Vintage Synth Explorer

Novation • KS4 / KS5 / KS Rack

Novation KS4

Using an enhanced version of the K-Station sound engine, the KS4 (four octave keyboard) and the KS5 (five octaves) offer many additional features and benefits.

The keyboards have aftertouch, are semi-weighted, and each of the 33 knobs and sliders transmit MIDI. There is four part multi-timbral operation with four individual assignable outputs. A big plus is a separate effects section for each part - a unique Novation feature from the Supernova. Also featured are 4 Arpeggiators and 16 note polyphony with a 16 band Vocoder.

Novation KS5

The KS-synths have 3 oscillators which provide sawtooth, triangle, sine, pulse width modulation and other waveforms. There's even a simple FM synth engine which can be dialed in for sharpening the sound. Oscillators may be set to Unison or Sync'd operation and a Noise source is also included in the waveform engine. There is a nice low-/band-/high-pass resonant filter with switchable 12 or 24dB/oct slopes and ADSR controls. A second ADSR envelope is available for the amp, as well as two LFOs with sample-and-hold and MIDI sync.

On-board effects include reverb and delay/chorus/flanger. Their send levels can be controlled by the Mod wheel which is a nice effect. A 12-band vocoder is also on-board for processing external mono sounds such as drum loops or vocals. Pads sound great when vocoded with external sounds. External sounds can also be used as an oscillator, run through the filters, envelopes, etc. with much better results than were possible on the original Bass Stations.

Novation KS Rack

The K-Station was a great little keyboard, and the new KS4 and KS5 offer a much more professional package to stage and studio musicians! But for those who already have enough keys, a rack module was also released, the KS Rack. It came in a very professional 5-space rack / desktop module with all 33 knobs, sliders and controls as the keyboards. Full of clean analog sounding synth bass, punchy leads, pads, filter sweeps and more, the KS-synths have been used by Infected Mushroom.

VISITOR COMMENTS

Comments page 1 of 2

Click here to add a comment

Your Name:

Email Address:

Image verification:

Message:

Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Delirium Electric

Posted 311 days ago

Yep I love mine! Excellent for trance or minimal techno or psy. Pick one of the bassline presets, tweak the oscilator, set the arp to random and there you go, instant psy heaven! use the hold function, press three keys, and tweak the filters for some deep minimal techno bassline. It's awesome, and haven't bothered to upload the new OS yet. Heaps better virtual analog compared to Rolands IMO

Jonathan

Posted 355 days ago

As far as analog sound modelling goes this is great. Pick up a cheap one on ebay and just go ahead and play. Yes Nord and Access probably have the edge on sound but they also have the price. I've got the KS5 and just love playing all those keys and twiddling with the knobs :-)

Synthesizer Patel

Posted 402 days ago

I've seen so much criticism of the KS4 that I was wary of buying one. But found one cheap, & gave it a chance. Am very glad I did. I’ve owned many analog synths in my time, & see this unit as a sonic equal. Perhaps it isn't quite as 'warm', but surely you'll be mixing with EQ?

Contruction is sturdy. Semi-weighted keys, smooth knobs & wheels. Nearly all controls you need have dedicated knobs, anything else is only a button away.

You can only really judge this synth once it has the latest OS loaded. Even the original Prophets/Minimoogs were unreliable. With the new OS, I’ve confidence in it & have used it no worry at gigs & recording session.

Check your OS by holding down 5 & power. If not 2.1.02, then go to novationmusic.com & download the latest OS/Uploader. Power on whilst holding down 3, 4, 5 and upload the new OS.

It has limitations, but what synth doesn't? It's smooth, versatile & unmissable at the price. I love mine & won't be selling it, it's too useful.

Matt S.

Posted 442 days ago

A very versatile VA-Synth with a very clean interface, capable of creating wonderful, lush pads, as well as harsh, piercing leadsounds and deep basslines.

<21>