14 DAY TRIAL // It hasn't been more than two months since we were welcoming the newest controller from Novation, the Remote SL, the first controller that automapped itself and "knew" what's happening with the corresponding functions in a DAW software. The integration went as far as Reason 3, Cubase SE/SL/SX 3 and 4, Nuendo 3, Logic 7, Ableton Live 6, Pro Tools, VJamm, Tracktion 3 and some other digital audio workstations that were also supposed to receive support on the Remote.
Well, it seems like things are on the move and Novation have been quite busy lately as these days two new Remote versions are hitting the market: the ReMOTE SL Compact. Things haven't been changed technologically and the new line of controllers performs exactly like the initial model, "sensing" and knowing to what DAW you have connected it and helping you map the commands to the most common commands in the computer application, allowing you to re-map, switch or alter these functions according to your needs of the moment.
The ReMOTE SL Compact controllers come in two "flavors", with either 24 or 49 keys, depending on what you are looking for and its functions can map both host and plug-ins, like the original model. The keys sport aftertouch and are semi-weighted, yet feel great according to hands-on reports. One of the notable differences from the first Remote version is that the pitch/mode control and X/Y touchpad have been replaced with classic wheels that occupy less space on the board yet retain the functionality you've been acquainted to on larger keyboards.
In fact, this is the idea behind the "compactness" in the new ReMOTE SL series: as the price for the original product was a bit too high, these new versions seem more like a smaller-scale, budget-like products which are expected to actually sell better as their reach should be bigger. The price is yet to be announced.
Features for the ReMOTE SL Compact:
-25- or 49-key semi-weighted keyboards with aftertouch -Assignable pitch and mod wheels -USB bus power (as on the previous SL) -Full Automap support (as on the SL) -Eight encoders and buttons with LEDs -Eight velocity-sensitive triggers -Single, large display -Group select switches allow 64 parameters in manual template mode or unlimited controls in Automap mode.
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