The Novation ZeRO SL Mk II is a full DAW and
plug-in control surface (for live and studio use) that visually feeds
back all control information to the user. A giant 144-character
display, back lit LED buttons and LED ringed encoders show the status
of all controls. Ultra-quick mapping of all 56 knobs, faders and
buttons is managed by the groundbreaking Automap 3 PRO software.
The
ZeRO SL Mk II from Novation has been designed both for the studio and
the stage. It equips the modern DAW user with every dimension of
hardware control, enabling a hands-on approach to navigating software,
mixing and controlling plug-ins. It represents extraordinary value as a
controller, integrating a DAW control surface with the most intuitive
plug-in mapping capabilities available — presided over by Automap 3
PRO; the most advanced control software on the market.
ZeRO SL
Mk II upholds Novation's reputation for building quality hardware. It
can be mounted in a 19" rack, or used as a desk-top controller, or
angled for performance using legs that are included with the unit.
Quality is not just reflected in their robustness, but more importantly
in the way the ZeRO SL Mk II has been designed with every detail
calculated to maximize workflow. The ZeRO SL Mk II's visually feeds
back all controller information to the user with back lit buttons and
encoder LED rings, making it absolutely ideal for live performances
where parameters need to be identified instantly.
The difficulty
with other control surfaces is knowing what is assigned to what. ZeRO
SL Mk II has a giant 144-character ultra-bright LCD screen that
displays all the parameter names and values for the currently selected
row of controllers. All 8 faders and 16 knobs are touch sensitive, so
the moment one is touched, the display shows the names and values on
that row and puts brackets around the controller that is currently
being touched. This enables the user to see which parameter is assigned
to the controller without having to change the value, or refer to their
software. ZeRO SL Mk II also has a dedicated 'Speed Dial' knob, which
can be used to change the value of any parameter the cursor is
positioned over without making any assignments whatsoever.
The 8
continuous rotary encoders have 11 segment LED rings around each of
them, allowing encoders to behave like pots so the user can see the
value before moving them. All the buttons have LEDs underneath them so
users can instantly see their status without having to press them.
There are 8 soft-feel drum pads which are fully assignable to any
parameter with the Automap software
ZeRO SL Mk II has been
designed to draw minimum current so it can be used as a USB
buss-powered device, although an optional 9V DC power supply can be
added for stand-alone use. As well as USB interfacing, ZeRO SL Mk II
has 1 MIDI in, 1 MIDI thru and 2 MIDI outs.
The power behind the
ZeRO's unique ability to map controllers at the touch of a button, is
contained within the included Automap software. Automap 3 PRO enables
users to map controllers with incredible speed and ease — no more
digging through MIDI continuous controller numbers, the Automap server
takes care of it all. Automap's GUI gives the user a visual
representation of all the current mappings on screen, as well as the
ability to save and manage mappings across different projects. There is
also an option to only bring up the GUI when a controller on the ZeRO
has been touched!
Illuminated controls provide instant visual feedback
Brightly lit LED rings around the eight smooth encoders, and backlit
buttons throughout provide instant visual feedback for every physical
control, further reducing reliance on the computer screen.
Giant 144-character LCD screen
Frees the artist from being chained to the computer screen, placing all
the essential data right alongside the relevant controls.
Huge array of touch-sensitive controls
Full control surface supporting ultra flexible DAW control and
Auto-mappable plug-in controls, 16 knobs, 8 faders and 32 assignable
backlit LED buttons.
Automap 3 PRO Control Software
61SL Mk II comes with Automap software which enables you to instantly
map software parameters to faders, buttons, encoders and pots and other
controllers.
MIDI control interface.
Built in MIDI I/O Interface and comprehensive MIDI implementation
provide complete control over all external hardware synths and other
external MIDI devices.
Novation's unique 'speed dial'
A touch-sensitive rotary encoder that instantly takes control of
whatever your mouse is focused on, providing real time access for
composers and performers alike.
