What is it?

The Novation 25 SL MKII is the updated version of Novation's very successful SL series midi controllers. The 25 SL MKII boasts a 25 key semi weighted keyboard, 144 character LED screen, 8 touch sensitive knobs with LED rings, 8 pots, 8 touch sensitive sliders, 32 backlit buttons, 8 drum pads, transport controls, modulation stick and a XY pad. It connects to the computer via USB but also has midi in, out (x2) and thru ports for use with external midi equipment.

What's in the box?

In the box you get a whole host of things. The 25 SL MKII, Automap 3 pro software, royalty free samples and loops, Novation's bass station synth, Ableton Live 7 lite and a USB cable. The Novation bass station is actually quite a good synth but it's great to see you get the pro version of Automap 3.

Build quality

The 25 SL mkII feels like it has a very solid build even though it's made from plastic (isn't everything now). The keys feel solid and wouldn't break off easily, same with the faders but the knobs are a little bit weak. That said knobs are always going to be a weak point. The weight of the 25 SL MKII is surprisingly light despite feeling solid. Easy to move about for live performances.

Keys

The Keys on many midi controllers are a problem for most musicians as they usually feel cheap, flat, unresponsive and sometimes too small. None of these problems here.

The keys on the 25 SL MKII are taken from the fatar keyboards and are semi weighted, full size, velocity and have aftertouch.

They do feel nice to play despite there only being 25 but there is a octave up and down button. If you want more check out the 49 and 61 key versions.

Knobs & pots

The Novation 25 SL MKII has 8 knobs and 8 pots. The knobs rotate 360 degrees and feel nice and smooth in use. They are touch sensitive, so when you touch a knob it is highlighted in Automap. The knobs have a 11 LED ring which indicates the parameter value very nicely and would help the use of the 25 SL MKII on a dark stage.

The knobs are fully assignable and send out CC # control data all of which is edited in the bundled Automap software. They are positioned well and sit at the top left of the unit in close proximity to the buttons and pots.

The 25 SL MKII has 8 pots aswell as the 8 knobs. The difference between the pots and knobs is that the pots rotate 270 degrees in stead of 360. I assume that these were intended for controlling of pan pots, aux sends or any other parameter that doesn't need 360 degree rotation in a DAW.

The pots are touch sensitive, feel very smooth and are nice to use. They are positioned below the knobs with a line of buttons separating them.

Last but not least there's Novation's very useful speed dial which changes any parameter your mouse is hovering over.

Faders

The 25 SL MKII has 8 touch sensitive, assignable faders situated to the left of the unit.

These faders are mainly intended for controlling a DAW but I found them just as useful when editing synths or tweaking effects.

One downside is that these faders are quite short in length and the fader knobs themselves look and feel quite cheap..

Buttons

The 25 SL MKII has 32 buttons, 37 in midi mode. The buttons are backlit, something that was missing from the old sl controllers.

The buttons are placed all over the controller. There's 8 above the knobs and 8 above the pots. Ideal for mute and solo buttons when controlling a DAW. There is another 8 buttons underneath the faders, again perfect for using with a DAW.

The rest of the buttons are dotted around the unit with some covering Automap functions such as learn, view, page up and down and automap groups FX, instrument, user and mixer.

Most of the buttons are freely assignable to CC#'s in Automap although some are set and cannot be changed.

In Midi mode the transport buttons can also be used as freely assignable buttons but in automap mode have to control the transport of a DAW or sequencer.

Next page

Akai MPK25 review

Published: 15. 05. 2008     10 comments

We take a look at the Akai MPK25 midi controller, the smallest of the Akai MPK series of midi controller/keyboard/MPC drum pad/trigger. This is a feature packed controller and promises a lot but does it live up to it's creators repretation?