Novation XioSynth 25
Here's the Novation XioSynth 25, a mono-timbral, 8-voice polyphonic, 3-oscillator synth from British company Novation. It is a compact, 25-key synthesizer. There is also a 49-key version. The sonic character of this little-but-big synthesizer is very modern. It's got the typical 2000s, VA sound, and features 200 patches on-board, 60 of which were programmed by well-known artists and producers such as James Zabiela, Ferry Corsten, Rennie Pilgrem, Roots Manuva, Shimon, and Skeewiff. This is a very aggressive, powerful synth - perfect for modern electronic styles like Trance, D n B, Electro House etc. Its filters are excellent. And besides the synth engine, the XioSynth works as an audio USB interface as well, allowing users to record via microphone and line inputs |
|
The XioSynth features plenty of knobs for real-time editing of parameters, a large pitch/mod joystick, and a useful control pad (Xpression pad). It comes with a variety of templates to be hooked up to standard sequencers/DAWs like Logic, Cubase, Sonar, Live etc. A modern feature is the inclusion of a "Gator" (a sort of sequencer), a programming interface that allows to gate any patch with 16/32 - all synchronizable to an external sequencer - Trance heaven :-) Another strong point is the compactness of this synth - it's very light (but sturdy), and can work off batteries. Inside the box, we find software and samples, the "Xcite+ Pack": Ableton Live 6 (Create, Produce, Perform), 1Gig of loops and samples (exclusively compiled for Focusrite), i-dance.com membership (join the global dance community), Mike the drummer (500Mb drum loops and kit library), FXpansion's Guru (Drum loop creation software), FXpansion's BFD Ultralite (Premium acoustic drum module), Novation B-Station (Based on the Legendary Bass Station), Waldorf LE Edition (Classic Drum module, Filter and Synth), Arturia Analog Factory SE (An array of classic synth sounds) Small, but packs a punch - check it out below... |
Program name with audio demo | My comments |
100 Big Bass | Nice, solid Moog of the '70s |
101 Little Old One | Standard mono analog bass |
102 Alls Square In | VA character |
103 Moosa | Nice and digital utilitarian synth |
104 Some Where Out | Spooky, gelid synth background |
105 Grapefruit Dream | Fantastic, beautiful arpeggiated Trance synth, similar the company's earlier K-Station |
106 A Bassive | Supremely digital, cutting arpeggio syn bass |
107 The Mellow One | Warm, analogish soft pad, useful for many genres |
108 Blade Stepper | Great filters in action |
109 They Well Grow | Resonant rising filter, good |
110 Bottom Feeder | Modern, distorted electronic bass, heard in Electro House tracks of today (mid 2000s) |
111 SEMe Bass | Inspired by the SEM? |
115 1/5s Arp | Charming arpeggio with lots of delay |
119 Sliding | Nice sound fx |
120 JZab NastyBass | Nice, cutting bass program from James Zabiela |
122 JZab troit Bass | A (De?)troit Bass |
123 JZab Square Bass | He likes the bass. |
126 JZab Bronze | Beautiful program, introspective, trendy, perfect to be the centerpiece of a dance song |
128 JZab Nice Pad | Nice |
130 Fery FuzzTriad | The famous Ferry Corsten... nice, fuzzy, detuned synth |
131 Fery MangoBass | Modern bass sound |
132 Fery Beefy | LFOing |
133 Fery LemonChick | Slick, cutting synth line |
136 Fery AcidPassArp | Very nice, dark sequence with high-pass filter |
138 Fery Aurian | Different pad. |
140 RenP Bigfoot | Rennie Pilgrem's cool, distorted electronica |
141 RenP Amp Bass | Aggressive synth bass |
142 RenP Diatribe | He likes it detuned. |
148 RenP Rushcutter | Nice, fat dance synth |
149 RenP Rip | Up it goes! |
150 Skwf Throaty | Skeewiff's fat sound. |
151 Skwf Sweepitup | Very '80s analog. |
155 Skwf Butcher | Works. |
158 Skwf Skankhead | Nice reggae organ. |
160 Shim Mod Wheely | Shimon's interpretation. |
161 Shim Shim Bass | Dancey bass/lead |
163 Shim Lokey Bass | Hands in the air |
165 Shim EastisEast | Curiously '80s a bit. |
170 Roots Wingart | Roots Manuva's sounds |
172 Roots SnapBass | Solid bass. |
173 Roots Gabriel | More LFOs. |
174 Roots Stringoo | Nice analog strings. |
181 DropTheP | 1990s Techno lead |
183 80 Pad1(wMod) | Neutral pad |
185 Raymondsynth | Cool arpeggio patch, with plenty of reverb |
187 StolenFork | :-) |
189 Superfoghorn | :-D |
191 Pluck Pad | Very mid-90s, a la 808-State |
192 Maroder | A hint to Giorgio Moroder |
193 Wired X-Gator | Superb gated-synth, very modern and Trancey |
194 Pad Gator | Yep |
196 Mars Gator | Danceable gator. |
200 Angry Bass | Oh yes. |
203 Detroit Bass | Ok |
204 DnB Bandpass Bas | yes |
208 Eighty | Typical 1980s synth bass, a bit a la DX7 |
215 Moog R Us | Captures the feel of the analog king. |
219 Old Funk Bass | 1970s Funkiness |
220 ProOnes | Inspired by the Sequential Circuits instrument? |
226 X-Bass | Very cool, modern synth bass, digital but powerful. |
228 Action | T R A N C E C I T Y |
234 Eastern Promise | Intriguing. |
236 Freakin | Cool, rave tunes |
241 Legato Lead | Electro and Soundtracks |
244 Mario MDMA | Nice electronic variation of a video-game sound |
246 Prophecy Lead | Inspired from the Korg's homonymous instrument? |
252 Spooked | Ghosts!!! |
257 Big Soft Pad | Nice and large. |
259 British Patch | A bit vanilla, but useful |
262 Euphonic | Typical Trance synth, a bit a la SuperSaw |
264 Long Pad S-H+AT | Hypnotic, distant pad |
265 Melancholy | Stupendous digi-pad. Missing the "bell sprinkles" from a ROMpler... ;-) |
266 Quiet Pad | Nice digital pad. |
269 Symphonic | Big, detuned, classy pad |
271 Tape Strings | Inspired by uncle Mel (lotron). |
272 Thin Obie String | Oberheim inspiration. |
273 Twin Peaks Strng | Sweet and saucy analog strings |
274 And Again Arp | Good. Reminds of Darude's "Sandstorm". |
275 Animation | Happy dance. |
276 Epic Arp | British sounds. |
278 Hazel Eye | Great filters. |
279 Simple Chord Arp | Fantastic, echoed, arpeggiated goodness. |
281 Aaaaahhhh | :-0 |
282 Brain Washed MW | Nice fx |
287 Schrodingers Cat | Superb sci fx |
290 Take Off | :-) |
296 Gaba Kick & 303 | Excellent combination - a Gabba distorted-TR-909 kick drum and a TB-303 impression. |
Novation XioSynth 25 | |
Year of release: | 2005 |
Polyphony: | 8-note |
Sound generation method: | VA |
Preset memories | 200 |
MIDI: | USB |
Sound expansion capabilities: | no |
Sequencer | "Gator" pattern sequencer |
Arpeggiator | yes |
Effects | yes |
Velocity | yes |
Aftertouch | receives |
Resources:
available at www.novationmusic.com
SITE | Type of resource | DESCRIPTION |
www.novationmusic.com | Manufacturer site | home page |
Novation XioSynth 25 review with audio demo - August 30, 2008