Novation Launchpad X User Manual
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Novation Launchpad X User Manual

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Summary of Contents for Novation Launchpad X

  • Page 1 English Version 2.0...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Overlap ......................... 21 Drum Mode ........................22 Custom Modes ........................24 Default Custom Modes ..................... 24 Setting up a Custom Mode in Novation Components ............26 Lighting Pads (Advanced) ....................28 Settings ..........................29 LED Settings ........................30 Velocity Settings ......................31 Aftertouch Settings ......................

  • Page 3: Introduction

    Launchpad X makes launching clips in Ableton Live easy by bringing your Session View from the screen to your fingertips in full RGB colour. Take music-making further and build tracks with Launchpad X by using the powerful Note mode to lay down expressive beats and melodies with the velocity and pressure-sensitive pads.

  • Page 4: Getting Started

    Getting Started We’ve made getting started with Launchpad X as easy as possible, whether you’re a brand-new beat maker or a seasoned producer. Our Easy Start Tool provides a step-by-step guide on getting set up that is tailored to your needs, whether you’ve never made music before or you just want to download your included software as fast...
  • Page 5 Alternatively, if you have Google Chrome open when you plug in your Launchpad X, a pop-up appears. Click on the pop-up to go straight to easy start. If you're on Windows: Press the Start button and type “This PC”, press enter.
  • Page 6 Inside the drive, click the link: “Click Here to Get Started.html” You’ll be taken to the Easy Start Tool, where we’ll get you set up.

  • Page 7: Ableton Live

    You may register your Launchpad X and obtain your Ableton Live Lite license at: customer.novationmusic.com/register Using Launchpad X with Other Software Launchpad X is made for Ableton Live, but it may also be used as a controller for other software. If you’re using other music production software, visit support.novationmusic.com for more information on how to set up your Launchpad X.

  • Page 8: Hardware Overview

    Hardware Overview Navigational Buttons Session Mode (+Mixer Toggle) Note Mode Custom Mode Record & Capture MIDI 8×8 Pad Grid Scene Launch & Mixer Buttons...
  • Page 9 USB-C Socket - Kensington Lock, use a lock to secure your Launchpad and deter theft.

  • Page 10: Launchpad X Interface

    Launchpad X Interface Modes are the core of the Launchpad X interface. They allow you to switch between views, offering different functionality in each. There are three different modes available: • Session (Mixer) • Note • Custom Press a mode pad (Session/Mixer, Note, or Custom), shown above, to enter the respective mode. The currently active mode lights pale green.

  • Page 11: Session Mode

    [4]). Here you’ll find your included Ableton Live Lite download code (if you choose to register your Launchpad X). There are also videos covering installing, the software’s basic features, and how to get started making music with your Launchpad X in Ableton Live.
  • Page 12 • Only one clip may play at a time per track. Pressing an empty clip will stop the current one on that track. • A horizontal line of clips is called a Scene. Scenes can be triggered using the (scene launch) buttons on the right-hand side of Launchpad X. When a track is record-armed (see Mixer Mode [13]), you may use the [O] button (Session Record) to enable overdub recording of the currently playing clip.

  • Page 13: Mixer Mode

    Mixer Mode Mixer Mode is a sub-mode of Session mode that allows you to control various track parameters in Ableton Live. Mixer Mode can be toggled on and off by pressing the Session button when in Session Mode. The session button: Lights pale green in Session mode.
  • Page 14 Volume, Pan, Send A and Send B are each a set of eight faders. The faders are vertical for Volume, Send A and Send B, whereas they are horizontal for Pan (see below). Press a pad to move the fader position up and down (or left to right).
  • Page 15 The numbers in each fader above show which track the fader is related to with regard to Session View’s red outline. The left-most track becomes the top track for pans. In Mixer mode, the bottom row of pads can provide immediate control for four performance track controls. These functions are overlaid onto the bottom row of pads when you press their Mixer functions: Red - Stop (stop the clip from playing on a specific track) Yellow - Mute (mute a specific track).
  • Page 16 You can use momentary switching for Views within Session Mode and Mixer Mode. For example, you might be viewing your track mutes, but want to quickly visit your volume faders to turn a track up. Press and hold Volume, edit a volume fader, and release Volume to return to mute view. NOTE Faders will not continue to move when not currently viewed.

  • Page 17: Note Mode

    Note Mode Use Launchpad X’s Note Mode to play the drums and melodic instruments expressively with the velocity and pressure sensitive 8×8 grid. The layout of Note mode is variable, with the option to have a chromatic, scale, or drum layout. You are able to customise Launchpad X’s playing surface to suit you.

  • Page 18: Chromatic Mode

    Chromatic Mode Chromatic Mode is the default layout of Note mode. Press pads in the 8×8 grid to trigger notes. While Chromatic Mode allows you to play all notes, the pads give you a visual indication of which notes are in scale. Blue pads represent notes in the currently selected scale (C Minor by default), purple pads represent the root of the scale, and blank pads represent notes outside the scale.

  • Page 19: Scale Mode

    Scale Mode In Scale Mode, the Launchpad X, only displays notes in the current scale. This allows you to play freely without ever going out of key. As with Chromatic Mode, blue pads represent notes in the currently selected scale, while purple pads represent the root of the scale.

  • Page 20: Note Mode Settings

    Note Mode Settings Note Mode settings allow you to switch between Chromatic Mode and Scale Mode, change the currently selected scale and root note, alter Note Mode’s layout with overlap controls, and change Note Mode’s MIDI channel. To Enter Note Mode settings, press, and hold Note. The note pad pulses green when you're in Note Mode settings.

