Amongst other things, Novation are famed for making high-quality MIDI controllers that integrate flawlessy into the modern studio or live set-up, thanks to their superb automatic mapping software. This probably explains why Novation keyboards are so popular, with plenty of professionals and home studio owners favouring their products over competitors'.
If you're in the market for a MIDI controller keyboard, then you're probably considering a Novation, but with SL MkII, Impulse and Launchkey ranges to choose from, what's the difference between them and which will best suit your requirements? As I've used all of them before, I've decided to compile this article in order to help answer these questions and hopefully help you in your quest to find your perfect controller.
Novation recently spoke to Keith Harris, a multi-instrumentalist who tours with acts such as will.i.am, Backstreet Boys and Cee Lo Green in the capacity of Musical Director. In this short interview, he explains how the Launchkey 25 and Launchpad play a major role in the show, in combination with a computer running Ableton software.
However, it's not just the stage where Keith relies on Novation; his studio also features SL MkII and Impulse controller keyboards and a MiniNova synthesiser.
There's something about Novation products that seems to inspire people to create exciting performance videos. In the video below, KillTheRobot grabs a Launchkey Mini, hooks it up to a computer running Ableton Live 9 and... well... check it out for yourself!
Novation's hugely popular FREE Launchpad iPad App has now been updated, with a number of bug fixes and a brand new Audio Import function! This is something that users have been asking for since the release of the Launchpad App and it now means that you aren't limited by the sounds that come with it. If you've got some of your own WAV or AIFF samples and loops then you can now import them into the App using Dropbox (free Dropbox account required), assign them to pads of your choice and then trigger them with the App. The Launchpad App also features time-stretching so that all your loops will stay in perfect time with each other.
Novation have just announced a brand new MIDI controller for anyone that likes to perform and produce on-the-move. Introducing the Launchkey Mini, a compact 25-note keyboard with mini velocity-sensitive keys; 16 velocity-sensitive, multi-coloured pads; 8 assignable knobs; 7 function buttons (e.g. octave up/down, bank up/down, etc.) and 2 performance buttons (e.g. for quickly triggering whole lanes of clips).
The Launchkey Mini is compatible with both Mac and PC computers and it even works with an iPad using the appropriate Apple adapter, so it's perfect for getting more hands-on with applications such as Novation's free Launchpad or Launchkey apps! Of course, if you're using it with a desktop or laptop computer then the Launchkey Mini will work with all major music software such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, Pro Tools, Cubase, Reason and Logic, making use of Novation's automatic mapping InControl technology.
We've just received our first shipment of Novation LaunchKey controller keyboards! These little beasts feature plenty of hands-on controls, pads taken from the popular Launchpad (ideal for use with software such as Ableton Live), plus compatibility and easy set-up with all big-name DAW software, and they can also be used to control Novation's FREE LaunchKey and Launchpad apps on your iPad! What's more is that they are extremely easy on the wallet and so are ideal for anyone starting a home-studio or requiring a portable live performance keyboard.
For a limited time we are also offering LaunchKey keyboards (available in 25, 49 and 61 note models) with the full Ableton Live 9 software for CRAZY bundle prices. Read on to find out more...
Great news for all those with an iPad - you can now get a variation of the hugely popular Novation Launchpad in a FREE iPad app form! The app comes with loads of loops and samples so you can get creating music right away, and it's really simple to use, so even if you've not got a background in music composition, you'll find this app great fun! Just like the hardware Launchpad (which works with Ableton Live software as opposed to featuring its own built-in loops), the Launchpad app features a multi-coloured pad grid, allowing you trigger sounds and effects. The app also features built-in time-stretching, ensuring that your loops always stay in time.
