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Related Manuals for Novation Launchkey 25
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Summary of Contents for Novation Launchkey 25
- Page 1 User Guide Version 6...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Contents Introduction ..........................5 Key Features ...........................5 Box Contents ..........................6 Getting Started ..........................6 Troubleshooting and Support ......................7 Model Specific Features .........................7 Semi-Weighted Keybed (Launchkey 88 only)................7 Hardware Overview ........................8 Getting Connected ........................10 Connecting Launchkey with a Computer ..................10 Connecting Launchkey with External MIDI Enabled Instruments ..........10 Working with Ableton Live .....................11 Installation ............................11 Setup ............................11... - Page 3 Working with Cubase ......................24 Setup ............................24 Pot Modes and Fader Modes (49, 61, 88 key) ................25 Device mode ..........................25 Volume mode ..........................25 Pans Mode ..........................25 Sends (Sends A and B) ......................25 Pad Mode .............................26 Session Mode ..........................26 Fader Buttons (Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 only) ................26 Select Mode ..........................26 Arm Mode ..........................26 Transport Controls ........................27...
- Page 4 Working with Other DAWs ....................44 Logic .............................44 Setup ............................44 Session Mode ..........................45 Pots ............................47 Faders (Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 only) .................... 48 Arm/Select (Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 only) ..................48 Transport Functions ........................49 Navigation ..........................49 Reason ............................50 Setup ............................50 Transport Control ........................50 Pots ............................51 Pads Session Mode ........................51...
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Page 5: Introduction
Introduction Launchkey [MK3] is Novation’s intuitive and fully integrated MIDI keyboard controller for making tracks in Ableton Live and Steinberg’s Cubase. Designed to give you everything you need to create and play your music. Made for creators of all abilities, Launchkey gives you inspirational tools to expand your musical vocabulary. -
Page 6: Box Contents
Box Contents • Launchkey 25, 37, 49, 61 or 88 • USB Type-A to B cable (1.5 meters) • Safety Instructions Getting Started The ‘Easy Start Tool’ provides a step-by-step guide to setting up your Launchkey. This online tool guides you through the process of registering your Launchkey and accessing the software bundle. -
Page 7: Troubleshooting And Support
There are 25, 37, 49, 61 and 88 key versions of Launchkey. The differences between the devices are outlined below and model specific features are noted throughout this guide. Model Launchkey 25 Launchkey 37 Launchkey 49 Launchkey 61 Launchkey 88 Velocity Sensitive keys... -
Page 8: Hardware Overview
Hardware Overview LCD Display Shows the device status, parameter values, and lets you navigate through menus. Shift Button Enables access to secondary Shift functions which are shown in grey text on the hardware. Settings Button Opens the settings menu on the screen. See “Settings”... - Page 9 Pots Controls various parameters using eight available modes: Device, Volume, Pan, Sends and four Custom Modes. The first five pots also control parameters as secondary functions. Pads Trigger clips and play drum racks in Ableton Live using Session Drum Modes. Send custom MIDI messages using four available Custom Modes.
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Page 10: Getting Connected
Capture Capture any recently played MIDI notes in your MIDI DAW (supported by Live, Cubase and Logic). Quantise Triggers the quantise function in Live, Cubase and Logic, to snap notes to the grid. Click Toggles Logic, Cubase and Live’s metronome on and off. Undo Triggers Logic, Cubase and Live’s undo function. -
Page 11: Working With Ableton Live
Working with Ableton Live We’ve designed your Launchkey to work seamlessly with Ableton Live, with deep integration through powerful production and performance controls out of the box. In addition, you can modify your Launchkey to suit your needs with Custom Modes. - Page 12 If your pads do not match the image above you’ll need to set up Ableton Live’s Control Surface Preferences. To do this, find the ‘Link Tempo MIDI’ Preferences menu in Ableton Live: Windows: Options > Preferences > Link Tempo MIDI Mac: Live >...
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Page 13: Session Mode
Session Mode Session mode controls Ableton Live’s Session View. To access Session mode on your Launchkey hold Shift and press the “Session” pad (bottom left pad). The Session pad will brighten: Session View is a grid that consists of clips, tracks and scenes (shown below). Track Scene Clip... - Page 14 Launchkey’s Session mode provides an 8x2 grid of the clips in your Session View. Example of Launchkey’s pads in Session mode: Clips are typically loops that contain MIDI Tracks represent virtual instruments or audio notes or audio. tracks. MIDI clips placed on instrument tracks will play back on the instrument assigned to that track.
