Comments on: New Novation LaunchPad – The $199 Ableton Live Controller

By: smck99

smck99 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:43:30 +0000

Fantastic piece of equipment! Music Production will never be the same! Has the main features of the APC40, comes as a more compact unit, its very own Ableton Live software and such a neat price tag for something with such huge features.

By: synthhead

synthhead — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:47:45 +0000

Yeah – the Launchpad makes me wonder if Korg will come out with a nanoLaunchPad next year for $99.

By: mr dudovice

mr dudovice — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:02:58 +0000

I´m happy I bought NI Maschine even if its not reaching up to my standards, but this thing looks really like the parties started.

By: guest

guest — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:18:20 +0000

I own an APC40, and while my chops are nowhere near the demos I've seen of the APC or this badass, I can immediately tell that I would prefer the fact that this thing is almost like a big trackpad, and you can jump to assign the grid to effects by pressing buttons at the top. I dont find the APC's effects and send arrangements to be particularly ergonomic or fun. This thing also looks a good deal more breakable than the APC however. Then again, the APC can break after a year as well, and you're out $400 instead of $200. Plus, this will work with other software, possibly even rewired into Live. Novation also has more experience with mapping. Tough to say, but I'm going to have a last fling with the APC and see if I can make it feel better. Otherwise, sayonara.

By: snagglepuss

snagglepuss — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:01:31 +0000

What about the Tenori-On?

This isn't as sexy – but the Launchpad/Ableton Live combination seems like it's a lot more powerful, for way less money.

By: miah8000

miah8000 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:29:18 +0000

This looks great! I wanted a Monome but they are too much money for my budget. The price is right and since it works with Automap, I can use it with any other software I want. This could be great for running Reason and Live together, if that can be worked out. I agree with Frank O, 8×16 would be handy.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:55:12 +0000

This may be an MPC40 killer… half the Akai price, and Akai has a huge backlog of orders. I've waited over 5 months for mine, and I'm about to cancel the order.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:18:01 +0000

Well there was an app that allowed the APC40 to be used with Monome applications.

So hopefully the same can be applied to the Launchpad.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:17:53 +0000

in the near future they will be coming out with the second version of this which will hopefully have the USB output moved to the top so it's easier to put them together in one line, and you know they are listening to the comments about the compatibility with other products, so you'll be getting an update for the software by the time this baby comes out on sale. And No I do not work for the company. I just know how companies tend to do upgrades to these right after getting the feedback from places they send it to for reviews.

By: Frank O.

Frank O. — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:25:01 +0000

Novation says you can hook six of these together:

"Want more buttons? Launchpads are designed to work together, with up to six units at once. That's more than 400 assignable buttons! Launchpads running on the same system can run in different modes, so you can control the Session View, mixer and custom setups all at once, with one Launchpad for each."

An 8 x 16 grid would make a great sequencer.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:07:39 +0000

This looks very hot – can't wait to try it out.

I'm interested more in using this as a cheap monome. It seems like there's a lot going on in the monome community, but the monome hardware pricing is too steep for me.

Anybody know about compatibility with monome apps?

By: violetta

violetta — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:57:56 +0000

Looks like a great entry-level Live controller – but also a monome-killer.