MESSE09: Novation's New Remote SL MKII

Novation update their reMote SL with the Mark II - more lights and control n stuff

Wow. I'm underwhelmed. I own the (now) Mark I version of this keyboard. I have difficulty with the following lack of insight on the part of Novation's engineering department, and their apparent tone-deafness when it comes to updating their own hardware. Cases in point:

1. The octave +/- buttons are still just above Middle C. I have NO idea why anyone in his right mind would want them there, and it makes no sense to me why they would KEEP them there in the new design. But okay -- fine. You really, really need it there... okay...

2. What a lot of people fail to realize is that there is one way to minimize confusion and still give you tons of control. GIVE US FOUR (I repeat -- yes -- 4) controls to work with. That means four knobs, four encoders, four sliders, and four buttons. Any more is a WASTE, because you can only manipulate four controllers at a time on a flat surface while playing the keyboard.

3. FOR GOD'S SAKE -- PLEASE -- GIVE ME MY PITCH AND MOD WHEEL ASSEMBLY OR ELSE I SWEAR I'm gonna flip out. I mean it -- I HATE the stupid frigging joystick thingie-plus-touchpad nonsense.

4. Finally, Automap sucks. You could learn a thing or two from M-Audio, who really got it right with HyperControl. Sorry -- just sayin' is all...

02-Apr-09 10:43 PM

I wonder if this one will also look like it ages at x100 real time. Mine looks like shit and it never moved from the studio.

03-Apr-09 01:19 AM

Beautiful product and very cool functionality. I also enjoyed the enthusiasm of the presentation. On an aside, Nick: great picture quality and it makes everything very legible, but please try to move a little less with the camera. I'm getting motion sickness! :-)

03-Apr-09 06:45 PM

re: automap mark 1 - sammy, i agree with practically everything you've said here. i'm very disappointed with my remote SL.

03-Apr-09 10:06 PM

... oh and have i mentioned their non-warranty repair policy? you're screwed, in short, they don't stock their service centers with parts, they only do replacements, so once it's out of warranty, it's a true boat anchor. one of my best friends IS a warranty center for them.

i'd never buy another novation product.

03-Apr-09 10:09 PM

Hi All,

Sorry to hear people are disspointed & i must admit I am a amazed at the venom some people are spitting on novation. I am a pro producer,artist & player & as far as I am concerned the Novation controllers have been the market leaders in both innovation & quality for eons! 4 of every controller???? This is the age of Ableton & other similar apps everyone works in blocks of 8 from the off. As to moaning about positioning of octave buttons who ever made it a standard where they have to go? I tour extensively with an SL & a Nocturn & everything works for me time after time. The worst crime here is accusing Novation of a non repair policy which is not true. they will repair any sl in any country. Perhaps people should be a little more informed before dissing the best controller company on the block! And lets face it the wheels verses joystick farce has been going on between players for decades. if you dont like it then buy somthing else its as simple as that. I for one will continue giving my support to a great British company!!!!

04-Apr-09 04:34 AM

A quick question about automap - if i were to buy (say) two nocturns, could I use them in a DAW to automatically switch to certain plugins on the selected track?

So if i assigned one to a dynamics plug and one to EQ, and you have the same plugins on every track, will it automatically switch plugins when you select a new track, or would you have to keep manually opening plugin windows, or set up configurations every time you create a new track?

Basically thinking of a cheap alternative to the way a D-Command works with its focus channel and EQ/Dynamics sections.

04-Apr-09 08:14 AM

Venom indeed - the Xiosynth is the worst keyboard I've ever bought, that'll teach me. The automap and ease of assignability seems significantly improved compared to the old SL REMOTE zero - even I can understand it! I don't understand what he was doing dragging the sliders and turning them into knobs? Presumably the physical hardware doesn't do that? If it does, that's the single advantage it has over the forthcoming Ableton MPC controller..

I hope Novation never implement a pitch bend and mod wheel because I want Sammy to 'flip out' like he swore he would.

04-Apr-09 08:44 PM

Was the rigth 2x144 character display ditched, or it was operating in demo mode ?

The only venom I have to spit is the build quality of the SL61. Plastic might cut it for a 25 key keyboard, but the casing isn`t rigid enough for a 61 notes keyboard. I would have expected better quality for the original price.

Btw, the novation sustain pedal has the same shape than Yamaha`s except with a different rubber pattern on top.

04-Apr-09 11:53 PM

Thanks for the footage. As for Novation delivering? Sorry Robbie/Marc..

KVR users aren't happy: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3533836

06-Apr-09 04:47 AM

I own a mk I 61 key and I have nothing but positive things to say about it, with the exception of having to resolder a cold solder joint on the rotary pushbutton encoder.

I was hoping with this design they could have put three rotary encoders in line with and above the faders, more like an actual DJ mixer with faders and EQ.

Does such a product exist already

07-Apr-09 12:12 AM

I own a mk I 61 key and I have nothing but positive things to say about it, with the exception of having to resolder a cold solder joint on the rotary pushbutton encoder.

I was hoping with this design they could have put three rotary encoders in line with and above the faders, more like an actual DJ mixer with faders and EQ.

Does such a product exist already

07-Apr-09 12:13 AM

I own a mk I 61 key and I have nothing but positive things to say about it, with the exception of having to resolder a cold solder joint on the rotary pushbutton encoder.

I was hoping with this design they could have put three rotary encoders in line with and above the faders, more like an actual DJ mixer with faders and EQ.

Does such a product exist already

07-Apr-09 12:13 AM

i bought the Remote ZERO SL some time ago, and the only negative thing about it is that it took me a while to get it installed and working, it was not that obvious even in the video. Besides that, THIS IS AN AWESOME PRODUCT. i think it fulfills my needs on controlling ableton live on my live performances.

12-Apr-09 11:18 PM

I agree with Sammy. The remote SL version 1 was a complete waste of money. The sliders are crap. the encoders are crap, I also can not stand that stupid joystick and it doesn't help that the tip keeps coming off while playing. The X/Y pad has the worst feel of any pad I have used. And, to top it off, Automap is a disaster !!! This new version looks just as cheap and problematic as the first.

18-Apr-09 05:22 AM

I've used many different midi controllers out there and I have to say the Akai MPK49 beats the pants off of the Novations.

06-Jun-09 09:23 PM

sammy...explain to me why a mixing desk has WAY more that 4 faders?

according to you 4 should be enough.

i would assume that more than 4 on the remote is for good reason.

xy pad is the shit, you need to quit being a retro-grouch.

27-Jun-09 08:00 PM

Show me more news in this category

More Novation news  All Novation news