Novation MiniNova - Powerful Compact Synth

The Novation MiniNova is a Mini-Keys Synth boasting 256 onboard sounds and massive sound and performance/editing controls as well as 37 keys and MIDI I/O making this a versatile compact synth that is ideal for producers and gigging musicians. Includes a protective carry bag to transport your MiniNova in style.

The compact MiniNova is a superb performance synth with 256 incredible onboard sounds that you can tweak with 5 knobs, or totally warp with 8 'animate' buttons. MiniNova also has an onboard VocalTune effect as well as a classic vocoder so you can recreate iconic vocal sounds from Hip Hop, Urban and Electronic music amongst many others.

MiniNova also has space to save another 128 of your own sounds. You can quickly search for sounds by selecting the type of music you're making, or the type of sound you wish to use. Novation's MiniNova comes with a free software Patch Librarian so you can store as many sounds as you want on your computer if 256 is not enough. There are also numerous soundpacks for MiniNova assembled by renowned artists and sound designers.

Tweak, Warp & Arpegiate Your Sound
MiniNova can do things other synths can't. It has knobs which allow you to tweak and edit the sounds, but it can also 'animate' sound with 8 back-lit buttons. These trigger 'mods' in the synth engine that can warp sound in incredible ways as you play. There is also a large knob for filter cutoff so you can get instant control of the filter whatever else you are doing. MiniNova has an arpegiator; you can use the 8 buttons to jam with arpeggios creating totally new sequences in realtime.

Classic & Brand-New Vocal Effects
MiniNova takes vocal effects one step further. As well as a vocoder, it has VocalTune. This means you can talk into the mic and play the tune you want your voice to follow on the keyboard recreating those classic Hip Hop/Urban vocal effects. You can also run your voice through MiniNova's effects engine, adding reverb, distortion, chorus/phase, gator compression or EQ. This doesn't need to be limited to your voice; there is an input into which you can plug a guitar or any other instrument and give it the same treatment; effects or vocoder.

The Synth Engine & Effects
MiniNova has an enormously powerful synth engine, unheard of in such a compact synth. There are 14 conventional waveforms to choose from (square, sine, sawtooth, pulse, triangle and combinations), 36 wavetable and 20 digital waveforms. Each of the 3 oscillators (per voice) have density/detune for fattening uyp sounds, virtual sync and 'hardness' - which acts as an additional lowpass filter. There are 14 filter types (and you can run 2 simultaneously), 6 envelope generators, 3 LFOs and 20 modulation slots where you can link modules of the synth engines together to shape sound. MiniNova can add up to 5 effects to each voice including distortion, reverb, chorus/phase, delay, compressor, EQ and Novation's unique gator effect.

Editing Software Included
Editing sounds in such a powerful synth can be overwhelming, so Novation have created a software application that gives you visual access to the synth engine. The MiniNova editor works as a plug-in within your DAW or music software. You can fully edit MiniNova using the hardware, the software just makes it more simple to see what you are doing.

Features / Specifications

Hugely powerful mini-synth with UltraNova's sound engine
Brand new VocalTune and Classic vocoder effects
Tweak and warp your sounds in realtime
256 awesome onboard sounds - instantly searchable
Layer up to 5 effects per voice
Comes with editing software and a software patch librarian
Run guitars and other instruments through the vocoder and effects
37 key controller keyboard with MIDI I/O

In the Box

USB cable
Power supply
User manual

Included Software

MiniNova Software Editor
MiniNova Patch Librarian
Ableton Live Lite
Novation Bass Station softsynth
Loopmasters sample pack (1GB)

Synth engine

Up to 18 note polyphony (dynamic voicing)
Mono-Timbral

Per patch

3x oscillators
1x noise generator
2x ring modulators
Waveforms include:
Square, sine, tri, sawtooth, pulse, 9x saw:pulse combinations.
20x digital waveforms
36x wavetables

Filter types

2x filters per patch
low pass no resonance 6dB per octave
low pass 12dB
low pass 18dB
low pass 24dB
band pass 6:6
band pass 6:12
band pass 12:6
band pass 6:18
band pass 18:6
band pass 12:12
high pass no resonance 6dB per octave
high pass 12dB
high pass 18dB
high pass 24dB

Modulation sources:

20 modulation slots per patch
6x envelope generators
3x LFOs
Aftertouch
Velocity
Key scaling/track
Mod wheel
Expression pedal

Total of 66 Destinations including:

Oscillator pitch, pulse width, wavetable index, level and sync
Filter cutoff, resonance, envelope settings
Effects parameters and send levels
Recursive modulation (modulating modulation sources themselves)

5 effects slots per patch

Distortion - up to 2 instances
Compressor - up to 2 instances
Chorus/Phase - up to 4 instances
Delay - up to 2 instances
Reverb - up to 2 instances
Gator
EQ

Misc

VocalTune
12 band vocoder
Arpeggiator - 33 patterns
Realtime Arp rhythm editing function
Chord function - lock up to 10 notes
Patch storage - up to 384 on hardware (ships with 256 factory patches)

Hardware: Utility, display and patch select controls

16 character custom LCD
1x large detented patch select encoder
1x patch sort switch
1x volume dial
1x detented data encoder
5x navigation/utility buttons
2x patch navigation buttons

Keyboard/performance controls

Pitch wheel (LED lit)
Modulation wheel (LED lit)
37 note keyboard with velocity
4x smooth edit/performance pots
1x large smooth filter pot
1x six position parameter selector switch
6x parameter indicator LEDs
8x three-colour, back-lit animate/arpeggiator/favourite patch-select buttons
2x animate/arpeggiate LED indicators
1x back-lit 'hold' button
1x animate/arpeggiator/favourite patch toggle switch
1x 'favourite' patch select button
1x arpeggiator tempo control pot
1x arpeggiator tempo indicator LED
2x back-lit arpeggiator control encoders
2x back-lit octave select buttons

Inputs, Outputs, rear panel

XLR dynamic mic input
1x ¼" jack inputs
2x ¼" jack outputs
1x ¼" jack headphone output
Sustain pedal on ¼" jack input
MIDI in/out
12 volt power input
USB/DC/off power switch
USB port (MiniNova can be powered via USB)
Kensington Lock port

Dimensions

Length: 560mm, 22.04"
Height: 75mm, 2.95"
Depth: 250mm, 9.84"

Filters

Musical Instruments

Novation MiniNova - Powerful Compact Synth