Novation SL MKII 61 and Sonar Question

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jaxman12
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2015/07/09 16:32:51 (permalink)

Novation SL MKII 61 and Sonar Question

I am looking for a 61 key Midi Controller to replace my Arturia Laboratory 61 Midi Controller.  I already have a Roland A800 Pro, like it, and am not planning on getting rid of it.  However, I want a keyboard controller that will save settings like keyboard split/zone information with midi settings for each zone.  As far as I have read in the Roland manual on the A800 Pro, it will not save zone/keyboard split/MIDI per zone, and other settings.  
 
I am looking into the Novation SL MKII 61.  They are on sale at Sweetwater for $399.00.  I always wanted one, but they were more than I wanted to spend several years ago.  I read the Novation SL MKII 61 manual and it seems to do what I want it to as far as saving templates with zone, MIDI channel, and other info where the Roland will not.  
 
Do any of you have any experience with the Novation SL MKII 61? 
 
Does Automap work well with Sonar?
 
How good are the velocity settings on the Novation?
 
Your general opinion of this MIDI board.
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated. 
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    Mystic38
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    Re: Novation SL MKII 61 and Sonar Question 2015/07/11 07:17:29 (permalink)
    The keybed of the SLII is as good as it gets... bar none. 
     
    You can setup up to 4 zones and yes, they stay with power off... you do need to menu dive to turn these on/off (an irritation for live play)
    automap is great but not perfect, so it will depend on how much time you wish to spend setting stuff up, and Sonar's control surface ability is also less than perfect, however you get lots more than your money' worth in terms of buttons and encoders..
     
    personally at $399 i think its a bargain

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    jaxman12
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    Re: Novation SL MKII 61 and Sonar Question 2015/07/11 10:32:11 (permalink)
    Thanks for your reply, I ordered the Novation yesterday and after a good deal of research, I believe this is the MIDI controller I want.  It is the inability to store keyboard zones with their associated MIDI channels that the A800 Pro lacks.  I need this for live performances.  The A800 Pro is amazing with its ability to focus in on each individual tracks VST, recognize the VST and have the associated knobs and sliders work with that tracks VST, if that makes sense.  The keybed on the A800 Pro is great.  One of the best.  I have no issues with that.  The velocity settings are the best over any keyboard I demo'd.  The After Touch required so much pressure to engage it that I thought I was going to have permanent damage to my fingers.  At certain points, the keyboard started to flip I had to press so hard.  After some research, I found a fix for it. You have to open up the system and near the pitch bend is a colored rotating switch that adjusts the After Touch.  After adjusting that switch, everything works fine.
     
    I'm not getting rid of my A800 Pro, but for live performances, I need something like the Novation.
     
    Thanks again for your reply
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