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Nova User Guide

Update your Nova with the free Mosi App: Download here

Quick Reference (pdf)

Overview

Connecting the Nova

Use the included double-sided USB-C cable to plug the Nova directly into your computer, tablet, or phone. The USB cable will power the Nova, as well as send MIDI to your device.

Right angled connector connects to the guitar, the other end of the cable connects directly or through the included adapter to USB.

Important: 

  • Never use the angled connector without feeding the cable through the strap.
  • If you use the straight connector when sitting, make sure to keep the connector end from bumping the seat.

USB connectors are more fragile than guitar jacks. Being rough with the cable connection can permanently damage the Nova's USB plug.

Synth Setup

The Nova is a class compliant midi controller, which means it will "just work" with any synth that accepts MIDI. No extra drivers are needed.

(If you are just starting out with MIDI, check out our MIDI Intro article.)

Here are some recommended software synthesizers:

  • Surge XT - Great, free, stand-alone synth with some custom sounds we've designed for the Nova.
  • SynthMaster (Mac,  Windows) - Lots of sounds that work well with the Nova's touchpad.
  • SynthMaster on an iPad - Quick and easy!
  • Options for DAW's - A list of applications you might want to check out for composing music.

Computer Connections

Open your software synth or DAW and select the Nova as a midi input device in the midi settings. It will show up as:

  • USB Midi Device (Mac)
  • USB A (Windows)

The Nova will play on Midi Channel 1 by default.

You should be able to play now by simply strumming the touchpad.

Play Modes

The Nova has several play modes that change how it behaves. These can also be combined in different ways to fully customize the playing experience. The default play mode is XYZ mode with auto-trigger.

Switching Modes

Cycle through modes by holding the function button and selecting a setting. The light will change color to indicate which mode you're in.

Auto Tap

If "auto" trigger is selected, you can enter tap mode anytime by using two hands on the fretboard to press two frets at least 6 frets apart.

 

Once activated it will stay active until you touch on the touchpad.

Play Mode

The play mode toggle changes the touchpad layout and behavior.

XYZ Mode

In XYZ mode, only the frets you hold down on the fretboard are played. These are triggered, and morphed in 3 dimensions, using the touchpad.  (Z is pressure/fingertip area.)
Note: the Y-axis is sent as the mod wheel, but X and Z need to be assigned unless you use the Mosi App to auto-assign them.

Recommended sounds / play styles

  • Sustained sounds with minimal attack work well (ex. bass, pads).
  • Mapping X to "cutoff" and Y to "resonance" usually works well.
  • Arpeggiators are a lot of fun. (Assigning the speed to one of the axis is crazy and fun.)

Strum Mode

In Strum mode the touchpad is divided into 6 horizontal strips, which map exactly to the strings. Touching inside a strip will play the corresponding string.

Strum mode also sends modulation expression depending on the horizontal position of the touch. This is sent to the Mod wheel (CC 1), which usually morphs the sound in some way depending on what synth you have loaded.

Recommended sounds / play styles

  • Plucked sounds with a sharp attack and long release so the sound rings after it's released. (Ex. guitar, bells)
  • If you keep your finger held down and strum up and down the strings it can sound really good with a sustained sound. (Ex. lead synth, cello) 

Trigger

The trigger toggle controls where notes are triggered from - the touchpad, fret buttons, or both.

  • auto (default): automatically switches between "note-on using the touchpad" and "note-on using tapped frets." To enter tap mode, simply press two buttons that are six or more frets apart. To exit, just touch the pad and it will immediately return to only triggering notes from the touchpad.
  • fret (red): locks the fretboard in tap mode, and doesn't trigger any notes from the touchpad
  • both (red): locks the fretboard in tap mode, and also triggers notes from the touchpad
When fret tapping is enabled (red led) you can play the fretboard notes without needing to trigger them with the touchpad. This means you can use both hands on the fretboard.

Midi Assignment

Custom midi assignment is not required to play in either mode. However to fully use the Y and Z dimensions in XYZ mode, they need to be assigned. (Some synths can be auto-configured with the Mosi App.)
The touchpad sends expression information depending on what mode it is in, where it is touched, and what touch pressure is used. These are sent as Control Change (CC) MIDI messages which can be mapped to different synth dimensions in your software.
To assign an axis:   
Important: Make sure the mode you are assigning is currently active.
  1. Start a midi-learn in your DAW or synth. (Usually by right-clicking a knob.)
  2. Tap the area of the Nova touchpad in the diagram below corresponding to the axis you want to assign.
  • CC 1 is the modulation wheel, and is usually pre-assigned in synth sounds.
  • CC 20 and CC 21 are usually unassigned, and must be midi-learned.

(In XYZ mode, the touchpad always sends all 3 CC values regardless of where you touch. The different regions simply change the *order* these CCs are sent to facilitate midi learning.)

Strum mode only sends CC 1, which is usually pre-assigned. It can easily be re-assigned to a different control by starting a midi learn and pressing anywhere on the touchpad.

Settings

Many additional settings can be accessed on the Nova by holding the Function button.
Most settings will play notes to provide feedback on what was changed. This is usually very helpful, but for live performances these can be silenced by also holding the "silent" button when the setting is selected. It is located next to Function, as shown in the diagram.

Presets

The 12 buttons on the 12th and 13th frets let you save and load settings across the whole instrument. The preset in the first slot is auto-loaded on startup.
Saving: configure the Nova the way you like, then hold function + a preset button for 2 seconds to save it into that preset slot. All the settings are saved - tuning, modes, midi channel, CC numbers. (If an existing preset is overwritten, it is moved to the "temp" preset.)

Loading: hold function and tap a preset button to load that preset. (The existing configuration before loading is moved to the "temp" preset.)

Deleting: Hold function + a preset button + the "delete" button for 3 seconds. (The deleted preset is moved to the "temp" preset.)

Hardware Synths

You can connect to a synth or anything else that takes a midi connector. You can use a midi cable with a DIN connector plugged into the Nova, and then into your synth. In this case you will still need to have the USB cable connected to a charger or battery pack to provide power.

Wireless Setup

The 3rd party WIDI Master adapter is a great way to add wireless functionality to the Nova. It connects over Bluetooth with ultra low latency (4ms) and reliable connectivity up to 65 ft, which we've verified ourselves.

The manufacturer also told us that artists have used it on stage playing for thousands of people live without issues.

For details, see: Wireless Setup

Mosi Knowledge Base

More information can be found on the Mosi Knowledge Base.