Explaining My Novation SL MkIII Synthesizer Setup

[@BoBeats]

Here's gear I recommend for a synth setup & your studio. This is almost exclusively gear I have used in my studio and know to work. (All links are affiliate links) MIXERS (all of these can record multiple channels at once) BlueBox redir.love/5eSI5log (super small) Soundcraft MTK 22: redir.love/Lz35MmNy Soundcraft MTK 12: redir.love/aPfcq34t Tascam Model 12: redir.love/ZRF0NVpW (affordable!) Presonus 16 channel: redir.love/ss7CWjUr Presonus 32SC (the one I use): redir.love/RDNxeOC9 MIDI THRU BOXES (midi splitters) Kenton Thru-5: redir.love/d5cyo4Gx midi solutions thru box: redir.love/qjANR69s iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!) redir.love/tlXJCRm9 SYNTH STAND Jaspers: redir.love/TmKv2niJ GOOD FX Zoia: redir.love/4BysDzzC Mod Duo X: redir.love/DUigViEW Blackhole: redir.love/ZrnG7sHL EURORACK Rackbrute Case: redir.love/Oq9TY5XV Nifty Case: redir.love/bPPFJZxh Affordable modules: redir.love/xlS56kNh PATCHBAY: redir.love/FA9FzgSp SEQUENCERS (makes no sounds themselves) Novation SL Mk3 // 8 track keyboard/sequencer/controller: redir.love/OpiiymOF Arturia Keystep Pro // 4 track sequencer/controller: redir.love/wcdKr2aG SYNTH & SAMPLERS WITH SEQUENCER Roland MC101 // portable 4 track synth: redir.love/WEV5zU2a Roland MC707 // 8 track synth and sampler: redir.love/ZXvaPQxT Novation Circuit Tracks // 4 track Sequencer & Synth: redir.love/VmtyAXa5 Elektron Digitakt // 8 track sampler, 8 track sequencer: redir.love/MiLNj6yp Elektron Digitone // 4 track FM synth + 4 track sequencer: redir.love/XvDhPMVU NI Maschine+ // standalone sequencer/sampler/: redir.love/JdfuRpF0 GOOD STARTER SYNTHS Minilogue: redir.love/JjsQmfX1 Minilogue XD: redir.love/dlk50GPM Argon8: redir.love/29RChEad Cobalt8: redir.love/nazGt9Tn Microfreak: redir.love/j9fxu250 Dreadbox Typhon: redir.love/yFGoYs69 Korg NuTekt NTS1: redir.love/Re0IKdpG Reface CS: redir.love/A2HoVovD HydraSynth: redir.love/ERiGbQhv DRUM MACHINES Roland TR8S (very versatile!): redir.love/9IYrzQ0b TR6S (tiny!): redir.love/hOo0rL5Z Analog Rytm MK2 (pricey but amazing!): redir.love/qGmO7p0i Pulsar-23 (a bit overkill for a beginner): redir.love/fDCCbnQg Drumbrute Impact: redir.love/FjZcqKz8 SPEAKERS: IK MTM: redir.love/bhYrjCmm ADAM A5X: redir.love/AoY8D5qI Eve Audio SC3070: redir.love/WtImCPCy

[@elvinlewis4233]

Impressive. But the real secret to your success, was buying all that gear without ending up divorced. Everyone else was afraid to ask, but I wanna know. How on earth, did you do that?? lol.

[@BoBeats]

Hey there! This video was first published using the new KZbin premiere feature. So you can see the live chat to the right of the video if you press the "show chat replay" (or something like that) chat. Thanks everyone who joined the premiere! Connect over on instagram.com/bobeats and twitter.com/bobeatsmusic

[@localtechnique]

Not sure if Premiere worked properly as I didn't get any email notification. I just stumbled on the video when refreshing my YT home page. Have you looked into power conditioners to try and clean up your electricity?

