Novation UltraNova Now Available

Keyboard Synthesizers: Novation has released the UltraNova synthesizer,the new generation of Novation’s iconic Nova range of synthesizers.

The Novation UltraNova packs the Nova sound into a compact body, with a built-in vocoder.

The UltraNova is available now for $699.99. Details below.

Features:

  • Brand new Nova-series synth engine based on Supernova II:
    • Single part with up to 18 voices, 14 filter types, 36 wavetables, 5 effect slots.
    • Patch Browse enables you to browse 300 sounds by type & genre.
  • Touch-sense controls enable totally new sound-shaping & performance:
    • Trigger envelopes/LFOs/filters/FX by just touching the encoders.
    • Large rotary control instantly allows you fine control of any parameter.
  • Totally gig-able with 37 full sized keys, a vocoder, and loads of controls:
    • Voice optimized 12 band vocoder with gooseneck mic.
    • High quality key bed with aftertouch for expressive playing styles.
  • Software plug-in editor and Patch Librarian for full visual editing:
    • Plug-in editor allows you to view and edit in with software.
    • Software Patch Librarian a organise, store and share unlimited patches.
  • Built-in 2 in 4 out USB audio interface and it can be bus powered:
    • UltraNova can be used to stream audio to and from a host computer.
    • Stereo main (analogue & SPDIF) and aux outputs, and MIDI in/out/thru ports.

37 thoughts on “Novation UltraNova Now Available”

  1. So where is it going to be in-stock first? It's not "released" until someone is shipping it. I still see dates of 12-20-2010 on various sites, is that changing?

  4. You can touch it, you can touch it… "This wouldn't normally happen on a soft synth… because you are just using your mouse…, your are not touching anything else…"

    Nice company the Novation team with their really innovative and intelligent controllers has picked up for this promotion this time.

  5. Here's what I've gathered, might not be 100% accurate given I don't own either.

    Price: Same
    Power: Ultranova can be bus-powered, GAIA can run on batteries
    Controls: Ultranova has touch-sensitive performance controls, GAIA has more "direct" control layout
    Editors: Ultranova has free editor, Roland wants $100 for theirs
    Vocoder: Only on Ultranova
    DBeam: Only on GAIA
    Filter emulations: Ultranova has way more
    Effects: GAIA has bitcrusher, pitch shifter
    Voices: GAIA seems to have better voice guarantee (64 but counted per osc, vs "up to 18" on ultranova)
    Oscillators: Ultranova has wavetables
    Midi: Only ultranova has thru
    Outputs: Ultranova has SPDIF
    Presets: Ultranova has more space and more factory patches
    Aftertouch: Ultranova only
    Inputs: Ultranova looks like it has L/R in
    Multitimbral: Neither
    FM: GAIA doesn't, and it looks like Ultranova doesn't

  6. Have to disagree this time. The ultranova looks like it has plenty of filter emulations, aftertouch, and touch controls, a vocoder and it's bus powered with a free editor. For the asking price that's not bad. I'm glad to see aftertouch on this.

    I wish they had a 61-key edition as an option, it would instantly replace an existing controller.

  7. Honestly, since I got a Virus TI, I do not think I will ever bother with a "hard" synth unless it can be used as a VSTI.
    Its just so much more simple.

    It sounds a little like a cut down Nord lead. Not that that is bad thing.
    Very digital to my ears. May be its just me?

  9. During the 3 months novation has been hyping this synth, I got tired of waiting and scored two supernovas for about what the ultranova is going to cost if it ever arrives. On Nov 4 a novation email reply said that US distributors would have them by bov 10 and would be in stores a week to 2 weeks after and now the date is like Dec 20th. How many of you are tired of waiting?

  10. Ditto to Supernova 2 you and me both ! I am now concerned I will be expecting something more than I am gead going to get. I have been spending hours really learning to program my Korg R3 and Virus C and man the R3 is so kick ass and a very capable synth. I thought I had heard kick ass bass untill I heard the R3 tweaked and its like NIN first album, you know, "Head like a Hole" black as my R3's soul. If you have one learn how to use those "awkward at first" dial and four knobs. The synth is badass and its bass isn't a bunch of white noise which is what I hear in this video, white noise does not cut through. My R3 is shaking brick walls going SUUUUBBBBB BASSSSSSSS, much more synth than I had first thought, R3..

  11. Ditto to Supernova 2 you and me both ! I am now concerned I will be expecting something more than I am gead going to get. I have been spending hours really learning to program my Korg R3 and Virus C and man the R3 is so kick ass and a very capable synth. I thought I had heard kick ass bass untill I heard the R3 tweaked and its like NIN first album, you know, "Head like a Hole" black as my R3's soul. If you have one learn how to use those "awkward at first" dial and four knobs. The synth is badass and its bass isn't a bunch of white noise which is what I hear in this video, white noise does not cut through. My R3 is shaking brick walls going SUUUUBBBBB BASSSSSSSS, much more synth than I had first thought, R3..

