The Novation UltraNova has been hailed as an outstanding modeled analog synthesizer, delivering both authentic vintage sounds and cutting-edge tones. Plus, it has vocoder functions, can serve as a USB controller, and can even work as an audio interface for your system.

But this article isn’t about the UltraNova’s amazing power. It’s about the equally powerful MiniNova, which includes the same high-powered synth engine as the UltraNova, as well as the same vocoder capability and USB controller functions. The big difference? (Maybe I should say the small difference.) The MiniNova is designed to be a more compact, lightweight synth, with 37 mini keys and a downsized chassis. But don’t let that small size fool you. The mini keys are extremely playable, and you get plenty of hands-on knobs, switches, buttons, and controllers for anything you want to do. A software editor and a patch librarian are also included.

Want more features? You get a 33-pattern arpeggiator, 256 classic and modern patches, eight Animate knobs for warping sounds, three oscillators and five effects per voice, and a 20-slot modulation matrix. And best of all, you get big brother UltraNova’s engine and features for about 2/3 of the price — nice!

For me, the MiniNova makes a great mobile synth solution, with full-sized sounds coming out of a compact and lightweight unit. In the studio, it connects up and serves as a powerful MIDI sound module with the rest of my keyboards and my computer. From big, fat basses to screaming leads to pads to arpeggiated tones, the MiniNova can cover a wide range of applications — and sound great doing all of them!