NOVATION SUPERNOVA 2 - Review, Sounds & Demo | Digital Synthesizer

[@SPL-6]

Man, you don't just make a video, you create an experience. Love it!

[@synth4ever]

Thanks so much! I do enjoy taking viewers on a sonic trip :)

[@alm5966]

Saw Ozrics last weekend and they still have two onstage.

[@synth4ever]

Awesome, great to hear it's still part of their setup so many years later.

[@johanbilliard1658]

The Ozrics are the reason that I m watching this video😄

[@user-zr5ge9kb7j]

@@johanbilliard1658Same here, I want one because they always use them and it sounds amazing

[@Liliedugg]

When I read that Ozric Tentacles use the Supernova as one of their main instruments, all doubt about buying the one I'd been eyeing for some days vanished, and I have never regretted buying it. It's so fun I'm even considering getting the rack unit as well

[@Eyepatchfilms]

Looks great, sounds great and novation is still super helpful with their older product support.

[@supercompooper]

I like the company

[@synth4ever]

Agreed

[@st0rmchild]

I desperately wanted one of these in the early 2000s. Was too expensive for me at the time. What a great sounding synth.

[@synth4ever]

Luckily still avail on 2nd hand market

[@teronordlund]

Absolutely amazing review! I fell in love with synths in 2000 and it was because of supernova2 that was in a local music store back then. Since i have owned other Novation synths k-station, nova and ks-rack. Those were fine, but still lacking something. Few years ago i finally desided to buy Supernova2 keyboard that i found used. The seller was the first owner and turns out this is THE same exact unit that i played in the music store back in 2000 ( there isn't that many supernovas in finland). And still is in mint condition!

[@synth4ever]

Thanks for watching! Glad you were able to get your hands on the SN2 you originally saw so many years earlier! Its a great synth.

[@bradleylinemihler]

This is an absolute beauty...pity the don't make one like this today.. kills the roland jp8000 with its effects and multi timbrality. The minute I heard its basic waveforms ath the start I was hooked

[@synth4ever]

It is definitely powerful, especially for back then!

[@AnalogFlava]

Yeah, because the nova was my first I became spoiled and thought all synths moving forward would be full of parts and fx. I was young and naive 😂

[@svannuffelen]

This is a very honest review of this synth. I had the keyboard version and still have the rackversion Pro X. Seeing this video I instantly regret selling the keyboard version. I remember for me the quality of the keybed. Those long keys. The black keys were somewhat thinner than most other keyboards. The rackversion is a keeper. I also have a KS4 and a Nova desktop version. The Supernova deserves a beautiful review like this !

[@synth4ever]

Thanks for watching! The SN2 is a lovely synth, especially the keyboard. The KS4 is also a lot of fun.

[@andrewkealaher4688]

Sounds very similar to the keybed on the Quasimidi Raven- which I also love

[@CB-ul2np]

I love it. I bought a SUPERNOVA2 ProX when they first came out. Still my most powerful synth.

[@joojoo9758]

Still have mine purchased new when first released, I love it and I even bought another one a couple of years ago so to make sure I have parts in case it goes wrong, I will never part with it and now have a summit to go with it, another superb synth from novation, glad you did this great review. 👍

[@synth4ever]

Congrats on owning both Summit and SN2, they go well together. :)

[@vibetone355]

Nearest I’ve got to owning one is the ultranova which is a hidden gem in my opinion

[@synth4ever]

Ultranova also very powerful! Great choice.

[@HornieCow]

Sounds awesome... miss mine... had the rack, loved it! it's a true VA masterpiece.

[@synth4ever]

Yea, it's a great VA synth!

[@garywright3628]

I have the Nova 2, which is the Supernova's 49 key little brother. Still retains a lot of the Supernova's features but reduces the multi timbral capability to 6 parts and some of the features require a little menu diving but still sounds amazing. It's a keyboard I would never sell. You can get it to sound very analogue indeed and I use it for virtually all my sequencer sounds. A very stylish synth with a unique look. Quite sought after and the keyboard versions are hard to come by now.

[@synth4ever]

That's awesome, 6-part multitimbral is still great.

[@crawlingwind]

Thank you for spending the time with this wonderful synth!

[@synth4ever]

Thanks for watching!

[@AndyVonal]

Bought mine in 1999... still have it... but hell, 147 buttons is mental!

[@synth4ever]

Glad to hear. Yea, there is definitely a lot of buttons on this synth!

