Editing Novation Digital Music Systems (section)

==History==

{{multiple image |direction=vertical |width=120 |align=left
 | image1   = Novation-MM10 Yamaha-QY10.jpg
 | caption1 = MM10 (1992) with ''[[Yamaha QY10]]''
 | image2   = Novation BassStation.jpg
 | caption2 = Bass Station <!-- Keyboard --> (1993)
 | image3   = Novation Nova .jpg
 | caption3 = Nova (1999)
 | image4   = Novation 25 SL Mk II.JPG
 | caption4 = Novation 25SL MkII (2012)

}}

Novation's first commercial product, released in 1992, was the '''Novation MM10''', a portable battery-operated keyboard controller with full-sized keys, designed to operate with the [[Yamaha QY10]] music workstation. It was based on a device called the MidiCon, which was never released and was the first hardware controller the company made. The MM10 combined with the QY10 arguably constituted the first completely portable modern music workstation.<ref name=SOS_Jun1992>{{cite web |publisher=Sound on Sound |date=June 1992|title=Novation MM10 (not available online) |url=http://www.soundonsound.com }}</ref>

In 1993 the company released the '''Novation Bass Station'''. Influenced by the [[Roland TB-303|Roland TB-303 Bassline]], a portable compact synthesiser designed for instrumental accompaniment, the Bass Station used digitally controlled analogue oscillators (DCOs), an LFO, and a filter to replicate the sound of a traditional monophonic twin-oscillator analogue synth.<ref name=VSE_BassStation>{{cite web |publisher=Vintage Synth Explorer |date=c. 2010|title=Novation Bass Station |url=http://www.vintagesynth.com/novation/nov_bsk.php }}</ref>

The core technology of Analogue Sound Modelling (ASM) was introduced in 1995 with the '''[[Novation DrumStation|Drum Station]]''', which modelled the [[Roland TR-808]] and [[Roland TR-909|TR-909]] drum machines<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1996_articles/jul96/novationstation.html|title=Novation DrumStation|work=Sound on Sound|date=July 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609010344/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1996_articles/jul96/novationstation.html|archive-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> using digitally synthesised models of the original waveforms.<ref name=VSE_DrumStation>{{cite web |publisher=Vintage Synth Explorer |date=c. 2009|title=Novation Drum Station |url=http://www.vintagesynth.com/novation/nvdm.php }}</ref>

Novation's first technical director was [[Chris Huggett]], who designed the [[EDP Wasp|Wasp]] and [[OSC OSCar|OSCar]] synthesisers and wrote the operating system for the [[Akai S1000]].  While working for [[Akai]], he gave Novation's founders advice and support, contributing to the design of the Bass Station and Drum Station – the former featured both the filter and amplifier<ref name=Novation_June2016>{{cite web |publisher=Novation |date=June 2016|title=The Bass Station Story |url=https://global.novationmusic.com/community/news/the-bass-station-story }}</ref> Huggett had designed for the EDP Wasp – and joining full-time in the mid-1990s to design the [[Novation Supernova]].<ref name=SOS_Sep1999>{{cite web |publisher=Sound on Sound |date=September 1999|title=Oxford Synthesizer Company Oscar |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep99/articles/oscar.htm }}</ref> He was a consultant to the company and was involved in the design of many of the company's products, until his death in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://synthanatomy.com/2020/10/rip-chris-huggett-the-maker-of-the-edp-wasp-other-iconic-hybrid-synthesizers.html | title=R.I.P Chris Huggett, the Maker of the EDP WASP & Other Iconic Hybrid Synthesizers | date=25 October 2020 }}</ref>

{{multiple image |direction=vertical |width=220
 | image1   = Novation SuperNova II (rear).jpg
 | caption1 = [[Novation Supernova|Supernova]] II (2000) rear panel
 | image2   = Novation X-Station 49.jpg
 | caption2 = [[X-Station]] 49 (2004)
}}

'''[[Novation Supernova|Supernova]]''', released in 1998, was a 3U rack-mounted polyphonic synthesiser with 16+ note polyphony and multitimbral operation, an important feature being the provision of multiple effects units which could be assigned to each timbre, allowing a much richer sound than had generally been possible with a multitimbral synthesiser. Supernova and its successor, [[Novation Supernova|SuperNova II]], have been used by a wide range of artists including [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]], ATB, [[The Faint]], Sin, [[Jean Michel Jarre]] and [[A Guy Called Gerald]].<ref name=VSE_Supernova>{{cite web |publisher=Vintage Synth Explorer |date=c. 2012|title=Novation SuperNova |url=http://www.vintagesynth.com/novation/supernova.php }}</ref>

Having produced controllers since the beginning and synthesisers from the early days, the company added USB-based computer audio interfaces and in 2004 produced the '''[[X-Station]]''', intended to provide a complete music production environment with the addition of a computer/sequencer, microphone and monitoring.<ref name=SOS_Sep2004>{{cite web |publisher=Sound on Sound |date=September 2004|title=Novation X-Station 25 |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep04/articles/xstation25.htm }}</ref> This was followed by MIDI controllers featuring no keyboard at all, but instead offering varying numbers of buttons, pads, control knobs and sliders, all sending MIDI messages. With the introduction of the SL range in 2005, this was complemented by '''Novation Automap''', a software system that automatically detects and maps the controllable parameters of a plug-in or software application and configures the control surface to address them. Automap <ref>https://support.novationmusic.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360010768459-Automap-End-of-Support
</ref>is no longer supported.
<ref name=Dawsons_Sept2011>{{cite web |publisher=Dawsons Music Blog |date=20 September 2011|title=Novation announce Automap version 4 |url=http://www.dawsons.co.uk/blog/novation-automap-4 }}</ref>