  12. Ditto to Supernova 2 you and me both ! I am now concerned I will be expecting something more than I am gead going to get. I have been spending hours really learning to program my Korg R3 and Virus C and man the R3 is so kick ass and a very capable synth. I thought I had heard kick ass bass untill I heard the R3 tweaked and its like NIN first album, you know, "Head like a Hole" black as my R3's soul. If you have one learn how to use those "awkward at first" dial and four knobs. The synth is badass and its bass isn't a bunch of white noise which is what I hear in this video, white noise does not cut through. My R3 is shaking brick walls going SUUUUBBBBB BASSSSSSSS, much more synth than I had first thought, R3..

  13. Ditto to Supernova 2 you and me both ! I am now concerned I will be expecting something more than I am gead going to get. I have been spending hours really learning to program my Korg R3 and Virus C and man the R3 is so kick ass and a very capable synth. I thought I had heard kick ass bass untill I heard the R3 tweaked and its like NIN first album, you know, "Head like a Hole" black as my R3's soul. If you have one learn how to use those "awkward at first" dial and four knobs. The synth is badass and its bass isn't a bunch of white noise which is what I hear in this video, white noise does not cut through. My R3 is shaking brick walls going SUUUUBBBBB BASSSSSSSS, much more synth than I had first thought, R3..

  14. Ditto to Supernova 2 you and me both ! I am now concerned I will be expecting something more than I am gead going to get. I have been spending hours really learning to program my Korg R3 and Virus C and man the R3 is so kick ass and a very capable synth. I thought I had heard kick ass bass untill I heard the R3 tweaked and its like NIN first album, you know, "Head like a Hole" black as my R3's soul. If you have one learn how to use those "awkward at first" dial and four knobs. The synth is badass and its bass isn't a bunch of white noise which is what I hear in this video, white noise does not cut through. My R3 is shaking brick walls going SUUUUBBBBB BASSSSSSSS, much more synth than I had first thought, R3..

  15. Ditto to Supernova 2 you and me both ! I am now concerned I will be expecting something more than I am gead going to get. I have been spending hours really learning to program my Korg R3 and Virus C and man the R3 is so kick ass and a very capable synth. I thought I had heard kick ass bass untill I heard the R3 tweaked and its like NIN first album, you know, "Head like a Hole" black as my R3's soul. If you have one learn how to use those "awkward at first" dial and four knobs. The synth is badass and its bass isn't a bunch of white noise which is what I hear in this video, white noise does not cut through. My R3 is shaking brick walls going SUUUUBBBBB BASSSSSSSS, much more synth than I had first thought, R3..

  16. i AGREE 110% NOVATION has hyped this mini supernova for 3.5 months and I now am at the conclusion I have waited so long that I don't think this synth can deliver what I am anticipating. I pulled out of my pre order I think I will wait and see if this synth can live up to all the hype novation created or is this going to be known as one bad dissapointment. Its got menus and a calculator screen to navigate them and that is 2 things I hate. I spent hours on my Gaia yesterday and realized just how great of a synth it really is I wouldn't change a thing about it. Plus it doesn't have (or need) a display, it doesnt need menus because its all about sliders and knobs. I think Roland deserves some real respect for the Gaia it is so capable and easy to tweak, not forgetting just tons of fun you will never tire of.No menu on a tiny screen has ever done that for me.

  17. i AGREE 110% NOVATION has hyped this mini supernova for 3.5 months and I now am at the conclusion I have waited so long that I don't think this synth can deliver what I am anticipating. I pulled out of my pre order I think I will wait and see if this synth can live up to all the hype novation created or is this going to be known as one bad dissapointment. Its got menus and a calculator screen to navigate them and that is 2 things I hate. I spent hours on my Gaia yesterday and realized just how great of a synth it really is I wouldn't change a thing about it. Plus it doesn't have (or need) a display, it doesnt need menus because its all about sliders and knobs. I think Roland deserves some real respect for the Gaia it is so capable and easy to tweak, not forgetting just tons of fun you will never tire of.No menu on a tiny screen has ever done that for me.

  18. i AGREE 110% NOVATION has hyped this mini supernova for 3.5 months and I now am at the conclusion I have waited so long that I don't think this synth can deliver what I am anticipating. I pulled out of my pre order I think I will wait and see if this synth can live up to all the hype novation created or is this going to be known as one bad dissapointment. Its got menus and a calculator screen to navigate them and that is 2 things I hate. I spent hours on my Gaia yesterday and realized just how great of a synth it really is I wouldn't change a thing about it. Plus it doesn't have (or need) a display, it doesnt need menus because its all about sliders and knobs. I think Roland deserves some real respect for the Gaia it is so capable and easy to tweak, not forgetting just tons of fun you will never tire of.No menu on a tiny screen has ever done that for me.

