Like a kid on Christmas day

  • Thread starter Thread starter Springo
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Springo

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That's how I will be feeling when the Novation X-Station that I just ordered arrives in a couple of days. My first midi controller! As an analog kid, I never thought I'd see the day... At $500, it's quite a bit higher than my original target price for a keyboard/controller of $150, but when you've gotta have it, you just gotta have it! I'm sure that you all can relate to that one! What the he!!. I can always eat next week.

Anyway, after I receive it I will "review" it as best I can, but I am a total newbie (to midi, not to music). So I don't know how helpful any review that I do at this time will be. But it should provide a perspective of how easy/hard it is to learn, as well as things like quality of construction, the way the keys feel and play, the manual, any included software, etc. I am not yet proficient on any of my music software - but I decided that I wanted to learn the software and controller at the same time. So I went shopping online, reading lots of reviews and looking at manufacturer's web sites. I was about to buy the M-Audio Ozonic, which seems like a nice rig - but then I read about the X-Station and that was it, it was all over. I knew that I had found my rig. Because not only is it a "Swiss army knife" rig - midi controller, audio interface, and keyboard - it's also a stand-alone synthesizer. And you know how it is when you find the perfect instrument but it costs a lot more than you were estimating to spend. You can't have anything else, it just won't scratch the itch. So I bought the X Station.

I'd be interested in hearing about anyone's experiences with an X-Station, or your opinions etc; good or bad.
 
well, i own a novation supernova and can definitely vouch for the novation synthesizer architechture... it's so much more rich than you'd think... one of my favorite features are the sync oscillators. they rock hard and can create insane sounds and melodies within notes and shit... very cool
 
I've read good things about the Novation synths and controls - when you think about it, it's an insanely good deal to be able to buy a top notch keyboard/controller/audio interface that, on those merits alone, beats the closest competition (the Ozonic); and for only an extra $100 you also get a bad@ss synthesizer. I wasn't even looking to buy a stand alone synth and am thrilled that I now have one coming. I am glad that I found out about it, I was just about to buy the Ozonic on its own good merits and was just reading a few reviews, and one of the reviews turned out to be a head-to-head comparison of the Ozonic and the X Station (which I had not yet heard of). But once I read that, and did my own comparisons, there wasn't even a decision to consider.

Not to take anything away from the Ozonic, it seems to be a fine rig and has gotten good reviews. But you get SO much more for the extra hundred bucks that it's crazy not to buy the X Station. Yes, the Ozonic has more keys on the keyboard (37 vs. the X Station's 25), and if you are a straight ahead keyboard player then you would probably want to spend some more money to to move up to the 49 or the 61 key model X Stations (otherwise they are the same). But for someone like me, who is primarily a guitar player and uses a keyboard for sounds, textures, backgrounds, and composing mostly in E, the 25 keys are plenty. I will be doing the flourishes etc. with the guitar, and anyway, if I need to, I have so many ways to digitally manipulate sound with various programs and when you combine those with all of the ways that I can physically manipulate sound with the stand alone synth - I don't think that I will be left wanting for sounds.

BTW - the X Station is a new product and has not gotten a whole lot of exposure yet. I've heard from a couple of people that they are already in limited supply and that they expect them to become hard to get once they receive more exposure. I can't say if that is accurate or not, but I'm glad that I got mine.
 
well, it's definitely perfect for rock synthesizer sounds... it's going to take some time untill you've gotten to the bottom of it's capabilities though, so don't be dissapointed if you can't get the right sound in the beginning... once you've got the grips on it, it should kick ass...
 
I know, I am still at the bottom of the learning curve for midi in general, and I decided to start with the controller so I can learn everything together. Thanks for the advice!
 
Here are links to two good articles on midi basics - part one and part two. They may be a little too basic for you, but we can all use a refresher course now and then...
 
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