The Ableton Live Controller from Novation

Novation Launchpad was jointly designed by Ableton and Novation. Novation Launchpad places control of Ableton Live at your fingertips, whether you’re a DJ, performing musician or studio producer. Launchpad gives you all you need to truly ‘play' Live.

With a multi-colour 64-button grid and dedicated scene launch buttons, Launchpad is purpose built for triggering and manipulating clips in Live, Novation Launchpad also offers a totally new way of controlling Ableton Live’s mixer. Launchpad's buttons can be used to sketch out beats with drum racks, and they can be assigned to other functions in Live using Ableton's 'Learn' mode.

The Novation Launchpad ships with a dedicated ‘Launchpad edition’ of Ableton Live 8, but can control almost any other music software using Novation's award-winning 'Automap' control software.

Novation Launchpad Key Features:

• Launch clips and scenes
  Launchpad’s 64-button grid and dedicated scene launch buttons are ideal for launching and controlling your clips and scenes.
• Innovative control over your mix
  Including volume, pans, sends, track arming, soloing and muting. Launchpad lets you jump to different levels across eight channels at once.
• Sketch out beats
  Launchpad can be used to play drum racks, creating beats and triggering samples in real time.
• Controlling other functions
  Launchpad can be used to control other functions using Ableton's 'Learn' mode. This includes Ableton's knobs and faders, which can be assigned to rows of buttons on Launchpad.
• Go Large!
  Launchpad supports multiple unit operation. Connect up to 3 Launchpads at a time. Expand your grid with multiple Launchpads, or have one Launchpad dedicated to mixer mode, and the other to launching clips.
• Expand your Ableton control solution
  Novation’s Automap-enabled controllers work seamlessly together – a ZeRO SL MkII to control the mix, whilst Launchpad triggers clips!
• Launchpad can also be control other DAWs and plug-ins using Novation's Automap control software. Automap can assign controls to software parameters on VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins by simply clicking on them, and touching a controller!
• Automap-enabled
  For instant, intelligent control over VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins and all MIDI compatible standalone software applications.
• See what you’re triggering
  Automap provides a customizable heads-up transparent display across your computer screen. Ideal for seeing at a glance samples that you're about to trigger.
• Unleash the power of QWERTY keyboard shortcuts
  Automap PRO, an optional upgrade available to purchase online, lets you assign almost any computer keyboard shortcut, and combinations thereof, to Launchpads buttons.
• Old-school MIDI control
  Utilising Automap, Launchpad can operate as a standard MIDI controller, creating custom MIDI maps with 72 of its buttons transmitting either CC or MIDI note data.
• Flexible trigger platform for Max MSP and Reaktor programmers
  Programmers can utilise variable brightness and multi-colour LED states to their full advantage when designing new and innovative tools in Max MSP and Reaktor.

Launchpad and Max for Live

Max is a visual programming environment which allows you to custom build instruments and effects. Ableton announced 'Max for Live' when they launched Live 8. This means that Max and Ableton are now integrated, so you can build your own instruments (or tweak other people's) within Live.

Launchpad can be used to control these instruments. For example, parameters on Max for Live's step sequencer can be triggered using Launchpad's buttons. Launchpad gives you a huge amount of visual feedback. Multiple colours and brightnesses across different buttons display visual information about whether the note is on, the velocity, note length, pitch, and whatever else you want to see!

Novation have created a Max for Live step sequencer patch utlising Launchpad’s multi-colour and brightness variations, available to download from: www.novationmusic.com

More information about Max for Live can be found at www.ableton.com.

Novation Launchpad Specifications:

• 64 (8x8 grid) square multi-colour back-lit buttons
• 8 round multi-colour back-lit system buttons (assignable)
• 8 round multi-colour back-lit function buttons (not assignable)
• L-shaped USB 1.1 connector.
• Minimum Operational Requirements
• Macintosh: OS: 10.4, or later recommended; Computer: G4 or faster / Intel Mac; Memory (RAM): 512 MB RAM / 1 GB recommended
• Windows: OS: Windows XP or Vista; Computer: 1.5 GHz or faster; • Memory (RAM): 512 MB RAM / 1 GB recommended
• Dimensions: Unit: W = 240 mm / 9.45 “, H = 20 mm / 0.79 “, D = 240 mm / 9.45 “
• Weights: 717gms /unit