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Page 15: Launching Clips
Any changes you make to clip position or colour within Ableton Live are shown in the Session mode of Launchkey. Unlit pads show empty clip slots. You can navigate around Session View by pressing the ▲▼and the track ◄ ► buttons. You can move the currently selected grid of clips (inside Ableton Live’s coloured rectangle) up or down. -
Page 16: Launching Scenes
Launching Scenes Pressing the Scene Launch button (>) launches scenes in Ableton Live. This means all the clips in the top row of the pad grid will start together. Stop, Solo, Mute In Session mode, you can use the Stop, Solo, Mute pad to change the functionality of the bottom eight pads so they no longer launch clips. -
Page 17: Record
Mute (Yellow) – Press a pad in the bottom row to Mute corresponding tracks. The pads dim for muted tracks, leaving pads for unmuted tracks at their original brightness and colour. Clips (Multi-colour) – the fourth press (after toggling through Stop, Solo and Mute) changes the function of bottom pads to the default Session mode, where the bottom row of pads will again represent clips. -
Page 18: Arm/Select (Launchkey 49, 61 And 88 Only)
Arm/Select (Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 only) The “Arm/Select” button (highlighted in red below) sets the functionality of the eight “Fader Buttons’’ (highlighted below in blue) to either arm tracks, enabling recording; or to select a track. While set to Arm the buttons light up red to show a track armed for recording and dim red when not. -
Page 19: Using Ableton Live's Mixer
When using Ableton’s Drum Racks, Drum mode will – apart from triggering sounds – select the associated Drum Rack pad within a Drum Rack. This means on release, the last played Drum Rack pad lights up white and Ableton Live shows the selected Drum Rack pad on the screen. Using Ableton Live’s Mixer The eight Pots and eight Faders (49, 61 and 88 key models only) provide hands on control over Ableton Live’s mixer. -
Page 20: Faders (Launchkey 49, 61 And 88 Only)
Pan Mode - This mode allows you to control Track Pan values using the pots. To select this mode, hold the Shift button and press the Pan pad. Sends Mode - This Mode allows you to control Track Sends values using the pots. To select this mode, hold the Shift button and press the Sends pad. -
Page 21: Device Mode - Navigating And Controlling Devices
Device Mode - Navigating and Controlling Devices Device mode allows you to control an Ableton “Device” (Ableton or 3rd-party instruments and effects) on a Live track. When your Launchkey is connected to Live, the pots will automatically sync to the first device within the current Live track. -
Page 22: Device Select
Device Select The “Device Select” button allows you to navigate through devices on a track. Press and hold this button to access this function. The drum pads and ▲▼ arrow buttons will light up purple. The▲▼ arrow buttons can be used to navigate through the devices. The ▲ button going left and ▼... -
Page 23: Transport Functions
Transport Functions The buttons shown below provide key functionality for performing and recording with Ableton Live. Play - Pressing this button starts playback. Stop - Pressing this button stops playback. Record - Pressing this button triggers Session Record while in Session Mode. This will allow you to record what you’re playing to new clips as well as overdub existing clips. -
Page 24: Working With Cubase
• Pad Mode – Session Mode. • Pots – Volume (Launchkey 25/37) or Pan (Launchkey 49/61/88). • Faders (Launchkey 49/61/88) – Volume For quick access to the modes and information for the Launchkey you have connected click on: Studio >... -
Page 25: Pot Modes And Fader Modes (49, 61, 88 Key)
Pot Modes and Fader Modes (49, 61, 88 key) Above the top row of pads are the Pot modes. Hold Shift and press the pad for the mode you want to use. You can reassign the faders on Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 holding Shift and pressing the fader buttons. When you move a pot or fader the screen momentarily displays the parameter and its current value. -
Page 26: Pad Mode
Pad Mode Session Mode Session mode allows you to control Select, Record Arm, Solo and Mute. Session Mode has two pages: 1. Page 1 is for Select (top row) and Arm controls (bottom row). 2. Page 2 is for Mute (top row) and Solo (bottom row). You can move between pages using the Stop/Solo/Mute pad. -
Page 27: Transport Controls
Transport Controls The table below shows how the transport controls on your Launchkey map to the transport and editing controls in Cubase. Control Action Play Starts playback Stop Stops playback Record Toggles Cubase’s Record Button. Loop Toggles Cubase’s Loop function. Capture MIDI Triggers Cubase’s Retrospective MIDI Record function. -
Page 28: Standalone Features
Standalone Features Grid The Grid is made up of the 2x8 velocity sensitive pads. The standalone functions of the pads appear in grey text around the grid and their uses are detailed below. Drum Mode Hold Shift and press the Drum Mode pad (second from bottom left) to enter Drum Mode. Whilst in this mode the velocity sensitive pads output MIDI notes from C1 to D#2 and will be lit blue. - Page 29 The first and last pad of each row light up more brightly than the middle pads to show root chord position. To navigate between pages of chords use the ▲▼ navigation buttons. On the first page the top row of pads are lit blue and contain triads, the bottom row of pads contains 7ths and is lit a darker blue.
