full Automap control of their software. Now, unlike before, parameter names and values are reported back to Novation hardware controllers, and the mapping of hardware controls changes when the user switches between, say, the mixer and a Combinator rack. Previously, mappings using Reason's 'Remote Override' function were static. Now, individual Reason Rack and Mixer parameters can be learned to any hardware control, wherever the user desires.

The range of the controls in Automap can now be edited. This means that instead of covering an arbitrary range of between 0 and 1, Automap knobs and sliders can be programmed to operate over a restricted range that doesn't include the whole of the parameter's available values. In practice, this can be applied to a soft synth's filter cutoff parameter, where the user only wants to vary the frequency over a limited range, not its full span.

There's a number of new, easy-to-use Button types: Normal, Momentary, Toggle and Step, which help the user quickly set up the way they want to command their software without having to manually configure complex button characteristics. There are also new features to invert a controller's behavior, reversing the direction of control in a simple click.

Automap v3.2 is the first to support the Automap for iPhone/iPod Touch App (available now from Apple's Appstore), which gives users of the handheld devices complete control over their music software.

Automap's plug-in manager is where users can select and deselect the plug-ins that they wish to control. In version 3.2, this has been streamlined to allow multiple plug-in selection and deselection, and there's a search tool to help track down specific software instruments and audio effects.

Users can use the cursor keys on their computer keyboard to scroll through the settings in the Automap Edit window, making it quicker and easier to navigate than ever before.

An embedded function for restoring the factory settings of Automap-compatible hardware is now included. Just in case users get really carried away with the finer parameter tweaks in Automap and want to return their controller to its box-fresh state!

There's now a 'Home' button in the Edit window to return the user to the Startup view.

The Pro version (available to buy now from http://www.focusrite-estore.com/novation/software/automap_30_pro/) has the following new features, alongside those already mentioned:

Users can now send ASCII (QWERTY) keyboard shortcuts from their Automap-comptible Novation hardware, for ultimate control over their music software.

Novation announces the Automap App for iPhone / iPod Touch at LIMS.

The App will be available in iTunes, July 09.

Key features

MIDI CONTROL IN YOUR PALM
Now you can turn your iPhone / iPod touch into a MIDI controller, with multiple faders and buttons easily assigned to parameters in any software that allows MIDI control, and even some that don't!

AUTOMATIC PLUG-IN MAPPING
Instant, wireless, palm-sized control of all automatable VST, AU or Pro Tools format plug-ins in any DAW.

INSTANT VISUAL FEEDBACK
See at a glance how every control on your iPhone / iPod touch is assigned, both on the iPhone / iPod touch itself, and across your computer screen

LEARN AND CLEAR MODES
Make and delete assignments directly from your computer screen using lightening-fast 'Click-Touch-Assign' facilities.

AUTOMATIC MIXER CONTROL
Ideal for remote track arming and muting, transport and master level controls in a growing number of supported DAWs. (Control these elements in non-supported DAWs using separate dedicated Automap systems, or your own custom mappings.)

PLUG-IN AND MIXER MAP BROWSING FACILITY
Get to the right software fast! Control maps are automatically placed into categories depending on type (instrument, mixer etc.) for quick and easy browsing and selection with hardware or software.

Musikmesse will host one of Novation's most significant product launches to date. The SL Mk II, which until now has been a closely guarded secret, is being revealed to the industry on the first day of Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt.

In order to maintain their position as the number one name in MIDI control, Novation have been hard at work putting the final touches to the next generation of their flagship controllers. The original ReMOTE SL built its reputation on high quality hardware and pioneering control software. The SL Mk II has some striking additions that set it apart from any other controller on the market, every feature is designed to make mapping and controlling software quick and effortless.

