Review of the Novation ReMOTE 37 SL

[Tweak]

Review of the Novation ReMOTE 37 SL

can be found here:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/reviews/revie ... _37_sl.htm

Excerpt:

The Idea behind the ReMOTE SL series is groundbreaking. This keyboard controller has the capacity to automatically map itself to your software, and it attempts to solve the major problem behind all controllers with knobs.



http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--NOVREMOTE37SL

Most keyboard controllers only give you basic knobs which you may have to program so it can control your software synths and samplers. Some may give you templates you can call up when you run the application to give you some specific controls. But the Novation ReMOTE SL series go one step further. It "knows" when you have launched an application and maps itself to it. It senses when you have instantiated a software synth and maps to it as well. The benefit is clear. Lets say you have an FM7 on track one and a Pro 53 on track 2 and Atmosphere on track 3. Simply hit the right top cursor down and you can watch the definitions of the knobs and faders change as you select a track.

[Bob Meijer]

I have the Remote SL25 and I like it as a solid MIDI controller as well. Even without the automap this is a great little thing. I love the feel of the keys, my M-Audio Evolution 61 is utter ** compared to this.

The thing that's not so good though in my opinion is the automap in Logic. In Reason it works without a blink and this is how it SHOULD work. I haven't quite figured out how to work the SL in Logic properly. I've managed to get it to work here and there, but not well enough for a solid workflow. For starters, my ransport does not work and the automap doesn't recognize the plugin too well. It indicates that something's wrong but I can't work it out.

I trashed my system prefs and started the setup assistent but still the transport doesn't work. I'm on the newest version of Logic 7 and installed Novation v8 installer.

Any thoughts anyone? Tweak?

Other than that, I love the thing and definetely using it a lot. I'm not too sure about the drum pads though.. I don't see myself using them.

[Tweak]

Do you have the 1.015 update? Transport works perfect here. Much like the mackie control transport. Scrubs too. One thing you do have to do, which is not mentioned enough in the help, is set the Control surface preferences to send and receive on USB "B". It won't work on USB A, though the keyboard will still work. Also make sure you scan for the ReMOTE in the CS setup in Logic, don't just "add" it from the list.

[Bob Meijer]

Unbelievable.. have been trying to get it to work for weeks and a simple adjustment in the control surface panel did the job. Scanned the list and then added it. Couldn't actually locate a A or B usb port but I reinstalled the SL into 3 Midi ports (now there are 3 red lines in the arrange window' audio instrument track to indicate which midi device is activated, whereas before there was only 1 line). Transport and plugin selection works a treat now.

And I have the v8 update from the novation site, what's this 1.015 update you mentioned?

Thanks!

[Tweak]

>but I reinstalled the SL into 3 Midi ports (now there are 3 red lines in the arrange window' audio instrument track to indicate which midi device is activated, whereas before there was only 1 line).

Hmm. There should be one red line that covers 8 tracks in mixer mode and 1 track in instrument mode. You only need the USB cable connected. There are 3 ports on the usb line and 2 physical midi out connections. The physical outs are not necessary. Of the 3 usb ports, usb port 2 (which is called "UB" in the remote is the one that does the lifting in automap.

Yeah, V8 is the one. Glad you got the transport up!

[Bob Meijer]

Right! Ok so UB is actually port 2. I now got it working with just one red line. It's connected using the usb cable into my MBP. The prefs are right now:

Out Port: All
Input: Port 2
Device ID: 1
Module: Remote SL
Model: Remote SL

Correct?

Cheers!

Bob[/img]

[Tweak]

Mine has both the in and out set to port 2. Not sure it makes a difference as long as the in port is not wrong.

[Bob Meijer]

Thanks a lot for helping. This helps more than all manuals together! They write it for midi pro's instead of musicians, who generally want to buy this keyboard for the ease of use.

All is up and running smoothly now, although I realized I can't automate plugins on audio tracks.. I wanted to assign the X/Y pad to the EQ plugin but it wouldn't load on the SL.

Is it only supporting the audio instruments?

[Tweak]

>Is it only supporting the audio instruments?

Yes, that's the way it is now. Maybe they will add more parameters. I am wondering if you can edit an automap template. So far I have not been able to.

[Bob Meijer]

> I am wondering if you can edit an automap template. So far I have not been able to.

It took me a while to find the template editor, it turns out it's beta only. Found it here: http://www.novationmusic.com/product.as ... &bArchive=

Haven't had a proper go at it, but perhaps this is the way of creating audio track plugin templates. (Wow.. 'audio track plugin templates'.. sounds good!)

Did you have that already?

[_controlfreak]

I'm very pleased to see that the SL does not use the same style keys as the LE (which was almost as bad as M-Audio's keyboards!). Does it "feel" like regular synth keys; like those on the popular workstation keyboards?

[Bob Meijer]

I've tried lots of keyboards but I think the SL's keys are as good as they come. A real piano is nicer to play on, but for controlling synths this is just perfect. The pressure and aftertouch is exactly right!

I read somewhere that it has the same keys as the best Novation synths out there.

