Novation-class USB Synth, MIDI Controller, and Audio Interface
You can't spell "Innovation" without Novation, and that pretty much sums up every product that Novation has introduced since their inception 12 years ago. Now they've gone and done it again with the new Novation Xio - an 8-voice polyphonic synth, that's also an audio interface. Oh, and it's also a MIDI controller - all in one compact unit. The Xio comes equipped with what is essentially a new sound engine that offers some pretty incredible onboard sounds, many of which just happened to be programmed by top international producers. One USB cable is all that's needed to turn your computer into a complete workstation for recording, controlling, and synthesizing. Since the Xio is class compliant (no drivers needed for Win XP or Mac OSX), you truly can just plug and play.
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- 8-voice polyphonic synth with 32-step sequencer
- MIDI controller and audio interface
- 200 virtual analog patches programmed by top artists
- Class-compliant USB
Novation-class Synthesizer with New Features
The Xio features a mono-timbral Novation synth engine with 8-voice polyphony. In addition to 3 oscillators (17 waveforms each), 1 Filter (varying types), 2 LFOs (32 waveforms each), an arpeggiator and multi-effects board, this subtractive synth also boasts some brand new facilities such as the X-Gator patch programmer. The X-Gator can be made to gate each patch to create unique 16-32 step rhythmic patterns for every onboard sound, all automatically synchronized to MIDI clock from a sequencer; just press and hold one key to groove along to a track with style.
Flexible MIDI Controller and High-quality Audio Interface
If wanting a compact controller keyboard for studio or live use, the XioSynth is the most flexible and powerful tool on the market. In addition to synthesizing and audio/MIDI interfacing, the keyboard is also a comprehensive control surface with 22 knobs and buttons (doubled to 44 by a Group A/B switch), plus a freely assignable Touchpad and joystick. All of these controls are pre-programmed in 12 of 16 onboard Templates, so that the Xio can instantly control many software applications straight out the box. Add to this many more Templates online, a free Template Editor software application and hybrid modes for simultaneous synthesizing and MIDI controlling, and you have an extremely versatile package for producing or performing.
The Xioincludes an ultra-low latency 2 In/2 Out audio interface for high quality recording and playback. This allows you to record a microphone with phantom power, as well as simultaneously stream the onboard synth audio directly to the sequencer via the USB cable. Equally though, a guitar can be plugged straight into the Jack input for DI recording, as well as simultaneously miked, and recorded with outstanding results.
High-profile User Patches
The Xio features 200 hard-hitting onboard patches, utilizing a new optional filter distortion to produce an even greater range of sounds than on previous synths; from the distinctive clean British sound to the filthiest and grittiest of sonic characters. Furthermore, 60 of the onboard sounds come from internationally acclaimed artists and producers from a variety of musical genres, namely James Zabiela, Ferry Corsten, Rennie Pilgrem, Roots Manuva, Shimon and Skeewiff. As such, every one of the patches on the Xio is eminently and instantly usable for creating synthesized music of any kind.
Highly Portable and USB Class-compliant
Simply connecting the keyboard over USB is all that's required to start recording, synthesizing and MIDI controlling. As the device is class compliant, no drivers are required for Windows XP or Mac OSX (although some are provided to improve latency and stability in some apps). Furthermore, if wanting to escape the confines of the studio for a while, the USB cable can be unplugged and the Xio can be powered by batteries, functioning as a standalone synth completely separately from the computer.
- One part, 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer
- 3 Oscillators, 17 Waveforms
- 2 LFOs, 32 Waveforms
- Multimode resonant filter section with various filter options
- Extensive modulation capabilities
- Arpeggiator with latch
- X-GATOR with latch
- Direct streaming of synth into computer via USB
- Number of Keys: 25 Semi-weighted
- Velocity curves: 7
- Pitch wheel lever: Rubberized - center return spring loaded left to right motion
- Mod/control lever: Rubberized - spring loaded front to back motion
- X/Y touchpad: 1 x touch sensitive 45x60mm, 2 assignable parameters in X direction, 2 assignable in Y direction
- LCD: 2 x 16 character silver, blue LED backlit
- MIDI: 1 MIDI Out
- USB MIDI: 1 In/1 Out
- Audio Interface Inputs: 1 XLR (with phantom power), 1 TS Jack
- Audio Interface Outputs: 2 TS Jack (L/R)
- 1 stereo Headphones Jack
- 1 x USB 1.1
- Sustain pedal: 1 x 1/4" Jack Input
- Rotary potentiometers: 11, 0-270° rotation
- Rotary encoders: 1, 360° continuous DATA wheel
- Buttons: 11 function switches
- Group B switch
- General operation: 4 Mode and Menu select buttons
- Keyboard Octave Up and Down buttons
- Synth Menus/Audio mode select button
- Effect Select buttons (Synth Mode)
- Template/Bank/Page Up/Down buttons
- Line/Phones Volume pots
- Battery operation: 6 x standard 'AA' Size
- External power supply: Standard 'center positive' 9V DC 600mA (Novation PSU6)
- Size (25): 468 x 68 x 190 (mm) w x h x d
- Size (49): 798 x 68 x 190 (mm) w x h x d
- Weight (25/49): 1.4/1.6kg
- Templates (16 preset onboard, more available on Novation website):
1. Apple - Logic 7
2. Steinberg - Cubase SX3
3. Ableton - Live 5
4. Cakewalk - Sonar
5. Native Instruments - Absynth 3
6. Native Instruments - B4
7. Native Instruments - FM7
8. Native Instruments - Pro53
9. Gmedia - Oddity
10. Novation V-Station
11. Novation Bass Station
12. reFX - Vanguard
13. Linplug - Albino 2
14. Gmedia - Minimonsta
15. Spectrasonics - Atmosphere & Trilogy
16. User Template
