What do you really want from a recording tool on a computer? The Digital Audio Workstation answer to that question has for years been on giving you a generalized set of tools that try to anticipate every possible need. The “workstation” approach puts a whole bunch of functionality in one place, in particular adding features like plug-in hosting for supporting third-party effects and instruments, video editing and scoring, and music notation.

Record is a different animal: it’s a specialized tool focused on making music with audio, instead of a generalized tool. Reason has focused on synths, with a distinctive set of hardware-styled modules in a virtual rack. Record focuses on sound, with a distinctive set of hardware-styled modules in a virtual rack. Get it?

What’s left out is important. There’s no plug-in support, but by limiting use to the internal sound modules, Record is entirely agnostic about things like sample rate and can be far more flexible with modular audio routing and fluid tempo changes. (There’s also no MIDI out support, but if you’re looking to sequence external hardware, I might look elsewhere, anyway – especially with gems like Numerology out there.) Record also supports ReWire and has various export features, so the assumption is that – as with Reason – when you really want plug-ins, you can use your existing environment of choice.

Maybe you can call the results a DAW, if you really want to. But the one thing that isn’t debatable: Record is Reason for sound.

CDM was first with the official story from Propellerhead over the weekend, talking about the philosophy behind Record. Now we can talk about the specifics inside – and I have a test version here I’ve been working with while on the road.

Basically, Record combines comp-based recording with Reason-style racks and a whole load of goodies for processing and mixing your sound, including Line 6 guitar effects and an emulated SSL mixing desk. Why am I excited to begin working with it? Basically, it’s what happens when you flip the Record interface around. The most important screenshot (see any of these shots bigger by clicking on them):

Here’s what you get:

It’s no secret: I’m a huge fan of Novation’s ReMOTE SL line, and they’re becoming very popular with live laptop users, soft synth lovers, and users of software like Ableton Live and Reason. Put aside for a moment the whiz-bang Automap features, which automatically assign controllers to software (both plug-ins and hosts), and the physical keyboard itself is very good. The semi-weighted action feels terrific, and there’s a nice selection of controls.

Novation has expanded the SL line this week with the ReMOTE SL “Compact”, apparently keeping with their Goldilocks-friendly marketing strategy. (What, that’s a little too big for you? How about this…)

The SL Compact features:

• 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

In fact, it’s so close to the SL that you may wonder what’s different on the Compact. As the name implies, the layout has been adjusted to take up less space; the SL’s footprint is a bit deep. Standard pitch and mod wheels replace the pitch/mod joystick and X/Y touchpad on the full SL. There’s one screen for the controls, as on the SL, but minus the SL’s menu screen. And on an up note, the trigger pads are larger; I hope this improves upon the stiff, tiny triggers on the SL.

One of the caveats on the SL was the higher price, relative to some of its competitors; I think it’s worth the premium but the SL COMPACT does appear to be a “budget” model. Novation hasn’t yet announced pricing or availability. I’ll send an update if I hear.

What’s nice here, though, is that as opposed to keyboards like Novation’s previous Remote LE, they’re not dumbing down the feature set by removing aftertouch or changing to an unweighted action. I like that trend a lot. The 49-key model could be a great touring keyboard; Novation, if you’re listening, I hope we’ll get a 49-key keyboard backpack as on your previous models.

ReMOTE SL COMPACT [Novation News]