SL MkIII keyboard controller from Novation

The Lounge Other Gear
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I’ve got a couple of questions for anyone using this as a part of a larger sequencing set up. Can anyone confirm that you can use the two pairs of CV outputs as midi/cv converters for an incoming midi signal - say from an Octatrack? I really enjoy the Octatrack for sequencing my modular but not so much for sequencing poly synths so I’m hoping these two can integrate well.

Second question - does the clock continue to output when the sequencer is stopped? I’m hoping the answer is no since there’s no reset or run/stop output but maybe there’s a workaround with one of the mod outputs?

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it is usb powered low with led lights…

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I didn’t know that. I have always been using the adapter. Thanks for the heads up

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From the Novation SL MKIII Information page down toward the botton:
I outlined the relevant info in red.

USB%20Power%20on%20SL%20MkIII

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133

I think the screens need more juice than is available via USB.

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I just tried powering mine via USB, and it did not work.

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135

Returned mine now, after a few weeks trial. Great keybed, lots of nice features, but overkill for a micro rig such as mine.

And also a bit lacking in some areas where you’d think that a keyboard hell-bent on being a workstation for all gear connected, would want to excel.

It’s a great idea, but if Arturia’s got a Keystep Pro hiding somewhere, there’s room to make this better.

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Oh? What are you thinking about?

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I believe it can be usb powered if u dim or turn off the leds or something

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A couple of things -

Sequencer’s got no micro timing. I’m spoiled from Elektron and actually, also the Circuit sequencer. So I just want those weird timings or close to ratchet sounds.

Also, 128 steps linked through eight patterns isn’t bad. But for a keyboard that’s competing with the Pyramid but with a great keybed instead (I guess it competes with Pyramid and its likes), then it’s not great.

It has no proper song mode. I’m fine with that. But again, Novation’s got it in Circuit. And I can see why it wasn’t part of the original launch. But the SLMKIII has been around for awhile now. Not super long, but long enough. Again, if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s positioning itself as the sequencer brain in your studio with keys to boost, I wouldn’t care. But it does. And then, these things matter.

Sixteen encoder slots per bank isn’t bad. But if you got a Prophet, for example, then those sixteen slots are basically the envelope curves and the two filters, and that’s it. Yep, you can switch to another bank that talks to the same synth on the same channel - but it’s not pretty. And sure, there are sliders and buttons, too. But still.

For me, this ends up somewhere in the middle of brilliant and plain. The Keystep, while maybe asburd as a comparison, is plain. But claims nothing else. It syncs with most things and passes that along. It has a nice little step sequencer and is flexible on a few, useful things - quick midi channel switch, performance between patterns, some more and that’s it. It’s exactly what it claims to be.

On the other end, there’s stuff like the Pyramid. It’s a monster. Essentially, it’s the sequencer to end them all, bar the Cirklon maybe. It really can do almost anything.

The SL MKIII has a great keybed. One of the best I’ve ever tried. And what’s there, is great. You can write amazing songs with this one.

But if you wanna position yourself as the keyboard with a sequencer that can run your studio, I just think you need to aim even higher. It shouldn’t be an “almost there”-product. It should be a “we nailed it”-product.

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I see, good points.

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Personally, I never thought of it as a possible studio organizer, but I’m not aware of the marketing. In my case, I needed something to play my Arturia V collection, which just sounds too good to leave it on mothballs. That’s where all my NI Komplete stuff is simply because of their damn non-resizable interface and my unwillingness to dumb down my computer’s resolution. I originally considered Arturia’s KeyLabs, which tightly integrate with Collection out of the box, but when I saw the Novation was the only one that provided at least basic sequencing, it was a no-brainer because of how easy it is to create templates for the Novation to play Collection modules. I do find the sequencing useful even if it will never be the brains.

If I were to do it again, I’d still go with the Novation, but I can see moving it to another location and replacing it with the 88-key hammer action KeyLab that comes with the extension for keeping your laptop. If I really stay committed to Arturia Collection, the KeyLab might be the better choice. That would be a big weight and space commitment, though, so who knows. Still, 88 keys.

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141

Does anyone notice any flexing in this device? I have it sitting on a small table that’s about 2 octaves wide, so the keyboard’s left 1/3 and right 1/3 overhang the table. I have it like the height and size of the table work really well in my setup. It’s stable enough to play (if you don’t bash it), but now I’m concerned that the keyboard will warp over time unless it’s reinforced internally. Do you think I’m asking for trouble with this setup?

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Good question. I’d think not.

I’ve had mine very similarly situated (a 61 key) probably 1/4–1/2–1/4. Seen no change. Never even considered it 'till you mentioned it. A creaking noise coming from the keyboard would be indication of an issue to me, and i’ve heard none.

