Novation Launchpad Launched
By Paul Dakeyne
| Posted in Music Technology
Novation Launchpad – Those pesky Pro-Audio company’s are releasing products that become almost essential on the day of release. And here’s today’s BIG news, a new Ableton Live controller, Novation Launchpad. “Sigh, not ‘another’ Ableton controller” I hear you mutter.. well yes, but this ‘lil gem is not only coming at the game from a much different angle, it’s ridiculously affordable too.
Jointly designed by Novation alongside Ableton, the device offers a hugely interactive experience allowing the user to work visually and physically in a real ‘musical’ way. It features a glorious technicolour 64 pad grid and dedicated ‘scene’ launch buttons, making Launch Pad purpose built and configured to trigger and manipulate Ableton ‘clips’, and its ‘mixer’ area too.
Bundled free with the product is a ‘Launch Pad optimised’ (though ‘lite’) version of Ableton Live 8 itself. Yes, check that again, it’s free (if you already own ‘Live’, the unit’s completely compatible with versions 7 and 8). As if that wasn’t a smashing bit of icing, then telling you that Novation’s uber-cool plug-in control software Automap is right there in the box too makes this particular cake very tasty indeed.
Let’s check out some of Launchpad’s main features then:
- Launch clips and scenes – Launchpad’s 64-button grid and dedicated scene launch buttons are ideal for launching and controlling Ableton clips and scenes
- On the go – Launchpad is perfect for the mobile performer, weighing in at under 750g and filling a space smaller than a 13” laptop
- Launchpad and Live operate as one – Bi-directional communication ensures that, at any given time, each knows the status of the other
- Instant Visual Session Overview – In session view, the backlit 64 button grid gives instant feedback on what’s loaded, playing, and being recorded
- Innovative control over the mix – Including volume, pans, sends, track arming, soloing and muting. Launchpad allows different level jumps across eight channels at once
- Expand your Ableton control solution – Novation’s Automap-enabled controllers work seamlessly together – try a ZeRO SL to control the mix, whilst Launchpad triggers clips?!
- Create and perform anywhere, anytime – Launchpad is USB-powered, with no need for an additional power supply
- Go Large! – Supports multiple unit operation. Connect up to 6 Launchpads at a time! Jump around your Live set – Launchpad gives you a simply accessed overview of the clips you have loaded across your entire Live set.
Other funky stuff on the Novation Launchpad include a powerful attribute for sketching out beats, which occurs when its 64 pads get a direct link to Ableton’s ‘Drum Racks’. Also, it is the ideal controller for Max for Live devices with almost endless possibilities to design new and innovative Live ‘tools’. Nor is the above-mentioned AutoMap software confined to the LaunchPad environment, further expanding the usefulness of this control surface to handle almost any other music software available today.
Mac and PC compatibility are present and correct (with no demands for an ‘Intel only’ processor thank goodness) and this, especially at the surprisingly low price point, should make laptop DJ’s and modern, onstage and ‘on the go’ musicians extremely happy. Studio fun is almost guaranteed and a huge extension to your expressive and creative prowess seems similarly set in stone!
Tags: albleton live, Controller, launchpad, novation