Novation Launchkey 25 MK3, Launchkey 37 MK3, Launchkey 49 MK3, Launchkey 61 MK3 User manual

Caution:

The normal operation of this product may be affected by a strong electrostatic discharge (ESD).

In the event of this happening, simply reset the unit by removing and then replugging the USB

cable. Normal operation should return.

Trade Marks

The Novation trade mark 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 modified

at any time without prior warning. Specifications and appearance may differ from those listed and

illustrated.

Novation is a registered trade mark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited. Launchkey MK3 is a

trademark of Focusrite Audio Engineering Plc.

Novation

Tel: +44 1494 462246

A division of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd.

Windsor House, Turnpike Road

Cressex Business Park , High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire , HP12 3FX

Fax: +44 1494 459920

e-mail: sales@novationmusic.com

Web: www.novationmusic.com

United Kingdom

User Guide version V1.01

Contents

1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................5

1.1 Key Features .............................................................................................................................5

1.2 Box Contents ............................................................................................................................6

1.3 Getting Started ........................................................................................................................6

1.4 Support ....................................................................................................................................7

1.5 Model Specific Features ...........................................................................................................7

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

1.7 Getting Connected ................................................................................................................10

1.7.1 Connecting Launchkey with a Computer .........................................................................10

1.7.2 Connecting Launchkey with External MIDI Enabled Instruments ....................................10

2.0 Working with Ableton Live ...............................................................................................11

2.0.1 Installation ........................................................................................................................11

2.0.2 Setup ................................................................................................................................11

2.1 Session Mode .........................................................................................................................13

2.1.1 Launching Clips ...............................................................................................................15

2.1.2 Launching Scenes ............................................................................................................16

2.1.3 Stop, Solo, Mute .............................................................................................................16

2.1.4 Record ..............................................................................................................................17

2.1.5 Capture MIDI ....................................................................................................................17

2.1.6 Quantise ...........................................................................................................................17

2.1.7 Click ..................................................................................................................................17

2.1.8 Undo.................................................................................................................................17

2.1.9 Arm/ Select (61 & 49 Key Models Only) ................................................................................. 18

2.2 Drum Mode - Playing and Recording Drums ...............................................................................18

2.3 Using Ableton Live’s Mixer .................................................................................................... 19

2.3.1 Pots ..................................................................................................................................19

2.3.2 Faders (49 & 61 Key Models Only) .........................................................................................20

2.4 Device Mode - Navigating and Controlling Devices ..................................................................20

2.4.1 Device Select .......................................................................................................................21

2.4.2 Device Lock ......................................................................................................................22

2.5 Transport Functions ................................................................................................................23

3.0 Standalone Features .........................................................................................................24

3.1 Grid ........................................................................................................................................24

3.1.1 Drum Mode ......................................................................................................................24

3.2 Chord Modes .........................................................................................................................24

3.2.1 Scale Chord Mode ...........................................................................................................24

3.2.2 User Chord Mode .............................................................................................................25

3.2.3 Fixed Chord......................................................................................................................27

3.3 Scale Mode ............................................................................................................................28

3.4 Custom Modes ......................................................................................................................29

3.4.1 Pads ..................................................................................................................................30

3.4.2 Pots ..................................................................................................................................30

3.4.3 Faders (49 and 61 key models only) ....................................................................................... 30

3.5 Arpeggiator ............................................................................................................................30

3.5.1 Arpeggiator Rotary Pots ..................................................................................................31

3.5.2 Arp Modes .......................................................................................................................31

3.5.3 Arp Rates .........................................................................................................................32

3.5.4 Arp Octaves .....................................................................................................................33

3.5.5 Arp Rhythms ....................................................................................................................33

3.5.6 Latch ................................................................................................................................34

3.5.7 Arp Control Lock .............................................................................................................34

3.6 Octave Buttons.......................................................................................................................35

3.7 Settings ..................................................................................................................................35

3.8 Pot Pickup ..............................................................................................................................36

3.9 Navigation Mode - ([...] Button) ...................................................................................................36

4.0 Working with Other DAWs ...............................................................................................37

4.1 Logic .......................................................................................................................................37

4.1.1 Setup ................................................................................................................................37

4.1.2 Session Mode ...................................................................................................................38

4.1.3 Pots (Knobs) ..............................................................................................................................39

4.1.3 Faders (49 & 61 Key Models Only)..........................................................................................40

4.1.4 Arm/ Select (61 & 49 Key Models Only) ................................................................................. 41

4.1.5 Transport Functions ..........................................................................................................41

4.1.6 Navigation ........................................................................................................................41

4.2 Reason ....................................................................................................................................42

4.2.1 Setup ................................................................................................................................42

4.2.2 Transport Control .............................................................................................................43

4.2.3 Rotary Knobs ....................................................................................................................43

4.2.4 Pads Session Mode ..........................................................................................................43

4.2.5 Navigation ........................................................................................................................43

4.2.6 Preset Browsing ................................................................................................................43

4.3 Working with HUI (Pro Tools, Cubase, Studio One etc.) ............................................................. 44