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Page 30: User Chord Mode
User Chord Mode In User Chord Mode you can assign up to six-note chords to each pad. Your Launchkey saves these chords to its internal memory and are accessible between power cycles. Any assignments you make are still available even after you turn Launchkey off and on again. To enter User Chord Mode hold the Shift button and press the User Chord pad (bottom row, fourth from the left). -
Page 31: Fixed Chord
You can use the ▲▼ buttons to transpose the chord bank in semitones between -12 and +12, any changes show on the screen. Fixed Chord Fixed Chord lets you play a chord shape and then transpose it by pressing other keys. To set a chord press and hold the Fixed Chord button. - Page 32 Major chords will now sound on whatever key you press. For example, you can now press F to hear an F Major chord (shown below), or Ab to hear an Ab Major chord, etc.
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Page 33: Scale Mode
Scale Mode In Scale mode, you can set the entire keyboard, or the pads in instrument mode, to only play notes in a scale you select. Press the “Scale” button to activate this mode, the button lights showing the mode is active. -
Page 34: Custom Modes
Custom Modes Using novation Components, you can configure the Launchkey’s knobs, pads and faders (49, 61 and 88 key models only) to send custom messages. We refer to these custom message configurations as Custom Modes. To access the custom modes press Shift and the Custom Mode Pads/Fader buttons. -
Page 35: Pots
Pots Launchkey has four pot Custom Modes. To access these Custom Modes hold Shift and then press any of the four Pot Mode Custom buttons. Pots can send custom CC numbers using Components. Faders (Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 only) Launchkey has four fader Custom Modes. -
Page 36: Arpeggiator Pot Controls
Arpeggiator Pot Controls When you hold the Shift button the pots can transform your arpeggios. Tempo – This pot speeds up or slows down your arpeggio relative to the Rate. Using Launchkey as a standalone controller, this tempo ranges from 60 BPM to 187 BPM. However, when synced with Ableton Live, this pot will have no effect. -
Page 37: Arp Modes
Arp Modes After turning on the Arp you’ll be in one of seven Arpeggiator types, each resulting in arpeggios of different note orders. To change the Arp Type, press and hold the Shift button, and then press the key corresponding to your desired mode. Up –... -
Page 38: Arp Rates
Arp Rates These options specify the speed of the arpeggiated notes. Since each note plays immediately after the end of the previous one, a shorter rate (eg. 1/32) plays an arpeggio faster than longer one (e.g. 1/4). Rate options are common musical note values: quarter (1⁄4), eighth (1/8), sixteenth (1/16) and thirty- second (1/32) notes. -
Page 39: Arp Rhythms
Arp Rhythms Arp Rhythms add musical rests (silent steps) to your arpeggio’s pattern, allowing for greater variations in your arpeggios. Hold Arp then press one of the following keys: Dots - These three options are rhythmic patterns. • O – The normal Arpeggiator setting, this places a note on every division of the selected Arp rate. •... -
Page 40: Arp Control Lock
Arp Control Lock Long pressing the Arp button turns on Arp Control Lock. When Arp Control Lock mode is on, the Arp controls on the pots and pads are accessible directly without requiring a Shift press. This is useful for when you want to play the arp using one hand. -
Page 41: Settings
Settings Pressing the Settings button brings up the settings menu on the screen. You can scroll through the list of settings using the scene ▲▼ buttons. To adjust the values of the settings, either use the pads or the track ◄... -
Page 42: Navigation Mode
Navigation Mode - ([...] Button) Pressing the ‘...’ button will put the Launchkey into a navigation mode useful for browsing samples and presets. You will see the pads light up as shown below. The four blue pads form a left, right, up and down keypad which replicates the cursor control keys on your computer keyboard. -
Page 43: Arp Controls In Strum Mode
Arp Controls in Strum Mode Mode – This lets you set the direction or order of notes on the modulation wheel. Up – raising the Mod Wheel will play the notes in an ascending order. Down – raising the Mod Wheel will play the notes in a descending order. Up/Down –... -
Page 44: Working With Other Daws
To set up Launchkey with for use with Logic Pro X you will need to download the necessary drivers, to do this follow the following steps: • Follow the link to the Novation Customer Portal novationmusic.com • Register Launchkey [MK3] •... -
Page 45: Session Mode
Logic Pro X > Control Surfaces > Setup. Once in the Setup window, choose ‘Install’ from the ‘New’ menu. This, in turn, will open the ‘Install’ window. Scroll to the Novation Launchkey and click ‘Add’. Session Mode To access session mode, hold Shift and press the Session Mode pad as shown below. This mode allows... - Page 46 Record/Mute mode - the top row of pads toggles the record arm on the relevant track and will be lit red, the bottom row toggles the track mute and will be lit yellow. The tracks represented by the pads include any sends tracks, the top row of pads will not be lit for sends (busses). Pressing a red pad will arm that track for recording and it will glow a brighter red.
