EQ Magazine - November 2008 - (Page 70)

GEAR HEAD can also press a “view” button on the controller surface to hide or bring up the window.) Nocturn is loaded with useful features, like being able to determine the encoder sensitivity and acceleration, as well as minimum and maximum control values. The controllers have a smooth, predictable action; being endless encoders, they use the “add/subtract” method of matching physical position to virtual control value. Also, doing MIDI control is a snap— very handy if the crossfader is unassigned, and you want to do a custom mapping. What’s more, there’s a browser that shows all open plug-ins and mixers, so if you have a really busy screen, you can call up the browser and go instantly to what you want to control. It’s really an extremely well-thoughtout package; sure, maybe you’d rather mix with faders than rotary knobs, but for plug-ins the knobs work just fine. When I first checked out the Novation website while getting ready for the review unit to arrive, it all sounded too good to be true: It’s simple! It works with everything! It’s really inexpensive! It looks cool! You can mix with it! Well, this is one case where you can believe the hype. If you’re looking to get started with hands-on control, Nocturn is an excellent choice—and I could make a really strong case that it’s your best choice, especially when support for Pro Tools on Windows becomes available (which may already be available by the time you read this). In Steinberg Cubase, Nocturn is controlling SSL’s Drum Strip plug-in. Note the semi-transparent GUI. Manufacturer Links Alesis, www.alesis.com Allen & Heath Xone, www.xone.co.uk Arturia, www.arturia.com Behringer, www.behringer.com Cakewalk, www.cakewalk.com CME, www.cme-pro.com Digidesign, www.digidesign.com Euphonix, www.euphonix.com Frontier Design Group, www.frontier design.com Kenton, www.kentonuk.com Korg, www.korg.com Mackie, www.mackie.com M-Audio, www.m-audio.com Native Instruments, www.nativeinstruments.com Novation, www.novationmusic.com Peavey, www.peavey.com Presonus, www.presonus.com Roland, www.rolandus.com Steinberg, www.steinberg.net TASCAM, www.tascam.com WK Audio, www.wk-audio.de Yamaha, www.yamaha.com/proaudio Sweetwater Control Surfaces Buyer’s Guide with additional information: www.sweetwater.com/shop/computeraudio/control surfaces/buying guide.php 70 EQ NOVEMBER 2008 www.eqmag.com http://www.eqmag.com http://www.alesis.com http://www.native-instruments.com http://www.native-instruments.com http://www.xone.co.uk http://www.arturia.com http://www.novationmusic.com http://www.behringer.com http://www.peavey.com http://www.cakewalk.com http://www.presonus.com http://www.cme-pro.com http://www.rolandus.com http://www.digidesign.com http://www.steinberg.net http://www.euphonix.com http://www.tascam.com http://www.frontierdesign.com http://www.wk-audio.de http://www.yamaha.com/proaudio http://www.frontierdesign.com http://www.kentonuk.com http://www.korg.com http://www.mackie.com http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/computer-audio/control_surfaces/buying_guide.php http://www.eqmag.com http://www.m-audio.com http://www.eqmag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EQ Magazine - November 2008

EQ Magazine - November 2008 Contents Talk Box Sounding Board Punch In Brian Wilson Guitar Trax Bass Management Key Issues Drum Heads Vocal Cords Mix Bus Cheat Sheet Sony Acid 6 Abelton Live 7 Controller World New Controllers Analysis Room with a Vu

EQ Magazine - November 2008

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