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Novation Supernova

Rackmount Sound Module

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Novation Supernova
Novation Supernova
900.00 street price

The Novation Supernova is a groundbreaking virtual analogue polyphonic synthesizer released in 1998 by British company Novation. This 3U rack-mounted unit quickly established itself as a powerhouse in the competitive virtual analogue market of the late 1990s, competing alongside the Roland JP-8000, Clavia Nord Lead, Korg Prophecy, Yamaha AN1x, and Access Virus.

The SuperNova distinguished itself with exceptional multitimbral capabilities and an unprecedented effects architecture that maintained separate effects chains per part during multitimbral operation. This innovative approach delivered significantly richer sounds than other multitimbral synthesizers of the era. The instrument has been utilized by prominent electronic music artists including Orbital, ATB, The Faint, Ozric Tentacles, Sin, Jean-Michel Jarre, and A Guy Called Gerald.

Technical Specifications

  • Format: 3U rack-mounted synthesizer
  • Synthesis Type: Virtual analogue (digital modeling of analog circuits)
  • Polyphony: 16 voices (expandable to 20 voices with OS update)
  • Multitimbral Parts: Multiple parts with independent settings
  • Oscillators: 3 VCOs per voice using sound modeling technology
  • Waveforms: Saw and square waves with unique "hardness attenuator" for creating softer waveforms (no native triangle or sine waves)
  • Filter Section:
    • Multiple filter types: High-pass, Low-pass, Band-pass
    • Filter slopes: 12dB/octave, 18dB/octave, 24dB/octave
    • Resonant and self-oscillating capabilities
    • Overdrive functionality
    • Key tracking
  • LFO: Two extremely flexible LFO sections
  • Effects: Unprecedented 7 simultaneous effects per voice (totaling 56 effects)
    • All effects programmable
    • All effects simultaneously available on all voices
    • Effects maintained per part in multi-timbral mode (key differentiator)
  • Modulation: Two ring modulators
  • Outputs: Eight audio outputs
  • Control: Complete MIDI parameter control
  • Sound Character: Successfully emulates and even transcends classic synthesizers like the Minimoog, Jupiter 8, Juno 106, and ARP 2600

The SuperNova's revolutionary effects engine was considered vastly superior to its contemporaries and became a defining element of the instrument's distinctive sound. Its successor, the SuperNova II, continued this legacy of innovation in virtual analog synthesis.

Supernova and Supernova II Differences

Supernova:

  • 20-voice polyphony (expandable to 44 with expansion card)
  • 8-part multi-timbral
  • 512 programs and 256 performance memory locations
  • Expansion card adds additional 512 programs and 256 performances

Supernova II:

  • 24-voice polyphony (expandable to 36 or 48 with appropriate card)
  • 8-part multi-timbral
  • 512 built-in programs and 256 performances
  • Additional memory for 512 more programs and 256 performances
  • Compatible with different expansion cards than original Supernova

Supernova II Enhancements:

  • External input and vocoder
  • Enhanced unison detune, oscillator drift and dual filter separation
  • Additional tempo-synced parameters
  • Improved effects (better chorus/phaser, ensemble, quad chorus, rotary speaker)
  • FM-capable oscillators
  • LFO "slew" feature to smooth LFO shapes
  • Comb filter with LFO sweep capability (tempo-syncable)
  • Complex envelope shapes beyond ADSR with loopable A/D stages
  • Drum mode for "one shot" sounds
  • Dedicated drum maps and drum sounds

Country of origin / production: United Kingdom

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More info
 
Usage area
Sound Module/ Tone Generator 
Usage Design/ Form Factor
Rackmount, 3U 
Archetype
Virtual Analog (VA) 
Polyphony
Voices44
Multi Timbral Capacity8 part(s)
Tone Generator / Sound Synthesis
Synthesis Method Digital Subtractive
Synthesis Method Frequency Modulation (FM)
Technology of Sound Generation ASM (Analogue Sound Modelling)
Waveform/ Spectral form (main generator) Square
Waveform/ Spectral form (main generator) Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
Waveform/ Spectral form (main generator) Saw
Waveform/ Spectral form (main generator) White Noise
Programs/ Voices/ Timbres
Single Voice Preset512
User-defined Single Voice512
Multitimbral Preset256
User-defined Multitimbral256
Filter
High-pass Filter (HPF) 
Low-pass Filter (LPF) 
Band-pass Filter (BPF) 
Comb Filter 
2-pole 
3-pole 
4-pole 
12dB 
18dB 
48dB 
Resonance 
Filter auto-oscillation 
Modulation
LFO: LFO Count2
LFO Waveforms
Square 
Triangle 
Saw 
Sample&Hold 
Effects
Reverb 
Chorus 
Flanger 
Delay 
Phaser 
Distortion 
Tremolo 
Overdrive/ Drive 
Pan 
Equalizer
Parametric 
Bands2
MIDI in/ out
IN 
OUT 
THRU 
Display
Display type LCD
Color resolution Monochrome
External controllers
Foot Controller3
Audio out
Stereo 
Analogue: 1/4" (6.35mm)8
Analogue: 1/4" (6.35mm) headphones preamplified1
Digital: coaxial1
Audio in
Analog 1/4"1
Digital: Coaxial1
Case/ body
Metal 
Color
Blue 
Production start1998
Production end1999
Production ended

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  • enpdf0.77Mb Novation Supernova Rack Manual OS3