Getting Started; Standalone And Computer Operation - A Foreword; Standalone Operation - Audio And Midi Connections; Using Headphones - Novation ULTRANOVA Mode D'emploi

gettIng StarteD

Standalone and computer operation – a foreword
The UltraNova may be used as a standalone synthesizer, with or without MIDI connections
to/from other sound modules or keyboards. It may also be connected - via its USB port - to
a computer (Windows or Mac) running a DAW application. The UltraNova can then be
controlled entirely from the computer by using the UltraNova Editor plug-in. The UltraNova
Librarian is a separate software application which greatly assists in the organising, saving
and recall of patches.
Audio Out
Audio In
UltraNova connected to a computer via USB.
USB transmits audio and MIDI to and from the computer
The methods of connecting the UltraNova to accommodate the various methods of working
are covered in the documentation supplied with the UltraNova Editor and UltraNova Librar-
ian software packages. The Installers for this software, and the related USB drivers may be
downloaded from
http://novationmusic.com/support/ultranova.
Standalone operation – audio and MIDI connections
The simplest and quickest way of getting started with the UltraNova is to connect the two
rear panel jack sockets marked Master Output 1 and 2 {10} to the inputs of a stereo
amplii er, audio mixer, powered speakers, third-party computer sound card or other means
of monitoring the output.
UltraNova connected to computer soundcard
via analogue audio outs.
USB transmits MIDI to and from computer
Note: the UltraNova is not a computer MIDI interface. MIDI can be transmitted
between UltraNova synth and computer but MIDI cannot be transmitted to and
from the UltraNova MIDI DIN ports from the computer.
6
USB
Audio In
FireWire/USB
USB
Audio Out
If using the UltraNova with other sound modules, connect MIDI OUT {4} on the UltraNova
to MIDI IN on the i rst sound module, and daisy-chain further modules in the usual way. If
using the UltraNova with a master keyboard, connect the controller's MIDI OUT to MIDI
IN on the UltraNova, and ensure that the master keyboard is set to MIDI channel 1 (the
UltraNova's default channel).
Controller Keyboard
With the amplii er or mixer off or muted, connect the AC adaptor to the UltraNova {1}, and
plug it into the AC mains. Turn the UltraNova on by moving the rear panel switch {2} to Ext
DC. During power-up the display shows the i rmware version number for a few seconds:
Patch Name
after which the Patch Menu appears:
A000
Circuit Motion
FX - COMPRESS 1/2 COMPRES1 C1Ratio
2.0
Patch Name
ClockSource
A000
Circuit Motion
Ext-Auto
FX - DISTORT 1/2 D ISTORT1 Dst1Type
Diode
Turn on the mixer/amplii er/powered speakers, and set the Monitor Balance [28] to 12
ClockSource
Ext-Auto
o'clock, and turn up the Master Volume control [29] until you have a healthy sound level
FX - REVERB 1/2REVERB1 Rvb1Type
LrgHall
from the speakers when you play the keyboard.
GLOBAL Protect Local

Using headphones

Off On
Instead of speakers via an amplii er and/or an audio mixer, you may wish to use a pair of
TuneCent Transpse
0 0
stereo headphones. These may be plugged into the rear panel headphone output socket
ClockSource
{8}. The main outputs are still active when headphones are plugged in.
Auto
DUMP to Bank
USBport A
NOTE: The UltraNova headphone amplii er is capable of outputting
a high signal level please take care when setting the output level.
DUMP to
USBport
Calibrate
The factory default setting for headphones' level is for their volume to be controlled by the
Master Volume control. However, it is possible to set the headphones' level independently;
Current O/S Transmit
although the Audio Menu is discussed in detail later in the manual, it may be useful to know
how to do this now. Press the AUDIO button [30] to open the Audio Menu, then press the
PAGE NEXT button [4] to access the Headphone Page:
AUDIO In12Link In1Gain
Indept Off
HeadPhones Level Control
Follow master volume (1+2 only)
OUTPUTS Synth
1+2 127
Turning RE1 anticlockwise changes the Headphone Level Control setting to Use Level
OUTPUTS Synth
and Balance 1+2/3+4. Then the headphone level can be adjusted independently of
3+4 0
the main outputs with RE6 (and any balance between synth sounds and inputs with RE7).
SPDIF
Off

A word about Menu Navigation

The UltraNova has been designed to give the player maximum control over sound character
and system operation with the minimum of hassle. All the main menus are selected by a
single press on a dedicated button; for example, pressing the OSCILLATOR button will
always open the Oscillator Menu regardless of whereabouts in the menu system you might
currently be. There is no need to "back up" or "Exit" any menu, you can always go directly
from one menu to another with a single button press.
Several of the synth processing blocks - such as the Oscillator and Envelope Menus – are
duplicated; for example, there are 3 separate oscillators, each with its own menu. When
you re-select a menu for such a multiple block, it will open at the one you last used. For
example, if you adjust parameters of Envelope 4, then go to another menu to adjust some
other parameters, and then press the ENVELOPE button again, the Envelope Menu will
re-open with the parameters for Envelope 4 visible. The same principle applies to menus
which have multiple pages – UltraNova remembers which parameters you were last adjust-
ing, and re-opens the menu at the last-used page.
MIDI In MIDI Out
Novation UltraNova
Version 1.0.00
Novation UltraNova
C1Thrsh C1Attack C1Rel C1Hold
Version 1.0.00
-20 0 64
Clock} 156 BPM
Status}
Fly-Wheeling
Dst1Comp Dst1Lvl
100 0
Clock} 156 BPM
Status}
Fly-Wheeling
Rvb1Dec
90
MidiChan MidiOut Touch/Filter
1 Off Set by Patch
KbdVel VelResp DfltRate FootSwth
Curve 4 Medium 48KHz Auto
Clock} 120 BPM
Status} Internal Clock
Patch Name Current OnePatch
0 Init Program
^^
GLOBALS & AUDIO
BendWhl ModWhl Aftouch SetAftouch
^^ Current O/S Version 1.0.00
Startup O/S Version 1.0.00
In2Gain In1 -60 |--------|
Off In2 -60 |--------|
Level
Input1 Input2
0 0
Input1 Input2 Level Balance (Host3+4/Synth+Inps)
127 0 127
Novation UltraNova
Sound Modules
C1Gain
32 127
Whlights
On
OneBank AllBanks
0dB In1FX In2FX
0dB 0 0
Balance 1+2/3+4
127 0
RECORD Mode
Synth
0