Help needed with Novation Zero SL MkII

D

Doctor Varney

Cave dwelling Luddite
I have been reading help, talking to technical support and pressing buttons on this blasted thing for about 9 hours solid and can't make neither head nor tail of it.

I'm normally pretty good working out new equipment but this gadget is totally unintuitive and the manual is utterly crap.

How do you 'learn' functions to the SL Zero please? I want to use it for FL Studio but I have no idea how to make it work.

Please help!
 
Enable MIDI machine control in FL.

Does FL even recognize the Novation?

You need to select a MIDI channel or omni in FL as the path for the Novation. With the Novation automation software you should be able to program each pot/fader/button to whatever function by using MIDI CC numbers. You should also be able to save various setups to control either different configs in FL or other synths.
 
Thank you for the reply, c7sus.

c7sus said:
Enable MIDI machine control in FL.
Click to expand...

How do I do that please?

Does FL even recognize the Novation?
Click to expand...

Only when not in Automap. When Automap is loaded, it doesn't do anything at all. Tried pressing 'Learn' and this does nothing but sometimes makes other controls on the Automap GUI move all together at once. I just don't get it!

You need to select a MIDI channel or omni in FL as the path for the Novation.
Click to expand...

Again, please can you tell me how to do this? Do you mean in the FL Studio options panel (F10)? If so, what channel do I need to set it to?

Okay, I'm going to look up 'MIDI CC numbers' and 'omni' now, because I don't know what you're talking about... Then hopefully I'll be able to understand what you're saying to me.
 
Sorry, I think I need 'omni' explaining to me. Read a couple of articles and can't get the meaning of it. Can you help please?

----------------

Anyway, the instructions say "Open any Automap wrapped plugin window". What does this mean? How do I know if a plugin is 'Automap wrapped'?

Then it says "Click - move the parameter on your plugin then press the 'Learn' button... then touch or move a control on the hardware... Then it says 'Assign' but it doesn't tell you what to do next, to assign it. Nothing is happening. Absolutely NOTHING in FL Studio.

The ONLY thing it does is learn a control next to it, in the Automap GUI, so that both controls move at once! This thing is mad. Totally MAD!
 
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Check to see if there is an update patch for Fruity Loops that may contain updated controller templates for the Zero. Alternatively, using the links below you should be able to load a template from the Zero into FL.

MIDI omni is setting up FL to respond to MIDI messages on any transmitted MIDI channel from the Zero.

Can I use the SL to control Fruity Loops? .: Novation Answerbase

How do I send templates to/from my ReMOTE SL to/from my computer? .: Novation Answerbase

Controller/MIDI Settings

Preconfigured Controllers

The concepts explained in this video should work for the Zero too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjxPQfluDF0
 
 
Thank you again for your assistance...

"You can use the ReMOTE SL Template Editor to send templates to/from the ReMOTE SL and also to create your own templates. The Editor can be downloaded from the ReMOTE SL downloads page."

So is this another program, other than Automap?

I have watched all of those videos but can't seem to do what that guy does.

Also, do you know how to switch between banks of controls? IE: If I set up the first 8 mixer tracks to work with the SL, then how do I set up 9-16 without losing the 1-8 settings? There has to be more than just 8 mixer tracks, surely? I've scoured the manuals and can find nothing which talks about this. :(

This is a really, really bad product. I bought this thing on the strength that it appears simplicity itself to set up but nothing could be further from the truth. The whole marketing hype of Automap is a lie. It is not intuitive, as they make out, but hideously complicated.
 
They assume a background with some understanding of MIDI and don't do a very good job of explaining for people not familiar with how MIDI works.

The basic concepts behind MIDI controllers apply to all the various controllers. What changes is their own proprietary software and how they interact with most of the recording softwares.

