Novation Launchkey 49, 49-key USB/iOS MIDI Keyboard Controller with Synth-weighted Keys

This is not too basic or complex. It can be used as a piano/keyboard/synth and a control surface for your DAW. With it, you can control basic functions, VST,s, and even automation lanes. The buttons, knobs, and keys operate with smooth action. The unit is not too heavy to keep in your lap if you need to. The pads and keys can be setup to different instruments. Separate mod and pitch wheels allow for precision voicing of the notes you are expressing. Novation provides tech support and a thriving forum to help you learn and resolve issues. Of course, since this is the small version, the range of the keyboard you wish to play on is selectable and on the fly too. This has really opened up my creativity and it fits very well into my home studio. On the down side, it does not have an off switch. Why? Why? Why? You can make your own with an active USB 2.0 hub. Active hubs use a separate power source. I have had no success using this with USB 3.0. Since the size is not too big, and the weight is not too heavy, I've mounted mine, with Velcro, to an articulating laptop table. *** BONUS*** Even though it is not listed in the product description, currently, Novation is bundling this with a free copy of Ableton Live 9 Lite, V Station, and Base Station. If your box does not contain a CD, check your registration card for a bundle code. If you have problems beyond that, email them or use their forum. They WILL help you. They helped me. Now, I've got more goodies in my toolbox. These are products I use, and have reviewed, with this item. To read my other reviews, click the link "See all my reviews" which is next to my name: M-Audio SP-2 Sustain Pedal with Piano Style Action for Keyboards Single Laptop / Notebook Desk Mount / Stand Fully Adjustable Extension with Clamp STAND-V001L (by VIVO) Gator 14 x 14 Inches up to 22 x 22 Inches Mixer Cover (GMC-2222) Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio 6 Academic CAD Audio MH310 Closed-Back Studio Headphones

I'm upgrading from an M-Audio Radium 49-key MIDI/USB controller (same price in 2005), which started to send ghost messages from a couple of pots. At first, it was a filter-able MIDI controller, but when it started tweaking my faders in Logic, it was time to retire the old silver beast. The Launchkey build quality is excellent. Hitting keys on the old M-Audio, you'd hear hollow plastic resonating, and cheap springs straining. When you hit keys on the Launchkey, it makes nearly zero noise. They keys are also smooth enough to do runs and slides, P-funk bassline style, without the mechanical noise of the controller getting louder than the sound you're playing. The heavier keys of the M-Audio Axiom would tear up your fingers if you tried the same. Response time over USB is also excellent--much faster than the M-Audio, either via USB or MIDI. The drum pads on Launchkey are great. I like the feel, but then I'm used to the no-throw NI Maschine. It's nice that they light up when you hit them, and the placement in the center of the keyboard is smart. Banging on drum pads on the end of a keyboard could make wobbly danger. In theory, these add an additional 16 keys to your controller--when not in special Live mode, they trigger MIDI notes for drums, samples, whatever. But I couldn't find a quick way to shift which keys these pads play, so they were redundant unless I moved the range of the main keys way up or down. The sliders and knobs feel light but fairly solid. They have nice dead-zones at the start of end of their range, which will hopefully prevent outbursts of random data down the road. Pitch and Mod wheels have a quality feel, with a little side wobble. Their throws seem short to me, but maybe that's just me. Launchkey can be powered via USB, but I have a Maschine on the same powered bus, and don't want to push it. Luckily, the old AC adapter for the Radium works with the Launchkey 49, because my Launchkey came with nothing, not even an empty space for a power adapter in the packing materials. (Launchkey needs 9V DC/100mA on a fat coax, positive center.) There is no power switch. You need to unplug both the AC and the USB to completely power down. And it just looks good in the studio. It's perfectly at home next to other modern gear like the Maschine. It's the sporty compact to the Radium's Ford Pinto. You WANT to play it. I'd say the Launchkey 49 is worth the price already. The bundled software (download) is gravy: The pack of loops is ok, but it feels a lot like a free demo pack. Loopmasters seemed mostly concerned with the variety of styles they could include. That means you probably won't find a lot that fits your particular style. It's also 642 GB, not 1 TB. But hey, gravy. The two Novation soft-synths are nice to have, definitely, but they are long in the tooth for 2013 and pretty simple sounding. Both have been recently updated for 64-bit and recent OS X/Win support. As a Logic user interested in checking out Live, its inclusion with Launchkey was a draw for me. Sadly, even though Live 9 recently shipped, you get Live 8 Lite here (OS X/Win) and there is no upgrade path from Lite 8 to the new Live 9 Intro. Apparently Ableton isn't interested, unless you want to spring $379 for the upgrade to Live 9 Standard, or $649 to upgrade to Live 9 Suite. Speaking of Logic, the integration took seconds to set up. At least in this case, Launchkey's fancy compatibility mode means Mackie HUI emulation. That's how Logic sees Launchkey. And that's a good thing--HUI is a time-tested standard. (Edit: Logic Pro X was just released, and everything still works the same.) Overall, a great value for a solid controller. The bonus goodies, love them or not, are just that: A bonus. I would recommended this keyboard to anyone.

