SuperNova

An excellent polyphonic super synth based on the classic Bass Station. Let's start with 16 voices of polyphony (20 with the new OS), add three VCO's using sound modeling to re-create those classic analog sounds with digital clarity and reliability. Amazingly this synth has seven effects per voice! That adds up to 56 effects all programmable and simultaneously available on all voices at all times!!! A macho filter section with hi, low, band pass filtering at 12, 18, 24 dB/oct ranges, resonant and self oscillating, with overdrive and key tracking. There are two extremely flexible LFO sections, two ring modulators, eight audio outputs, complete MIDI parameter control and it is cased in a cool blue 3-space rack unit.

Overall its sounds are awesome! It cleanly and nicely emulates and even transcends many classic synths like the Minimoog, Jupiter 8, Juno 106, and 2600! A 61-note professional keyboard version, seen below, doubles the polyphony to 32 voices and the memory to 1,024 patches.

There is an upgraded model, the SuperNova II which greatly increases the polyphony, sonic possibilities and offers many more new knobs and functions.

SuperNova II

It also comes in a keyboard version which combines elegance, beauty, hands on control and a great 61 note velocity and aftertouch sensitive keyboard.

Added features include new FM synthesis, ring-mod algorithms, two analog inputs and a 42-band vocoder effect. These are available in 24-, 36- or 48-voice models. The SuperNova is already in use by Orbital, ATB, The Faint, Sin, Jean-Michel Jarre and A Guy Called Gerald.

DLovas

July 13, 2011 @ 10:17 pm

@eraser thanks for reply helped a lot. :)

Eraser

July 13, 2011 @ 5:47 am

@ DLovas.

Identical engine for the rack versions and keyboard, but more knobs on the keyboard and less oversampling (?) on the Nova. See my post below ref drawbacks for the Supernova vs Nova.

FM is only simulated, as is the analog synthesis. It does a decent FM impression, but is not as good as the real thing. Unless you are a performer, I don't think the keyboard version is worth the extra $. Programming is easy on all of the models.

DLovas

July 11, 2011 @ 5:04 pm

Do all Supernova II Models utilize FM Synthesis? or is it just the keyboard version? the Keyboard version seems to have many many many more knobs as well. is it more capable than the Rack mounted Supernova II (aside from the keys ofc) thanks.

eraser

May 9, 2011 @ 12:34 pm

Ref Nova vs Supernova, my findings (after a LOT of side by side comparisons) were that the Nova sounded more organic, fuller but less silky than the Supernova (2). Nova suffers a lot more from aliasing but due to the extra oversampling required to fix the aliasing, the Supernova suffers terribly from MIDI jitter due to processor strain.

For me, the Nova wins. :o)

helman68

April 24, 2011 @ 7:06 pm

Well, i don`t know if the nova is sounding weaker than the supernova, i did read an rewiev by Parker Walker saying that the nova is a far cry from the supernova 2.

I have the supernova rack 44 voice, and the supernova 2 rack 48 voice, and i don`t think they sound weak or thin, many of my old analogs are not in use any more after i got the super`s, they are so easy to program and they emulate the oldie`s with ease.
I personaly don`t waste time on comparing and analyzing synths, i buy them if they sound good and are easy to operate.
By the way, i compose synthpop and new age. =)

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