[@JDSoundsets]

Great demo as always, it's a fantastic synth I'm grateful to of used in the past :)

[@synth4ever]

Yep, great sounds and live performances are possible on the SN2. It's a classic!

[@musicelectro8117]

The specification and architecture is first-first class! Beautiful. The sound only 3 or 4/5.

[@synth4ever]

Yes, very fully featured!

[@antoniocalimero1173]

You're better off buying an A Station. I have a Summit and the A Station, so you get the best sounds of a Novation 2, which is quite sensitive to expensive defects. The A Sation does not break and is cheap

[@SPAZZOID100]

@@antoniocalimero1173no

[@LeadingMotive]

Great video! One more pro: ALL front-end controls send MIDI so it's incredibly powerful with a DAW. One more con: Some rotary pots tend to fail (but Novation still has spares). Also look out for the Nova II which, despite the name, is just a smaller SuperNova II with less polyphony. I still have mine bought in 2001!

[@synth4ever]

Great to hear you still have your Nova II. Thanks for the insights!

[@PLASMA22280]

Finally a proper review for the supernova.! i am digging it. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@synth4ever]

Thanks a lot!

[@chrisdigiuseppe7717]

I've always wanted one of these. Still such an excellent sounding machine.

[@synth4ever]

Yes, it's great!

[@johnsaunders6510]

A fantastic synth. I wish they would reissue

[@sK3LeTvM1]

Buy a Summit. You'll forget bout the Nova...

[@synth4ever]

The Summit is most likely the modern successor

[@carlb3715]

I have the original rack version right in front of me! I purchased it ex-demo in 2000. Cost me 1000 GBP back then! Still has all my original settings saved.

[@synth4ever]

Amazing! Great to hear you still have your SN2.

[@MCHmuzykaElektroniczna]

Great synthesizer. 👌

[@cmddelete2169]

Cheers for doing this video, much appreciated. I'm considering picking up a rack mount Supernova MK1 as a 2nd synth for my humble hardware setup. I already own a Novation Peak which I'm really happy with- I like the workflow and find Novation do things in straightforward and easy to understand way. Re: distortion & gain staging- faulty DACs aside, the Peak is the same. Novation synths seem to be quite bass heavy and I make a lot of use of the high pass filter to get usable lead & pad patches. It overloads my audio interface with ease.

[@synth4ever]

Yes, as you note gain staging is a common factor for Peak and Supernova series. Supernova still sounds different than Peak and Summit though!

[@danwentz]

I would have loved to get my hands on one! Jordan Rudess probably still samples some of his core sounds from this synth

[@synth4ever]

They are still out there!

[@jasonmosler]

I have the pro-X keyboard version and was considering selling it recently. kinda glad i changed my mind.

[@synth4ever]

Rare and worth keeping for sure!

[@kristoferkristensen9021]

Damn, that thing looks factory new. Impressive.

[@synth4ever]

It was well cared for :)

[@AnalogFlava]

As for your “issue” not knowing the setting of each parameter or having to be jumping in between all the time, I never had an issue really with this. I believe it is the compare button, if you press it and turn any knob it will give you the readings of the saved preset vs the current value.

[@synth4ever]

Thanks, still more button pressing than I prefer. Still a great synth!

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Completely forgot that I had one of these back in the day.

[@NatLifeSounds]

Supernova looks amazing, one of the best synth in 2000s era, but I think that Peak is something like updated Supernova, even effects slots placed similarto Peak/Summit. So I think you can always find a Supernova sounds in Peak and Summit plus analog parts, filter VCA, Distortion and etc. But yeah, OSC's - thats the difference and of course they still different even if Peak can recreate any sound of Supernova

[@synth4ever]

Yes, I believe Peak & Summit are the spiritual successors to Supernova, all are great synths for their time.

[@ingoodmusic]

sounds incredible

[@synth4ever]

Thanks!

[@grigioviola8523]

Grait video ...finally

[@synth4ever]

Thanks!

[@moonandmelodies]

Amazing gear! Thank you !

[@synth4ever]

Thank you for watching!

[@juliaseppi2205]

You can modulate the fx with cc numbers, and the depth of the effect via the mod wheel. Cheers.

[@synth4ever]

Great to know. Wish it was possible from the controls themselves. :)

[@Boombaptreetz]

I want this synth so bad for my novation synthesis collection 😭🙏💯

[@synth4ever]

Grab one if you can!

