The world of music production can often be a minefield of complex jargon, intricate setups, and a wide array of options when it comes to choosing the right equipment. If you are a DJ or producer, you may already be familiar with the Novation MiniNova. This powerful, compact synth is packed with innovative features that can cater to beginners and veterans alike. In this review, we delve into the features, usability, and performance of the Novation MiniNova, shedding light on why this little synth has gained such a strong reputation in the music industry. Whether you’re an established musician looking for a new gear or a beginner trying to get your head around synths, the Novation MiniNova warrants your attention.
Contents
Unboxing and First Impressions
From the moment you lay your eyes on the packaging, Novation communicates quality and professionalism. Its box is sturdy and adheres to minimalist design principles, with a clear representation of the MiniNova on the outer layer. The actual process of unboxing reveals just how much care is dedicated to the product’s presentation.
Inside, you’ll find the MiniNova synth itself safely nestled inside custom made slots in the box, protecting it during transit and ensuring it arrives in perfect condition. Alongside the synth, you’ll also find a USB cable for connectivity, a neat power supply, and a very comprehensive user manual that offers extensive guidance and operation techniques for beginners and experienced users alike.
As soon as you get your hands on the MiniNova, its build quality immediately stands out. The device is robust and has a certain heft to it that reinforces its solid construction, even though it is meant to be portable. Covered primarily in a matte black finish, it has a sleek, modern, and professional aesthetic.
The keys on the MiniNova are mini-keys, which may take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to full-sized keys. However, they have a pleasantly responsive feel and satisfying travel distance, with velocity-sensitive action.
The control knobs and switches are plentiful and feel durable, and the LED display is crisp and clear, with easy reading from virtually any angle. All these together make the MiniNova a synth that not only looks good but feels great to use.
By the end of the unboxing, Novation Mininova leaves you with a feeling of anticipation, making you want to dive right into exploring its myriad of sonic possibilities. Whether you’re a bedroom producer seeking a compact, quality synth or a performing musician wanting something solid for your live rig, the MiniNova certainly makes a compelling first impression.
| Product Name | Amazon Link |
|---|---|
| Novation MiniNova Analog Modeling Synthesizer | Find more info on Amazon here! |
| Novation MiniNova 37 Mini Key Modeling Synthesizer | Find more info on Amazon here! |
Key Features and Functionality
The Novation Mininova is an impressive synthesizer and vocoder that packs a load of features into its compact frame.
Versatile Sound Engine
The Mininova boasts of a versatile and powerful sound engine, inherited from its big brother, the Novation Ultranova. It’s loaded with 256 onboard sounds – from classic analogue to cutting edge EDM – all editable right from the synth or via an editor software.
Vocoder and Vocal Effects
At the heart of Mininova’s main attractions is a 12-band vocoder, best used with the included gooseneck microphone. This allows it to perform vocal effects such as Auto-Tune, MIDI-controlled pitch correction, and even a robotic voice feature.
The ‘Animate’ feature
The ‘Animate’ feature is a significant boon for live performance. By holding these buttons and playing the keys, users can warp and twist the onboard sounds in real-time; great for onstage antics.
High-Quality Keyboard
The 37-mini-key keyboard has been built to provide an excellent response. Despite their small size, the keys are velocity-sensitive, lending more weight to your playing dynamically.
Arpeggiator
The Mininova features an arpeggiator with a selectable rhythm pattern. It enables you to play a melody and make the synthesizer play it back in a variety of rhythmic ways, adding another dimension to your performance or recording.
Onboard Effects
The Novation Mininova also features an impressive array of onboard effects, including delay, reverb, distortion, chorus/phase, compression, EQ, and Gator effect, allowing you to fully shape and customize your sound.
In sum, the Novation Mininova synthesizer packs a lot of power into its small frame. It is small enough to fit into any setup but robust enough to transform your sound.
Sound Quality and Performance
The Novation Mininova’s sound quality and performance are absolutely noteworthy. The synth engine is based on Novation’s renowned UltraNova synthesizer, offering a wide range of sonic possibilities. It comes with 256 preset sounds that cover almost every genre you can imagine. Ranging from classic analogue synth sounds to cutting-edge contemporary leads, all the presets are high quality and fully editable.
In terms of performance, the Mininova is equipped with an onboard vocoder and a microphone, a unique feature for a synth of this size. Those who wish to get creative with their voices or any other sounds can do so directly through the Mininova, adding a fun and inspiring dynamic to performances or production work.