[Tweak]

They are really good, like you'd expect on a good synth with synth action. Perhaps not the best I have felt (The old Kurzweil synth action 3k boards are unmatched) but its in the ballpark. Kind of short throw on the key travel, which makes them fast for doing rapidfire stutters and weird stuff. They do bounce a little when you flick them and make some noise. I think they could be improved if a small felt was added, but as they are they don't have the unstable clacky feel of cheap controllers, or the "bottoming out" feel of long throw synth action keyboards. My first thought was "wow, I can use this one".

[Kosmos]

yeah also read what I had to say about it in my post "Motif ES afterthoughts" and how you can use it with racks to make your racks feel like legit synths just like your VST's...meanwhile as said above the presets are horrible and you definitely need to trash them and make your own...it takes a while but it's worth it...the controls and keys also feel really nice and they allow you to make sure you don't underestimate your strength and spike the effect or sound or whatever (hate loose knobs)...one thing about this thing...the pads...they suck...don't know what the hell they are for because you can't turn the [darn] things off...you press them and if you press them again it just gets louder...but maybe there's an OS thing I can adjust for that -- where novation is unmatched is that screen at the top that tells you the levels you are adjusting...for a college student that also is trying to write professional music while paying other expenses I think it's the best choice

[Tweak]

>because you can't turn the [darn] things off

Yes you can. Press and hold EDIT and press a pad.

You can adjust either "auto off" or Off sync, to adjust the time the note off is sent.

Why they gave it a a default that lets the note hang on is a mystery.

[Lunatique]

Hey Tweak, just wondering--someone like you who has lots of other keyboards in your studio--why pay extra for the 37 keys version? Why not just get the Remote SL Zero, which doesn't have any keys?

[Tweak]

I bought it for the synthy keyboard and transport controls. I wanted a small keyboard for my desk so I don't always have to play the big Fantom 88 (which won't fit on the desk).

[Jazman]

I just bought the SL25 and a laptop. Been using a Roland RS-70 into P4, mostly with Reason. (I'm a beginer/learner) I have a Behringer BCF2000,+ BCR2000, but have not found them very user friendly.
The SL25, I love! especialy as it makes it fun to load a default patch and explore tweeking. Spent the last year loading patches and loops and playing stuff that sounded the same.
Bought 'Live 5' last night and have printed out some instructions. Time to go have some fun.
By the way, the SL25 came with Bass Station, which I finally got working in Cubase SE. (Nice!) My first encounter with VST Synths. I have a trial version of Fab Filter2. Does anyone know of a template for it, and how do you load it.
Love this site. Great tutorials and links. Top stuff. Thanks.

[Oldhippy]

I have the Novation KS4 and use it as my controller, but I am keen to try the 61note version of this as soon as I get to my retailer next. This is a 2 hour journey, even though I am only 3 miles from Novation and Focusrites offices here in the UK.

Novations kit has always seemed well built and easy to use. I always wanted a Supernova keyboard..

[Lunatique]

I ended up with a 25 SL. It was a used one at a great price--I just couldn't say no. Ideally, I wanted wither the 37 or the Zero, but now I think the 37 would take up too much room on my desk and knock the mixer too far out of the way, and the Zero while is the perfect size, I don't regret getting the 25 since the semi-weighted action is awesome, and having the mod/pitch and X/Y pad right on the unit makes it much more enjoyable to test out presets. Otherwise, I'd have to turn to the side to play on another midi keyboard to test out the sounds, and that constant turning gets annoying and slows me down when I'm searching for the right sound to use.

I was initally very disappointed with the lack of automapping for Sonar, but the template they provided worked fine, although it's just a template and not automap. Now that Sonar 6 is out and the SDK is available publically, Novation will be adding automap for Sonar 6 as well--YAY!!!

I tried out the automap with Reason 3.04 just last night--it worked beautifully--although it took a while to figure out how to get Reason to detect the SL.

I'm now a true believer.

[Nuance24]

edited/ended up getting an x-station

[Coprine]

Hi,

i have an Axiom 25 en the Novation remotezero.
when i try to control the vst's the only device that respond is my Axiom.
any ideas?

[godprobe]

3.0 OS (Automap Universal) is out...

http://www.novationmusic.com/product.as ... hive=False

[Tweak]

Thanks! Downloading it now.

[thebigsky]

"The REMOTE uses a spring loaded joystick for pitch and mod functions. On my unit, the stick was "sticky" on the right side. It did not always return to center. I am hoping this will smooth out in time." -Tweak

Tweak, regarding this issue. I didnt check to see if this has been addressed before, but here is my feedback on the subject:

I believe that the sticking issue is caused by various wiring that happens to reside under and around the joystick dome. So, what can possibly happen over time is that that wiring will break because the base of the joystick tugs on it when you move it to far ends.
I found this same issue with my xiosynth. I opened it up and noticed that the wiring was not tucked away properly and was not slacked sufficiently to be tucked away. This is a design flaw on Novation's part.
I must admit that i have not seen the insides of the Remote SL, but I think I am making a reasonable extrapolation.

And BTW, I did send back the xiosynth. I think that other then the cool sounds, it is a peice of shyte, really poor quality.
I have the SL 37 on the way, and hope that it is a better made product