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Novation XioSynth 25 25-Key Synth/USB Interface

2-octave synthesizer and audio USB MIDI controller keyboard.

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"Phat Beast!!!!!!!!!!!" submitted January 4, 2007

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Musical Background: 7 years
Music Style: World
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Sound: Virtual Analogue Liquid Sound - Think of the Virus but 10 times cheaper. Its a super synth in small package, and it sounds much much bigger than another synth in the same class. I feel that the Xiosynth has to be the best sounding Novation and agree with the magazine reviews, its definately more richer in the bottem end. The key action is nice and feels solid, and i like the expression pad to create different sounds from single strokes. Feature: Too many to list, you get many controls that don't clutter the panel and the synth is layed out in a very thoughtful and logical way from osc to effects. Inside this beauty lies an extremely powerful synth with all the paremeters you could wish for. Ease of Use: Once i went through the video tutorial and read the x station manual it became pretty clear. You need to know basic synthesis and terms to use the advance features for sound creation. The X Gator is really cool as well as the arps. Quality: Build quality is great, feels solid and tight. Value: Great for the price, would pay double the price...its that good. Manufacturer Support: Never used them. The Wow Factor: Looks very sleek in the compact shell with the neat blue lcd. The Xio looks better than the X station imo, which looks ugly. Overall: I love this synth, its a keeper for life and replace it in heartbeat if stolen or broken.
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"Great for the price!" submitted March 5, 2009

By a customer from aim.com
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Musical Background: Active Musician, Recording Engineer
Music Style: Industrial, electro, indie, trance
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Sound: The sounds that it comes with are okay. What really got me is that you can import the x station banks on it which are great. This thing is FAT! The only thing it really lacks in is pads. What I really like about it is also how easy it is to add effects to every sound. Although they could have made the effects more in depth. The sound quality on it is great. Feature: The greatest feature on it is probably that its usb and small. I wish they had more in depth effects. Also the software that it came with might be useful to sound I found it useless. I wish it was more like my micron and had drums, patterns and setups. Ease of Use: Its a little confusing only because of the secondary buttons. Quality: I dont worry about it breaking. It seems pretty intact. Value: for $300? yes this is a good value Manufacturer Support: I never had to deal with them. The Wow Factor: I'm more sexually attracted to the xio than my micron. Overall: I'm happy I got one. If I ever lost it I would probably get another.
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"If you want hardware at a software price point you can't go wrong ." submitted February 10, 2010

By a customer from yahoo.com
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Musical Background: Active Musician , Recording Engineer
Music Style: Indie , Electronic , Alt Rock , Industrial ...you name it
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Sound: Sounds like quality authentic Notation liqued VA . If you ever heard a track from the Mid-late 90's electronica explotion and said I need that sound then the Xio is for you , though it can do more than that of course . . I got a K-station when it first came out ...didn't dig it as much as the Nord Lead 2 so it went away . That said I have been a rabid V-station user for years and it can do everything it dose and more . Feature: Synth + Midi controller + Basic Audio interface + All at once = priceless . No Midi in port is what keeps it from 10 here . It dose have USB but I've yet to see the master controller out there yet with usb outs to non computer devises . One day maybe ... Ease of Use: After years of either software synths or analog I'm not much for menu diving . That said the waters fairly shallow . However I still haven't figured out how to import V-station .mids yet ? Quality: Knob caps can come off very easily . Keys can bang if your shooting for a velocity of 90+ It's all plastic ; That might be the norm , but I don't grade on a scale Value: 10 voice flexible subtractive synth , Audio/midi interface at it's price point . No contenders . Manufacturer Support: Novation are quick . Mine was missing the X-cite pack discs ( music store thieves ) I wrote them .The next day I got a reply saying it was in the mail . The Wow Factor: It's got a kind of 80's retro appeal to it's look ... not the everbody and their brother "let's put wood sides on it " kind of look but a Alpha Juno , Poly800MKII kind of vibe that screams " I make super saws " Overall: I bought this to fill a couple gaps in my kit . 1.I wanted the novation sound in hardware form and couldn't find a KS rack. 2.I needed another poly synth on the cheap . 3.A small midi controller/interface for travel . All in all It's one of the best synth purchases I've made (and Iv'e had quit a few over the years ) due to it's broad functionality .
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"Big little machine..." submitted December 25, 2009

