Easy to use and intuitive;Novation’s ZeRO SL MKII knowsexactly what SIMON TILLBROOKwants from a MIDI controller.Since 1992, Novation has been producing an everexpandingrange of modelling soft synthesisersand controllers for virtual instruments and DAWs.These controllers, coupled with Novation’s Automap server,have found numerous fans at every level of the industry.The latest to join this well established product line isthe Novation ZeRO SL MkII. The version for review is theunit without the keyboard and XY control pad, so gearedtowards DAW control more than performance.Control Surface OverviewSupplied out of the box, along with the Novation ZeRO SLMkII, are a couple of disks with drivers and manuals, alongwith the Excite+ pack which includes a copy of NovationBass Station synth and a variety of samples and loops.A copy of Albeton Live 7 Lite is also supplied.The ZeRO SL MkII is a table-top device, supplied withscrew-in feet that increases the height and angle of themapping control parameters of supported instrumentsand DAWs is now at version 3. All MkII units come suppliedwith this version.There has been quite a lot of development sinceI last saw Automap. The user interface, described as atransparent heads-up GUI, is far more refined and can beaccessed as you need.Automap integrates HUI control for all compatibleDAWs, and an additional start-up screen gives even easieraccess to general setting up. There's also one-click accessto online support, updates, and tutorials.The Autoview feature brings up the GUI whenevera controller is touched. You can simply drag and dropan assignment from one controller to another for quickand easy arrangement of your interface, and computerkeyboard button combination shortcuts can be assignedto one of the 32 buttons using keystroke assign.The new facility that most users will be excited aboutNOVATION MUSIC ZERO SL MKIIHarware ControllerTHE REVIEWERSIMON TILLBROOK is the PrincipalMusic Tutor at Islington MusicWorkshop in London. The rest ofhis time is spent as a freelanceengineer, mainly in the USA.unit if required – though it will fitnicely into a standard rack tray.The top left corner of the unit iswhere you find the 144-character LCDdisplay sitting above a number ofdifferent controls.First we have a row of eight touch sensitiveendless rotary encoders, each surrounded by 11LED indicators. Next we have a set of eight touch sensitivepots, with about 300 degrees of movement stop-to-stop.These sit above eight velocity sensitive trigger pads. At thebottom of this first control section are 16 of the 32-backlitassignable buttons set out in two rows of eight. On theright side of the ZeRO SL MkII are the other 16-backlitassignable buttons, six of which can be used for dedicatedtransport control, and are labelled as such. Above theseare eight touch sensitive 60mm faders.Sitting between these two main controller sections is amulti-function rotary control, which can be used to scrollthrough and select templates and preset configurations.It is also the Speed Dial. This feature is found on virtuallyall Novation controllers, and allows direct and immediatecontrol over whatever parameter you place your mousecurser over, on screen. Just below this rotary control is atouch sensitive 45mm crossfader.Along the bottom of the unit are various navigation andmode selector buttons, including a Preview button that,when held down, will show the parameter data in the maindisplay of whichever touch sensitive control you use.The ZeRO SL MkII can be powered by either an external9v DC supply or via USB. Connectors for both, along witha power selector switch, are found on the rear of the box,joined by two jack sockets that let you connect a sustainpedal and an expression pedal. There's also a standard setof MIDI in, out, and thru connectors supplied, along withan additional MIDI out port.Advanced And Automap ModesThe ZeRO SL MkII has two primary modes of operation:advanced and automap. Advanced mode is used whenthe unit acts as either a stand-alone MIDI controller awayfrom your computer, or when using it with software thatis not supported by the Automap system. A number oftemplates for popular applications for advanced modeare supplied as standard and can be called up using thenavigation control.The Novation Automap software for automaticallyis the implementation of multiple device support.You can now have a number of controllers, each assignedto a different part of your own system setup, and allrunning simultaneously.UseAlong with the ZeRO SL MkII, I was also supplied with aNovation Nocturn to test the Automap 3 Pro multi-devicesupport. I setup and installed the appropriate software,then connected both controllers.I was utilising Pro Tools for this test. It took a littletime to configure the system to recognise the controllersetup, but I eventually managed to get the ZeRO SL MkIIimplemented. I would suspect that integration and setupwith other DAW systems, in particular Albeton, wouldprobably be a little more straightforward. The manual iswell written and various common setup configurationsare covered.Automap has come a long way since I last used it to anyreal degree, and is now far more straightforward and quickto use. The auto mapping works consistently, and havingthe Nocturn to control my chosen plug-in, keeping theZeRO SL MkII for primary mixer interface control, made fora very intuitive workflow.Rearranging controllers by drag and drop to suitpersonal preferences and mapping of additional featureswith a simple point and click learning process made thesession flow with ease.The whole setup around the ZeRO SL MkII feels morerefined overall, and even though it is not a dedicatedcontroller for the DAW I was using, it did not take long tofeel fluent with use.The Novation ZeRO SL MkII is a very neat solidly builtlittle controller that, when coupled with the NovationAutomap 3 Pro server, becomes an easy to use andintuitive working interface. ∫...................................£ GB£329.99 (inc. VAT)A Novation MusicT +44 (0) 1494 462246W www.novationmusic.comINFORMATION24AUDIO MEDIA JULY 2009
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