Crossfader
ZeRO SL Mk II has a fully assignable crossfader making it ideal for Live performance with programmes such as Ableton.
Programmable 'soft-feel' drumpads
Eradicates the need for a separate set of drumpad triggers, providing
the ideal platform for sketching out beats or triggering samples
Dedicated, yet fully-assignable transport buttons.
Control the sequencer's start/stop/loop/record/forward/rewind actions,
direct from the MIDI controller, reducing reliance on mouse and screen,
or switch them out to allow use of more assignable buttons. SL Mk II
recalls how these buttons were previously assigned.
USB buss powering
Provides the artist with a mobile MIDI control solution, freeing them from the confines of the studio
Includes the Xcite+ bundle
Featuring a host of royalty-free loops and samples, a full-fledged
soft-synth and Ableton Live 7 Lite, providing an affordable upgrade
path to Ableton Live.
Automap
Automap is a bit of software that enables you to assign parameters in
your sequencer and plug-ins with incredible speed and ease, to the
buttons, knobs, faders and other controllers on your Novation SL or
Nocturn.
Anyone
who has used a hardware controller can testify to how time consuming
and awkward this can be — searching through hundreds of MIDI continuous
controller numbers and trying to match them with numbers assigned to
knobs on the hardware.
For many plug-ins, Automap enables you to
simply touch the controller, click on the parameter and its assigned!
Novation controllers also provide instant and comprehensive control
over all major sequencers — Automap even allows you to instantly assign
almost any QWERTY or ASCII keyboard shortcut to buttons and other
controllers on the hardware: So you can open and close windows, jump to
locators in your DAW and make edits without touching the mouse or
keyboard!
Remembering which parameters are assigned to which
controllers is a problem of the past. As soon as a controller is
touched, all your mappings are shown on the computer screen via
Automap's GUI, as well as the LCD screen of the SL. You can also manage
all your mappings from the on-screen GUI; rename them, swap them around
by dragging and dropping, or even change the resolution of each
control. If the GUI starts to clutter up your screen, you can turn on
the "Autoview" function which only brings it up on the screen when a
controller is touched, then hides it again after the controller is
released.
Intelligent control over all sequencers and VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins.
Automap 3 removes the pain and time involved in assigning MIDI parameters, and all layouts are fully customisable.
Heads-up transparent control GUI
Places a transparent control map across your computer screen — see at a
glance how the parameters are automatically assigned to each of SL Mk
II's controls.
Instant 'learn' function
Simply click on the software parameter and touch a touch-sensitive
control to assign it. Now you can re-assign every control in seconds.
Keystroke Assignments
Automap 3 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.
Innovative MIDI support within Automap
Name your parameters and store mappings for later use. The same
heads-up display provides quick and simple assigning of regular MIDI
parameters. This ensures SL MkII can also turn its hand to controlling
the few software application that still rely solely on the MIDI
protocol.
Plug-in and Mixer Browser
Lets you review all open plug-ins, then quickly switch to control and
one of them. Mixer 'MIDI maps' can be created, saved and recalled via
the same map browsing facility.
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.
Features:
- Illuminated controls provide instant visual feedback
- Giant 144-character LCD screen
- Huge array of touch-sensitive controls
- Automap 3 PRO Control Software
- MIDI control interface.
- Novation's unique 'speed dial'
- Crossfader
- Programmable 'soft-feel' drumpads
- Dedicated, yet fully-assignable transport buttons.
- USB buss powering
- Includes the Xcite+ bundle
Automap:
- Intelligent control over all sequencers and VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins.
- Heads-up transparent control GUI
- Instant 'learn' function
- Keystroke Assignments
- Innovative MIDI support within Automap
- Plug-in and Mixer Browser
- Autoview Mode
Xcite+ bundle ships free and consists of the following:
- Ableton Live 7 Lite software (DAW)
- 502MB of Mike the drummer drum loops — Quality live drum loops
- Novation Bass-station synth
- Loopmasters Samples library consisting of 1GB of royalty free samples