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Page 47: Pots
Pots Device Mode - Links the pots to the parameters, or “smart controls” of the device on the selected track. For instrument tracks, this is the parameter array of the instrument. To assign the pots to Device Mode press the Device Pad (upper left) with the Shift button held. Now, when you move a pot, the changed device parameter and its current value is displayed on the screen for a moment. -
Page 48: Faders (Launchkey 49, 61 And 88 Only)
Faders (Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 only) • Device Mode - Links the faders to the parameters, or “smart controls” of the device on the selected track (see navigation). For instrument tracks, this is the parameter array of the instrument. To assign the faders to Device Mode press the Device Fader button (left most) with the Shift button held. -
Page 49: Transport Functions
Transport Functions The buttons shown below provide key functionality for performing and recording with Logic Pro X. • Capture MIDI - pressing this will trigger the “Capture as Recording” function in Logic. • Click - toggles the metronome click. • Undo - pressing this will trigger the undo function. •... -
Page 50: Reason
Reason > Preferences > Control surfaces. Make sure “Use with Reason” is checked for the Novation Launchkey MK3 device. Close the window. Now if you hold the Shift button on the Launchkey the pads will look like this: Transport Control •... -
Page 51: Pots
Pots With a Reason instrument selected, the Launchkey’s eight pots automatically control useful parameters. Which parameters the pots control varies by instrument. With the Kong Drum Designer, for example, the Launchkey’s pots (from left to right) map to Pitch, Decay, Bus FX, Aux 1, Aux 2, Tone, Pan and Level. Pads Session Mode With a Reason instrument selected and the pads set to Session Mode (hold Shift and press the Session pad), the Launchkey’s 16 pads automatically control useful device settings. -
Page 52: Working With Hui (Pro Tools, Studio One Etc.)
Working with HUI (Pro Tools, Studio One etc.) ‘HUI’ (Human User Interface Protocol) allows the Launchkey to act like a Mackie HUI device and therefore work with DAWs with HUI support. DAWs that support HUI include Steinberg Cubase, Avid Pro Tools, PreSonus Studio One among others. -
Page 53: Faders And Fader Buttons (Launchkey 49, 61 And 88 Only)
Faders and Fader Buttons (Launchkey 49, 61 and 88 only) The faders always control track volumes for the selected bank of tracks. The Arm/Select button toggles between arming tracks (default) and selecting tracks. When in select mode the Fader buttons are lit dim white and in arm mode red. When a track is selected and active, the Fader button will be lit brightly. -
Page 54: Physical Characteristics
Physical Characteristics Weight and Dimensions Model Weight Height Width Depth Launchkey 25 1.8kg (3.97lbs) 77mm (3.03”) 463mm (18.23“) 258mm (10.16”) (62mm excluding pots) Launchkey 37 2.7kg (5.95lbs) 77mm (3.03”) 555mm (21.85“) 258mm (10.16”) (62mm excluding pots) Launchkey 49 3.1kg (6.84lbs) 77mm (3.03”) - Page 55 Novation has taken all possible steps to ensure the information given here is both correct and complete. In no event can Novation accept any liability or responsibility for any loss or damage to the owner of the equipment, any third party, or any equipment which may result from use of this manual or the equipment which it describes.
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