By a customer from rogers.com
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Musical Background: Semi Professional
Music Style: rock, pop, blues, country new age, jazz
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Sound: Can't beat the size and weight of the Xiosynth 49 key version. The key bey is definitely among the clunkiest I have ever played on and by that I mean noisy and somewhat odd feeling when the keys are depressed by a harder playing style such as mine but it still seems to hold out well. The sound is amazingly big but I find the fidelity on the lower end but the sound cuts. Cool arpeggiator (how ever it is spelled) and easy to use effects. You can't beat all this at this price point. Very good deal for the money. I purchased it here in Canada used at a music store for $225 CAD. No midi in is unfortunate. I'm not that crazy about the touch sensitivity of these keys especially when it is controlling a external sound module. I've pulled some great sounds out of it and this unit has balls! It has that 70's prog rock vibe along with a current hip vibe. It can get nasty or be sweet. It operates sufficiently as a small second keyboard for live performance as well as a synth/controller in the studio. Add after touch keys, and a control peddle slot for more than sustain and this thing gets closer to being a 10! As it is I give it a very solid 8. Cheers all... Feature: Lots for a small keyboard like this Quality: LCD isn't bright enough, keys are clunky but otherwise all is decent Value: You get a lot for such a small keyboard. Needs a control peddle slot (not just for sustain but sweeps, modulation etc and after touch keys Manufacturer Support: They got back to me quickly and effectively The Wow Factor: It's cool Overall: It was cheap enough to be a total keeper as it can serve a few purposes.
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"Best Bang For Your Buck!" submitted May 9, 2008

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Former Pro
Music Style: I love em all
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Sound: The sound on this little synth is quite large. It's digital, but has a very good analogue sound too it. Many of the presets are very good. However, this is a synth and presets are just there to doodle with. The power is in creating your own patches. If you're looking for acoustic emulation THIS IS NOT THE SYNTH FOR YOU! This synth is designed to replicate analogues synths. That being said the sounds work well for all forms of electronica, and will work for some nice lead sounds in rock, pop, and even metal. Feature: The spec list for this synth is very impressive. It's actually 10 voices and not 8. I won't bore anyone with a spec list as you can see it on Zzounds site. Novation includes a USB cable, power adapter, and free software too. Sadly it only has MIDI OUT and does not have MIDI IN. Ease of Use: This is very easy to use. I have yet to crack a manual. I've been playing for nearly 30 years so the layout is logical to me and easy to understand. Creating custom sounds is simple. You can have up to 3 osc in one patch and adjust numerous parameters for each osc. That with the 10 note poly leads to some PHAT sounds! Quality: I'm rating this at an 8 because there is one issue that I consider to be major. Especially if you plan on gigging with the synth. The knobs are not on very tight at all. It takes very little effort to pop a knob off. This can become a real problem for gigging. With day to day use being transported a knob is bound to pop off. I'm going to contact Novation and see if I can order some extra knobs (just in case) Value: Probably the best bang for the buck compact synths out there. It's amazing how many features Novation packed into this little unit (25 key model). For all those who complained about the number of knobs and buttons and other functions in menus..., well I say "cry me a river". Novation packed 14 knobs, 23 buttons, a joystick, a pressure sensitive pad, and a backlit screen on the panel of a 25 key synth. They did an AWESOME job with a VERY limited space. Manufacturer Support: Im on the middle of the fence at the moment as I have yet to contact them. The Wow Factor: Very sexy synth. I own it and don't regret it at all. The layout is logical and easy to navigate. The features and price of this synth is what lured me to it. All those features for just under $300! Overall: Overall great synth and well worth every penny. I looked at the MicroKorg and the Ion, and IMO this one is a better value. It has more knobs than the Ion, and more real-time tweeking power than both the MicroKorg and the Ion. The Micro and Ion both go for $400, but that's probably just because they have the vocoder. I think this synth has a better sound than both. I like the size, weight, features and the price.
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"Great Synth, BUT TERRIBLE KEYBED!" submitted August 1, 2008