Novation does a good job of engineering in general. The keyboard is certainly designed to be supported near either ends like with an X-Stand, and pressed on in the middle, and bear that force. Probably same would apply to the inverse.

If you want you could put a 1 x 10 board, cut to the right length, under it.

Some other keyboards though i’d really wonder about.

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SL MKIII Firmware has been updated to 1.2 :

New in V1.2

  • Edit micro steps - Each step of the sequencer now features 6 smaller micro steps for greater resolution of the sequencer, accessed by pressing Options when in Steps view
  • Improved knob responsiveness - Addressed an issue where data from controls was not outputting correctly
  • Custom messages from aftertouch - You can now use Components to change the MIDI message sent when applying aftertouch to keypresses
  • Full NRPN compatibility - Components features new NRPN options to allow for extended compatibility with external gear
  • Blocks on far right screen to indicate pattern chain and playing pattern - The right hand screen now features a display showing the queued patterns and the active pattern
  • Up/down buttons scroll through patterns in step view - Pressing the up and down buttons to the left of the pads when in steps view will take you to the pattern before (up) or after (down)
  • Turn off part LEDs from global menu - Part LEDs can be turned off so that the lights above the keys are no longer on when they are not pressed
  • Pattern row number notification - When you move through patterns using the left arrow up/down buttons, the 5th screen now tells you which part is visible
  • Momentary record - Hold record while the sequencer is playing to add to the recording and release to stop recording but continue playback
  • Enhanced menu navigation - The InControl, Global, and Tempo buttons can now be pressed a second time to return to the menu previously used
  • Max gate of 32 steps - Steps can now be as long as 32 steps, allowing them to be longer than a duration of a pattern
  • Play auditioned notes while part is muted and sequencer is playing - When a part is muted and the sequencer is playing, it’s steps can still be pressed to hear them
  • Preview control names - You can now hold shift and move a control to see the control name without sending any MIDI
  • Pattern view follows part selection - When in the patterns view, selecting a part will change the patterns shown on the pads
  • Name of track rather than number to select arp part - When in the Arp menu the Part selector will now show the Part name

EDIT : It seems to fix the issues I had while controlling the Prophet Rev2 with it (since it is 14 bit NRPN). You just need to change all NRPN controls to 14-bit. I sent them a message so I hope they’ll update stock presets, but if you had issues with theSL MKIII control presets, it’s probably because of incorrect NRPN setup.

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New in 1.3.

Unquantized recording

https://novationmusic.com/en/news/unquantised-recording-sl-mkiii-v1.3

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Unquarantined recording you say? (My brain playing tricks on my eyes.)

Thanks for spoting this! Downloading.

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I’m considering this. The above discussion helped, and am curious if any users could share their thoughts now that the SL mk3 has been out for a while & updated a few times.

I’m looking to be able to sequence w/ hardware while away from the computer & also interact with my DAW (Logic) when using the comp.

I had a bad experience with their old Automap software…but they now have totally new software…& the SL mk3 does things that aren’t available with other keyboards.

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Not knowing your specific needs and all … but one thing that has changed since all our discussion above on the SLM3, is the introduction of the Arturia Keystep Pro. You need to consider it as well in a purchase decision.

(Please – no one give me the “apples and oranges” spiel. These two function close enough to be considered side-by-side.)

There is quite a lot that is different between the two – it would be useful for you to compare features between the two and consider what’s important to you. Things like price, size, portability, number of keys, mini-keys v full sized, 4 v 8 track, amount/kind of CV, etc.

I haven’t found a good table comparison of the two, and i don’t think Loopop for instance has done a video on the Keystep Pro. (His video on the SLM3 is very good.) The two are different enough for some people to justify having both, each for a different use. The overlap between the two is enough for other people to pick one over the other.

ADDED: So Loopop now has done a review of the Keystep Pro. I queued up the video to where he compares the two, all in about 20 seconds. Boiled down, principal advantages for the Keystep Pro is multiple simultaneous arpeggiator sequences, and more CV outputs. Right after that he compares the Keystep Pro with the Beatstep Pro.

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hey all, so this is my next purchase. have a few other things i want but as i’m trying to get a more rewarding and deep dawless experience with my setup, this is the move.

curious though, is there something like a user library of templates anywhere? maybe in their forums? i’ve googled it and not really found anything.

i’m happy to make my own, i mean besides my prophet rev2 everything else is relatively simple (sirin, monologue, model:samples, tt-303) but just thought it’s worth asking to see what’s out there already, possibly done better than i could myself.

thanks!