Nocturn

• Exclusive Automap Universal 2.0 technology
  Novation’s instant and intelligent control technology leaves you free to focus on what matters most - your music.
• Heads-up transparent control GUI
  Automap Universal 2.0 provides a transparent control map across your computer screen, so you can see at a glance how every parameter is assigned.
• Novation’s unique ‘Speed Dial’
  An instant access touch-sensitive control for composers and performers alike, allowing you to take control of whatever your mouse is focused on!
• Touch-sensitive controls
  Nocturn also features eight touch-sensitive rotary encoders with bright, eleven-LED rings. Simply touch an encoder to assign to any parameter.
• The Lap-top DJ solution
  Alongside the brightly lit encoders, Nocturn also features illuminated buttons and a smooth, professional 45mm cross-fader, making it ideal for laptop DJ’ing in a dark club environment.
• Instant ‘learn’ function
  Simply click on the software parameter and touch a Nocturn control to assign it. Now you can re-assign every control in seconds.

Novation’s most affordable hardware controller to date, Nocturn is an intelligent plug-in controller that promises to unleash the full potential of all your favourite instruments and effects. Featuring the latest Automap Universal 2.0 software, exclusive to Novation controllers, Nocturn provides automatic, instant and intelligent control of all automatable plug-ins within every major sequencer, including Pro Tools.

Nocturn features eight touch-sensitive rotary encoders, each equipped with a bright eleven-LED ring (ideal for laptop DJ’ing in a dark club environment). These are accompanied by eight user-assignable illuminated buttons and a smooth, professional 45mm cross-fader. The finishing touch is Novation’s unique ‘speed dial’; a touch-sensitive rotary encoder that instantly takes control of whatever your mouse is focused on!

Control technology exclusive to Novation, Automap Universal provides instant and intelligent control of all your Music software. Just boot up any majorapplication and the parameters automatically assign to your Automap-compatible controller. Little or no user setup is required and control of your software can be customized just the way you like it. Massive flexibility means that you can assign a potentially infinite number of parameters for each application.

What’s new in Automap Universal 2.0?

• RTAS and TDM Plug-in Support Now Included
Novation controllers are now the best solution for controlling multiple instruments and effects within Pro Tools LE and HD. Currently Mac only. PC support in development and will follow soon.

• A Revolutionary Heads-up Transparent Control GUI
Automap Universal 2.0 allows you to view all parameters simultaneously on your computer screen. The size of the window can be modified, as well as the degree of transparency, so a permanent view of the GUI is possible without interfering with your regular setup.

• Simple Re-writing of Names, Parameters and Step Sizes
In addition to displaying all your assigned parameters, the ‘heads-up’ transparent control GUI now allows for quick entry of new control names, parameter ranges and step sizes.

• Grouping of Control Maps
A simple browse facility allows you to view plug-ins by type, (all instruments, all FX etc.) then instantly switch to control any of them.

• Instant ‘Learn’ Mode
For easy and instantaneous mapping of controls - simply click the software parameter on the new transparent control GUI, then move or touch a hardware control to automatically assign.

• Standard MIDI Protocol Supported
The transparent GUI also allows quick and simple editing of standard MIDI parameters.

Controls:

Assignable Rotary Encoders: 8 - Infinite Rotation, touch-sensitive, LED surrounds

Speed Dial (Encoder): 1 - Infinite Rotation, touch-sensitive, LED-surround, press and rotate for second function

Assignable Buttons: 8

Assignable Crossfader: 1 x 45mm

System Buttons: ‘Learn’, ‘View’, ‘Page+’ and ‘Page-’

Group Buttons: User, FX, Inst, Mixer

Interfacing Data Ports: 1 x USB MIDI


Weight and Dims

Size: W=239mm (9.41”), H=137mm (5.39”), D=18-28mm (0.7”-1.1”)

Weight: 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs)


Minimum Operational Requirements:

Mac OSX 10.4.0 or greater (Leopard also supported) or Windows XP with
Service Pack 2 or greater (Vista 32/64 also supported)

Minimum Computer spec: Mac - G4/1GHz, both with 256MB RAM or PC -
Pentium 3/1GHz/256MB RAM (machines running Vista will require a higher spec)


Interfacing:

USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 compatible

iDJ Magazine Review Quotes
May 2008

"As well as compact, the Nocturn is well thought-out. The layout gives a spacious feel while being tactile and rugged"

"The silky-smooth 45mm crossfader feels quality and teamed with the backlit switches and encoders make the Nocturn ideal for laptop DJs playing in dark, dimly lit clubs."

" If you're looking for a digital control solution, its intuitiveness and ease-of-use make Novation's Nocturn a must to check out. It's compact, well built and the Automap feature takes all the hassle out of setting up. At this price point, the travelling digital DJ can probably even afford to carry a spare!"

Future Music Magazine Review Quotes
April 2008

"Novation have thought about what musicians really need and designed a surface that makes perfect sense."