4.3.1 Setup ...............................................................................................................................44

4.3.1.1 Pro Tools ........................................................................................................................ 44

4.3.1.1 Cubase .......................................................................................................................... 44

4.3.1.1 Studio One .................................................................................................................... 44

4.3.2 Pad Session Mode ............................................................................................................44

4.3.3 Navigation .......................................................................................................................44

4.3.4 Controlling the Mixer .......................................................................................................44

4.3.5 Faders and Fader Buttons (49 & 61 Key Models Only) .........................................................45

4.3.6 Transport Buttons .............................................................................................................45

5.0 Custom Modes and Components ....................................................................................46

1.0 Introduction

Launchkey [MK3] is Novation’s intuitive and fully integrated MIDI keyboard controller for making

tracks in Ableton Live, 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.

Launchkey gives you unrivalled access to Ableton Live’s functions, including Capture MIDI, track

arm, quantise, click and loop controls. Not using Ableton Live? No problem, Launchkey also has full

integration with Logic and Reason, plus out of the box functionality with other DAWs including Studio

One, Cubase and Pro Tools, via HUI.

Inspirational features include Scale and Chord modes and a powerful arpeggiator, which together

extend your musical capabilities and let you create in new ways. Scale Mode transposes keys and pads

played to notes in the scale selected; chord modes let you trigger complex chords with one finger,

while the powerful arpeggiator gets melodies moving.

Launchkey also works in standalone; the full-size five-pin MIDI output works with any MIDI-compatible

device. Use Novation Components to configure Custom Modes, which map Launchkey’s knobs, faders

and pads to all things MIDI.

1.1 Key Features

• Designed for Ableton Live: immediate

access to all the controls you need.

• Additional DAW support: Full integration

with Logic and Reason, out of the box

functionality with Studio One, Cubase, Pro

Tools and more via HUI.

• Produce and perform: 25, 37, 49 or 61-note

velocity sensitive keyboard and 16 velocity

sensitive RGB backlit pads

• Shape your sound: tweak instruments and

• Get creative: three chord modes allow

you to trigger chords with one finger, the

powerful arpeggiator gets melodies moving

• Transport and mixer control: directly operate

playback, recording, pans, mutes and sends

• Connect to your hardware: 5-pin MIDI Out

works with any MIDI-compatible device

• Control anything MIDI: create custom

mappings for any performance or studio rig

using Novation Components

effects to perfection using eight rotary

encoders - and 9 faders (Launchkey 49 and

61 only)

• Automatically map scales to the keys: never

hit a wrong note

• Make music immediately: Ableton Live Lite,

virtual instruments and effects plugins and

sample packs included

1.2 Box Contents

• Launchkey 25, 37, 49 or 61

• USB Type-A to B cable (1.5 meters)

• Safety Instructions

1.3 Getting Started

The ‘Easy Start Tool’ provides a step-by-step guide to setting up your Launchkey. This simple online

tool will guide you through the process of registering the device and accessing the software bundle.

When connecting Launchkey to your computer, it will appear as a Mass Storage Device (MSD), just

like a USB drive. Open the drive and then open ‘Click Here to Get Started.url’. This will open the Easy

Start Tool in your web browser.

Alternatively, visit our website to register your Launchkey and access the software bundle.

1.4 Support

For additional information and support visit the Novation Help Centre.

1.5 Model Specific Features

There are 25, 37, 49 and 61 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

Velocity Sensitive keys 25 37 49 61

Faders - - 9 9

Fader/ Track Buttons - - 9 9

Arm/ Select Button - -

1.6 Hardware Overview

 

2 3

1 LED Display Shows the device status, parameter values,

and lets you navigate through menus.

2 Shift Button Enables access to secondary Shift functions

which are shown in grey text on the hardware.

3 Settings Button Opens the settings menu on the screen. (A

reference table of Settings options can be found in section 3.7)

4 ▲▼ Buttons Navigates up and down through rows of pads.

Used for clips and drum racks in Live, chords,

5 Track ◄ ►Buttons Navigates through tracks in your DAW.

6 … Button

(Navigation Mode)

7 Fixed Chord

Button

8 Arp Button Turns on and off Launchkey’s inbuilt

9 Scale Button Turns on and off Launchkey’s Scale Mode.

10 Octave - +

Buttons

11 Pitch Wheel Bends the pitch of the note being played.

12 Modulation Wheel Modulates software/ hardware parameters.

and more.

Pressing the “...” button will put the Launchkey into a navigation mode useful for browsing samples and presets.

Stores a chord that can be played anywhere on the keyboard. While holding the button, press and release the keys that you wish to be part of the ‘fixed’ chord.

arpeggiator. Long press also locks the pot Arp

controls to on.

Transposes the keyboard up or down across 8 octaves (C-2 to C5). Pressing both buttons sets the transposition amount back to 0.

13 Pots Controls various parameters using 8 available modes: Device, Volume, Pan, Sends

and four Custom Modes. The first five pots also control Arp parameters as secondary functions.