[@BoBeats]

Thanks! Yeah I might get one. Furman

[@gordyf77]

Thanks, Bo. It's great to watch you demonstrate your setup.

[@Berus7777]

I love this controller and bought one right after watching your video, but, BIG QUESTION: how do you save a chord to a pad, and then PLAY the SL61 without adding to the chord you already have saved on the pad? That is, let's say you hold down a chord, in step mode, and then press a pad to save that chord to the pad. Now, let's say you save 2-3 other chords and you have them on the first 4 pads. Now you want to use your left hand to hold and trigger the pads (to play the chords) while you jam the lead with your right hand. When I try this, it just adds whatever I play with my right hand to the chord I'm holding down because holding the pad to play the chord stored on it, is ALSO still enabling the pad to record. How do you suspend the recording function after you have what you want on the pad, so you can just trigger the pad without re-enabling it to record? Anyone know? Thanks!

[@telumatramenti7250]

After owing this for a few years, the main issue I have complaints about is the keybed. Somehow a $120 "Worlde Blue Whale" is able to make a better keyboard for playing more classical instruments (like the piano) than Novation's flagship. What's up with that? 🤔I also wish it retained those extra 8 knobs of the MKII because believe me, remembering where the control for each parameter is or finding it quickly enough using the up/down arrows isn't so easy when playing/recording live. Finally, removal of the XY pas was a serious mistake. I'm not so sure the recent trend of going more and more minimalistic (like Komplete Kontrol) is the right direction, in fact - if you are making a MIDI controller for "controlling both hardware and software", not just software, - extra knobs are definitely the way to go.

[@logiebearsb]

So looking forward to checking out the SL MKIII looks great for a hardware Jams, going to watch your full video now.

[@ultrajayme]

cool video but honestly i thought you were going to go into how you have them all running from the two midi out ports in the MKIII and how you menu dive to source each on in the MKIII. if you have a video which shows this could you please link it? if not, could you make one? hah thanks and i enjoy all your videos and tutorials.

[@SoundsAndGear]

Nice man, pretty cool how they have it setup to work with hardware out of the box. Good stuff.

[@KWHCoaster]

A major improvement to my setup's workflow was finally getting the Akai MPK61 out of the closet and setting it up as a central MIDI keyboard instead of playing at each synth's keyboard. With the use of MIDI Solutions Quadra Thru (x2) and Quadra Merge (x1) boxes, I can access all 13 sound sources while sitting/standing at the MPK61 and also staying in the monitor sweet spot a majority of the time while playing. I placed the desktop/module units (Mother32, Model D, DeepMind 12D, Neutron) to be in easy reach from the MPK61 for patch tweaking. And the keyboard synths father to the left and right since I can move to them and use their keyboard's while tweaking a patch. Really invites me to use the gear more now that there is less awkward moving around to do stuff. A few improvements (gear swapped out and some additions) since I did this kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIDPkJ1-rt58d7s

[@chriswoolf1491]

Thanks for this, Bo! I'm currently debating pulling the trigger on my first hardware synth (Novation Peak). Id love to see some videos of you doing a little sound design, discussing it or really anything.

[@BoBeats]

Cool! I will do something!

[@MrClarkio]

It's almost like the mkiii was made for you. Enjoyed this video even though it was a bit: This is my rig rundown, here's my keyboard, here's some cables, here's me fiddling with my eurorack....................................... That was cool. Anyways here's the end of the video.

[@steventaylor3789]

That Matrixbrute sound oh my... I could listen to that for ages! Also I like that you’re getting into the Peak. Interested to see what kind of patches you produce.

[@atommachine]

It is about time you splashed out on some new gear ;) ... good upload Bo.

[@jjs6558]

About electricity - do you have a good power conditioner? That could very well help you with clicks aso? But a good quality one then. Not cheap though.

