With the Novation Launchkey 37 Mini MK4, Novation introduces the fourth generation of its successful small controller, which can be seamlessly integrated into all common DAWs to enable a hardware-controlled workflow. This affordable controller packs a keyboard with 37 keys, 16 drum pads, eight encoders, and an arpeggiator into its highly compact housing, and it additionally provides playback and plugin parameter control. Users can also connect the Launchkey 37 Mini to an iPad or iPhone for intuitive manual control, in addition to which the controller can also send MIDI data to external synthesizers or drum computers via the corresponding ports on its rear side. The expanded Chord, Scale, and Arpeggio modes in turn help the user to stay in the chosen key, while at the same time allowing them to play with greater expression.
Alongside the Launchkey Mini 37 MK4’s three-octave keyboard, users will find 16 velocity-sensitive pads with polyphonic aftertouch, which are backlit in RGB colours and perfect for playing drum sounds. These pads are also part of the ingenious Ableton control, meaning that users can select, start, or mark clips for recording in Ableton’s session view and in Logic’s Live Loops. Furthermore, users can access a fully-fledged and versatile arpeggiator with eight encoders, which can control functions such as channel volume, pan, and sends in Ableton Live. The Launchkey’s Scale mode allows the user to select one of 30 scales to compose a song without any mistakes, while entire chords can be played via a single key in Fixed Chord mode. What is more, users can also create chord mappings with which emotional chord progressions can be created using the 16 pads.
The Novation Launchkey Mini 37 MK4 is the ideal companion for both musicians and producers who want to use it on the go, where its clearly arranged user interface will ensure a fast and easy workflow. Whether the order of the day is arranging beats or practising songs while travelling to the next gig, this controller is well equipped for every adventure and will easily fit into the user’s hand luggage. What is more, the Launchkey Mini 37 is class-compliant and therefore compatible with all common music apps for iPad and iPhone, while its MIDI connection ports can also be used to receive data from hardware synthesizers. The Novation Components software makes it possible to create user-defined mappings for flexible settings, which can be stored in the controller’s internal memory and loaded easily using the keyboard.
The English company Novation has been producing affordable popular synthesizers as well as MIDI controllers and keyboards since its foundation in 1992. It was later acquired by the well-known British audio interface manufacturer Focusrite, but the brand still exists within the parent company. The outstanding design, high-quality workmanship and excellent price-performance ratio of the Novation Launchpads have continued to win them many new users. Novation synthesizers include the 8-voice Polyphone Peak, the analogue mono synthesizer Bass Station II, the MiniNova and the paraphonic analogue synthesizer Circuit Mono Station.
Newcomers to the world of music production are sure to appreciate the software package that is included with the Novation Launchkey Mini 37 MK4, which includes Ableton Live 12 Lite and numerous virtual instruments, such as a 4-in-1 bundle from GForce with one monophonic and two polyphonic synthesizers, as well as an emulation of a tape sampler. Two collections from Orchestral Tools – Inspire 2 and Time Macro – are also included and provide a wide selection of sounds, among them orchestral samples that have been recorded according to the highest standards and include Delicate Piano, Flautando Strings, and Woodwind Parallax. Klevgrand LUXE in turn provides a linear reverb with the complexity of a multi-delay system. What is more, users can learn to play the controller more fluently using the included lessons from Melodics for Novation users.