Yeah, I would say the editor software is seperate from the automap function. Automap may only work with software from the various other manufacturers they have contracted with to share software support. If FL won't respond to the Automap functions then the only other alternative is the editor. With that you can assign any function you want to any controller, and then save the template in either Zero or FL as a controller setup. In the end both of them should do MIDI control with equivalent results, except that you have to manually program the functions via the editor.

I have an Akai MPK49 that I had a bunch of problems trying to use over USB alongside another USB MIDI interface. Sonar only wanted to see one or the other but not both at the same time. I finally ditched the USB on the Akai and patched it through a MIDI port on the other interface. The Akai comes with an editor too, as well as factory programmed templates for various DAW software. I programmed one of the user patches to control most of the functions on a Moog Taurus 3 and the Akai is a great controller for that purpose. Otherwise I just use it as a generic keyboard controller in Sonar without using the transport functions on the Akai.



Did you get FL to recognize the Zero as described in the novation/FL tutorial from post #5? Once you get that functionality established the rest should follow pretty easily, although you probably will need to use the editor software to create the templates you want.

I would keep watching those videos and try to get FL to respond to control from the Zero, and pay close attention to the words they use to describe what they are doing in the vids in order to get a better understanding of MIDI functionality.

There should be a user forum that may also be able to answer specific questions like how to switch banks on the Zero. It should be a dedicated button or if not it should be a programmable function via the editor software so you could select Bank Select and assign it to a button on the Zero.
 
I don't know if this is applicable for your setup, or if c7sus has already addressed it in other terms, but...

I got the US-428 working how I want it to in Reaper by not selecting it as a control surface in Reaper. I set up a keymap instead. Reaper's keymaps allow either keyboard shortcuts or MIDI messages. One benefit is that I can now use all my other USB MIDI adapters alongside the US-428.

One drawback to this approach is that Reaper doesn't send feedback to the US-428 to light the LEDs in response to MIDI commands. That's no biggy because I get all the visual feedback I need on the screen. If I were anal about it, I could devise a way of making the LEDs light up using MIDI-OX, Bome's, etc.

Another drawback is that if I select another channel by mouse, the selected channel on the US-428 is out of sync with the selected channel in Reaper. Again, this is due to Reaper not sending feedback to the controller. No biggy there either. I just have to get in the habit of using the control surface instead of the mouse.

If FL Studio supports MIDI commands (Note On, CC, etc.) in keymaps, you may find it easier to set up the Novation that way.
 
C7sus, That editor you speak of - not there. Can't find the download for it. This is very frustrating...

I would love to manually map the whole thing - but where do I start? How is this done? I really don't mind doing a little programming. I don't mind, as long as I can just get the thing up and running... If you can tell me how this is done, then I'd be more than willing to give it a try with the Novation. I had to do it with the Korg NanoKontrol, so it's no big deal to map everything individually.

Or...

I am wondering whether to ditch this thing and go for the Behringer BCF2000. What do you think? I was looking at the BCR before I went with Novation (and I know a lot of you guys use them here), but decided against it because of a lack of visual feedback and a limited number of controls. Now visual display on the hardware seems only possible with Automap enabled and since Automap don't work with FL Studio - then what's the point?! I still have to get out the sticky tape and pencil and I'm limited to eight, non-continuous/ non-motorized controls... so what a complete waste of money that was!

Unless, of course, there is some way to change the wording on the Novation's LCD, so I can identify my mixer tracks/ sends/ plugin parameters... If I can do that, then it would be great.... but how to control more than 8 slider/ pot combinations? That's the thing! If it won't do that without Automap, then again - this thing is just a waste of money and deskspace. I could do that with a behringer, so back to sqaure one, methinks... In fact, I could do MORE than that with a Korg Nano!

Another reason I decided on the Novation was that people reviewing the Behringer were saying it seemed 'plasticky' and cheap and that the Novation was of far better build quality. Actually, the Novation SL feels very 'plasticky' and the controls feel loose, wobbly and cheap... So much for that! Since I own a Behringer mixer which has done me good service, I'm getting a little tired of all this anti-Behringer snobbery I keep seeing everywhere.

