The keys themselves have a relatively light, synthy feel. The faders have a similar feel and are now accompanied by RGB buttons which will no doubt make themselves useful. The knobs are upright, cylindrical, feel slightly rubberised to the touch, and are taller and much more solid than the ones on the Launchkey Mini. The pads are nicely set just that little bit lower and all the other buttons follow the style and height. The look is cemented by the replacement of the red three-digit display with a cool blue-backed LCD with two rows of 16 characters. It's still made of plastic but doesn't seem as clunky as many 61-keyed MIDI controllers can feel. The hardware has a poise to it that raises both a smile and your expectations. I wonder how much customer feedback went into agonising over that decision? Pads are now over on the left with faders in the middle, just off-centre, and only the transport controls on the right. It's pleasingly compact for a 61-note controller at only 26cm deep, which is a bonus for our crowded desktops and studio spaces.īeyond the sharp lines the most obvious change is that the pads and faders have swapped positions. What were they thinking with the coloured underbelly of the MkI and MkII? It was really easy to unpack, slid out of the box with one hand and I was delighted to see foam packed under the keys. It's all clean lines, angles and elegance and it does that thing where it instantly makes the very capable MkII look garish and unfashionable. This new version looks sedate and serious. The features are the same across the range except that only the 49 and 61 have the fader bank. Along with the usual 25- and 49-key options there's now a 37-key version for those people who find the 49 too big or the 25 too small. The model under review is the largest in the range at 61 keys. It's taken longer than expected, but everything that made the Mini MkIII a very cool little controller has been stretched out into the full-sized and infinitely more playable Launchkey MkIII. When Novation revealed the Launchkey Mini MkIII last year you knew it wouldn't be long before the rest of the Launchkey range followed suit. Launchkey Mini feels as good as it looks.The third generation Launchkey offers versatile control over hardware and software alike. Connect your sustain pedal and add even more expression to your playing. The 16 RGB pads are super-sensitive for precise, dynamic and nuanced drumming. For even more playing potential, you can strum chords with Strum Mode. Two touch strips for pitch and mod let you really feel your sounds. Launchkey Mini puts the sounds from your head into your hands. Device macros and mixer controls mean more hands-on control of your music. Transport, device and mixer controls mean fewer mouse clicks. Plug straight into Live, get your ideas down and create - Launchkey Mini gets any track moving. Add dynamic, expressive rhythms with 16 super-sensitive pads for drumming and clip launch. Fixed Chord mode takes your ideas further, adding a customizable fixed chord shape that follows you up the keyboard. Get new melodies, rhythms and sounds flying from your fingertips with Launchkey Mini’s easy yet powerful arpeggiator. Throw all this content into the included copy of Ableton Live Lite, or use Launchkey Mini’s integrations with Logic, Reason or any HUI compatible DAW. Launchkey Mini comes with everything you need to make tracks in the box, including sounds, instruments and effects from AAS, Softube, Spitfire Audio, XLN Audio and Klevgrand – plus membership of Novation Sound Collective. Make tracks anywhere with Launchkey Mini’s intuitive Ableton control, creative arpeggiator, Fixed Chord mode, MIDI out, and tons of sounds in the box. It gives you everything you need to start creating in Ableton Live – and it’ll fit in your bag. Launchkey Mini is Novation's most compact and portable 25-mini-key MIDI keyboard controller.
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