One feature that particularly stands out is the ‘Animate’ functionality. With eight back-lit buttons, users can tweak, warp, and distort sounds in real-time, creating dynamic performances and recordings just by pressing a button. Coupled with the well-executed Arpeggiator and Chord function, the Mininova allows for quick and easy performance enhancements that can drastically elevate your music production.
The Mininova’s 37 mini keys have a solid and responsive feel, more than adequate for mobile producers or performers who need to travel light. They certainly don’t hinder performance capabilities, thanks to the ‘Perform’ mode which transforms the keyboard into an interactive performance tool.
The overall sound quality of the Mininova is robust. The complex waveforms generated by its powerful synth engine result in rich and full-bodied tones. The range of sounds that this digital synthesizer can generate is vast – from silky smooth pads, gritty basses, snappy drums, and howling leads, the sonic palette is wide and satisfying.
In conclusion, Novation Mininova is a superb synthesis tool delivering top-notch sound quality and performance at a very reasonable price point. It’s versatile, portable, and fun, making it an excellent choice for both studio work and live performances. Regardless of your skill level, the Mininova offers a rewarding, fun, and creative synth experience.
Connectivity and Integration
The Novation Mininova showcases excellent connectivity and seamless integration with a variety of equipment, making it a versatile tool for performers and producers alike.
The unit features both MIDI in and out ports, allowing for easy integration with your existing setup. The inclusion of a USB port means not only can the Mininova be connected to computers for use with Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), it also can be powered via USB, providing flexibility for those working in digital domains.
In terms of audio, the Mininova offers a mono output, a stereo output, and a headphone socket. The additional S/PDIF digital output ensures the overall output quality remains high. An external input allows the user to process other instruments through the Mininova’s robust effects engine, expanding its usability significantly.
Furthermore, this synthesizer stands out due to its software integration. The Mininova Editor and Librarian, which are available to download free from Novation’s website, allow for deep editing of patches and easy organization of your chosen sounds. It also acts as a plugin within your DAW, allowing for total recall of settings within saved projects.
For iOS users, the Mininova can be directly integrated with the Novation Launchpad app, opening up a whole new realm of performance options.
In conclusion, the connectivity and integration of the Novation Mininova serve to enhance its overall performance, making it a strong contender in the compact synthesizer market.
Pros and Cons
When it comes to the Novation MiniNova, there are a number of pros and cons that should be considered.
Pros
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Sound Quality: With a powerful sound engine derived from the UltraNova, the MiniNova offers a vast range of sound capabilities. This includes 256 onboard sounds that range from synth leads, basses, drums, and even sound effects.
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Vocoder and VocalTune Effects: One notable feature is its built-in vocoder along with VocalTune effects, which allow you to tune your voice to the synth.
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Portability: The compact and lightweight design of the MiniNova makes it an ideal choice for those who require mobility, whether it be travelling musicians or bedroom producers.
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Versatility: The MiniNova isn’t just a synth, but also a MIDI controller. This pair of functionalities combined with its various control options including pitch and modulation wheels, knobs, buttons, and a large knob for filter cutoff truly expand its versatility.
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Integrated Software Editor: This feature allows for real time editing and onboard patch storage. Making changes and adjustments on the MiniNova is easy, smooth, and efficient.
Cons
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Small Keys: While the compactness of the MiniNova is a plus, the small keys may prove to be a challenge for some. Individuals with larger hands or those used to playing on full-sized keys might find this aspect uncomfortable.
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Complex Interface: Despite its size, the MiniNova is a versatile and complex synthesizer. The large array of functions might be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a steeper learning curve.
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No Sequencer: This is likely the biggest downside. While the MiniNova has an arpeggiator and Chord function, the lack of a built-in sequencer limits its capabilities for creating complex sequences or patterns in a live setting.
Overall, the Novation MiniNova packs a powerful punch as a compact synthesizer. However, its complex interface and small keys might prove to be a setback for some individuals. Ultimately, it depends on the individual’s personal preferences, and level of comfort with synthesizers.
Comparisons with Other Products
When comparing the Novation MiniNova to other synthesizers in its class, there are several qualities that set it apart.
One of the main competitors in this category is the Roland System-1. Compared to the MiniNova, the System-1 offers a uniquely different sound, largely due to its Analogue Circuit Behaviour (ACB) technology which reproduces the sound and behavior of vintage analog circuits. However, the MiniNova’s diverse range of wavetables, robust arpeggiator and versatility in generating a variety of sounds edges above in terms of sound capability.