14 Pads Triggers clips and play drum racks in Ableton Live using Session and Drum Modes. Send

custom MIDI messages using four available Custom Modes. Trigger chords in Scale Chord and User Chord Modes.

15 Device Select Selects the device you want to control in Ableton Live using the pads.

16 Device Lock Locks the currently selected device controls to the pots in Ableton Live, even when you

navigate to a different track.

17 > Button

(Scene Launch)

18 Stop/ Solo/

Mute Button

Launches full rows of clips in Ableton Live.

Turns the bottom row of pads into track stop, solo or mute buttons.

20 21

19 Faders (Launchkey 49

and 61 only)

20 Fader Buttons (49 & 61

key models only)

21 Arm/ Select Button (49

& 61 Key Models Only)

Control various parameters using 8 available modes: Device, Volume, Send A,

Send B and 4 Custom Modes. The 9th fader controls Master volume in your DAW

(excluding HUI).

Control various parameters using 8 available modes: Device, Volume, Send A,

Send B and 4 Custom Modes.

Changes the functionality of the Fader Buttons in your DAW to let you select and

record arm tracks.

24 Click Toggles Logic and Live’s metronome on and off.

25 Undo Triggers Logic and Live’s undo function.

26 Play, Record, Stop, Loop Controls the playback in your DAW.

23 24 25

22 Capture Midi Capture any recently played MIDI notes in your

DAW (supported by Ableton Live and Logic).

23 Quantise Triggers the quantise function in Ableton Live and

Logic, to snap notes to the grid.

1.7 Getting Connected

1.7.1 Connecting Launchkey with a Computer

Your Launchkey is USB bus-powered, meaning it turns on as soon as you connect it to your computer

with a USB cable. When connecting Launchkey for the first time, visit Components to make sure you

have the latest firmware. This will make sure you have all the latest features enabled.

Note: When connecting Launchkey to a Mac you may be shown the Keyboard Setup Assistant. This

is because Launchkey also functions as a computer keyboard device in order to enable the Navigate

functionality. The Keyboard Setup Assistant can simply be dismissed.

1.7.2 Connecting Launchkey with External MIDI Enabled Instruments

If you want to use the 5-pin DIN socket for MIDI output on your Launchkey without a computer, you

can power the unit with a standard USB power supply (5V DC, minimum 500mA).

2.0 Working with Ableton Live

Your Launchkey is designed to work seamlessly with Ableton Live, offering deep integration through

powerful production and performance controls right out of the box. In addition, you can modify your

Launchkey to suit your needs with Custom Modes. Launchkey’s functionality with Ableton Live is

detailed below.

2.0.1 Installation

If you already own Ableton Live 10 then all you need to do is open the program and plug in your

Launchkey. If you don’t yet own Ableton Live 10, register your Launchkey at novationmusic.com/

Ableton Live before, we recommend visiting our Easy Start Tool (see ‘Getting Started’). There you’ll

find videos covering installation, the software’s basic features, and how to get started making music

with your Launchkey.

2.0.2 Setup

With Ableton Live installed, plug your Launchkey into your Mac or PC’s USB port. When you open Live

your Launchkey will be automatically detected and enter Session Mode.

If you press Shift on your Launchkey your pad lights should look like the image below. The top row of

pads (blue) select behaviour or “Mode” of the Pots above, while the lower row of pads (green) select

the behaviour or mode of the pads. If a pad is red then that mode is assigned to the faders (49 & 61

key models only).

If your pads do not resemble the image above you’ll need to configure Live’s Control Surface

Preferences. To do this, find the ‘Link/MIDI’ Preferences menu in Ableton Live:

Windows: Options > Preferences > Link/MIDI

Mac: Live > Preferences > Link/MIDI

In the Link/MIDI tab you’ll need to copy the settings shown above. First, select your Launchkey MK3

from the Control Surface menu. Then, under Input select “Launchkey MK3 [...] (LKMK3 DAW OUT)” or

Launchkey MK3 MIDI IN2 (Windows) for output select “Launchkey MK3 [...] (LKMK3 DAW IN)”. Finally,

match the Track, Sync and Remote settings.

If you’re having trouble getting your Launchkey working with Ableton Live, be sure to visit our Easy

Start Tool for video explanations.

2.1 Session Mode

Session mode is designed to control 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 should brighten

like this:

Session View is a grid that consists of clips, tracks and scenes (shown below).

Track

Scene

Clip

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

notes or audio.

Scenes are rows of clips. Launching a scene will launch all clips in that row. This means that you can

arrange clips into horizontal groups (across tracks) to form a song structure, launching scene after

scene to progress through a song.

Tracks represent virtual instruments or audio

tracks. MIDI clips placed on instrument

tracks will play back on the instrument that is

assigned to that track.

Again, access Session mode on your Launchkey by holding Shift and pressing the Session pad (the

bottom left pad).

In Session mode, the pads represent the grid of clips found inside the coloured rectangle in Ableton

Live’s Session View. The image below shows such a rectangle (orange) extending from the left-most

track to the Master track:

+ 32 hidden pages