Novation Nocturn with Standalone PluginGuru Unify on Win10

Novation Nocturn

The Novation Nocturn is one of quite a few discontinued midi controllers, that still work fine on my Windows 10 system (x64 version 20H2) – and it can be made to work just fine with the Unify standalone software. — I’ve created this post in response to a question by a fellow Unify user in the Unify forum.

Getting the Nocturn recognized as Windows Midi Device

  • Make sure AutoMap server is running before plugging in the Nocturn
    • Automap Server can be enabled to automatically start up.
    • I’m using Automap Version 4.12 at time of this writing.
  • Plug in Nocturn controller; 
    • Lights on controller should now be on 
    • Controller should now be visible in Automap software
  • On the Nocturn controller, press the view button,
    • it should bring up an Automap mapping dialog
  • On the Nocturn controller, press the user button
    • The mapping dialog should show the current mappings of the 8 knobs and buttons
    • One can make additional pages for new sets of 8 knobs and 8 buttons. 
  • Optional: Use Midi-OX to figure out which of the several Automap ports the Automap software is sending midi messages to
    • It may need to be the first midi device that starts with “Automap”: on my system it’s called “Automap Propellerhead Mixer” (if that doesn’t work, try all the other midi ports starting with “Automap”

Configure Unify Standalone to listen to Nocturn Midi Input

  • If Unify is not set up to do automatic “Midi Device Polling”
    • Enable Unify Settings > Audio/Midi Settings to listen to the correct Automap output
      • It may need to be the first midi device that starts with “Automap”: On my system it’s called “Automap Propellerhead Mixer” (if that doesn’t work, try all the other midi ports starting with “Automap”
    • Quit Unify and start it again to make the new Audio/Midi Settings take effect
  • Use the Midi Monitor in Unify to ensure that turning a knob on the Nocturn is showing up as midi messages in Unify

Create Mappings in Automap and Unify

  • Create your preferred mappings for the Nocturn as per the Automap user manual
    • Each “page” allows for additional mappings of the hardware controls, and then the page + and page – buttons on the Nocturn allow for quick switching between sets of midi messages.
  • Map the Nocturn to the desired Unify controls as per the Unify user manual

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