I was in the market for a MIDI Controller and being a college student I'm on a budget. I couldn't afford nor did I have the space for anything large. I am very frugal and like to know what I am paying for, I researched for a good 4 months about mini MIDI controllers as there are many in the pack. I was torn between the Akai mpk mini and this Novation Launchkey Mini. I nearly bought the Akai just because so many more people reviewed it but I took a chance and I am thoroughly pleased with my choice. What I could find on the Launchkey Mini amazed me though. I love the look of it, simplistic, compact and yet still so versatile. The sixteen velocity sensitive pads feel amazing. When I took it out of the box and felt the pads I wasn't sure what to expect, I have no complaints about them. The keys I've read other people say are spring which I suppose is true but I have no problem with them or complaints about it. The software it comes with is also great, I haven't played around with Abelton too much yet but I plan on getting to know it, I love the Incontrol that the Launchkey Mini has. Setting it up is super easy and the support video on Novation is very helpful. What I chose the Launchkey over the Akai -16 pads rather than 8 with 2 pad banks appealed more to me, just preference -the overall layout, I like the knobs being in line with the pads -it is a little foolish I realize but this video,[...] -the software package included -the look was sleek and clean and simple I have only had it for a few days and will post updates if I have any complaints. I don't think you could go wrong with the Akai mpk mini either, I'm sure it's a great little controller but don't write this one off because it's not as popular. *UPDATE* I agree with other reviews about the usb connection, it was fine at first and now I have to fiddle with it and be careful not to touch it after I get it to recognize the connection. Also I do like the pads a lot, however I think they are more for launching clips and scenes rather than tapping out intricate drum beats.

**This review is based on my use with Abelton Live 9. This controller was built specifically with Abelton Live in mind, and if you buy it new if should come with Abelton Live Lite (an intro version of the full software. It's not a demo, so you can use it forever).** I love this keyboard, the keybed feels really nice to me (it's what I'm used to). It's not like a real piano, but they are semi-weighted. But just fyi some people don't like the feel of this keybed, they say it feels like a toy (but I don't think so). A lot of people also complain that the knobs feel cheap. They feel perfectly fine to and come on, the controller is like $187 right now on Amazon, stop complaining! I love inKontrol. I can control every part of my DAW without taking my hands off the keyboard (mapping helps) and the pads feel like heaven. My favorite feature on this keyboard is how I can launch, record and stop clips from the drumpads then a second later I can just as easily do a drum solo! But as I say that, if you're gettin this keyboard stricktly for the pads I don't suggest it. They good but they're not great for drumming, so I usually use my Launchpad S. The faders are alright, not top notch but I got the keyboard ~$80 off retail price. They're nothing wrong with them, just not the smoothest. The transport buttons work perfectly for me, though I don't use them much. Since you can do recordings, launch clips and stop clips on the drumpads that is what I use. The tracking works fine, normal banking to this or that track. But one thing I noticed about that is that when you move left and right, for every midi instrument you bank through (that is already in your track) it will set it to that sound. So if you want to go to your piano sound, but have to scroll through your ambient midi track and whatever else, it'll set your sound to all of them mixed together...kind of creepy haha. I don't really mind, I'll just unclick them. Not a big deal. The mod and pitch wheel are fine. Pitch works perfectly, though I feel that the mod wheel left me a little unsatisfied. I can see that it works perfectly fine, but it just feels....weak. I have to use a very clean midi instrument to get hear the full affect of the mod wheel. Overall, this is a great keyboard and for $187 it's a ridiculous price. Just two actually cons to sya though: 1) I've noticed a few people have this problem with the keyboard, so it's not just me. The keyboard has a problem where sometimes when recording, you'll play it back and you'll head low G or something playing continuously throughout the track. At first I was super creeped out (ghosts!) but I looked it up and it seems some have this problem. Whatever, just click and delete! Not a big deal at all! It hasn't done that in a while though, it stopped doing that a couple days after breaking it in. 2) My second problem might be something you'll have, but it's never happened while recording. Just sometimes shortly after I turn the keyboard in (and yes other people have this problem sometimes as well). Sometimes the control it's feeding just...locks. But this has only happened about three times, and about 3 minutes into turning it on for those. What I mean is that, if you play for example c chord and really any key, it'll just keep going. It stops if you tap a key pretty hard, and doesn't do it after that. I think those are things it does during warm-ups though, it doesn't do them anymore and only did them within a few minutes of starting. TL;DR : great keyboard,a few crazy messes when warming up sometimes, but overall for $187-$218 who can complain? Great keyboard, I have the 61 key and the MINI and they accompany each other nicely.

