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Custom 2-row x 8-character LCD dot matrix display for patch selection and menu access. The LCD also has a bar graph meter showing audio input signal level, tempo indication in BPM and other status information.
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TYPE/GENRE selector: Use this to select a subset of available patches.
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SORT switch: allows you to order your set of patches by patch number or alphabetically by name.
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DATA detented rotary control: Used in patch selection, and to alter parameter values within menus.
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PAGE I and H buttons: these are used to step forwards and backwards between menu pages.
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MENU/BACK button: Press to enter menu system; within the menu system, pressing again will jump back to the previous menu level. A ‘long’ press (> 1 sec) will exit the menu system entirely.
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OK button: Used within the menu system for navigation (goes to next menu level), and to confirm data entry.
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Patch I and H: dedicated buttons to scroll through the currently available patches. Pressing both buttons simultaneously for at least one second enters DEMO mode.
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Rotary controls: 4 rotary “Tweak” controls for parameter adjustment. The function of each control is determined by the setting of the PERFORM ROW selector [13]. (Use of a rotary control in the manual text is indicated by ‘RCn’, where n is the number of the control; e.g., ‘RC1’ refers to rotary control 1).
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Perform Row selector: This 6-way switch determines the functions of the four rotary controls [12]. An LED indicates the currently selected row, and the parameters then available for adjustment are printed on the MiniNova’s top panel. Moving the switch allows you to select any row of the table printed on the panel. The first two rows assign the Tweak controls to parameters which have been factory-selected by the Novation programming team for each Patch, giving you immediate access to the most useful and striking sonic variations.
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Filter: this is a large rotary control intended to aid more expressive performance when playing live. It always adjusts Filter 1’s cut-off frequency.
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PADS 1 to 8: a set of eight backlit, multicolour, pressure-sensitive pads, which may be used in two primary ways – Animate or Arpeggiate. Additionally, in conjunction with the FAVORITE button [17], they may be used as “Quick Load” buttons to recall preferred patches.
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ANIMATE/ARPEGGIATE switch: A 2-position switch (spring-loaded to return-to-centre), which assigns the pads [15] to act as Animate controls or Arpeggiator pads.
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FAVORITE button: used to store and recall preferred patches in conjunction with the eight pads [15].
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HOLD button: modifies the action of a pad [15] in Animate mode by “locking” it in an “On” state.
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ON: backlit button to switch the Arpeggiator on and off. When selected ‘On’, the eight pads [15] enter Arpeggiator mode and the Arpeggiator LED in the Pads section illuminates.
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LATCH button: applies the Arpeggiator effect to the last note(s) played continuously, until a subsequent key is pressed. LATCH can be pre-selected so it is effective as soon as the Arpeggiator is enabled.
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TEMPO control: sets the tempo of the Arpeggiator pattern being played. An adjacent LED blinks to give a visual indication of the tempo, and the actual BPM value is displayed on the LCD.
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Dynamic Mic Input: an XLR socket for the connection of the supplied gooseneck microphone, or alternative dynamic microphone (i.e., a mic not requiring phantom power to operate). The mic can be used with the MiniNova’s vocoder and VocalTune features, or routed to the audio outputs. This input is overridden when a jack plug is plugged in to EXT IN {8} on the rear panel.
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Master Volume: the level control for the main audio outputs and the headphone output.
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Octave + and – buttons: these transpose the keyboard up or down one octave each time they are pressed. Associated multicolour LEDs confirm a transposition has been applied.
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DC power connector: standard 2.2 mm socket for connecting the external 9 V DC PSU (supplied). See Power requirements.
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USB port: Type B USB Type 1.1 (2.0-compatible) socket for connection to PC or Mac
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Sustain pedal socket: 2-pole (mono) ¼” jack socket to connect a sustain pedal. Both NO (Normally Open) and NC (Normally Closed) pedal types are compatible; if you connect the pedal when the MiniNova is powered on, the type will be automatically sensed during boot-up (provided your foot is not on the pedal!). See Top menu: global for more information.
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Headphones socket: 3-pole ¼” jack socket for stereo headphones. Phones volume is adjusted by the MASTER VOLUME control [23].
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OUTPUT LEFT and RIGHT: 2 x ¼” jack sockets carrying main stereo output. Outputs are unbalanced, at +5 dBu maximum level.
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EXT IN: ¼” jack socket for external instrument or line level audio inputs. This input overrides an XLR connector plugged into the Dynamic Mic Input [22] on the top panel. Input is balanced, and can accept a maximum input level of 0 dBu. The sensitivity of the input can be adjusted via the menu system (see Top menu: global).