Novation Launchkey 25 User Manual

English

Novation
A division of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd.
Windsor House,
Turnpike Road,
Cressex Business Park,
High Wycombe,
Bucks,
HP12 3FX.
United Kingdom

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.novationmusic.com

Trademarks

The Novation trademark is owned by Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. All other brand, product
and company names and any other registered names or trade marks mentioned in this manual
belong to their respective owners.

Disclaimer

Novation has taken all possible steps to ensure that 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. The information provided in this

document may be modied at any time without prior warning. Specications and appearance

may differ from those listed and illustrated.

COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES

Novation, Launchkey and InControl are registered trade marks of Focusrite Audio Engineering
Limited.

2015 © Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 4

Key Features ........................................................... 4

About This Manual ...................................................... 4

What’s In The Box ....................................................... 5

Registering Your Launchkey ............................................... 6

Power Requirements ..................................................... 6

Hardware Overview...................................................... 7

Top View – controls .................................................. 7

Rear view – connections .............................................. 9

LAUNCHKEY SETUP EXAMPLES ............................................10

Interfacing Launchkey to a computer ........................................10

InControl mode .....................................................10

Basic mapping mode .................................................11

Interfacing Launchkey to an iPad ...........................................11

EXPLORING LAUNCHKEY ..................................................12

MIDI Channel ..........................................................12

Transport controls .......................................................12

Octave up/down ........................................................13

Transp o s e .............................................................13

Pitch Wheel ............................................................13

Modulation Wheel .......................................................13

Slider(s) ...............................................................14

Buttons ...............................................................14

Rotary controls .........................................................14

Launch Pads ...........................................................14

Round buttons..........................................................15

Track I / H..............................................................15

Velocity Curves .........................................................15

Using Launchkey with InControl ............................................16

Using Launchkey with Ableton Live Lite ......................................16

TECHNICAL INFORMATION .................................................18

Basic Troubleshooting Examples ...........................................18

MIDI messages table ....................................................19

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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing this Novation Launchkey MIDI controller keyboard. As well as the
music keyboard itself, Launchkey is equipped with a range of controllers to allow the modern
musician to create great music in the studio, in live performance or on the move. The keyboard

allows you to control your existing Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software, and also the
included V-Station and Bass Station software plug-ins. Together, this unique software-hardware

combination allows instant, real-time tweaking of synth parameters, loops and audio effects.

This guide will introduce you to Launchkey and explain the various ways you can use it with
your music software in your recording set-up.

Launchkey includes Novation’s InControl mode, which gives you a simple yet powerful way of
controlling all your favourite music software applications.

With Launchkey you have two ways of working:

• InControl – automatically maps Launchkey’s sliders, rotary controls and buttons onto

your essential DAW parameters, such as channel faders, pan, mute and solo.

• Basic Mapping mode – use Launchkey as a conventional MIDI controller, where

each controller - sliders, rotary controls and buttons - transmits a dedicated MIDI CC

(Continuous Controller) message.

For additional information, up to date support articles and a form to contact our Technical

Support Team please visit the Novation Answerbase at: www.novationmusic.com/answerbase

Key Features

• Available with 25, 49 or 61-note synth-action keyboard

• 8 rotary controls

• 9 sliders (49 and 61-note versions)

• 16 performance launch pads with multi-colour backlighting

• Numeric LED display showing parameter values

• Standard transport control set

• Standard synth modulation and pitch bend wheels, plus octave transpose buttons

• Direct integration with Ableton Live recording software

• Track control buttons – change DAW tracks remotely

• Integrated with InControl for seamless control of your DAW

• Very simple installation procedure – class compliant, no driver required

About This Manual

We’ve tried to make this manual as helpful as possible for all types of user, both newcomers to
computer music and those more experienced, and this inevitably means some users will want
to skip over certain parts of it, while relative novices will want to avoid certain parts of it until

they’re condent they’ve mastered the basics.

However, there are a few general points that are useful to know about before you continue
reading this manual. We’ve adopted some graphical conventions within the text, which we hope

all types of user will nd helpful in navigating through the information to nd what they need to

know quickly:

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Abbreviations, conventions, etc.

Where top panel controls or rear panel connectors are referred to, we’ve used a number thus:

to cross-reference to the top panel diagram, and thus: 1 to cross-reference to the rear

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panel diagram. (See pages page 7 and page 9).

We’ve used CAPS to name physical things like top panel controls and rear panel connectors,

and also on-screen buttons which you need to click, and bold Courier font to denote text
which you see on the computer screen.

Tips

These do what it says on the tin: we include bits of advice, relevant to the
topic being discussed that should simplify setting up Launchkey to do what
you want. It’s not mandatory that you follow them, but generally they should
make life easier.

What’s In The Box

Launchkey has been carefully packed in the factory and the packaging was designed to

withstand rough handling. Should the unit appear to have been damaged in transit, do not

discard any of the packing material and notify your music dealer.

Save all the packing materials for future use if you ever need to ship the unit again.

Please check the list below against the contents of the packaging. If any items are missing or
damaged, contact the Novation dealer or distributor where you purchased the unit.

• Launchkey MIDI controller keyboard

• USB Type A to Type B cable (1.5 m)

• Getting Started Guide, including Product/software Registration details, allowing
download of:

• Setup instructions for popular DAWs

• Novation V-Station synth plug-in

• Novation Bass Station plug-in

• Loopmaster samples

• Live Lite registration card, with download instructions for Ableton Live Lite music making
software

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Registering Your Launchkey

It is important to register your Launchkey on-line using the Product/software Registration

details on the back of the Getting Started Guide. Apart from validating your manufacturer’s

warranty, you will also then be able to download the additional software that you are entitled to
as a Launchkey purchaser. The registration details also contain codes you will need to enter in
the on-line forms on our website to download the software, but before you attempt to do this,
warranty registration is required.

Power Requirements

Launchkey will normally be powered from your computer via its rear panel USB connector. DC
power will be supplied by the computer through the standard USB cable. We recommend that
you connect Launchkey directly to a computer’s native USB port, and not via a USB hub.

Launchkey cannot be powered from an iPad. When using Launchkey with an iPad, it must be

separately powered by an external, 9 V mains adaptor (AC-to-DC adaptor). When using this

method, please ensure that your local AC supply is within the range of voltages required by the
adaptor BEFORE you plug it into the mains. Please contact your Novation dealer for advice on
suitable mains adaptors if you are in any doubt.

A word about laptops:

When powering Launchkey from a computer you should be aware that although

the USB specication agreed by the IT industry states that a USB port should

be able to supply 0.5 A at 5 V, some computers - particularly laptops – are unable to
supply this current. Unreliable operation may result in such a case. When powering

Launchkey from a laptop’s USB port, it is recommended that the laptop is powered from

AC mains rather than its internal battery.

If this is a problem, Launchkey can be powered via an optional AC-to-DC 9 V mains adaptor,
which you should connect to the Power In socket at the rear (see page 9). Please
contact your Novatin dealer for advice on suitable mains adaptors if you are in any doubt.

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