Novations Automap Midi Controller Keyboards

I got hold of a Novation Remote 25 SL Compact about a month or so ago in a bundle of stuff that I bought from someone.

I'd heard/ seen all the hype about automatically mapping controls to soft-synths and leading DAW's, so this was my chance to see what all the fuss was about. Downloaded the lastest Automap server and off I went...

Now, Im quite advanced with all things Midi and don't usually have issues getting things to work.

I use Logic Studio/ Pro 8 and Reason 4, two of the most popular DAW programs, both of which Novation claim to fully support.

What a pain this thing is to set-up and use successfully! I got absolutely no joy trying to use the 'Logic Template' and very little when trying to use the 'Reason Template' mapping the eight trigger pads to Redrum. To me the whole AUTOMAP system is counter-intuitive, not user-friendly and far from automatic. Manual assignment isn't much better and should have been made simpler.

You know you're onto a bad thing when you spend more time trying to get technology to work, than actually working with it. I want to make music with the board not spend hours/ days/ weeks trying to set it up properly.

So for now I am resigned to using the Remote SL 25 Compact purely as a 25 key controller, no pad action and no knob action to speak of. I may give it another go at a later date or just sell it on, it does have a nice feel to it much nicer than my old M-Audio Oxygen 8.

That's my rant over....

Anyone else had issues using Novation's AUTOMAP products or do I stand alone on this one?

http://www.novationmusic.com/products/m ... l_compact/

Edit: Forgot to mention that I couldn't get the speed dial to work in any program or the transport controls, what a waste!

today a friend of mine told me he was getting that very controller... I didn't have an opinion for him.

I actually look as automap as being a middle man between the controller and DAW.

one neat thing about automap is the pages.. you can have the same controller assigned for several things and you can switch pages to quickly switch param settings.

the thing is you have to set all of those things up first.

I dont have that piece of kit but I have a nocturn. I suppose at least on the compact SL you have midi ports so you can skip passed the automap I assume by using a midi interface. I could be wrong though.

i borrowed one from a friend last year. like you, i didn't have much luck with the automapping. but it seemed pretty easy to manually map your devices and then save them. i never really put it through its paces as i don't use soft synths. sort of seemed expensive for a midi keyboard/contoller -- i guess i'd rather buy an old synth for that money.

mr_debauch wrote: I suppose at least on the compact SL you have midi ports so you can skip passed the automap I assume by using a midi interface. I could be wrong though.

You can skip past the AUTOMAP by simply not launching the AUTOMAP SERVER software, a small application which you have to open before you launch your DAW program.

Midi output is still sent thru the USB cable as before. The midi ports on the back allow you to use the SL compact as a 1x1 midi interface which is actually quite a cool feature for mobile work. I have a Midisport 8x8 in the home studio which is more than enough for my needs.

beach_break wrote: i didn't have much luck with the automapping. but it seemed pretty easy to manually map your devices and then save them.

I may have to try the manual route again, but when you consider all the instruments within Reason 4 and Logic Pro 8 it all starts to become long-winded and quite distracting, especially when Novation claim "Instant control of your soft-synths...".

Apparently if you want to control all the native synths in Logic with Automap you need Logic Pro 9 which has full implementation...

Any success stories out there using AUTOMAP?

clint246clint wrote:

mr_debauch wrote: I suppose at least on the compact SL you have midi ports so you can skip passed the automap I assume by using a midi interface. I could be wrong though.

You can skip past the AUTOMAP by simply not launching the AUTOMAP SERVER software, a small application which you have to open before you launch your DAW program.

oh I know exactly what automap is, but that is awesome that you dont need to use it. Some novation controllers... haha.... they do jack shit unless automap is launched. the LEDs on the dials dont even light up untill automap is open.

hey, maybe you guys could find a template online somewhere... there is bound to be people on some forum somewhere who posted their template for download.

I have the remote zero SL (mkI) but I'm selling it. The best use for it was only for certain VA synth plugins, where you can set up a custom mapping and tweak the plugin from the novation. Setup isn't too bad for a few of your most used synths and effects, but I found that it didn't earn its desk space, I was just as productive using the mouse to edit the plugins. I didn't even bother trying to control Live with it, I just stuck to plugins.

The downside to these types of controllers is that you have to learn the plugin's interface a second time, through the controller. Not worth it to me. Its not like a real hardware synth where there is a natural correspondence between knob/slider/button and its function(s), and you learn it once and be done with it.

Just downloaded automap 3.5 today. Go to launch reason 4 for and set up.... all the" default" novation settings for the mixer were inverted. Facets mapped sends and knobs mapped levels. Totally jarbbled up. I got frustrated and shut down. Perhaps i'll give it a go later this week. Before this update things worked great for reason and logic (8).

automap is great!but the qualitiy of the keyboard is cheap

pull-over wrote:automap is great!but the qualitiy of the keyboard is cheap

I would have said the quality of the keyboard is great, but the Automap is a pain to set up and use.

I sold my Novation Remote 25 SL Compact just last week, instead opting to use the in-built mapping feature of Logic with my latest acquisition.

A lovely M-Audio Axiom 49.....JOB DONE