"This is a fabulous product. If you have a stack of plug-ins that you want to take hands-on control of, there is no more elegant, accessible or affordable solution."

Computer Music Magazine Review Quotes
April 2008

"Novation have been working into the small hours creating this glow-in-the-dark intelligent controller. Whats more, its one of their cheapest and most innovative devices yet…"

"The Nocturn is extremely quick to get up and running. It takes only a short while to become comfortable with the heads-up display, and in no time at all we were using it to control the bulk of our plug-ins. "

"The Nocturn is ideal for anyone wanting a compact, easy-to-use yet highly-flexible control surface for studio or live use, and the software ‘brain’ should ensure a future-proof, upgradeable system. Those who may have been put off in the past due to the perceived difficulties of getting a controller to play ball should try it out, as its software-centric approach is bound to make a lot of sense to computer musicians. On top of all that, at just £69, the Novation Nocturn has got to be the bargain of the year, and we’ve already got our orders in…"

Computer Music Magazine
Nocturn First Look - 11/02/2008

Read the review

Reverb Magazine Review Quotes
March / April 2008

"As you can probably tell, I was extremely impressed with Nocturn. For one, I have a bit of a thing for small, simple and stylish desktop products right now, but I’ve also rarely come across a product that offers so much for such a small price. Never before has such a modestly sized box had such an impact on my workflow. Being so easy to use means that this is one MIDI controller that you can actually rely on, and have the time to use to its full potential. Although I only used Nocturn in my studio for the review, it also has massive appeal as a live performance controller, particularly as a mixer and effects box for a laptop DJ. Whatever your music style and whatever software you use, Nocturn will fit right into your setup and almost certainly change the way you make music."

Read the full review from Reverb Magazine


Sound On Sound Magazine Review Quotes
August 2008

"Novation's Nocturn has been one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year."

The Nocturn controller is petite, but the controls feel surprisingly spacious due to the unusual way in which they are arranged. This clever design means that nothing obstructs your thumb when controlling the back row of knobs. There are eight primary knobs, all of which are touch-sensitive continuous contollers - an essential feature for a successful controller, in my view."

"The USB connection is on the side of the box, which I originally thought was going to be untidy, but it's actually quite unobtrusive, and means that the controller can sit flush with a laptop, display or keyboard that's directly behind it. In my studio, the Nocturn perched neatly on top of my controller keyboard aided by the fact that it sits on large rubber pads rather than feet."

"Despite some extra strings to it's bow, as an effects controller Kore lacks Nocturn's immediacy and ease of use, and results in all your DAWs inserts reading 'Kore'. There's an interesting halfway house option, because I discovered that the Nocturn makes a wicked controller for the free KorePlayer software."

"The fact is that any time spent creating your own maps is repaid in spades. Even when a factory default was available, I found that I wanted to make my own layout, and I enjoyed spending a few minutes honing my mapping to perfection. That's as long as it takes, because the manual mapping system is fast and simple."

"Although a knob might suffice, I set up a faithful recreation by assigning a button with a range of one to six and a step size of one. I've been looking for a controller that can do this with buttons for a long time."

"After bit of time using the surface instead of the mouse you won't look back."

"I had great results using the Nocturn in Ableton Live, but I was particularly impressed by the controller's integration with Pro Tools."

"Touching or pressing a control brings up the corresponding plug-in. This is a lovely solution, and works well when there are just a handful of plug-ins."

"Once I started setting up my own layouts with the learn function, automatically picking up each control complete with it's name, value and data type in a single touch, I was hooked. The Nocturn adds a really enjoyable tactile dimension to a computer-based set up. One evening after I began to click with the Nocturn, I mapped out D16's 303 Clone Phoscyon and started mucking about with the controls. The next thing I knew, I looked up and two hours of blissful acid knob twiddling had passed."

"I've been through a lot of controllers, most of which end up gathering dust because there's always some flaw or barrier that means I fall back to using the mouse. This time though, I think Novation has come up with something that will see regular day to day use for many effects plug-ins, and quite a few instruments. Even if you only ever used it to control your favourite EQ, it'd be well worth the money. Get your hands on one."

Audio Technology Magazine Review Quotes
August 2008 - Issue 62 - Australia

"Novation likes to keep its products reasonably left of centre and yet still produce something utterly useful."

"The unit sits firmly on your physical desktop without slipping around, thanks to two huge serratedmrubber feet on the underside – top marks to Novation for using some nouse here, rather than simply supplying sticky rubber feet as an afterthought."

"In all, a cute controller dedicated to plug-in use, at a very agreeable price."

MacUser Magazine Review
June 2008

Read the full review.

Value For Money Award
Computer Music Magazine
April 2008




Innovation Award
Computer Music Magazine
April 2008




Performance Award
Computer Music Magazine
April 2008




Editor's Choice Award
Computer Music Magazine
April 2008