Novation Launchpad

The Novation Launchpad is a USB MIDI control only for Ableton Live, it has a 64 button set up that call are back lit. It can be used with either PC or Mac. It connects to your computer via USB, that is the only way it can connect. There are not audio ins or outs. This unit is pretty light, I would say it only weights about 2 pounds or so, and when you purchase it comes with a copy of Ableton Live 8 now. I have used this for a few months before selling it because I just was not a fan of the workflow of Ableton itself. But the Novation Launchpad really did give an amazing amount of control with Ableton. I used the Launchpad to control my mixes and also as a trigger function for audio clips.

It does come with a manual, that I don’t think was very good. I learned how to use it and all of the functions basically on my own and from watching tutorials online. The manual was very confusing and to “wordy”. I will say that if you don’t already use Ableton and love it then don’t buy this. That is the mistake that I made, I purchased this because I wanted to use it, and not Ableton. You can not use this without using it in Ableton.

The price of it is very affordable and it is a great device and I can see why anyone who is an Ableton lover would buy it. But it just wasn’t for me. It was very difficult to set up and understand and the manual was horrible. It would be better if it had some fader sliders and some sort of transport controls. Also if they could make it a more versatile device that can be used in multiple software programs that would change everything for me. I think the Novation Launchpad is a must have for someone who loves Ableton, its just not for me.

What I love about it, it's the design, I really love what Novation did with its interface and how they managed to put something quite original for Ableton users.
The price overall is quite great for the product, those 64 pads can make a huge difference in your mixing, they can really boost your creativity on a whole new level.
This pad controller works pretty great in launching clips and samples on time, it has the possibility to connect up to 6 Launchpads at a time (which is completely great and unique).
The reason why this pad is so great it's because how well it fits with Ableton Live program, it doesn't require a source supply, only a usb connection.
Also you can work in Session View either Arrangement View, which is quite handy, the
multi-color 64-button grid provide instant session overview.
This pad can be used to create grooves, racks, creating beats and triggering samples in real time, you can even make it work as a midi controller,creating custom MIDI maps with 72 of its buttons transmitting either CC or MIDI note data, so you can basically play with this pad and create melodies.

Connectivity type: USB, it doesn't require a power supply.
It's compatible with Windows XP or Vista, Mac OS X .

Another great thing you can do with Novation LaunchPad is to control the volume, paning, amount of sends, muting, and many other cool features.

Without a doubt, this pad makes the musical process seem much more fun and creative, with its use you can create some great trance groove and even melodies.
I really like the feeling of the buttons and the way they respond to the command.
I would buy and rebuy this product, I really think it makes a huge difference for Ableton users like me.

The Novation Launchpad combines elements of a mixer, a sequencer, and an effects rack all in one 64 button pad designed to interface with Ableton Live. As I mainly use Ableton I'm not sure whether you can program it to work with other DAW's, but the interface with Live is one that is very flexible and easy to learn. If you are one for triggering clips, the Novation Launchpad is certainly for you. After the samples, midi files, etc. are triggered - indicated by the corresponding button lighting up green - there are infinite ways of manipulating the signal thanks to the User 1 and User 2 interfaces, which are completely customizable. I'm fond of setting one user interface to automap effects in real time while leaving the other as my "solo" instrument, wherein the buttons act as a keyboard. On top of this the Novation Launchpad is the lightest, most compact, and surprisingly the most durable piece of equipment I have had the pleasure of using. My issues with the launchpad are simple: the keyboard scale is easy to figure out but is difficult to master coming from a standard piano background, the quantization settings for audio vs. midi clips are a bit confusing, and the buttons aren't the best replacement for faders. For the price however, this isn't a bad buy. In fact it's a very good buy compared to Ableton's other hardware interface, the APC-40. Just be ready to practice, practice, practice if you see yourself doing an entire set on this device, and maybe have a separate mixer on hand to get a more precise fade.

The Novation Launchpad is a controller built especially for Ableton Live, meant to improve workflow and turn Live into a performance tool. It does exactly that. And it's AWESOME. It is pretty easy to set up, you plug it in and it automaps to Live. The device consists of an 8x8 grid of 64 "clip launch buttons" and 8 dedicated "scene launch buttons". It takes its power from the computer, eliminating the need for an external source which ROCKS! The launchpad features four modes: Session Mode, which controls clips and scene launch and is awesome for workflow and live performances, User Mode 1, which is useful for controlling VST's and Drum Racks, User Mode 2, which you can assign to do all kinds of things and Mixer mode, which provides an overview and control of volume, pans, send effects and a few other things. It is kinda hard to do anything but drums, but it's certainly possible to play it like a keyboard. Also, you can set it up to do all kinds of dances and patterns and just cool little things, and is certainly very impressive in performance. This is such a cool piece of equipment, and works awesome with out faders and knobs. If you need something like this with Faders and Knobs, get the APC 40 or 20, but this can do everything they do, and then some, plus it has tons of pretty colors. I love the way that this brings the innovative workspace of Ableton Live, and makes it into a concrete, playable interface. While this isn't necessarily a new approach to controllerism, it's a more refined version of an old standby, and is incredibly effective . It has so much potential and you can even hook 6 of these up to Live at a time! This is worth very cent so pick one up.