Now, as I understand it, the Behringer BCF has several banks of sliders (32 might do me) and the knobs at the top - do they have several banks also? Now - THIS IS IMPORTANT! I thought that once I'd used up those rotary banks on the BCF, there would be no more - but this simply isn't the case. I have just learned how to use the 'Multi-link To Controllers' function in FL Studio. This means I can control an infinite amount of plugins with just one row of knobs. When a new plugin is selected, the controls take over for that plugin and so on... Brilliant!

Your thoughts please? Thank you very much for the healthy responses so far, guys. I hope you can help me further. :drunk:
 
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I had a trial version of FL Studio installed up until a few days ago and never messed with it. The best I can tell you is consult the manual or do a search for "fl studio keymap".
 
I'm fed up with it. I have been talking to tech support all afternoon (who really tried their best). I was given the 'best' answer they could give on banking the unit, which is a long-winded method of swapping between templates. This thing isn't for me. It's a lot of money for something that is quicker to do with a mouse. I think I am going to send it back and read up more on the Behringer.
 
Nice of you to offer, mate - though I suspect we are on different continents... but thanks all the same, dude.

Realise, I've been using the Korg Nano successfully for a year - I bought it as a stop gap between nothing (mouse) while wanting the BCR. Time came to get the BCR... Looked in forums where someone was strapping BCFs and BCRs together into a wooden housing, while others looked on in horror at the cummulative cost of this stunt, saying "Seriously - look at what Novation has to offer before doing this." I took this advice by proxy and got suddenly hooked on wanting the SL.

Novation Tech support have been brilliant. The guy has really gone all out to find me a solution for my software - but it's a hack, using template switching, which actually feels more like an interruption to the workflow than an enhancement. So I can't help feeling I've wasted my money on something which doesn't display even the fluid functionality of the £40 Korg NanoKontrol - which is simplicity itself. Automap is a big let down, though it's on the strength of Automap Novation have been using to sell their products. Turns out to be a total white elephant if you are not using either Ableton or Pro-Tools.

I originally bypassed the BCF for the reason I could not feel the quality of the motorised sliders from behind an internet connection. Now I am thinking the BCF would actually be more appropriate. I'm not the most heavy handed of operators. I accept that generic controllers under a grand are going to be made of plastic - but if the BCF is of a reasonable build quality, it looks to be exactly what I need.
 
The BCR is reasonably solid, but I have my doubts about the BCF faders. It will probably have a cheesy feel if you're accustomed to a pro board.

But seriously, does the Novation not have a "4 banks of controllers" mode (or something other than the native remote mode) that sends MIDI CC messages?

Incidentally, the NanoKontrol is on sale for $29.99 in the U.S. these days. I wonder if Korg is about to discontinue it.
 
I hope the Korg isn't discontinued. For the cheap 'n cheerful little, chocolate bar-sized thing it is, it is sturdy, positive, bug free and reliable. Doesn't even need software. If only Korg made a bigger version of this with longer sliders... I'd buy it!

I am actually making progress with the Novation. Only because tech support told me to use the MKI editor (older software) and now, miraculously, Automap has recognised my plugins. I have learned how to make templates, so that I can move from mixer tracks 1-8/ 9-16 and so on... Switching between them is easy.

I'm in two minds about sending it back. On the one hand, it offers a lot of control. On the other, the amount of control and feedback it offers creates confusion (time will tell how this relates to workflow). It's also quite buggy. Sometimes the editor loses parameters and crashes occasionally and some of the controls you have to 'warm up' by twisting them rapidly to get them to pick up. It's a very temperamental piece of equipment. Definitely not professional.

Now only today, I discover that Behringer have *done something* (unspecified) which affects their stock in Europe. Since last week, ordering a BCF could mean waiting 'till the end of September - and even that isn't a promise. Everywhere I have phoned has run out and cannot gaurantee they'll ever get them in again. :(
 
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diggy_dude said:
The BCR is reasonably solid, but I have my doubts about the BCF faders. It will probably have a cheesy feel if you're accustomed to a pro board.
Click to expand...