When pitted against the KORG MicroKorg XL, another competitor in the compact synthesizer category, the MiniNova again stands out for its exceptional sound engine derived from Novation’s revered UltraNova synth. While the MicroKorg XL has a vintage appearance and offers a respectable variety of sound options, the MiniNova boasts a more modern design, with backlit pitch and modulation wheels, and therefore, may be more pleasing to the modern synth player.
The Arturia MicroFreak is another comparable product when considering compact synthesizers. The MicroFreak is highly regarded for its innovative digital oscillator and wide range of synthesis methods. However, the MiniNova holds its ground with a more superior keybed, and also wins hands down when it comes to using as a vocoder, thanks to its Gooseneck microphone.
In comparison to the Moog Sub Phatty, the MiniNova is much more affordable and densely packed with features. While the Moog Sub Phatty offers rich and warm Moog analogue sound, it lacks the digital versatility and vocoder function that MiniNova offers.
In conclusion, the Novation MiniNova holds its ground against an array of popular synthesizers in its range with its exceptional sound quality, easy editing capabilities, and dynamic vocoder and VocalTune effects. Each synthesizer has its own strengths, but the MiniNova’s high-performance features make it more appealing for an array of music production styles.
Price Point and Value for Money
The Novation MiniNova falls into a very competitive price bracket within the synthesizer market, often being offered at around $400. Given its extensive functionalities and features, many would argue that it offers superb value for money.
On the basic level, this synthesizer presents 37 mini-keys with 14 types of conventional waveforms, 36 wavetables, and 20 digital waveforms to explore your musical creativity. It’s packed with 256 onboard sounds and an additional capacity to save 128 of your own.
The real value, however, lies in MiniNova’s versatility. Known for its vocoder and trademark VocalTune features, it proves to be the perfect instrument for musicians interested in vocal effects. The MiniNova is also a full-fledged MIDI controller that can easily be integrated into any contemporary music production setup. The synthesizer’s software editor is another standout feature, facilitating the creation, editing, and management of patches, contributing to making it an excellent choice at its price point.
A commendable aspect is its well-constructed design. Despite the affordable price point, Novation has not compromised on the build quality, offering a product with a robust casing and durable components, which adds to the overall worth of the MiniNova.
In essence, with the Novation MiniNova, you are getting a versatile, feature-rich synthesizer, a MIDI controller, a software editor, sterling vocal effects, and a quality build. Therefore, it delivers substantial value for musicians whether they are beginners or experienced artists.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
The Novation MiniNova is an impressive synthesizer that undoubtedly deserves your attention if you’re in the market for a versatile and handy music production tool or a portable performance instrument. This compact yet powerful synth delivers a rich and expansive sound palette, providing an immense range of sonic possibilities.
With 37 mini-keys, 256 onboard sounds, and the capability for user-created presets, the MiniNova presents a plethora of capabilities to explore. Despite its small size, it is packed with features usually found in larger synthesizers. Completing the package with an intuitive layout and user-friendly interface, even the beginners will find it easy to get started with, and professionals will appreciate the depth and versatility it provides.
The MiniNova also stands out with its “Vocoder” function, offering a dedicated microphone in the package. Hence, creativity with voice manipulation is just around the corner as soon as you get your hands on this incredible piece.
A notable feature of the MiniNova is the eight animate buttons that allow genuine time tweaking and warping of sounds, making it a vibrant and interactive choice for live performances.
On the downside, the small keys might not appeal to everyone, especially those used to full-sized keyboards. Also, thoroughly exploring the vast range of possibilities might require a learning curve but is indeed a rewarding journey.
In terms of value for money, the Novation MiniNova synthesizer is an excellent investment. It incorporates quality, portability, and a host of performance-enhancing features. This synth is incredibly flexible, suitable for playing in any genre – whether on its own or as part of a larger setup.
In conclusion, if you’re seeking an affordable, compact keyboard synthesizer that doesn’t compromise on features or sound quality, the MiniNova should undoubtedly be on your shortlist. It offers a brilliant balance of quality, fun and creativity that is suitable for both hobbyists and professionals. Whether for studio use or live performances, the Novation MiniNova synth can serve as a reliable and versatile workhorse that encourages creativity and musical exploration.