Just touch a knob to take control of the effect in question. The FX browser window showing the effect knobs available. It is even worse with the crossfader which is quite loose.ĭespite this, the overall impression of the device is largely positive. Plus, one might worry about what the knobs will feel like after a long period of use. So I guess that the knob must be slightly loose to ensure contact, but it must be said that it feels a little cheap and it’s strange that they don’t all have the same looseness. This can perhaps be explained by the fact that they are touch-sensitive though made of plastic. On the negative side, there are the very cheap rotary knobs. On a positive note, it’s got a nice look to it, with a cool black surface, a very sober visual design, an elegant distribution of controls (this provides excellent readability) and LEDs whose brightness is well adjusted. The Nocturn gives the strange impression of being, at the same time, a quality product and an entry-level device. Though you don’t have to worry about damaging the rubber buttons, the other controls need to be protected when transporting the device. One can see how little space Nocturn takes up and its nice look It includes:ĩ infinite rotary encoders (knobs) with LED surround
The base, which isn’t very thick, is a little thicker at the rear giving it a facade that’s slightly tilted towards the user. Its weight is equivalent to that of 5–6 CDS in their jewel cases, so it’s quite transportable It’s relatively heavy for its small size, which seems to signify a certain robustness and gives it perfect stability, especially since its base has two large anti-slip pads. Moreover, its only connection is via USB, which is located on its left side (clever), to easily connect the device to another controller or keyboard. The Nocturn is a small device that will take up little space in the often crowded environment of a home-studio. Nocturn is based on this system but can also function as a classic MIDI controller. The idea is that when you activate a plug-in, its various parameters will automatically be assigned to various controls on your controller.
Several companies have developed solutions along this line, notably Cakewalk with ACT (Active Control Technology) included in Sonar and Project5, and Novation with its Automap.
NOVATION NOCTURN IPAD SOFTWARE
MIDI learn, now almost universal, was a first step, but some have tried to implement systems that detect software settings and automatically affect them to the controls of the controller. In recent years, several developers have been working on coming up with systems that would spare the user from having to go through arduous settings when using their control surfaces. Does Nocturn, the newest member of the Novation controller family, featuring the Automap system and a low price, live up to the brand’s reputation? Let’s take a look… Novation is well known for quality keyboards, MIDI controllers and synthesizers, whether it be hardware or software.