I'm prepared for a bit of 'wobble', for the money. I'm not really used to a 'pro-board' but I tend to know quality when I see it.

But seriously, does the Novation not have a "4 banks of controllers" mode (or something other than the native remote mode) that sends MIDI CC messages?
Click to expand...

Well, heh... turns out it uses templates instead. Fortunately switching between them is not linear (no cycling through). The temps come up on the LCD after you've made them and you touch a touch-sensitive pot to select it. It's a lot easier than I thought. I think you can have about 24 of them.... effectively 24 'banks'!
 
Hello! i know this is an "older" post in these electronica times but thought to add my two cents of my extensive research on how to set-up my studio piece by piece. I already knew that some version of ProTools is what i'd be using so based on that, purchased accordingly. Now that I am retired/disabled USA Veteran, the digital keys from 1990's were going to be used as well. Already have a great laptop but already knew that I needed pretty much a dedicated desktop with lots of RAM and processing power and utilize the external eSATA 7200rpm drive to record sessions to and playback from, openning-up even more processing power for that desktop and ProTools, interface, and midi controller. Have Alesis Ion, Alesis Fusion, Alesis QS8, and Micron synths. Bought a bundled pkg from AVID/ProTools MP9 and their new C600 interface then although I know the QS8 could be used still as an excellent feeling controller but research made me settle on a demo model of Novation 61 SLMK11 with AutoMap 3 Pro...now, AutoMap 4.1 Universal. Have the Novation plugged into A/C for full capability and less requirements on my system and it's USB to one of 8 USB on desktop that has an i5 quad-core processor with 6 GB RAM running ProTools software on it but via eSATA recording sessions to external drive. The Novation's MIDI in/outs are respectively connected to MIDI ports of the C600, and the USB of the C600 to the desktop pc. The Novation has an additional MIDI out in which you can daisy chain a few synths or I can simply take the hardware synth's L/R outs to the stereo 1/4 is on C600. Automap DOES have as much of a learning curve as even ProTools MP9 but the AutoMap works if you follow all the instructions, video tutorials, lots of coffee, and patience. It is ALSO VERY IMPORTANT to start-up your system with ANY MIDI interface, PC, etc. in the EXACT order specified so everyone recognizes each other. i say everyone because I personify my equipment and give them names, just like my car. I got the 61 key Novation because I simply get annoyed with having to use octave shift any more than required. With AutoMap off, you can even work and assign NPRN's of say Alesis's use on Ion and Micron but am pretty sure a more recent OS update fixed the MIDI CC issues but point I am trying to make is, you have to really REALLY do our homework when adding equipment so you are getting best bang for buck, rather than simply "wanting" this or that and trying to marry it and making it work. Wish it were that easy! Matter in fact, with the ProTools Template for AutoMap, it actually steps you window by window on setting everything up not unlike an installation wizard in Windows. In the end, aside from the synths I already had, the Lenovo desktop gaming type PC and a 23" LCD monitor was on sale for less than $650. USD, demo Novation off ebay $400., AVID C600/MP9 bundle $440. = approx. $1500. for a well thought out plan so everything works together without breaking the bank. Mind you, this just as the book on my military experience, and the dabbling I do in oil painting are more therapeutic than trying to make a buck...the book will probably be the extra breadwinner in the end once completed. Technology is evolving faster than ever and you want to plan your purchases for studio accordingly. You cannot expect to make your exisiting pc with yesterday's processors and a 5400rpm hard drive to run equipment that is like trying to fit a round peg in square hole. Same goes for MIDI controllers, without having at best an average understanding how midi works. Hope this helps someone in their quest for their set-up because I personally LOVE the Novation's build-quality and FATAR keyboard, of which, most Alesis' boards were of same make.
 
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