Novation Launchkey: Phenomenal MIDI Keyboard for the price tag!

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From bedroom producers to studio mavericks, Launchkey is definitely an awesome MIDI keyboard controller for all. It comes in three different sizes, the 25, 49, and 61 note length models. The Launchkey 25, which gives us only 2 octaves to play with, does not have all the features that you would find in the other two models.

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This keyboard has a massive 50 hardware controls as well as 16 velocity sensitive backlit pads.  These 16 launch pads are a great addition taking into consideration the price tag of this keyboard. These pads can be used for expressive drum programming and launching samples. Moreover, you can have full control over the session view in Ableton Live. For people who just love Ableton, this feature would make you feel like rushing to a store and getting this gadget as it really gives you a more natural experience in terms of production and of course keeps you away from the computer. Although even if you are using any other DAW this keyboard is still quite an amazing tool as it maps seamlessly via Novation’s InControl technology. The Launchkey series is the only one that has this mapping mechanism, which is quite a relief, as manual mapping can get quite laborious.

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There are 9 faders on the left panel out of which one is the master fader. A solo/mute button accompanies each fader. Above the launch pads there are 8 encoder knobs that let you control the finer parameters inside your DAW. There is the traditional Pitch Bend and Modulation wheel along with a 3-digit LED display. It even has a pedal input. If you want full control over your workflow then this keyboard does do a pretty good job.

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Those who love the feel of a real piano would have a hard time getting adjusted to the synth action keys as they are not hammer action or even semi-weighted keys. Having said that, these velocity sensitive keys work well with virtual synths and do have a very good feel to them. The absence of aftertouch may be a letdown for some but for the price tag this keyboard gives you more than you could hope for.

A special mention must be given to this controller’s compatibility with iPad. Novation’s Launchkey and Launchpad apps are easily integrated to the keyboard giving you a lot of cool stuff to experiment with. You can control parameters graphically and toggle around with tons of interesting features.

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So much functionality for such a reasonable price does make this keyboard all the more attractive. To wrap things up, here’s a video showcasing the prowess of the Novation Launchkey controller keyboard. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCBAlX3AT1g]