[@Djstevemuller]

Hello. I am wondering how you connect external synths to the SL 49mk3. I see you are using a patchbay... Thanks in advance

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

Hi Bo, I share your enthusiasm for the SL MK3. Have one (for me important) question: How do you save program change settings for the external selected synths/sounds??

[@BoBeats]

So far I have only seen program change being available on some of the controlers. So you should be able to sequence program changes per step

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

BoBeats could you try this please?

[@BoBeats]

What exactly would you like me to try?

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

...to set a midi programm (from a synth that have patch memory) select and save this in the session.

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

Please Bo, can you figure this out? Tx

[@Миша-ц5м4й]

Good morning! How to return the device to factory settings? We don't have instructions. Thank you in advance.

[@miikkatoikka5055]

Hi, I'm really new into this world and looking at getting myself the SL49 MKiii. I will be using it with Ableton Live to produce my own music. My noob question is whether I have to have a synthesizer as well or I am able to use the software together with the midi to generate the sounds? If I don't need a synth, at what point would I need one? Thank you in advance.

[@KoolteethDeBlog]

Hi Bo, do you know where I could download user templates for hardware synths? I want to control my Neutron with the SL. Maybe s.o. knows a ready template?

[@pianonut1000]

I just bought a new mk3 to connect my hardware synths but my question is when switching to a new song/scene do I have to change the preset sound of each synth manually on each separate synth or is there a way that the slmk3 members each patch from each synth for each song/scene and changes them automatically ....

[@Gainn]

I was getting pretty pissed off with mine after the 1.3 update because they turned off quantised recording as default. Adding the switch as an undocumented shift function was lazy when it could have been in the menu system.

[@hw9528]

How are you connecting the Rytm to the SL? Do you use the sequencer on the SL or the Rytm for your drums?

[@SuperVicek]

Hi, BoBeats! I really like your presentations and immediately ask: does SL mk3 send messages program change?

[@lennardvillasenor5151]

Bo how is the Keyboard on the SL Mk III. I am looking for another MIDI controller that has velocity, aftertouch and weighted keys. Is the 61 SL MkIII from Novation semiweighted? Have you tried the 88 when looking at the 61, is it heavier more like a piano? I live right now in Sweden (Stockholm) so I would be interested to see where you purchased the Novation ...DLX? 4Sound? Thanks in advance.

[@BoBeats]

Hey! First off I got the Novation directly from Novation (I got sponsored to do the review that is on the channel). I am not a good judge of keybeds/keys. To me it feels about the same as a Kontrol Mk2 keyboard. My guess is that anyone who likes weighted keys are better of with something like the Kontrol 88

[@bartudilmen2764]

So you can use this midi comtroller as a sequencer without any DAW?

[@shawnryc7347]

Will u do a vid on the slmk3 firmware update?

[@marccooks7377]

Hi, I have had my novation sl61 mk3 deliverd but I have to now buy a pc andbi don't want to buy the wrong one with the wrong specs could you kindly point me in the right direction please?

[@BoBeats]

unfortunately I dont do PC’s for music. I have always used Mac. Its very difficult to give advice on PCs as they are so different. I would make sure to get SSD, a powerful CPU, graphics card doesn’t matter at all for music production, lots of RAM is nice. 32 gig + is never wrong. I have an iMac 27” with 1TB SSD, 4,2 ghz i7 processor, 40gig ram. That works really well. Oh and USB 3.0 is also very good. That is pretty much standard now on most PC’s.

[@marccooks7377]

@@BoBeats fair doos mate, just I can't afford the macs so I was hoping to try and generate the same power through a pc but we all know to buy one is near 3 parts the amount of a mac which brought me to idea of mabe making my own. I know to start with the cpu, I am looking at one as we speak. I was looking to get 1 tb hdd and the minimum required amount of ssd to start up and use one for the programmes vicevercer. I was looking at 16 gb ram but may have to step that up thank you. I would love a pc with 40gbRAM, 1tbSSD, 4.2ghz with an i7. Is that availible for £500 do you know. I feel like I'm blowing in the wind lol.

