Novation introduces its Impulse range of professional USB/MIDI controllers. They each have a precision keyboard and a full control surface powered by a new version of Novation's Automap control software - Automap 4. Impulse also has eight back-lit drum pads which can warp arpeggios, roll beats and launch clips in Ableton live. All products should be on show at the Focusrite stand at stand G2 PLASA 2011 in London.
The Impulse range features responsive, semi weighted keyboard with aftertouch, full DAW/plug-in control surface including eight knobs, 9 faders and buttons (one fader and button on Impulse25) and a custom LCD screen. Automap 4 control software enables instant hands-on access to DAW and plug-ins.
Impulse also comes with a stack of free software and sounds including Ableton Live Lite loop based music-making software, analogue bass synth software plug-in Novation Bass Station, over 1GB of royalty-free samples in the Loopmasters sample library, and Mike The Drummer providing 502MB of live drum loops and break.
Automap 4 is the latest version of the control software that powers Novation controllers. Automap was first developed in 2005 alongside the ReMOTE SL series of controllers as a way of simplifying the process of assigning hardware to software. It has evolved into a powerful and streamlined way of controlling DAWs and plug-in instruments and effects, working with all major DAWs and AU, VST3 and RTAS plug-ins.
The main change to Automap 4 is a totally revised set-up process and workflow. It is now fast and simple to install and get started with Automap with a step by step guide that ensures the DAW is properly configured. The GUI (or software edit page) has been overhauled to display the information more clearly. The GUI now uses notifications (which appear briefly in the corner of the monitor) when control events are taking place. You can then chose to click on the notification to open the Automap window and display more information on the control surface layout - or you can turn them off altogether.
Automap 4 will work with the new Impulse range of controllers as well as SL MkII, Nocturn Keyboard, Nocturn ReMOTE SL, Launchpad, UltraNova, iPhone/iPod Touch. |
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