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.

Key

April 1, 2013 @ 12:04 pm

The thing that really appealed me about this synth is the nice round bass sound while maintaining the bright quality in the upper regions. Not sure if that is typical Novation. But since the V-station virtually sounds identical to the KS, I sold mine.
Also I really got tired from the crappy menu encoder which was constantly sending false values (luckely the only encoder on the device) and the menu diving.

noah

November 27, 2012 @ 6:27 pm

I have an X Station 49- similar to these in that it's pretty much a k-synth in a fully capable midi controller. so i'll talk about the synth. 3 oscillators! sweet! this thing was totally geared for the dancey, trancey- techno stuff. i like the sounds more than Korg sounds, IMHO. the synth is a little annoying to learn but it's actually easy. in fact there was nothing about learning the synth aspects of the X Station that was difficult. if you want the K-synth engine in a midi controller, look at the X stations.

Paul M

October 16, 2012 @ 12:04 pm

Picked up a good condition KS Rack for a song ($190!). Great sounds and very easy to program. The only major limitation I've run into so far is a lack of routing options for the LFOs (LFO1 always modulates pitch; LFO2 filter).

Nenad

September 5, 2012 @ 10:35 am

Have had mine for about 3 years now and still love the sounds. Starting to use mine for dark evolving soundscapes. Layered under techno or on their own they sound amazing. It's a deep synth, but very straight forward to program - actually "program" sounds too complicated, maybe tweak is a better word.

artemis

July 9, 2012 @ 12:21 pm

hi there I actually need to replace a fader on the rack unit can anyone offer any help or advice? please email me on adeas@blueyonder.co.uk

thanks, Artemis

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