[@BoBeats]

I think 16 gig ram can be good enough for sure. My laptop has 8!! Its not enough but 16 would have been fine.

[@marccooks7377]

Hi again, what do you think of this? www.hotukdeals.com/deals/medion-desktop-pc-i5-16gb-1tb-49988-at-aldi-3456555

[@ohstirfry]

Mr. Bo do you have a mixer video and what are you using for mixing all your audio into your daw

[@BoBeats]

You could check ”how to record synthesizers” that I made recently

[@ohstirfry]

BoBeats I already know how but I will watch it any way Bo. I have a scarlet2i4 for now but I want to record with out having to plug and unplug cables to record the next sound device.

[@brianbrill]

Bo, the one thing I want from a keyboard controller is the ability to easily (one button) switch midi channel, but also be able to send on multiple channels at the same time. Is that possible with the SL MKiii? From what I've seen this can be done by layering, but I'm looking for something with less hassle, just a button to push for each channel/device to control at the same time.

[@arbeg56]

Bonjour. Can't find the digitone template in the novation list...

[@Electronicmassacre]

Nice one bo. Really really interested in that new novation controller. Think you could still have the digitakt in the set up to just for trig conditions on certain parts. Although knowing how good novation are at listening to customers we might see that being implemented on the mk3:)

[@thom-alphaxiii-5106]

fantastic sound! (MB thru eurorack) . analog heat is a cool machine to add grit, but if i remember correctly you got a beffaco crushed delay right? it would sound so great with the matrixbrute!!!!!

[@BoBeats]

Yeah!! Thanks for reminding me

[@thom-alphaxiii-5106]

BoBeats you got too much stuff ;)

[@BoBeats]

Oh yes

[@SoundmanCH]

I see you are addicted to wood panels and stands, too. The gear looks so much nicer!

[@kiwipiraka]

Matrixbrute sounds like the begining of Thriller by MJ

[@HH-xo7fu]

more like the War Of The Worlds tripods

[@fahadha]

I'd actually to know about the patchbay and how something like that works with routing

[@reaktiv1408]

Serious setup! Seems very inspiring with the sl mk3 as brain for controlling all those babies! I also have a Matrixbrute and the analog heat really makes its character shines. It is even better than let's say a soundtoy plugin? (money is talking...)

[@BoBeats]

Hard to say! It sounds good but its also a big investment. Software often does the trick just as good

[@reaktiv1408]

@@BoBeats thank you for sharing your opinion, I m always on the fence between hardware and software :)

[@terrybuchanan1]

very interesting!

[@TeleporterM11]

Can you do a video and go over the sequencer and tracks

[@BoBeats]

I thought I did this in my review? Anything more specific you want to know :-)

[@TeleporterM11]

Show us how you get everything into Ableton. Do you record it or just touch a button. Show us more of how it accommodates the Ableton capture feature.

[@BoBeats]

Oh but I don’t use Ableton. I mainly use the SL mk III with Cubase if any daw. But mostly standalone using the built in sequencer

[@MichaalHell]

Mocca master ❤️

[@Tulah]

Definitely one of the more important pieces of equipment :-D

[@rehabonthetrackhoe]

amazing

[@Moruial]

WHY!!!? WHY this Mother 32 isn't patched yet!!!?? Great vid anyway, loved the drone thingy ;)

[@Nick-kb6jd]

A peak!!! What took you so long? 😆

[@rmvp2009]

A mini fusion reactor would fix your electricity problems.

[@Kkidzz]

Bo, CAREFUL : @4:40 accelerating polar ice cap glacier calving.....

[@Estica-Live]

Check Check CCCCCheck out..;)

[@Multipass05]

Not much of an explanation of the setup. Just a guy saying what equipment he has.

[@Миша-ц5м4й]

Good morning! How to return the device to factory settings? We don't have instructions. Thank you in advance.