Great DAW / MIDI Controller. It fully integrates with Cubase 8, as promised, with its "InControl" functionality (panning knobs and volume faders assign automatically to tracks 1-8 to the mix console, and one can shift up/down tracks using button clicks. Transport buttons also work as expected). It also supposedly woks well with the major DAWs, though not all of them. InControl functionality doesn't integrate with MuLab's MuTools. Two very minor drawbacks (but not enough to knock off a star): - When not in the InControl mode, each knob/fader controls a MIDI instruction (which is great) - but you have to refer to the manual to figure out which MIDI instruction is controlled by each knob/fader (I've resorted to using sticky-labels on my Launchkey to remind me which MIDI instructions the knobs and faders control) - There's a "heartbeat" sent by the LaunchKey to the DAW, and you have to make sure that you set up your DAW session correctly, otherwise you'll get a C0 (or C-1) note being sounded every second or so.

Although it feels a little cheap in some areas because of the plastic (such as the USB socket that wiggles around when plugged in), this keyboard has all the features that I wanted in such an awesome, intuitive layout. Unfortunately, after three months of messing around with drivers, I have been unable to get the keyboard to work CONSISTENTLY with advanced features on Windows 8.1 with Ableton live 9.1.1 64 bit. A quick check of online forums shows many frustrated customers, and also a lot of potential solutions, and some success. That being said, EVERY computer peripheral will be exposed to some driver malfunctioning, and the keyboard functions smoothly (without advanced features and on an older version of Ableton...) on my laptop. It is just very disappointing to have all these awesome features and be unable to use them! A few tips for frustrated customers that sometimes work for me: try plugging the USB cable into another slot on your computer, make sure Ableton and Windows are up to date, carefully examine your midi settings (there are a lot of tutorials online), plug the keyboard into Ableton only after Ableton is loaded, restart restart restart, and re-install your drivers. Conclusion: Don't get this keyboard if you want a reliable, consistent beat machine, due to potential driver problems

Fri 9/05/2014. There were at least two things wrong with the launchkey mini: 1. After power-on, it'd work more-or-less (see #2), but if left alone for a half hour or more, when I returned it wouldn't, as tested with the famous free MIDI software MIDIox. Pressing keys, nothing. This was cured by (a.) changing from the hub it was plugged into to a more direct USB connection and, on the provocation of Novation, (b.) plugging into a *different* USB hub. I suspect the number of other devices plugged into the first hub may have been a factor (?), which include an Akai MPK mini, a beautiful Xkey, and even an Arturia Minilab, all of which are comparably-priced small keyboards which seemingly have no comparable problem. Even a Novation launchpad mini didn't quail.... 2. Consistently at power-on and after a pause, with whatever USB connection, pressing a key repeatedly shows, as expected, a burst of MIDIox traffic but then nothing for about 10 or twenty keystrokes; and then it resumes. Naturally I noticed this when checking #1. THE FIX Novation support has been assiduous in trying to clear this up -- perhaps if you're looking for help, a negative Amazon review'll do the trick -- and after downloading a firmware update (which I probably tried and failed to find before), problem #1 seems cured. Problem #2 still occurred -- but only the *first time* after power on. ... I write "seems" only because I don't have a carefully-maintained lab and things change all the time, although both problems occurred quite consistently for weeks, after I first noticed. It probably *won't ever* fail on your setup -- especially if the launchkey mini you get has the updated firmware already -- and the other "white knights" I mentioned above may well set your PC on fire. I don't know. I'm still giving it three stars because it's been entirely too much trouble and if I wasn't a lunatic I would've just left it on the shelf weeks ago. ... Of course it *is* so cute, with its gay little light dance when it powers-up.