Like all Novation keyboard controllers, SL Mk II is a musical instrument, not just a computer peripheral. A semi-weighted Fatar 'fast touch' keyboard is combined with a full DAW and plug-in control surface that visually feeds back all control information to the user. All knobs and faders are touch sensitive. By simply touching a control, all mapping information automatically appears on the giant 144 character LCD display. Back lit LED buttons and LED ringed encoders instantly show the status of controls. SL Mk II also includes full transport control, an XY "Xpression Pad", 8 drum pads, sprung pitch/mod joystick and a unique "Speed Dial" encoder, which enables the user to grab any parameter the cursor is positioned over. In addition to 25, 49 and 61 key versions, a keyboardless "Zero" will be available with longer-throw faders and a central crossfader.

Ultra-quick mapping of all 56 knobs, faders and buttons is managed by Novation's groundbreaking Automap 3 PRO software, which provides instant and intelligent control of all your music software. As well as extensive DAW control, parameters on VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins can be assigned by simply touching the controller and clicking the parameter. Perhaps Automap 3 PRO's biggest asset is "Keystroke Assignment", this enables almost any QWERTY or ASCII keyboard shortcut (and combination shortcuts) to be instantly assigned to the SL Mk II controls - providing unprecedented DAW control. Automap 3.0 also introduces "Autoview", where the 'heads up GUI' (showing the current status of all controls) can be programmed to automatically appear whenever a controller is touched, then disappear upon release. SL Mk II, alongside Automap 3 PRO is without doubt the best control solution on the market, and is available almost immediately. The 25-key and 61-key models are shipping worldwide, April 2009. Zero SL MkII and the 49-key model will follow shortly after.

Nocturn Knock 'em Dead

Novation are kicking off the year with yet another award. In these times of economic uncertainty value for money is more important than ever. So appropriately, Novation's Nocturn scooped the award in Remix Magazine's 'Best Hardware Value' category. Remix Mag (who describe Nocturn as the "killer universal plug-in controller") were hugely impressed by its sleek, compact design and of course, the groundbreaking Automap software that comes with it.

Nocturn made its name as a plug-in controller, its eight assignable rotary encoders and eight assignable buttons make it the perfect way to get your hands on VST and AU plug-ins. But the really special feature is in Automap software's ability to 'wrap' plug-ins. This means that you can simply click on the parameter, touch the controller and it is assigned! This means no more tiresome trawling through MIDI continuous controller numbers...

We have also been hearing from people who are increasingly turning to Nocturn as the ideal small controller for Pro Tools. Nocturn is perfect for people who use an M-Box on the move as it is compact, cost effective and works fantastically with Pro Tools LE's incredible number of plug-ins

The much anticipated new version of Novation's control software is being launched at NAMM 2009 in Anaheim, California. Automap 3 succeeds Automap Universal which won the prestigious Queen's Award for innovation last year, and includes major new features that make controlling DAWs and plug-ins even easier. We are also launching the Novation FX Plug-in Suite which comprises five effects derived from the legendary Supernova II amongst others.

Automap 3 When Novation first launched Automap Software Control in 2005, it signaled a fundamental change in the way DAWs and plug-ins could be controlled. Automap has gone through many changes over the last 4 years making it even easier to assign, manage and control software parameters with Novation's Nocturn and ReMOTE SL range of hardware controllers. Our software developers have been hard at work to ensure that Automap 3 lives up to expectations. This latest version will take two forms, Automap 3 Standard and Automap 3 Pro. Automap 3 Standard is available now as a free download. In addition to all the mapping and control capabilities of Automap Universal, it includes the following brand new features:

• HUI HUI control is now fully implemented within Automap, allowing control over all HUI compatible DAW's including Logic, Pro Tools and Digital Performer. This includes control over volume, pan, aux sends, track arm, mute/solo and more...
• Start-up Screen A new start-up screen now makes managing your plug-ins and setting up your DAW even easier. It also gives you one-click access to online support, tutorials and the latest updates.

