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
- Enable Unify Settings > Audio/Midi Settings to listen to the correct Automap output
- 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