I use this keyboard everyday for mobile music creation with my iPad mini. It works perfectly if you get the real apple camera connection kit. I first tried usibpng it with a usb hub but that only works for use with a laptop or desktop computer. The keys are the perfect size since I am used to mini keys and the weighting is fine. The mapping of the keyboard is perfect for use with novation iOS apps but still pretty good for other apps as well. I mainly use synthesis to play songs and camel audits alchemy app for some recording. Overall a great keyboard from a great a company that I plan to buy from more in the future.

The Launchkey 61 is superb value for money IMO. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and though i'm not in any way a Keyboard player - i'm a drummer (no jokes please) when used along with Ableton LIve 9 this controller its just sooooooo much fun to use !! Which is partly why i bought it. I needed some serious 'hands-on" with my software !! I use Logic Pro X too - and while Logic is better at certain things when compared to Live - its just not as inspirational to use (for composition at least) and isn't anywhere near as easy to set-up for use with the Launchkey. It works - kind of - if you fiddle around. In Live 9 though, everything just works straight away - once you choose it in Live's Preferences that is. :-) Build quality is decent for the money too - its all very 'plastic' in construction - but still quite solid. The trigger pads feel nice even when new - and the knobs and buttons (if a bit spongy) are pretty good too. There are a few over-sights/omissions though - like no dedicated midi ports (USB only) - no 'off' button (really?) and no Aftertouch. But at this price - for a 61 key controller with all these buttons, pads and faders on it - i'm not really complaining. Recommended - even for drummers. ;-)

Nos ha resultado perfecto para lo que queríamos, ha sido en un campus de formación para el área de musica donde los chicos desarrollan un proyecto personal.

Good product

Ich habe diesen Artikel bestellt um Musik zu machen und als Erweiterung für meinen Turnhalle zum Musik mixen. Ich muss sagen, meine Erwartungen wurden stark übertroffen, sehr empfehlenswert!

I was looking for a decent, relatively cheap midi controller that integrates seamlessly with Cubase 7 and that's exactly what I got with the Launchkey 49. Power is via USB cable, although there is a 9V socket if you're running it from a laptop not plugged into the mains (there's no 9V adapter though, you've gotta get your own if you need one). Build quality is pretty good considering the price. There's a bit of 'wiggle' to the sliders and rotaries but nothing much to worry about, certainly not the worst I've come across. The unit itself is solid. Key action is good, don't expect semi-weighted but, again, you've probably used much worse. There's no software CD included, everything needed is easily downloaded from the Novation website, where there's a useful set-up guide, user manual and video tutorials for DAW integration. The best part - DAW integration is child's play using the 'In Control' feature. A couple of mouseclicks in Cubase's device setup and it's all sorted, fully mapped to various key features in the DAW. You instantly have control of the transport panel (buttons for play, stop, record, loop, and fast forward/rewind), left to right track select buttons, 8 sliders mapped to the track volumes and 8 buttons for mute and solo, which are all transposable to the next 8 tracks (and so on) using 1 button press. There are 8 rotary dials mapped to the pan of each track and 16 velocity-sensitive pads for drum activation. Different sections of the 'In Control' feature can, with one button press, easily be deactivated so all sliders, rotaries and buttons are then midi configurable for use with soft synths etc. I'm struggling to find downsides, but if I'm pushed - no standard five-pin midi sockets (no big deal if you're using it for DAW control). Also, assignable drum-pads would have been nice instead of them being automatically configured. Again, not a deal-breaker. All in all, I'm really pleased with this purchase and wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to someone looking at this price range for a controller with easy Cubase integration (apparantly, integration is even better for Ableton users) and pretty decent build quality. Top marks.