pps

at this point I only see the korg ms2000 as a competitor

ppps ;)

I listened to the virus b & waldorf Q, both we're nice, but above my budget (i didn't like the interface on the cheapest version of the Q)

Howdy

Actually, the MS2000 ain't that bad. Alot of places are blowing them out for around $600 US. I think its a spanking good synth for that money.

I have limited experience with Novation stuff. A SuperNova came by on a session once and I thought it was "OK" but a bit "plastic fantastic" meaning, someone had programmed all the patches to have shitloads of horrid reverb, chorus and delay. This isn't an indictment of the SuperNova as many synths exhibit this "plastic fantasticness".

I haven't played the straight up "Nova" so I can't comment on that model. Only you can answer the sonic questions and whether it has a good UI. All the rest of the things are your own specification (polyphony, waveforms, price, etc...). Based on that, it seems you've answered your own question.

Let us know how you like the Nova! :)

the nova sounds the same as the supernova except it is a cut down version, basically has less outputs, poly etc...

I've got my Nova yesterday (E999,-).

[sorry, I'm not a sober/native english speaker:-)]

I've searched myself on the Nova to get any info, not much info found, so I will try to generate/collect as much of good info I can to post here. Also try:
http://nova.fritzzz.nl/nova/
http://
More will come.

The possible amount of (virtual) routing is very impressive. Way, way better then the Korg MS2000
It can sound very thin/digital, but it also can sound very 'analog', wobly.

The thing I understand from some users is the Nova is a bit less 'analog' then the virus b, but it's more functional across the spectrum.

The reason I bought the Nova above anything else was/is the user-interface. I'm very happy with it.
It doesn't only look like the way I would design a synth but it works that way too.

I'm very used to virtual synths (Reason, VSTi's, etc). The Nova does way more. (But so may any other hardware synth do).

Things I don't like (well, would love to see a bit improve):
synthesis is mono untill you reach the effects; no routing an enveloppe to pan...
No tri-wave form or any other weird wave-forms (only square and saw / double-saw and both softened (square will be sort of sine))
So many routing possibilities, sometimes I get lost (what did I route to what, I ask myself sometimes)
Effects are not syncable to external midi clock (besides delay)

Things I love ( besides...):
[All 3 osc + 2 ring (1*3 + 2*3) + 1 noise] times 6 (yes six)= Very full / warm sounding (or harsh, if you want it to)
Something called 'unison' mode, very full / warm sounding (adds more voices)(or harsh, if you want it to)
Arpeggiator is very good programmable
12, 18, 24 for lp, bp, hp and some more (double) filters.

Also:
I'm new to vocoders, so I can't tell the difference
Effects are ok, not great, use them as part of your soundcreating, they may be a bit weak for external processing.

As a conclusion:
Better then a Korg MS2000 (E825,-)
The Virus B (E1499,-) may have a better sound (depends on your liking)
Very nice interface

I'll leave it for this right now
Will be back, hopefully more sober next time (still not natively english) :-)

Cheers