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Former Pro Player
Music Style: Many
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Sound: Sound is good.., for a digital replication of analogue, I'd say Novation did a good job. Some thick, some thin, some you can't tell which way the sound's trying go. Overall great soundset for the price. Feature: Features are great, lots of knobs, good selection of patches, poly is quite good for a little synth, USB/Audio interface (big plus there). I think features wise the Xio's can't be beat... There's so much under the hood of this little beast. Ease of Use: A snap to use.., I was up and going out of the box with no need for the manual. Easy to edit and tweek sounds, effects, ect. Quality: NOW THE BAD NEWS! I "used to own this synth". Here's the problem.., and I don't know if it's a fluke or a quality control issue or Novations just gone plain dirty cheap on the hardware. THE KEYBED HAS ISSUES! I went through (3) Xio's from zzounds, ALL with keybed issues. ALL THREE units I got had a problem with BOTH of the B keys (oddly just the B keys were doing this), but MAN DID THEY RATTLE. I have never owned a keybed that's supposed to be "semi-weighted" rattle like that. I've played $99 Casio's that didn't have keys that rattled like that. Zzounds was very nice thoughout this entire ordeal of constant keyboard swap outs. I spoke with Novation and was told those keys should NOT be making that sound, but at this point I had enough. I was on the 3rd unit, and I was spent! If Novation fixes the keybed issue I will buy this synth again. Oh the knobs like someone else mentioned DO come off fairly easy.., so be careful if giggin with this synth, and if you do buy some extra knobs because you're gonna lose one eventually. Value: I'm giving it a 6 because of the keybed issue. We're not talking about something minor here IMO.., as I would think the keybed is an important part of the synth. Manufacturer Support: Support was decent. However, I can't stand those ignorant jerks who treat EVERYONE who calls like they're some novice and know nothing about keyboards. I got lip from one rep who hasn't even been alive as long as I've been playing the keys. Those attitudes are very annoying from reps. The Wow Factor: I stil want to get this synth back..., as I was very impressed with it overall, but there's NO WAY that I could live with those noisy keys... My wife couldn't even stand to sit next to me on the couch when I was playing this thing with headphones because those B keys rattled the nerves in her spine! Drove her nuts. Overall: Overall a very good synth, compact, lightweight, good controller, great sounds, JUST A TERRRIBLE KEYBED. If anyone knows for sure that Novation has fixed this issue please post reviews on forums about it so I can buy this wonderful little synth again.
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"I love my baby even if it is inferior to the bigger guys." submitted February 10, 2009

By a customer from yahoo.com
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Musical Background: 6 year hobbyist
Music Style: Trance
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Sound: The sound of the xio is 100% the same as V-Station. There is literally no difference except the inital patches you get on the xio are more professional. It makes decent leads and bass, but the quality is still nothing better than V-station. Think of it that way, a V-Station you can touch with your fingers and use as a seperate midi keyboard (which is really why I got it) It gets a 7 because this is a sound rating, not a sound for the dollar rating which would be higher. Feature: Well it came with a bunch of bundled freebees like bass station vst, samples from Novation and Analog Factory which was cool. Ease of Use: Ok honestly, at first I thought "hey this interface isn't bad" all I have to do is navigate through these menus. Well now about a year later I really don't make any patches with it anymore. You forget quickly how to get to a specific parameter because its like 200 code short cuts you need to remember to get there. Its most likely harder to program than a Nord or Virus, but its cheaper so what do you expect? Quality: I've beaten mine up and used it everyday for a year so far hitting the keys hard and jamming out. Nothing is wrong with it and it still works like on day one so Im happy with that. Value: Its hard to say. Is it worth the price? Absolutely, but if you were drueling for a Virus and this is just to kill time till you get more money I'd say skip this and throw the extra $300 towards the Virus.(unless you don't have a midi keyboard already, mine was broke so this buy made sense for me) Manufacturer Support: Havent dealt with them yet. The Wow Factor: Ok it is pretty sexy. Its cute, tiny, has a bunch of important looking knobs, makes a bunch of red lights blink like its thinking when your not touching it. Its cool, still not as sexy as a virus thought =] Overall: For the MONEY, this is the best "break the ice hardware synth". If you've never had hardware before this buy makes sense. If you have, get a Nord or Virus.
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"FAT 'n' LUSH or is it just FAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT!!!" submitted January 9, 2007

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Sound: FAT FAT FAT!!! Feature: Swiss Army Knife like - every feature you need is present. Ease of Use: Tough start right to east finish. Its not that hard to use, and its worth the learning curve. Quality: Excellent quality and i love the light weight body of this thing. Its got a smooth feel to the knobs and buttons. Value: Perfect for the money, a super dupa lush synth, nice sound card and decent controls. Manufacturer Support: Dont know, i have never used the support. The Wow Factor: Gotta love that blue lcd, it looks mad nice in the dark and in my car when powered by batteries. It looks very neat and cute. Overall: Best synth for cash, it sounds much more expensive!
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