• Multiple device support Automap 3 Pro supports multiple devices, so numerous Novation controllers can be used side by side.
• Keystroke Assignments - Automap 3 Pro 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.
• XY Pad Control Fully Auto-mappable XY Pad control, expression pedal, control pedal and drum pad control. The Automap server can now assign parameters to all these controllers using the ultra-quick learn facility. (Pedal/pad control not supported by SL Compact)
• Drag and Drop You can now drag and drop control mappings and control map groups in the GUI, allowing you to re-assign knobs, faders and buttons by simply grabbing them with the mouse and dropping them on the new controller.
• 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.

Novation has made some really rather special synthesizers, in fact our reputation was built on the Nova, Bass Station and of course the legendary Supernova series. The latter provided the inspiration for the Novation FX Plug-in Suite as producers sought to give that authentic, vintage Novation flavour to their music. This Plug-in Suite delivers effects derived from the flagship Supernova II synthesizer - with a modern twist. They include; Chorus, Delay, Tremelo, Phaser and the celebrated Filter Section with its filter overdrive and Q-norm functions. These effects were drawn from synthesizers used by Orbital, Jean-Michel Jarre and A Guy Called Gerald....

After getting their Royal seal of approval, Novation release a limited edition keyboard that looks out of this world…

Novation's gig bags and much more is now available at the click of a button...

Musician-producers are increasingly mobile and this new breed of gig-hardened maverick is generating enormous demand for our laptop and gig bags. To cope with this, 25, 49 and 61 key gig bags can now be ordered from our website as well as our tried and tested musicians' laptop bags.

Since emerging from the gloom of their studios, many have sought refuge in Focusrite and Novation t-shirts and hoodies , which are also available on line. In addition to this we are selling accessories including Power Supplies, Cables and Grills for KRK monitors. See our E-store for more details.

Every year a select group of British companies are recognised by the Queen for their outstanding contribution to industry, and this year Novation, a division of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd., is one of them. Chosen for their ReMOTE SL musical keyboard controllers with Automap Universal technology – an innovation that has radically enhanced the creative experience of electronic music creators – Novation are proud to be recipients of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Innovation.

Novation has a history of innovation in electronic musical instruments and this prestigious award acknowledges an outstanding achievement by the company, placing it as the leading brand of keyboard controllers. The Queen’s Award will be presented to key members of the Novation team at Buckingham Palace by the Queen in July.

Phil Dudderidge, Focusrite & Novation’s Chairman, said: “We’re delighted to be winning this award for Remote SL with Automap Universal software. The Remote SL is the first in a family of keyboards and controllers to benefit from Automap Universal, our proprietary software that enables users of modern music software to control parameters of that software from their controller without having to manually assign controls to functions and have to remember what does what.”\r\n\r\n“We are very pleased that the Queen''s Award Office judges recognise the innovative nature of the products and appreciate the importance of innovation in the musical instrument (MI) industry.”

About ReMOTE SL and Automap: Used in conjunction with Novation’s ReMOTE SL controller keyboards, Automap technology has revolutionised the way we interface with software in the modern studio and on stage, allowing for automatic mapping of sequencer and instrument parameters. As soon as supported applications are selected, all mixer parameters, transport controls and instruments appear instantly on the faders, knobs, buttons and pads, with all parameters and track names being displayed clearly.

Automap Universal allows users to instantly control absolutely any automatable plug-in, in any sequencer, automatically, and without ever having to refer to a manual or worry about complex MIDI data and assigning. Parameters can be ''learned'' and saved at the touch of a button.

Automap Universal renders old school MIDI control obsolete, bringing an end to MIDI control nightmares.

About Novation: Whether putting classic synth and drum sounds into the hands of the masses, combining synthesizers, controllers and interfaces into compact and forward-thinking keyboards and interfaces, or making life easier for musicians the world over with their acclaimed ReMOTE SL controllers and Automap Universal technology, Novation have always pushed the boundaries of music technology.

About The Queen’s Award: The Queen''s Awards for Enterprise are the UK''s most prestigious awards for business performance. The Awards are made each year by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions.

The awards are given to businesses that demonstrate “substantial improvement in business performance and commercial success, to levels that are outstanding for the size of the applicant''s operations.”