[@Robguitarjarvis]

I wish they’d re create it, I had one and really regret selling it now. I had a summit for a short while which was ok but nowhere near as fantastic as the supernova, one of the best things about it and other synths of that period was its multi timbrality you could do whole performances with it, same goes for the Waldorf Q. I had a summit for a while but sold it simply because it didn’t have the same mojo as this. I also have a Quantum which is one of my favourite synths now but it still lacks the multi timbrality of the Q. At the moment the chord function on the arpeggiator keeps missing notes too for example you play a 3 note chord and every so often it’ll only pick out one of the notes. I’ve reported it to the team at Waldorf and they’re having a look at it. Hope it gets fixed because it’s such an oversight for an outstanding synth. This wasn’t even a micro spec of a thing though with the Q or Supernova 2. It was certainly up there with the best synths I’ve ever owned.

[@payt01]

I think the closest you'll get is the Summit, which uses actual analog filters and digital oscs. It still has a different character. In some cases I suppose the SN2 sounds more interesting, though it does have a slight plasticy sheen on a lot of sounds. Still an awesome machine though :)

[@Robguitarjarvis]

@@payt01 the summit is nowhere near as good. The multi timber capabilities are not even close and the arpeggiator is much better too

[@synth4ever]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Agreed on the multimbral aspect, the SN2 is very powerful in that area which makes it great for live performance.

[@talbi89]

Those sounds around 43:16 are epic, Ive had my Summit for a little while but would love to see if I could create this vibe of the sounds from the 90's early 00's or is it the hardware/ components that gives off the sound? i am quite curious as I have also owned vintage synths in the past.

[@synth4ever]

My guess is the tech and effects at the time... that patch has lots of chorus and delay too, possibly a serial FX routing.

[@talbi89]

Make sense, it's worth experiencing and seeing if I could get close at least? keep up the great content 👌

[@lancegfoin9117]

I had one of these monsters for about 2 months and for some unknown reason sold it! I deeply regret that move! 😞

[@synth4ever]

Perhaps grab one 2nd hand if you can!

[@The_Sonic_Oasis]

Not gonna lie.... I would definitely use this board in 2023 for live performances

[@synth4ever]

Yep, it's still quite powerful in that area!

[@kenroy916]

I had no idea Novation was around in the 90s!

[@unemployablegraduate]

Their ‘breakthrough’ was the Basstation 1 in the early 90s. Novation cleverly worked out that no-one could afford a TB303, so they set about making an affordable analogue ‘clone’ that wasn’t so much a clone as a great synth in its own right.

[@SPAZZOID100]

U kidding?

[@nathanbell6962]

Amazing!

[@synth4ever]

Thanks for watching!

[@axs203]

Certain synths need to be brought back asap. This one....the Quasimidi Sirius.......the Roland JX305

[@synth4ever]

They are still out there... :)

[@helisoma]

the color scheme reminds me a lot of my Roland JP-8000...this is my first time seeing this synth (which surprises me) was it not very common? very clean cool sound 👌🏻

[@synth4ever]

The Supernova 1 and 2 are late 90s/early 2000s digital synths. The sound is classic Novation character!

[@sK3LeTvM1]

The SuperNova is...was a fantastic synth. The Novation Summit however, is a whole different league that surpasses the Nova in many ways.. However, the SuperNova is still worth the game, but it just needs a better external FX like the Blackhole software, or the Strymon Blue Sky FX or some other high quality effects. I've owned the Supernova, and currently the Summit. Just sayin'

[@synth4ever]

Thanks for sharing. Both synths are great in their own right, of course one came many years later so will have enhancements. In which ways do you feel Summit surpasses?

[@billyruss]

I'm trying to work out what's making me want this keyboard so much - is it the sounds, or the way you're playing them? 🙂 Great demo. How would you say it compares with the KS range?

[@synth4ever]

Thanks! it's a great synth. It definitely has its own sound. The KS series has less multimbrality, more waveforms to choose from, but fixed routings. They are worth picking up.

[@blackbelt8124]

I have the white one ^^

[@joojoo9758]

I never got to see the white one, very rare.

[@synth4ever]

Very lucky! PRO-X 48 voices must sound huge, especially in white!

[@CodyAvant]

Did you get it from Music Go Round in Duluth, Georgia? They’re so rare!

[@synth4ever]

No, got it from a seller on Craigslist

[@SlaserX]

I've always wondered why these cost as much as a new virus. Thanks for the great video. I'm still wondering though

[@ahmwsynth]

Can you have more than one Drum Map in a Performance? (so you could have some drums with effects on them and some without)

[@Curious_Skeptic]

This is one of those boards that if you had one already, never let go of it. However, in the used market at $2500? Mah.