In August 2004, Novation was acquired by [[Focusrite]] Ltd. and became a subsidiary named Novation Digital Music Systems Ltd.<ref name=news_Aug2004>{{cite web |publisher=Novation Music |date=1 August 2004 |title=Focusrite acquire Novation |url=http://www.novationmusic.com/news.asp?id=24 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051113100516/http://www.novationmusic.com/news.asp?id=24 |archive-date = 2005-11-13}}</ref>

[[Image:Novation Launchpad - Ableton Controller.jpg|thumb|100px|Launchpad<br/>(2009)]]

A keyboardless MIDI controller, the '''Novation Launchpad''', was launched in 2009 with an 8x8 grid of large illuminated buttons that could be used to trigger sounds, loops, effects and other parameters, initially in conjunction with the [[Ableton Live]] music performance application. Launchpad was one of the first grid-based performance controllers and this area expanded over the subsequent period to become a significant aspect of the electronic music hardware market. There are currently 3 variations of the product, the Launchpad, Launchpad Pro, and Launchpad Mini. The Launchpad was out of the top two best Novation makings.<ref name=SOS_Oct2009>{{cite web |publisher=Sound on Sound |date=Oct 2009|title=We Have Liftoff |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=12084 }}</ref>

The company expanded into DJ controllers initially with the '''Novation Dicer''' in 2010, which consisted of two sets of buttons designed to be attached to a turntable or laptop,<ref name=DJT_Jun2010>{{cite web |publisher=DJ TechTools |date=3 June 2010|title=Novation Dicer Revealed |url=http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/06/03/novation-dicer/ }}</ref> and then a full-blown DJ controller in 2011 with '''Novation Twitch''', which differed significantly from then available devices of the type in that it used twin touch-strip controllers instead of the more common turntable emulation, providing additional control capabilities. The product has been discontinued since.<ref name=DJT_Jul2011>{{cite web |publisher=DJ TechTools |date=15 July 2011|title=Exclusive Review! Novation Twitch DJ Controller and Serato Itch |url=http://www.djtechtools.com/2011/07/15/exclusive-review-novation-twitch-dj-controller-with-serato-itch/
 }}</ref>

[[Image:Novation UltraNova (angled).jpg|thumb|220px|UltraNova (2010)]]

All these different areas of synthesis and control have increasingly combined in Novation products to create hybrid instruments and devices such as keyboard controllers with miniature grid launchers and on board synth and vocoder capability, for example the '''Ultranova'''<ref name=SOS_Feb2011>{{cite web |publisher=Sound on Sound |date=February 2011|title=Novation Ultranova |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb11/articles/novation-ultranova.htm }}</ref> (2011) and '''Mininova'''<ref name=SOS_Nov2012>{{cite web |publisher=Sound on Sound |date=November 2012|title=Novation Mininova |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov12/articles/novation-mininova.htm }}</ref> (2012).

In the mid-2010s, Novation introduced a new category of portable instruments aimed at standalone music-making without needing a computer. The '''Circuit''' (2015) was a compact groovebox combining a grid-based sequencer with two polyphonic synth engines and a four-part drum machine. It gained popularity for its hands-on workflow, portability and affordability, particularly among electronic and experimental musicians. The success of Circuit led to further development of the format, with follow-ups including '''Circuit Tracks''' and '''Circuit Rhythm''' in 2021, catering to sequencing and sample-based production respectively. These devices marked Novation’s growing presence in the all-in-one performance hardware space.[6]

Meanwhile, Novation returned to high-end synthesiser design with the launch of '''Peak''' (2017), a hybrid 8-voice polyphonic synth with digital oscillators and an analogue filter and distortion path. It was widely praised for its sound design capabilities and sonic character, developed in collaboration with Oxford-based synthesiser designer Chris Huggett, who had been instrumental in Novation’s early products. In 2019, Novation released '''Summit''', an extended 16-voice bi-timbral version of Peak with a full-sized keyboard and performance controls. These instruments helped re-establish Novation as a serious name in the professional synthesiser market.[7]

Throughout the 2020s, Novation continued to refine its controller range with products like the '''Launchkey [MK3]''' series and the '''FLkey''' range, the latter tailored specifically for FL Studio integration. In 2020, the company released the '''AFX Station''', a special edition of the Bass Station II developed in collaboration with Aphex Twin, featuring a unique sound mode and styling. The flagship '''SL MkIII''' controller combined advanced MIDI control, CV/gate outputs, and a built-in sequencer for hybrid setups. As of the mid-2020s, Novation remains a major force in both hardware controller design and compact, accessible synthesisers, supporting a wide spectrum of artists from emerging bedroom producers to internationally touring electronic acts.

Novation synthesisers have been used by a range of electronic acts including [[Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]], [[Jean Michel Jarre]], [[Steve Hillier]] of [[Dubstar]], [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]], [[Fred Again]], [[Barry Can't Swim]], [[Aphex Twin]], and [[Alt-J]].

In the track "Triumph" by the rap group Wu-Tang Clan, Novation is referenced by Wu-Tang member RZA.