I recently purchased a Novation UltraNova. As I was researching I compiled specs form manufacturer web sites and placed them into a spreadsheet from other synths at this price point so I could compare the instruments side-by-side. I thought I’d pass this info on to save you time if you were in the market.
Now while I chose UltraNova, you may read this information and come to a different conclusion based on your particular priorities. For example if you have an absolute need a multi-timbral synth Venom would be of interest. If near one-for-one knob for parameter control was a high-priority Gaia becomes more interesting.
As a synthesist and controllerist, the UltraNova was a clear winner for me because of it’s analog modeling, wavetable synthesis, strong modulation matrix, aftertouch, strong effects, VST/AU editor and touch encoders.
I compiled this manually so if you find a mistake let me know. After you checkout this table, swing by my UltraNova 411 post.
| Spec | UltraNova | Venom | Gaia |
| Price | $699.00 | $499 | $699 |
| Aftertouch | Yes | No | No |
| Analog Modeled | Yes | No | Yes |
| Waveforms | Square, sine, tri, sawtooth, pulse, 9x saw:pulse combinations. 20x digital waveforms, 36 Wavetalbes (w/ 9 waveforms each) | 41 oscillator waves and 53 drum sounds sampled from vintage synths. | SAW, SQUARE, PULSE/PWM, TRIANGLE, SINE, NOISE, SUPER SAW |
| Wavetable Synthesis | Yes | No | No |
| Modulation Matrix | 20 Slots | 16 Slots | None |
| Modulation Sources | 17 | 31 | None |
| Modulation Destinations | 66 (Includes FX Params!) | 17 | None |
| Filter Drive | Yes | Yes | No |
| Filter Types | 14 | 6 | 4 |
| FM Synthesis | No (There are however some FM waveforms in wavetable) | Yes | No |
| Envelopes Per OSC | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Audio Input Can Be Processed by Synth Engine | Yes | No | No |
| Vocoder | Yes | No | No |
| Computer Editor | Yes | Yes | Yes but costs an extra $99 |
| Editor Runs as | VST/AU | Stand-Alone | Stand-Alone |
| Control | 8 Touch Encoders, Filter/Last Param Knob, Mod & Pitch Wheel | Matrix, Mod & Pitch Wheel | Nearly 1-for-1 knob sliders, D Beam, Mod & Pitch Lever |
| Front Panel Editing Experience | LDC + Page linked knobs with touch encoder focus. More dedicated back lit buttons for selecting sub menus than Venom | Matrix + LCD | Clear signal flow on front panel with nearly 1-for-1 |
| User Preset Slots | 508 (4 banks of 127 Slots) | 512 single, 256 Multi | 64 |
| Effects | Distortion (up to 2 instances), Compressor (up to 2 instances) , Chorus/Phase (up to 4 instances), Delay (up to 2 instances), Reverb (up to 2 instances) , Gator, EQ, 12 band vocoder |
Global: Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser. Insert: Compression, EQ, Distortion, Bit Reduction, Decimation, | DIST, FLANGER, DELAY, REVERB, LOW BOOST |
| Audio Interface | 2 in 4 out | 2 in 2 out | None |
| Multittimbral | No | 4 | No |
| Polyphony | 20 | 12 | 64 |
| MIDI | IN/OUT/THRU | IN/OUT | IN/OUT |
| Power Options | Bus Power/AC | AC | AC/Batteries |
| Ableton Integration | Automap/Stream Audio via USB | Stream Audio via USB | Stream Audio via USB |
| Keys | 37 | 49 | 37 |
Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO
Synthesist | Composer | Keyboardist | Performer
www.ModualteThis.com
Official Web Site: www.MarkMosherMusic.com
Listen/Download Albums: www.MarkMosherMusic.com/music.html