  • Page 21: Overlap

    Overlap Overlap determines the relationship between notes on different rows. An overlap of five means that the leftmost pad on a row plays the same note as the sixth pad across on the row below. Each overlap level represents how many fingers you need to play a scale. For example, with a four-finger overlap, you can play a scale going vertically up the grid with only four fingers.

  • Page 22: Drum Mode

    Drum Mode If you load and Ableton Live Drum rack to the currently armed track, Note Mode represents the current state of the drum rack, showing which slots are filled. In Ableton Live, load a drum kit into a MIDI track by selecting a Drum kit from the browser and double-clicking it (or drag it to a track).
  • Page 23 You can scroll through the visible area of the Drum rack in sets of 16 slots using the ▲▼ buttons, or in sets of four slots using the ◄ ► buttons. The bottom left 4×4 area always corresponds with the currently visible slots in the Ableton Drum rack.

  • Page 24: Custom Modes

    Custom Modes turn Launchpad X’s 8×8 grid into a deeply customisable control surface. You can create and edit Custom Modes using Novation Components – our online hub for all Novation products. You may also back up any Custom Modes you create here. We have several Custom Mode templates for you to download and explore on Components.
  • Page 25 Custom 3 is a non-lit version of Custom 1. Sending MIDI notes Custom 4 is a non-lit layout with note values different to Custom 3. to this layout lights the pads according to the velocity of the The note values match Programmer Mode but for the 8×8 grid only. incoming notes.

  • Page 26: Setting Up A Custom Mode In Novation Components

    When you open Components app or load the website on your computer, your Launchpad X connects automatically. If the product name next to the home icon (in the top right-hand corner) is not Launchpad X, click the home icon and select Launchpad X from the list of products.
  • Page 27 You can assign Pads within a Custom Mode an “On” and “Off” colour when pads within the 8×8 grid are pressed/toggled. (e.g. when a note is being played or a temporary CC change is toggled). There may only be one “On” colour per Custom Mode, but each pad may have a unique “Off” colour. Custom Modes may have any combination of notes, CCs, program changes and faders –...

  • Page 28: Lighting Pads (Advanced)

    Lighting Pads (Advanced) By default, Custom 3 and 4 have all pads unlit. MIDI Note messages sent to Launchpad X will light pads according to note number and velocity. The note sent will determine which pad lights up, and the note’s velocity will determine the colour.

  • Page 29: Settings

    Settings Launchpad X’s settings and setup menu allows you to set your preferences across many of its aspects. There are four pages available: LED, velocity, aftertouch, and fader. To enter the settings menu, press, and hold Session briefly. The top 4 rows will display the characters LED,...

  • Page 30: Led Settings

    (dim). This setting is ignored in Session mode where no Note or Custom data is sent to the first USB MIDI port. LED sleep may be pressed to turn off all LEDs on Launchpad X. Press any button or pad to wake up the device.

  • Page 31: Velocity Settings

    Press the Enable/Disable Velocity toggle to enable or disable velocity globally on Launchpad X. The pad will be lit bright green when velocity is enabled, and dim red when disabled.

  • Page 32: Aftertouch Settings

    Aftertouch Settings The third Scene Launch button accesses the aftertouch (AFT) settings for Launchpad X. Here you can select between channel pressure, polyphonic aftertouch, or disabling aftertouch, with a choice of three thresholds for triggering aftertouch. Choose between Aftertouch disabled, Channel Pressure, and Polyphonic Aftertouch. The selected mode will be brightly lit, the others dimly lit.

  • Page 33: Fader Settings

    Fader Settings The fourth Scene Launch button accesses the fader (FAD) settings for Launchpad X. Here, you may enable or disable velocity sensitivity for faders independently of global velocity sensitivity. Enable or Disable Velocity for Faders by pressing the pad. The pad will be lit bright green when fader velocity...

  • Page 34: Legacy, Live, And Programmer Modes

    (pads and buttons) becomes unlit. You can light pads using MIDI messages. Live mode is the default mode. In Live mode, your Launchpad X functions as 'normal', and you can access the Session, Note, and Custom Modes. For more information, see the Programmer Reference Guide, which can be downloaded at: downloads.novationmusic.com.

  • Page 35: Bootloader Menu

    Bootloader Version will inform which version of the Bootloader is on Launchpad X. Application Version will inform which version of the Application is on Launchpad X. Pressing the Boot-up button will start Launchpad X normally, exiting the bootloader menu.
  • Page 36 This is why Launchpad X appears as a mass storage device when plugged into your computer. Inside the LAUNCHPAD X folder is a link to our Easy Start Tool, which will help to get you set up with your Launchpad...

  • Page 37: Default Midi Mappings

    Default MIDI Mappings Custom 1: 8×8 grid, Momentary Note On messages (note numbers Custom 2: 8×8 grid, Momentary Note On messages (note numbers above) above) Custom 4: 8×8 grid, Momentary Note On messages (note Custom 3: 8×8 grid, Momentary Note On messages (note numbers numbers above) above) Programmer Mode: Includes buttons and pads (full 9×9 grid), logo LED may be addressed, Momentary Note...
  • Page 38 For more detailed information regarding the MIDI implementation of Launchpad X, please see the programmer’s reference guide at: downloads.novationmusic.com...

  • Page 39: Novation Notices

    Disclaimer Novation has taken all steps to ensure the information given here is 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 this manual or the equipment it describes.

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