Novation // SL MKIII - Deep Dive

Our very own -CALC- (Chris) deep dives into the features in the new SL MkIII controller keyboard. Exploring how it can be used as a complete standalone sequencer, the zone section, the scales and arpeggiator modes, as well as how all of that can be tied in with your DAW.

SL MkIII is available in a 49 note system or a 61 note (if you want the extra octave).

--- Discover more about SL MkIII here:

00:00 – Introduction
1:10 – USB connection, MIDI, and CV I/O
3:50 – Sequencer, Sessions, and Steps
5:39 – Templates, MIDI Channels, Automation Sequencing, and Recording in Sequencer
13:56 – Buttons, Mutes and Solos, and Buttons per Template
17:14 – Gate, Velocity, and Patterns
23:00 – CV, Gate, MOD and Clock
27:27 - Zones
31:00 – Scales Mode
32:56 – Arp
36:20 – In Control Mode with Ableton Live 10
43:00 – In Control Mode with Ableton and the Sequencer

To watch a full -CALC- SL MkIII performance, check out:

#SLMkIII

[sergeipeshek]

Still very relevant review in 2023. Could not have been done better! Thank you, Chris!

[CuriousDroid]

Finally, this is what I wanted the Komplete keyboard to be but is much more too and standalone without having to rely on a computer for the extended functions like scales, zones etc.
An idea for future firmware would be to add probability or play once every 1, 2, 3... bars to the seq/arp steps and maybe a randomise function to fill the sequencer in one go as the Elektron sequencers do. I've got the 61key version on order, can't wait to get this and clear out a few other keyboards inc the Komplete.

[UndeadBoogie]

I just ordered the 61. I cant wait. I've been waiting for these types of features in a controller for years!

[blacksaturn_]

Very late to the party, but I recently bought this controller used (like new, got it for a bargain) and I was also going through a "creative crisis". While I'm not a very good keyboardist, this has brought me a new perspective in music making that has allowed me to start writing again! Apart from the aftertouch on keys, which is a bit "jumpy" (goes from 0 to 100 almost instantaneously), I absolutely love this thing! Props to Novation for making such a useful controller!

[rcmusic]

Calc is really a product specialist! extremely well done and explained! thanx

[AlbaEcstasy]

I've been waiting this for a while! Excellent controller!

[Sycklow]

Amazing demonstration ! I am French and I really do not master English but the explanations are so simple, clear and precise that I understood everything except two or three functions that I did not manage to translate in my head. Thank you very much -CALC- ♥️

[rayderrich]

4 years after the making of this video I put this controller on my wishlist. And as with most things Novation, wishing means buying ;-) Thanks Chris.

[arminfatol]

Awesome MIDI controller, and amazing way of explaining everything, a very nice useful video! Thank you, sir!

[jsupper]

This guy looks like British Super Mario












I love it

[DiegoFuego]

Had the keyboard for just under a year and I love it. Probably my Best Buy and well worth the price tag. One way I like to use it is to fill a sequence up with complex chords I’d struggle to play live and use it as a trigger pad when over dubbing a track in ableton.

If novation are listening it would be an awesome update to include some kind of save/recall feature for favourite chords in the menu so that you can quickly apply and build a sequence, perhaps taking some inspiration from the Kordbot? Extending choices and suggestions for progressions, also transpose of steps, racheting would be killer updates. All in all though it’s an amazing product as it is and I keep returning to these videos to learn something new.

[pco]

Would love a transpose sequence & ratcheting features for the sequencer

[robman]

Clearly needs a small display above/below the 8 sliders - he has to guess at what each track is. The SL MK1 had this and it makes it much easier without having to look at the computer screen. Other than that, and dropping 8 knobs from the MK1/MK2, this is a pretty awesome looking controller. I absolutely love the scale mode LEDs as I need help when it comes to scales! The new displays above the knobs are a massive improvement over the older models. CV/gate options *almost* replaces the need for a Beatstep pro.

[KountKasper]

The tune at 43:40 is good. This guy's got some skill.

[Klundegaadsch]

Wow! Now, that's a really capable sequencer! I almost missed this great innovation because of the Moog One hype :-)

[pupation]

Phenomenal video. I’ve had my SL Mk III for a while but I’ve been wanting to get more out of it - I’ve just been happy using it to play my other synths. I got a lot out of this the first time, but I guarantee I’ll be watching it again in front of the keyboard as I go through everything. Thank you!

[louiswarynski]

Thanks for providing such a video. Super nice to really have an idea of the workflow.

[LocaliLLocano]

I can’t wait to open up my sl mkiii 61 tomorrow in the mail. Nice watch by the way

[Axl_Pose]

I've had my SL49 for about a year now and absolutely love it, though will admit that I didn't even know of most of these features. Well explained and in-depth vid. Cheers.

[tracyyy]

Hey chris, after eventually getting mine updated with the firmware, i absolutely love the SLMK3 49. I use it for controlling multiple synth modules via Cakewalk . And it is superb, I know it is very powerful, but taking it slow and using it in my context it is bearing fruit, i don't use all the features, but i dare say once i get my head around it's many features, i will...in time.