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Novation A-Station help

Discussion in 'Effects [BG]' started by Lord Fender, Dec 3, 2005.

  1. Dec 3, 2005 #1
    Lord Fender

    Lord Fender

    Jun 2, 2005
    I just got this synth at the guitar center down here and before i "open" the box i just want to have a couple peoples opinions on this product and if some of you can answer a couple of questions. I really dont want to pay a 15% restocking fee, so the more input would be most loved.

    Well as I bet most of you know the Novation A-Station rack synth, along with Bass station and Y station softsynths, are bundled at a pretty much unreal price. The guy their told me they have installed the Bass Station and Y station on the A-Station. I have really no idea, its my first true synth and I dont really know if they did install anything on it or if they are just screwing me over, doubt it, but it has happened before.

    Also I dont know really the deal with the hook up. I have been looking at this thing and have fallen in love with it but Im not sure what I should get to go along with it. Of Coarse I want to hook it up to my bass and it look like it has a standard 1/4 jack in the back. But again want to get all the things put aside before i do this. I hear from lots of peeps that you need a midi pick up like that one from Roland that has a seperate line for each string or what not. But then i hear people say that they just plug it in normal. I dont know what really to do. As for like midi controllers, im looking at the PK-5 foot controller and thinking of using the Synth as kind of the main input for my rig. So if anyone can give me some insight on how to set this thing up, what they meant about installed on the station, and about connection with the bass.

    Danke,
     
  2. Dec 3, 2005 #2
    Karn

    Karn

    Nov 28, 2005
    Italy
    i'm happy for you...the novation is really a good sinth..
    i was thinking about it last year...every now and then it comes out in my GAS list... :) :) :)
    you can plug your bass in the a station but ,if i remember well, you can only use the filters ...you can't use the sinth section to create notes...if that's okay for you...
    if you've got a midi pickup and converter(like i do..)you can hook it up to the a-station and start playing it like a keyboard..create sinth notes and all...AND use the filters...
    i hope this is clear for you...i've tried to keep it non-technical :) :)
    all said in a short way:if you plan to use the novation like a filter you're wasting the full potential of the unit... you better buy a sinth pedal for bass and go with it IMHO
    if you plan to use a midi system or an external keyboard to get real sinth sounds you have find the right piece of gear...always and always IMHO...
    i hope this will help you....
     
  3. Dec 4, 2005 #3
    Lord Fender

    Lord Fender

    Jun 2, 2005
    yeah, the main goal i was using with this was to kind of make a moog taurus like system, with a foot keyboard im getting soon.

    Then with the little remains of this all out buying frenzy I was looking to get a midi controller for my comp, but then again I have a P-bass just lying around that I might want to get one of those Roland GK3B Divided Pickup's for. Would that allow me to use all of the different synth functions on the Novation A-station or are you talking about a totally different type of Pickup?
     
  4. Dec 4, 2005 #4
    Karn

    Karn

    Nov 28, 2005
    Italy
    the gk3b is perfect...but you have to buy a converter too...
    let's say it this way...you install the gk3b on your bass...it sends the signal divided for strings through a 13 pole cable to a converter(like a yamaha g50 or a roland one....i don't know if roland pickups are ok with yamaha converters...if you read around the people say yes but i haven't tried...)and the converter trasforms the divided signal in midi data that subsequently drive your a-station...it's all in the converter....the bass pedal is a good idea too....you can use that as well...you press a pedal and a midi note is send to the a-station that plays it with the selected sound...
    if i were you i would take both...the midi bass system and the bass pedal...
    let us know what you decide to go for.... :) :)
    one last thing:check out the novatiion site and download the a-station manual if you don't have it...it's useful and clear...
     
  5. Dec 5, 2005 #5
    Lord Fender

    Lord Fender

    Jun 2, 2005
    yeah, the novation and the Roland PK-5 pedals are keepers although my left over budget is about 250, so im not sure if i should try to peice my way with lower quality midi bass gear or to just wait it out until my hands have a bit more :D