[@jeffc1753]

Really, really wanted one these back in the day when they were still being made, but was a broke college student. Now I have a Summit. Which would you say sounds better? For some patches it sounds a lot like the Summit, which is to say, amazing.

[@synth4ever]

SN2 has its own distinct sound and is not as flexible as Summit. However, it can still do a ton and is very versatile. Summit has more sound shaping options thanks to the wavetables and mod matrix. That said there are some patches on SN2 that just sound timeless. I owned both at the same time and in some instances have been unable to replicate exact sounds on Summit from the SN2, ie the noise modulation / 8-bit crowd noise at 11:05 - 11:43 sounds different on Summit. Same goes for the audio-rate LFO at 13:00 - 13:09, it sounds cooler on SN2 vs on Summit (to me). Either way Summit is the modern successor.

[@jeffc1753]

@@synth4ever Awesome, thanks. Not sure I’ll ever be able to find one in the right condition, for the right price, from the right person…they’re rare as hen’s teeth it seems.

[@garyhendrie4001]

Got the rack version though i havent used it in some years now. Still a great synth though

[@synth4ever]

Awesome, you should take it out for a spin!

[@garyhendrie4001]

@@synth4ever yeah i really should. Got a few other nuggets that never see the light of day these days due to software. People don't realise how lucky they are today.

[@worldofmuu]

I’m interested in one but as I own a Waldorf Q I think it might be too much overlap

[@synth4ever]

They are very different in sonic character. Q is also a beast.

[@Bananskuden]

Mine had issues with the black keys. They seemed to have a stiffer velocity response than the white keys. I don't know if it's a common thing for the SuperNova's. I never had this issue with any other keyboard.

[@synth4ever]

Interesting, perhaps it had a lot of use before you bought (if it was used)

[@Bananskuden]

@@synth4everIt was used, but back then (ca. 2005) also fairly new and in an otherwise excellent condition.

[@John_Thompson_IV]

I find that if I turn down the volume, I am still able to re-create the narration from the gestures.

[@miekwavesoundlab]

How does this compare to Virus TI

[@synth4ever]

Virus TI is more versatile thanks to its sound engine and 16-part multimbrality + more voices. Supernova II is great for live performance and the classic Novation sound.

[@EgoShredder]

This synth has a certain sound, a brand sound that some other brands also exhibit like Ensoniq, Casio and to a lesser extent Korg. They all have synths with high quality and a lot of control over how the sounds behave, but they all have this plastic sheen over everything. Apart from this aspect they are excellent, but that sheen really stops me from wanting to own any of their synths. I mainly like Yamaha as their sound have more bite and clarity without any artificial plastic sheen on the main sound output. Maybe its a DAC thing? Not sure. I also like Roland for their realism and warmth.

[@synth4ever]

It is interesting how each synth has its own sound. As these are digital synths from an earlier era, perhaps the technology at that time imparted a certain quality to the sounds as you note.

[@EgoShredder]

@@synth4ever Yep true. I have and still use an old Kawai K1r that I got in 1990, and the specifications are terrible by modern standards and yet the sounds just simply work and gel other instruments together including modern ones. It's one of my go to synths, when others fail. More people in recent years seem to be realising this, hence partly the rising interest in older gear.

[@TheEdwin73]

And one of the best things is that the entire width of the board is totally crammed with sliders and knobs, compared to the acces virus kb, or other synths nowadays wich have the controls put together mostly in one space, and have a lot of empty space on the right side of the boards, wich i find kind of cheap, not to mention ugly.

[@synth4ever]

It is definitely feature packed and crammed full of controls! Great for tweaking.

[@rvdextron]

if your nova will crack sound and no play is easy to repair is just 10 pounds. is happen to me

[@AndrewLeSynt]

you will be lucky if you find a criso and clear keyboard version of that synth 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@raywouter5949]

The pros and cons in this video are ......🤭 It's not a new synt, it's more than 20 years old and not a summit who has 4 lfo's! This synth was awesome than and it still is, also with 2 lfo's! It's not something to belong to cons! That's what I think!

[@synth4ever]

Yea for it's time 2 LFOs would be expected, but personally I prefer more as time has marched on since then. It's still a total beast of a synth though, and the LFOs go into audio rate at such high speeds it's really crazy what you can do with them! :)

[@raywouter5949]

Still my dream synth, even with the Nova Desktop and the Summit I now have!! and almost all other Novation synths I've got 🫣

[@synth4ever]

You are very lucky! Keep your eyes out for SN2!