  19. i AGREE 110% NOVATION has hyped this mini supernova for 3.5 months and I now am at the conclusion I have waited so long that I don't think this synth can deliver what I am anticipating. I pulled out of my pre order I think I will wait and see if this synth can live up to all the hype novation created or is this going to be known as one bad dissapointment. Its got menus and a calculator screen to navigate them and that is 2 things I hate. I spent hours on my Gaia yesterday and realized just how great of a synth it really is I wouldn't change a thing about it. Plus it doesn't have (or need) a display, it doesnt need menus because its all about sliders and knobs. I think Roland deserves some real respect for the Gaia it is so capable and easy to tweak, not forgetting just tons of fun you will never tire of.No menu on a tiny screen has ever done that for me.

  20. i AGREE 110% NOVATION has hyped this mini supernova for 3.5 months and I now am at the conclusion I have waited so long that I don't think this synth can deliver what I am anticipating. I pulled out of my pre order I think I will wait and see if this synth can live up to all the hype novation created or is this going to be known as one bad dissapointment. Its got menus and a calculator screen to navigate them and that is 2 things I hate. I spent hours on my Gaia yesterday and realized just how great of a synth it really is I wouldn't change a thing about it. Plus it doesn't have (or need) a display, it doesnt need menus because its all about sliders and knobs. I think Roland deserves some real respect for the Gaia it is so capable and easy to tweak, not forgetting just tons of fun you will never tire of.No menu on a tiny screen has ever done that for me.

  21. i AGREE 110% NOVATION has hyped this mini supernova for 3.5 months and I now am at the conclusion I have waited so long that I don't think this synth can deliver what I am anticipating. I pulled out of my pre order I think I will wait and see if this synth can live up to all the hype novation created or is this going to be known as one bad dissapointment. Its got menus and a calculator screen to navigate them and that is 2 things I hate. I spent hours on my Gaia yesterday and realized just how great of a synth it really is I wouldn't change a thing about it. Plus it doesn't have (or need) a display, it doesnt need menus because its all about sliders and knobs. I think Roland deserves some real respect for the Gaia it is so capable and easy to tweak, not forgetting just tons of fun you will never tire of.No menu on a tiny screen has ever done that for me.

  22. Hello everyone! I'm planning to buy my first synthesizer and I'm between the UltraNova, the Korg R3 and the Roland GAIA. I already have a Kurzweil SP2x (stage piano) but I need synth sounds. So I need a little help to choose wich is the best for me, I'm on a post-rock band (God is An Astronaut, Sigur Ros style)

    Thanks!

  23. Hello everyone! I'm planning to buy my first synthesizer and I'm between the UltraNova, the Korg R3 and the Roland GAIA. I already have a Kurzweil SP2x (stage piano) but I need synth sounds. So I need a little help to choose wich is the best for me, I'm on a post-rock band (God is An Astronaut, Sigur Ros style)

    Thanks!

  24. Hello everyone! I'm planning to buy my first synthesizer and I'm between the UltraNova, the Korg R3 and the Roland GAIA. I already have a Kurzweil SP2x (stage piano) but I need synth sounds. So I need a little help to choose wich is the best for me, I'm on a post-rock band (God is An Astronaut, Sigur Ros style)

    Thanks!

  25. Hello everyone! I'm planning to buy my first synthesizer and I'm between the UltraNova, the Korg R3 and the Roland GAIA. I already have a Kurzweil SP2x (stage piano) but I need synth sounds. So I need a little help to choose wich is the best for me, I'm on a post-rock band (God is An Astronaut, Sigur Ros style)

    Thanks!

  26. Hello everyone! I'm planning to buy my first synthesizer and I'm between the UltraNova, the Korg R3 and the Roland GAIA. I already have a Kurzweil SP2x (stage piano) but I need synth sounds. So I need a little help to choose wich is the best for me, I'm on a post-rock band (God is An Astronaut, Sigur Ros style)

    Thanks!

  27. Hello everyone! I'm planning to buy my first synthesizer and I'm between the UltraNova, the Korg R3 and the Roland GAIA. I already have a Kurzweil SP2x (stage piano) but I need synth sounds. So I need a little help to choose wich is the best for me, I'm on a post-rock band (God is An Astronaut, Sigur Ros style)

    Thanks!

  34. I just tried out the Gaia and the Ultranova side by side at Guitar Center.
    The Ultranova has some great moving sounds, it is HUGE sounding, and has punchy DEEP low end. The Gaia sounded like a plastic box with lots of knobs and sliders on it.

  35. Thanks Mark!! I also tried the Korg Radias, it's a very cool synth, but only 256 sounds for 1100 $… I think I'll take the Ultranova

  37. I just bought an ultranova the other day. The presets seem very well programmed because aftertouch and modulation controls do exactly the right thing to the sound so – for me – I find it very musical to play. I'm looking forward to developing my own sounds with it. It's one of the most playable and best sounding synths I've ever heard. Early days, of course, but this synth excites me in a way my Virus Polar and Moog Voyager and Korgs etc. never did.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *